SteVo+ 3,702 Posted July 12, 2014 Knights of Andreas Part I Chapter Ten – General Management Jerome Jaxson lies back on an all-too familiar spot. The machine slides him through a narrow, circular opening, and a strange sense of calm overtakes his body. Whatever happens, he has accepted it. Two torn ACLs in a three-year period is probably seen as a ticket towards the NFL’s exit door, but he can beat it. He knows he can. As the MRI commences, general manager Chance Phillips waits in his office upstairs. Though anxious to hear a diagnosis for his running back, he contemplates breaking news within the AFC West: the Chiefs have fired head coach Todd Haley. By some strange coincidence, the Chiefs are Los Angeles’ opponent this Sunday. Phillips has always believed head coaches need at least three seasons before being let go. In Haley’s case, he was in the middle of his third season. But from the Chiefs’ perspective, if they knew they would fire Haley at season’s end, what’s the harm in firing him now? That type of thinking is a slippery slope, Phillips thinks. Before long, coaches will be fired after only one season. For the Knights, Phillips gives absolutely no thought to firing Caden Daniel, in his second season with the team, but he suspects some people in the organization are. Phillips looks at the AFC West standings: Broncos and Chargers tied for the lead (7-6), Chiefs (5-8), Knights (4-9). Somehow, a 4-9 team is still alive in week 15. But the Knights would need three consecutive wins and three consecutive losses by both Denver and San Diego. Unlikely. This season is no longer about the playoffs for Los Angeles; it’s about improvement. Putting forth full effort with nothing to play for is a challenge for the coaching staff, and the Knights’ performance these final weeks will go a long way towards Coach Daniel’s standing, whether Phillips likes it or not. He wants to continue rebuilding the team with patience; he doesn’t want Daniel’s third year to start on the hot seat. Downstairs, a team of doctors analyzes the results of Jaxson’s scan. The conversation doesn’t last long. The head doctor leaves the room, finds Jaxson waiting outside, and delivers the news. A few minutes later, he heads upstairs to the general manager’s office to do the same. Phillips hears a knock on his open door. “Let’s hear it,” Phillips says. “MRI scan showed a slight tear of the MCL, but there’s no cartilage damage.” “Just an MCL? The ACL’s fine?” “Yes, sir. Torn MCL, nothing more. The other ligaments in his knee are a hundred percent.” “Recovery time?” “Looks like either a grade 1 or 2 tear, so I’d say six weeks is a fair estimate.” “Plan a recovery for as long as you need. No rush at all.” “You got it.” Relieved, Phillips pauses, then leaves to find Daniel. With only three games left and six weeks of recovery, he doesn’t see any sense clinging to hope that Jaxson can return for the Super Bowl. He’ll be on injured reserve within hours. The day after the conclusion of the 2009 regular season, members of the Pittsburgh Steelers front office come to work with a bad taste in their mouths. As defending Super Bowl champions, a 9-7 season and no playoff berth is far below what everyone expected this year. Assistant general manager Chance Phillips maintains an optimistic stance. With the emergence of the Bengals, the AFC North has become a very strong division. The Steelers need to make changes to reach the playoffs next year, but Phillips believes they can. And they’re still the defending champions for a few more weeks. In his office, preparing for a meeting, the phone rings. It’s a number Phillips now recognizes. His heartbeat goes up a little bit. “Hello?” “Good morning, Chance, this is Wayne Schneider. Catch you at a bad time?” “Not at all, sir. What can I do for you?” Phillips knows exactly where this is going, based on limited conversations the two have had over the last few weeks, but it still feels shocking. Maybe Phillips never thought Schneider was serious; maybe he was too caught up in the Steelers’ playoff push to seriously consider it. “I’ll get straight to it, Chance. As you know, I’m searching for a general manager for the Raiders/soon-to-be Knights, and I’d like to set up an interview with you, if you’re interested.” Phillips hesitates. He knew this question was coming, but it isn’t any easier to answer it. “Of course I’m interested. If you get in contact with my agent, I’m sure he’ll be happy to set up an interview.” “Outstanding. I look forward to speaking with you, Chance.” “Likewise, Mr. Schneider.” They hang up, and Phillips contemplates the potentially new path on which his career is headed. He has always wanted a GM job somewhere, but he figured he still had a few more years left in Pittsburgh. But if there is an offer on the table, he cannot pass it up. He leaves for a room with Steelers’ management and ownership, not sure whether he should mention anything yet. Wednesday morning, the Knights practice for the upcoming Chiefs game. Inside team headquarters, Chance Phillips analyzes his football team alone. He will have countless meetings with the rest of his management staff and Wayne Schneider, of course, and for good reason. Bouncing ideas off multiple people with various perspectives is the optimal way of coming up with the best solutions and ideas. But Phillips relishes time to reflect by himself. As general manager, he takes full responsibility for the team’s performance. If the Knights turn into Super Bowl champions one day, Phillips will be the man who built the team. He knows he can’t do that as a good GM; he needs to be a great GM. And to be a great GM, he has to see things no one else sees, make decisions no one else would make. He has come to appreciate the team’s progress in recent weeks. The roster is full of young players, littered with stopgap veterans, and devoid of superstars. So 4-9 isn’t a terrible record in perspective; Phillips would be thrilled with a five- or six-win season. The Knights have a long way to go. To eventually take that big step, though, the team will need superstars. Obviously, Jonathan Maverick will have to be one. The Knights, like any NFL team, need a great quarterback. Phillips feels nervous at Maverick’s lukewarm progression thus far, but considering the typical path of high draft pick quarterbacks, it’s a miracle he hasn’t busted yet. For Maverick to progress, he needs an upgraded offensive line—Phillips tables that thought for the moment. As for receivers, Alex Johnson is having a surprisingly strong rookie season. D-Jam, while inconsistent, flashes moments of brilliance. He is a free agent to be, so Phillips has a decision to make with him in the coming months. Darrius Heyward-Bey, who has been relegated to slot receiver duties, is a black spot on the roster, along with his $7.65 million average salary. Phillips looks forward to cutting him loose. Zach Miller is still a quality starter, and hopefully Logan Bishop’s performance against Minnesota wasn’t a fluke. Defensively, a lot of players are establishing themselves as quality starters. Phillips sees Briggs Randall as the future defensive captain, and Malik Rose has certainly flashed elite potential, though he also is a free agent to be. He’ll need to find a replacement for the aging Chet Ripka, and while he’s at it, the Knights will need as many quality players in the secondary as possible to combat the evolving passing league that is the NFL. In the trenches, Sam Luck is panning out exactly as planned, but the defense still needs a long-term nose tackle. As far as special teams, Los Angeles has arguably the league’s best kicker/punter tandem in Sebastian Janikowski and Shane Lechler. Phillips sees no reason to change that. Back to the offense, the Knights’ biggest weakness is, as it has been all year, the offensive line. Brian Penner is having a fantastic season, but the other four positions need improvement. At left tackle, though, Jared Veldheer has strung together a few impressive weeks. Phillips knew he had a high ceiling when he drafted him, and if he finishes the season on a high note, Phillips will leave left tackle alone and look to upgrade other positions. If he can find a solid left guard and if Veldheer continues to pan out, the Knights will have a very strong left side to their line. With so much youth and potential spread out all over the roster, Phillips will have fewer positions of high priority in the draft. More importantly, he will finally have enough financial flexibility to be aggressive in free agency, should the opportunity present itself. The first phase of general manager duties has ended. Over the last month, the Raiders have assembled a coaching staff and finalized all management positions. They are days away from officially becoming the Los Angeles Knights, at which time free agency will begin. That promises to be a tricky task for Phillips. He has inherited a terrible salary cap situation: too many overpaid players with ugly cap figures. Also, the Raiders have the third overall pick in this draft, and whomever it ends up being (probably a quarterback) will receive a massive contract. Drafting a quarterback will allow Phillips to release JaMarcus Russell, but doing so will also create dead money against the cap for the next few years. Further complicating the situation is the impending switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 base defense under Merle Harden. With little room to maneuver, Phillips and Harden will first need to determine which players can transition to a position in the 3-4. Defensive end to outside linebacker, defensive tackle to five-technique end, etc. Phillips simply doesn’t have the cash to sign a wave of new players for the front seven. The Raiders/Knights are a long-term rebuilding project from both a football and financial standpoint. Phillips knew this when he took the job, but he still considers the first year critical. His decisions in the coming months will go a long way toward clearing cap space in the future, at which point he will finally be able to spend some money. For the moment, there is hardly a decision Phillips can make without financial consequences. On his way out of headquarters Friday, Phillips stops by Wayne Schneider’s office, happy to see it occupied. He hopes this conversation will be brief. “Wayne,” he says, poking his head through the doorway. “Afternoon, Chance. On your way out for the weekend?” “Yes, I just wanted to ask you something really quick.” “Shoot.” “I know we haven’t talked about this in detail, but—you’re not thinking of making any coaching changes, right?” Schneider says nothing. Phillips tries to think of something to add, but Schneider finally speaks. “As of now, I don’t see a good reason to fire Daniel or anybody else. You and I were both in this for the long haul, and we’re just now getting on our feet financially. I look forward to seeing what happens this offseason.” That isn’t exactly the most committal response, but it’s good enough for now. “Good to hear,” Phillips says. “Have a good weekend, Wayne.” Phillips doesn’t like having to ask Schneider for permission on any team decision. As general manager, he wants final say on any and all decisions, but it was part of his hiring that he and Schneider share decision-making duties regarding coaches. Phillips has come to regret this; while he likes Wayne and appreciates his insight, he’s a businessman, not a football man. But whether Phillips likes it or not, he’s the owner. Chance leaves and drives through stretches of bumper-to-bumper traffic to his home just outside Los Angeles. He underestimated the increase in congestion moving from Pittsburgh to L.A., and while he thinks he’s used to it by now, it hasn’t stopped frustrating him. He arrives home and sees his wife, Melissa, preparing dinner; he has gotten home just in time. Two-year-old Kimmy is in her booster seat, waiting for mommy to feed her. Jack and Max take their seats, and Chance remembers Jack’s 11th birthday is coming up. Dinner is barely on the table and seven-year-old Max says, “So dad, when are we leaving tomorrow?” “We’ll have to leave here around four. Jack, don’t hold your fork like that.” “Why can’t we leave with the team, dad?” Chance thinks about this for a second; the answer to that question is perhaps too complicated for adults to understand. “We can’t bother them, Jack. They have a game to get ready for.” “Dad,” Max says. “Some of the kids at school said if the Knights keep losing, everybody’s gonna get fired.” Max sounds tragically excited about that last part. “Is it true?” As Chance gets ready to respond, he catches an unsettling stare from Melissa. “No. Nobody’s getting fired. Pass the potatoes, please.” In an awkward example of timing, free agency for the NFL begins in the middle of summer. The lockout of 2011 has recently ended, and while the draft is already over, the free agent market is finally open. While the Knights have reached out to several free agents and recently completed their deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers that netted them Malik Rose for Justin Houston, Chance Phillips and the front office have their focus set on Nnamdi Asomugha. Phillips waits with the rest of management and some coaches for news in real time. Free agency has been on for almost a week, but he suspects news on Asomugha is coming soon. The Knights currently have a strong offer in place, but the Jets and Cowboys are also in the running, and not far behind. Over a year after being hired, Phillips has made genuine progress on alleviating the franchise’s salary cap issues, and even though cap room is his top priority, he believes a major deal for Asomugha is worth it. Pairing him with Rose could form a dominant secondary, a critical step towards a great defense. Phillips’ phone rings. “It’s Nnamdi’s agent.” The room goes quiet. “Hello?” Phillips listens, and his face turns to an expression of shock. “Let me get back to you.” He hangs up and leans forward, hands pressed on the edge of the table. “I think we’re out, gentlemen.” “Someone up their offer?” Wayne Schneider asks. “No, a new player,” Phillips says. “Who?” “Philly. Five years, sixty million. Twenty-five guaranteed.” “Damn. They sprang up at the last second.” “No, they were there all along.” Phillips stands up straight. “I’m not shocking anyone when I say we can’t match that offer. I’m also not shocking anyone by saying this is a disappointment.” He looks at Coach Harden’s expression; disappointment doesn’t begin to describe it. “But let’s look at the bright side to this: losing Asomugha means a lot more cap space for us. It gives us a lot more flexibility. We’ll wait for final confirmation on Asomugha, but in the meantime, let’s look at the rest of our board.” Phillips tries to focus on other free agent targets, avoiding the alternative he failed to mention. Asomugha would have required a huge cap number, yes, but losing him means losing an elite player. And elite players aren’t easy to find. The Knights’ front office may have gained an economic advantage, but the outlook for the 2011 season has become worse. From the luxury suites atop Arrowhead Stadium, Chance and Max Phillips watch the Knights and Chiefs do battle. It’s late in the fourth quarter, and the Knights trail, 24-16. On third down, the offense lines up in shotgun. Maverick takes the snap, the blocking breaks down, and he goes down for a sack. Phillips scribbles a note on his piece of paper; that’s about the tenth time the Chiefs have done a stunt on the right side, and it’s been highly effective. “Daddy, we stink,” Max says. Phillips scribbles faster. Bringing one of his sons to road games with him is a tradition he has continued ever since Jack turned six, but it was certainly much more tolerable when he was the assistant GM. Now, he prefers a heightened focus to the game. He can analyze the statistics later like anyone else, but he believes at the heart of an understanding of a football game is watching it unfold live. “Yes, yes we do stink,” he eventually says. Chance scribbles occasional notes and Max munches on his second hot dog (“Don’t tell your mother,” Chance says.) as the Chiefs maintain their lead. Chance attributes Kansas City’s performance to Todd Haley’s firing. Such a decision always riles up the locker room in the short term, and today, the Knights are the victims of it. Chance can’t help but wonder how the Knights locker room would respond to their head coach being fired. For their part, Los Angeles’ play has been overwhelmingly average. The defense has been beat for a few big plays and the offense has shot themselves in the foot with turnovers, two stories that are getting a little old by now. The Chiefs convert another first down and the crowd celebrates as the clock ticks down. They run the ball a few more times, and the game is over. “Well, that’s it,” Chance says. “Sorry you couldn’t see us win a game, buddy.” “That’s okay, dad. Jack saw the team lose too.” Chance laughs. “I guess you’re right. Let’s go.” He tries to put on a smiling face with his son, but as they make their way out of Arrowhead Stadium, Chance can only think of one thing: the Knights are officially eliminated from the playoffs. 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JetsFan4Life 542 Posted July 12, 2014 (edited) Love how throughout this it seems to me at least that he keeps thinking more and more of the idea of firing Daniel. Edited July 12, 2014 by JetsFan4Life Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bangy 19 Posted July 12, 2014 Hmmmm out for the rest of the season but at least its not the ACL and my GM is glad ill be back. Love how you brought in his family aspect as well as the tough decision of potentially sacking Daniels. That's my dude dont sack him. Well done Stevo, only two left thos season Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted July 13, 2014 Sunday morning bump! No computer problems for me today, thankfully. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge+ 3,436 Posted July 13, 2014 Epic stuff, Steven. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted July 14, 2014 Seems like these are getting less popular as we continue... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GA_Eagle 595 Posted July 14, 2014 That might be my favorite one yet Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted July 14, 2014 I was so excited I came in agony. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted July 14, 2014 That might be my favorite one yet I felt like this chapter might be a little polarizing because of the lack of "action," so I'm glad you liked it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theMileHighGuy 656 Posted July 14, 2014 This was just as interesting as the ones with game play in them, if not more. The X's and O's in Phillips' head are just as good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maverick 791 Posted July 14, 2014 I can't do shit with this joke of a line. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zack_of_Steel+ 3,014 Posted July 15, 2014 I was expecting to be less interested in this chapter, but was pleasantly surprised. You managed to draw up an interesting LOST-like flow that succeeded in generating investment in the story from the reader. Very well done. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted July 15, 2014 I was expecting to be less interested in this chapter, but was pleasantly surprised. You managed to draw up an interesting LOST-like flow that succeeded in generating investment in the story from the reader. Very well done. As someone who barely watched LOST, I'm kinda curious as to exactly what you mean. I do appreciate the praise, though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted July 15, 2014 It means you're probably a smoke monster. So keep it up. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted July 15, 2014 (edited) Edit: Upon posting, I realized it looks like he's looking at Katy Perry's tits. Edited July 15, 2014 by SteVo 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
