Knights of Andreas 2.08: The Chase

[SteVo+ 3,702]

Knights of Andreas

Part II

 

Chapter Twenty – The Chase

 

Caden Daniel enters the conference room and steps to the podium for his Monday press conference. The size of the crowd surprises him; it looks like the highest attendance since Daniel’s introductory conference as head coach. A 5-1 record apparently commands attention.

 

Daniel announces the latest injury report, and the real questions start.

 

“Coach, can you talk about what the blowout win against Jacksonville means for this franchise?”

 

“Right now, it means we got a big win, and we’re 5-1. Obviously it’s great any time you can win convincingly like that, but it’s one win. That’s it.”

 

“But coach, isn’t there more to it than that with the Knights finally ‘over the hump,’ so to speak? Do you see anything in your players as far as, ‘Okay, we’ve crossed the hurdle now’?”

 

Daniel hesitates. “What I see is a focused football team that’s executing. Is there some sense of relief to being 5-1 when our record the last few years has usually been the opposite? Yes, of course. But as I said, this team is very focused. They’re excited to be winning, but all attention is on playing Kansas City this weekend. That’s what we’re thinking about right now.”

 

 

 

Throughout the week, several players face the same type of questions in various interviews. Are the Knights finally over the hump? When did the breakthrough really start? What is it like for you personally? What does it feel like in the locker room?

 

Alex Johnson, on NFL Live: “You know, I can’t point to a specific starting point, but after that Green Bay game last year, we were pretty pumped. Mainly, we didn’t want the season to end. We wanted to get right back to work. And I think it speaks to our coaching staff that we were able to carry that anticipation throughout the offseason and into this year.”

 

Sean Brock, on SportsCenter: “Defensively, it all starts with pass rush. Zack and I have been bringing it this year, and that makes the whole defense better. And if you’re playing good defense, you can beat anybody.”

 

Chase Grodd, via phone on a Los Angeles radio show: “Since I’m a rookie this year, I don’t really know anything about what it was like previously. So, for me, the Knights are a good team and they always have been.”

 

Sam Luck, on Around the NFL: “Well, when you have a losing record, it always weighs on you. You try to focus on football, but at the same time, you want to be winning and you’re always behind. That’s how we felt, like we were chasing it, chasing it, chasing it. Now, everything’s turned around. Now, it’s chasing us.”

 

 

 

Adam Javad types up his Knights/Chiefs preview, on hold with Los Angeles Knights team headquarters. By now, he’s too frustrated to put substantial effort towards his article.

 

“Hello, Mr. Javad?”

 

“Yes!” he says, nearly dropping his phone. “Yes, I’m here.”

 

“I’m sorry, but Coach Harden won’t be available for comment after practice today.”

 

“Could you please tell him I’m trying to do a profile on him? Maybe I could just speak with him briefly—”

 

“I’m sorry, but it’s not possible. You’ll have to try another day.”

 

“Yeah, right. Thanks.”

 

Javad hangs up. Another swing and miss. He goes back to work on his preview, unable to forget that countless other writers are typing up something similar.

 

Los Angeles is a big city with plenty of journalists covering the Knights. Javad still seeks his breakthrough, a way to distinguish himself beyond being just another beat writer. Doing so covering the football team at the University of Missouri was one thing; an NFL franchise in the country’s second largest city is another.

 

He knows the Harden story is the one he’s been looking for; it will elevate his status somehow, through publication or otherwise.

 

Javad finishes his preview and decides it’s time to take advantage of what sources he does have in L.A. He dials the phone number he lucked into finding and waits for an answer.

 

“Hello?”

 

“Hi, is this Chance Phillips?”

 

“May I ask who’s calling?”

 

“My name is Adam Javad; beat writer for the Knights. I work—”

 

“I know you who are, Mr. Javad. How did you get this number?”

 

Javad smiles; it is Phillips. “I have my sources. And I know it’s highly unprofessional to call your personal number, sir, but I thought you would want to know about something I’m working on before it gets published, and I haven’t had any luck getting through to you officially. If you’d rather me call back later, I can. I promise I haven’t shared this number with anyone else.”

 

“I won’t provide any official comment over the phone, but tell me what you’re talking about.”

 

“I’m chasing a story about Merle Harden’s offseason schedule. I’ve heard from a lot of people in Carolina that he never works more than forty hours per week, no matter what the team is doing.”

 

“Without commenting on the veracity of that accusation, aren’t you a few months late for offseason news, Mr. Javad?”

 

“I get information when I get information, sir.”

 

Phillips says nothing. Javad feels like he’s getting somewhere, but Phillips could hang up on him at any moment, and he’d be back to square one—almost.

 

“I’ll tell you what,” Phillips says, “let’s get together sometime this week. In person. I take it you’re calling from your cell phone?”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

“Then I’ll be in touch.”

 

The line goes dead. Javad holds his phone in wonder. Was that a promising start, or a waste of time?

 

On the other side of the call, Chance Phillips types away on his personal computer, researching as much as he can about Adam Javad. He may have been caught off guard, but this situation could certainly work to his advantage.

 

 

 

Friday night, the trio of Sean Brock, Malik Rose, and Jerome Jaxson head to their favorite club, partying it up their last night in L.A. before the trip to Kansas City.

 

“So Jerome,” Brock says, “when are we gonna meet the girlfriend?”

 

“I don’t know,” Jaxson says. “Eventually.”

 

“Yeah,” Rose says, “we all wanna meet the girl who got you going this season.”

 

Jaxson sips his vodka tonic and studies his teammates closely. Do they know? Are they just messing with him? It doesn’t matter, he tells himself. Dating the coach’s daughter doesn’t violate any team rules. No official rules, anyway.

 

“Hold up,” Rose says. “Does that guy look familiar?”

 

They look toward an opening out of the VIP section and see a young man making his way through the crowd. He spots the trio and nods, as if they’re friends. None of the Knights responds, so he keeps walking.

 

Brock: “I think I’ve seen him at press conferences.”

 

Rose: “Yeah yeah, locker room, too.”

 

Jaxson: “You have. His name is Adam something.”

 

Rose: “So he’s media? What the hell’s he doing here?”

 

Brock: “Don’t know. Should we bail?”

 

Rose: “One more drink, then we’ll head somewhere else.”

 

The three stick to that plan, and they leave the club in Rose’s red and black Dodge Challenger, the latest benefit of his new contract. Brock rides shotgun while Jaxson sits in the back.

 

“We can’t be partying at the same clubs as journalists,” Jaxson says. “What if something happens?”

 

“It’s him who shouldn’t be hanging with us,” Rose says, turning to face Jaxson. “We’re the players here; we run things. Grow some balls, Jerome.”

 

The car veers into incoming traffic. Rose swerves right to avoid the honking cars.

 

“Jesus Christ,” Brock says. “Stay in your lane, Malik.”

 

 

 

Arrowhead Stadium braces for an apparent mismatch. The Chiefs are in the middle of a dismal 1-5 season that could very well be Romeo Crennel’s last, while the Knights come in at 5-1, AFC West leaders.

 

The Knights offense finds rhythm immediately. Jerome Jaxson has room to run, and Maverick hits his receivers in stride. A third down screen pass to Jaxson nets twenty-two yards and puts the Knights in the red zone. Two plays later, Maverick sits behind a clean pocket and finds Alex Johnson wide open in the corner of the end zone. 7-0, Knights.

 

This is going to be easy.

 

 

 

20-16, Chiefs, 3:49 to go in the fourth quarter. The Knights line up for first and goal from the ten. Maverick hands off to Jaxson, who runs through the middle but gets plastered by Derrick Johnson for a two-yard gain.

 

It’s been all downhill since the Knights’ opening drive. Sloppy play on offense has led to three turnovers (two Maverick interceptions and a McFadden fumble), and the defense has been terrible on third downs; the Chiefs have converted ten of twelve opportunities.

 

“Everybody focus here,” Maverick says in the huddle. “Let’s all do our job, execute, get a touchdown, and take the lead.”

 

Maverick lines up in the shotgun and the Chiefs show blitz. He calls out some blocking adjustments and an audible to Bishop: run a quick curl.

 

Maverick takes the snap and looks to his tight end. The blitz comes, but Jaxson misses his man, and Maverick hurries the throw. Bishop comes off his route in the end zone and the ball hits him in the hands. He loses it and it hits the grass.

 

“Fuck!” Maverick yells from the grass. “God damn it, Logan!”

 

Third and goal. Daniel calls a screen to Jaxson, not wanting to risk an interception against a Chiefs secondary that has been stellar all day. Jaxson runs left and catches the pass. He dodges a would-be tackler, stumbles, and Justin Houston throws him to the ground for no gain.

 

On the sidelines, Daniel hesitates.

 

“Go for it?” Everett asks him.

 

Daniel scans his playbook, then stops himself. “Can’t. Not from the eight, anyway. Field goal.”

 

Despite protests from Maverick, who was already calling a fourth down play, the field goal unit rushes on the field and sets up with the play clock running low. Janikowski make the chip shot. 20-19, Chiefs, 3:35 to play.

 

After the kickoff and commercial break, the Chiefs offense takes the field and Daniel stands near an official, about to use his three timeouts. Everyone in the stadium expects a heavy dose of Jamaal Charles, though Harden’s defense hasn’t been able to stop him so far.

 

First and ten. Charles takes a carry up the middle for two yards. Daniel calls timeout with 3:29 to go.

 

Second and eight. Charles runs off-tackle to the left and finds a hole. Briggs Randall brings him down for a gain of five. Daniels calls timeout with 3:20 to go.

 

Third and three. Charles takes a toss to the right, the blocking breaks down, and he cuts back to the middle. Dan Connor has him lined up, but Charles sidesteps him and dives forward for a first down. A frustrated Daniel burns his last timeout with 3:12 left.

 

Harden subs in Marlon Martin for Connor (the two had been rotating snaps anyway) and berates Connor upon his return to the sideline.

 

Two more uneventful Charles runs brings up third and nine at the two-minute warning. With Matt Cassel under center, the Chiefs take no chances; Charles runs again, and the Knights bottle him up to force fourth down, though the clock ticks.

 

“Get ready!” Maverick yells on the sidelines. “Game-winning drive coming up, boys. Get ready.”

 

The Chiefs end up punting with 1:15 left, and the kick sails out of bounds. The Knights take over from their own thirty-two with 1:09 to play, needing only a field goal.

 

Maverick takes a shotgun snap and looks over the middle. He fires to Bishop, who gets twelve yards before being tackled. 1:09, 1:08…

 

“Spike! Spike!” Maverick yells, hurrying everyone to the line. Once everything is set, Maverick throws the ball downward—keeping it in his hands. He runs right while most players stand idly, unaware of the fake. He throws to Johnson, wide open, who catches it at midfield. He cuts right and runs out of bounds. The clock stops at 0:58.

 

About ten yards from Janikowski’s range, the Knights line up in shotgun again. Maverick takes the snap and throws quickly to Wilkes. He catches it and lines up his man, Brandon Flowers. Flowers pushes back, the two spar, and Wilkes goes down in bounds.

 

“What are you doing, D-Jam?!” Maverick shouts. “Get out of bounds!” He hurries to the line while Wilkes and Flowers exchange words. 0:47, 0:46… “Let’s go! Hurry the fuck up!”

 

Wilkes finally gets in formation, and Maverick takes the snap. He looks to Johnson—covered. Bishop—covered. Pressure comes up the middle and he rolls right, desperate to avoid a sack. He spots Wilkes at the last second and fires. Wilkes jumps at the sideline, catches it, and plants his feet. Flowers lowers his helmet and hits Wilkes in the back. He falls on the sideline, but the nearest official signals a catch. The Knights are in field goal range.

 

Wilkes pops back up and spikes the ball at Flowers’ feet. The official throws a flag, and the Knights sideline restrains Wilkes. Daniel commands him back to the bench. The refs try to sort out the chaos with 0:34 left.

 

Eventually, a personal foul is assessed to Wilkes. The fifteen-yard penalty pushes the Knights back to midfield, out of field goal range. Frustrated, Maverick gets ready for second and nineteen. He takes the snap and surveys; he spots an opening in the middle of the field and fires to Johnson on a crossing out. Eric Berry undercuts it for the interception and goes down. The stadium booms in celebration.

 

Maverick contains his anger as he walks immediately to the locker room, happy to drown out the celebration of Chiefs fans. He finishes his trek and finds Wilkes already undressing. They stare each other down but Maverick says nothing, as Wilkes looks genuinely disappointed. Good. Fuck him.

 

Knights fill in silently and change for the flight home. Wilkes observes several players having conversations, though nobody wants to talk to him. He knows he messed up but isn’t sure who he can talk to; a few lockers down, he spots Bishop, who looks just as dejected.

 

“Can’t believe it, you know?” he says in Bishop’s general direction. “One play, man. One play.”

 

Bishop says nothing. In fact, he barely notices Wilkes rambling, too busy replaying his end zone drop in his head again and again.

 

 

 

Monday, most of Knights upper management has left for the night while Chance Phillips stays. Late nights at team headquarters are nothing new, but unique circumstances dictate this particular one. Just before seven, Adam Javad arrives, clears security, enters the building, and is escorted to the general manager’s office.

 

“Hello, Mr. Phillips,” Javad says, knocking on the open door.

 

“Good evening, Adam.” Phillips rises to greet him, and the two shake hands. “Please call me Chance. Sit down.”

 

“Thank you, sir.” Javad takes a seat across from Phillips, wearing a suit and tie. He probably should have worn a tie. Has he lost an advantage already? “Tough game yesterday.”

 

“You a Knights fan?”

 

“I’d like to think so. Didn’t really have an NFL team to follow until I moved out here, so I might as well be.”

 

“I see. So, let’s talk about this Harden story. Tell me what you have.”

 

Phillips listens closely; if his instincts are correct, this meeting could be very productive.

 

“As I said over the phone, a few sources in Carolina passed along rumors, but no one obviously went to print with it while Harden coached there. I guess he gained the favor of the local media somehow, I don’t know.”

 

“Very well. Then I have two questions. First: why haven’t you published this already? After we spoke, you had no guarantee I would even call back. Why not just report it and put pressure on us to comment?”

 

“I only publish information that I’ve confirmed from sources I trust. I don’t report speculation.”

 

“I see.”

 

“What about the second question?”

 

“You answered it.”

 

Javad doesn’t know what that means, but he would look stupid to ask again. He isn’t sure where to direct the conversation now.

 

“Let’s be honest,” Phillips says. “A report about the offseason work habits of a defensive coordinator—doesn’t seem like the big scoop you need, Adam.”

 

“How do you mean?”

 

Phillips leans in. “You’re young, ambitious, new to L.A; you’re looking for a way to stand apart. Personally, I don’t think this Harden story is your answer, but there are other options.”

 

Javad isn’t sure where this is going, and he can’t trust Phillips enough to be sure it’s not a trick. “I’m listening.”

 

“This may be my third year in Los Angeles, but I still feel foreign when it comes to the media. I could use someone like you.”

 

“Use me?” Javad definitely isn’t comfortable with that description.

 

“You know how the NFL works, Adam. For better or worse, the media plays an important role. When and how certain information gets out can affect a player’s reputation, a draft prospect’s status, can shift a PR battle one way or the other. You catch my drift.”

 

“So far.”

 

“I’m the general manager of an NFL team, Adam. There’s quite a bit I can offer you. So I’ll tell you what. You forget this Harden story, and I’ll make it worth your while. If I have something I’d like leaked, I go to you first. In exchange, I’ll give you a heads up on news from time to time.”

 

“Okay. Then…what else?”

 

“Then maybe, one day, a big story is brewing. It’ll come out of nowhere, and everyone watching ESPN will cling to their television as they go live to Adam Javad, breaking the news before anyone else.”

 

Javad’s mind races too quick to organize his thoughts. The GM of the team he covers is offering an incredible opportunity—or is it a trap? Are there any drawbacks? He manages to come up with one question.

 

“Why me, sir?”

 

“Let’s just say I have respect for a man who has respect for his profession. You don’t Tweet every little rumor that comes along, you’re professional at press conferences, and you’re too young to have a reputation to hide behind. Your legacy as a sportswriter has yet to be written.”

 

Javad is stunned; this eloquence is beyond anything he ever expected from Chance Phillips, who now seems a much more intriguing figure.

 

“I’d have to think about it.”

 

“Of course.” Phillip rises. “You have my number; I’m confident you won’t spread it around.”

 

 

 

Tuesday, the Knights are back to work, preparing for the 3-4 Buccaneers. Coach Daniel notices no lingering effects from the Kansas City game, a very welcome sight. In the past—as recently as last season—a crushing loss like that would have clouded over practice all week. But this is a different Knights team.

 

After practice, Logan Bishop dresses and approaches Jefferspin-Wilkes’ locker.

 

“Hey, D-Jam.”

 

“What’s up, Logan?”

 

“I’m sorry about Sunday, after the game. You were trying to talk to me and I was so busy thinking about my drop, I—I just ignored you.”

 

“No big deal. I guess we both blew it, huh?”

 

“Well, what were you going to ask me about?”

 

“I don’t know, I—” Wilkes sits down, and Bishop follows suit. “I wanna be part of the team, man. And on Sunday—after shit like that, I know everybody looks at me. They look at what I did and they blame me for the loss.”

 

“A lot of people made mistakes on Sunday.”

 

“I know, but they make mine out to be the biggest. I love football, man, but it ain’t no fun if your teammates don’t respect you.”

 

“I see what you mean. You know—this might sound like a cliché, but—”

 

“A what?”

 

“A—never mind. Have you ever read Friday Night Lights?”

 

“Yeah. I mean, I saw the movie.”

 

“The book’s a little different. I think you might get something out of it. I’ll bring it tomorrow.”

 

“Um, okay, sure.”

 

 

 

As practice week goes on, Jerome Jaxson’s athleticism get everyone’s attention. After a quiet start to the season, he has emerged as one of the team’s most dynamic playmakers. Thursday, Coach Daniel officially lists Jaxson at number one on the depth chart, ahead of Darren McFadden.

 

Jaxson gets people talking for other reasons, too. Players talk to players, others overhear conversations, and word eventually reaches the coaching staff. Daniel delays as long as he can, but he wakes up Sunday knowing he needs to address it.

 

The players put their pads on and trot onto the field for pre-game warm-ups. Jaxson lags behind due to an equipment issue, but he eventually jogs toward the tunnel.

 

“Jerome,” Coach Daniel says. Jaxson thought he was out on the field already. “Hold up. I need to talk to you.”

 

“I’m late, coach. Can we talk on the field?”

 

“No, we can’t.”

 

The smile on Jaxson’s face fades. He looks around at the empty locker room and walks towards his head coach.

 

“Listen, coach—”

 

“No, you listen. We’re going to make this simple because we have a football game to play. On the field, you are a football player, and I am your coach, just like always. Okay?”

 

“Of course, coach.”

 

“What you do off the field is your business. And if you and I ever have a problem about that, we will resolve it off the field as men, not as a coach and a player. Got it?”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

“We will discuss this in more detail later. For now, I want you to understand that out there, on that field and on those sidelines, nothing has changed between you and me. You are a running back and I am your coach. Anything I do within those boundaries has nothing to do with Rachel, and it never will. Understood?”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

Daniel sighs, relaxed and thankful to finally get that off his chest.

 

“Good. Now let’s go. As I said, we have a game to play.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Vin+ 3,121]

Always love the off-field heavy chapters. Good stuff.

 

And lol @Churles, I mean Malik, being told to stay in his lane.

[Sarge+ 3,436]

Great chapter, Steven. I like how you're bringing the PR angle into the fold now. As we all know, it is just as big as any other part of the game. I'm curious about where this budding partnership between Chance and Adam goes. I wonder how he first got Chance's attention? Was it the "The Knights of Andreas have arrived." headline at the end of last season?

 

On the other hand, Daniel says the relationship between Jaxson and his daughter won't affect anything, but can we be sure? Only time will tell. This is really starting to get good now. I think you're getting good at balancing the on field action with the supporting plots that go along with it.

 

Edit: And yea, I lol'd at the stay in your lane part.

Edited January 9, 2015 by Sarge

[RazorStar 4,025]

One the one hand, drunk driving is bad, but on the other hand, telling churlz to stay his lane was gold. And in true raiders fashion, we choked when it counts.

[Bangy 19]

Yea I LOL'd with the stay in your lane comment.

 

The story is really building now and as Sarge said the on/off field action is really starting to flow together.

 

I really want to see how the relationship between Chase and Adam folds out. They both have the chance to either work together or screw each other over.

D-Jam trying to change his reputation with the team is another thing that excites me, obviously he is the offensive version of Rose but him wanting to change and mature and using Bishop to do so would be a great story.

Then finally, the Jaxson - Daniels story really has a chance to flesh out nicely. It could go off in so many different directions its intriguing, I would love to see a Thursday night dinner situation with the family.

Good work again Stevo.

[Zack_of_Steel+ 3,014]

Totally his daughter. everyoneinthisthread pls

[theMileHighGuy 656]

This was an awesome chapter, it makes me really really excited for the next one. I loved the "now everything's turned around. Now it's chasing us." line, I bet that was fun to write.

[SteVo+ 3,702]

This was an awesome chapter, it makes me really really excited for the next one. I loved the "now everything's turned around. Now it's chasing us." line, I bet that was fun to write.

 

 

So much of KoA so far has been devoted to the Knights being in rebuilding and trying to get over the hump of being a bad football team. Now that they're finally through, I wanted a line that summed up that entire experience, and that was the best I could come up with. Hence the title of the chapter as well, though it has multiple meanings, as you probably noticed.

[SteVo+ 3,702]

Hump Day Bump Day

[BwareDWare94 723]

Loved the focus on off the field. What's funny about stories that are heavy in one topic or in one setting, everything away from that gets to shine because it's new. Great job. I really want to see more politics leaking through, eventually.