Knights of Andreas 4.05: The Shield

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Knights of Andreas

Part IV

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Chapter Forty-Six – The Shield

 

 

 

Security is notified that Rose’s attorney has arrived, and Rose leaves Schneider’s office. Harden goes with him, happy to know measures are being taken to ensure minimal interference with the practice schedule. The last man in the crowd shuts the door behind him, leaving two men alone in the office, and Phillips sees what he thought he’d see: Schneider’s half-disappointed, half-empathetic face melt into downright disgust.

 

“This is unbelievable,” he says, crouching over and squeezing the top of his chair with both fists. “Unfuckingbelievable.”

 

“I know, Wayne. I’m sorry.” For once, Phillips shares Schneider’s frustration. This is an ugly situation that will affect everyone equally—as long as Schneider doesn’t try to turn this back on him.

 

“You know, I hold a meeting specifically about team image, and this happens. We’ve had some help, of course…that Adam Javad column, which I assume was your doing…”

 

Phillips is taken aback, caught off-guard. He always assumed his connection with Javad was unknown to Schneider, but suddenly, that seems foolish. Of course Schneider would have figured it out by now.

 

“…and yet here we find ourselves,” Schneider continues. “This is messy, Chance. We can’t just play defense here. We need to take action.”

 

“I don’t disagree, but how?”

 

Schneider purses his lips, deep in thought, then relaxes his face, as if the solution to everything has occurred to him. He props his body up straight.

 

“I want every inch of Malik Rose’s past investigated.”

 

“It’s been investigated.”

 

“Then it’s going to be investigated again! How long until this story breaks? The second it does—the second a rumor reaches the right people—the entire journalism world is going to be all over Rose, digging up everything they can find. They’re going to be bringing up a lot of dark shit, shit we have deflected over the years because of Rose’s talent. But we have to be ready to deflect it again.”

 

“Is that all?”

 

“No. Rose is a well-documented mystery in the eyes of the sports world. He might as well be a fucking recluse.”

 

“So what?”

 

“I want him interviewed. I want him on camera. I want him humanized. The media is going to create an image of Malik Rose. They’re going to show people the Malik Rose who’s a thug, a gangster, a punk ass kid from the streets who somehow lucked his way into the NFL. We need to show them the Malik Rose who’s a loving father, teammate, and iconic football player.”

 

Phillips holds back a smile, relaxing more and more with every word. Not only does this sound like an excellent idea, it brings up the perfect opportunity: this is Javad’s moment. Or, it will be when the time comes.

 

“I’ll take care of it, Wayne.”

 

“Thank you, Chance. In the meantime, as I said, let’s stay away from the television this week, eh?”

 

Phillips nods. He certainly will, though all the shielding in the world can’t make stories like this go away. Ultimately, only football can put the focus back where it needs to be.

 

 

 

As the hours pass and players arrive and practice begins, the Knights focus on the 5-2 Ravens, an extremely tough matchup that will test exactly how legitimate the Knights are without Jonathan Maverick. Unfortunately, and predictably, the media’s coverage of the game hardly dwells on those implications at all.

 

Anyone associated with the Knights avoids media coverage entirely, figuring the stories about Rose will be unpleasant, probably offensive, and quite possibly unprofessional.

 

They have no idea how much worse it actually is.

 

The police interview Rose, along with two other suspects, and it doesn’t take long for the media to gather information and connect the dots: the two suspects are former gang associates of Rose’s, going back to his high school days in Atlanta. Speculation builds, and the consensus seems to be that the two suspects could be charged with assault, while Rose would be charged with conspiracy. Thus, the public narrative becomes clear: a couple of thugs assaulted Torrey on Rose’s orders.

 

Commissioner Goodell releases a statement. He says the league is monitoring the investigation closely and maintaining communication with the Knights organization. He assures fans “the NFL will take every action necessary to protect the integrity of the shield,” referring to the league’s logo.

 

Amidst all this, the 4:25 Knights/Ravens game is declared CBS’ Game of the Week, televised in almost the entire country.

 

 

 

The Knights converge on the running back as he hits a wall, runs toward the edge, turns a corner, and goes down. Throughout the stadium rings the voice of the PA announcer: “Justin Forsett runs for a gain of two yards, tackled by Malik Rose.”

 

Vicious boos fill M&T Bank Stadium, as they have every time Rose has gotten near the football. The Javion Torrey story is the talk of the NFL this week, and Ravens fans are happy to communicate their thoughts on it. Though he hasn’t looked up into the crowd to see them, Ravens fans display plenty of signs taking aim at Rose, calling him a “gangster,” “thug,” and other similar terms.

 

Rose is matched up against Steve Smith, a physical receiver who will bump, shove, fight, do anything to make a catch—and Rose loves it. The boos don’t affect him at all when he’s in coverage with Smith. All he hears is their pads brushing up with each other. All he sees is the patches of grass their cleats dig up. As much as he doesn’t want to admit it, he misses times like these, when there was so much shit going on in his life, and all it took to silence it was to step on the field.

 

Joe Flacco finds a receiver for a first down, but on the next play, he tries for Smith. Rose swats the pass away, a lot of contact between he and Smith, and no flag. Fans boo again.

 

Ravens fans have multiple reasons to boo; their team is down 10-0, and their offense is being completely suffocated. This is an unsettling performance for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

 

The media’s build-up of this game centered on the pivotal trench battle between Baltimore’s offensive line and Los Angeles’ defensive line, but the battle has been one-sided thus far. Los Angeles is dominating.

 

Anthrax is wreaking havoc at the point of attack, engaging with Jeremy Zuttah and winning more than losing. He still comes off the field for third and long, but he’s made so many big plays, it bothers him less than usual.

 

The pass defense has been just as impressive. Rose has prevented Smith from a single reception, and every time Flacco has taken a deep shot to Torrey Smith, Flash has been all over him.

 

Harden watches with pride as the Ravens fail to gain another yard, punt the ball away, and the game goes to commercial with 6:45 left in the first half. He’s satisfied with this performance, of course, but he’s giddy in particular about his new duo at strong safety.

 

Sebastian Stevenson is back in the lineup this week, but out of respect for the way Bobby Schwinn has been playing, he’s only part of a rotation.

 

Schwinn is far from polished in coverage—Harden has work to do there—but he’s already a more forceful run stopper than Stevenson. He hits the hole faster and tackles harder. So, Harden wants to establish a rotation where Schwinn comes on for short-yard running situations and some red zone plays.

 

The commercial ends, and the Knights offense takes the field. McKenzie keeps it simple, content to keep putting the ball in the hands of his breakout star.

 

Marcus Jameson bounces off, spins around, and powers through countless defenders, breaking an insane number of tackles and moving the chains by himself. The Ravens are stacking the box, but it doesn’t matter. McKenzie feeds his new workhorse back play after play.

 

Buchanan makes a few easy throws here and there, finding open receivers for short gains. The Knights offense centers on the third-year running back from USC now, not the second-year quarterback from Washington State.

 

This is welcome news to everyone, except perhaps Wilkes, who runs his routes in solitude, left to reminisce about what could have been. Two years ago in this stadium, he led a legendary fourth quarter comeback with three touchdowns and over 200 yards. Today, he’ll be lucky to get three receptions.

 

A twelve-yard catch by Bishop puts the Knights in the red zone. Buchannan lines up in shotgun, sells a quick throw, and hands off to Jameson. He surges through a hole and makes a beeline for the end zone. Two Ravens meet him there, they collide, and Jameson lands in the purple grass for a touchdown.

 

 

 

Surrounded by family, extended family, and fellow Trojans, Marcus Jameson watches pick by pick as the 2012 NFL Draft enters the seventh round. Minute by minute, hour by hour, the mood in the Jameson house turns somber as the realization sets in that Marcus may not get drafted. The festivities that started two nights ago in the first round may be for nothing.

 

While his USC teammates insist he’s a first-round talent, Marcus’ agent told him a few weeks ago he was likely to go between rounds four and six. He mentioned concerns some teams have, apparently, about things like durability, playing style, and combine performance.

 

Marcus started every game four years in a row at USC. How does that translate to durability concerns? If his power running style made him prone to injuries, wouldn’t it have happened by now? It’s not his business to tell NFL teams how to operate, but he can’t figure out how menial factors like this and disappointing combine numbers can outweigh a career with so many yards and touchdowns, including his junior campaign that nearly broke Marcus Allen’s single-season rushing record at USC.

 

Marcus has been telling himself these concerns exist for every prospect. And yet, here he is in the seventh round. Sixteen running backs have gone already.

 

It’s pick number 217. A loud, buzzing sound fills the room. Marcus leans forward to look at his phone, vibrating on the coffee table.

 

“It’s a Los Angeles area code,” Marcus says. That could be anyone from around here. He’s got so many numbers he’s never actually put into his phone.

 

“The Knights are on the clock!” someone says from behind.

 

The entire household comes back to life as Marcus answers the phone.

 

“Hello?”

 

“Hello, is this Marcus Jameson?”

 

“Yes, it is.”

 

“Marcus, this is Caden Daniel. How are you?”

 

“I’m good, coach. I’m good.”

 

Nearby friends see the smile on Marcus’ face, and the whole house soon realizes what’s happening. They hold their congratulations for when the phone call ends. A few minutes later, Jameson’s name appears on the television, and the house erupts in celebration.

 

Marcus embraces as many people as he can. At first, he’s just relieved to be drafted, to end all this tension. But he starts thinking, sizing up the situation. He’s staying in Los Angeles, close to USC, close to home. He knows the Knights have Jerome Jaxson, a speedy, shifty back, one who Jameson can complement beautifully. After all this doubt about where he’d end up, what a perfect landing spot this is.

 

 

 

Backed up on their own two-yard line, the Knights line up in a bunch formation with the crowd louder than it’s been since kickoff. It’s 17-0, Knights, 12:25 left in the fourth quarter, but the Ravens have an opportunity to ignite a comeback.

 

Buchanan fakes a handoff to Jameson and drops back into the end zone. He throws off his back foot, and a wobbly pass sails into the arms of a purple jersey. The stadium booms as Will Hill runs into a crowd and goes down on the six. The Knights defense lumbers back onto the field, still winded from the last drive.

 

Forsett takes a carry up the middle. The Knights hold their ground, allowing only a two-yard gain. Second and goal from the four.

 

Flacco drops back to pass. Brock breaks off the edge and sees Flacco winding up to throw. He dives for the ball and punches it out of the quarterback’s hands. The pigskin bounces laterally, out of the reach of linemen and linebackers. A sprinting Rose picks it up in stride and runs along the Knights’ sideline, now in chaos and cheering him toward the end zone. He turns around at midfield and sees a few purple jerseys closing in. He keeps running. Forty, thirty, twenty, ten—

 

Someone trips him up and he tumbles down at the five. Completely gassed, he tosses the ball to an official and walks through the sideline, high-fives and handshakes all around.

 

The Knights line up on offense with no energy left in the stadium. Jameson takes a tackle up the middle, runs into a crowd, spins out of it, and accelerates into the end zone.

 

Boos are heard as McCabe knocks the extra point through, and it’s 24-0, Knights.

 

 

 

The league reacts to week 8, reassessing the standings, already looking ahead to the playoffs, and creating headlines from another weekend of games. In the wake of their dominance on national television, the Los Angeles Knights take plenty of airtime.

 

While their 5-2 record speaks for itself, particularly with Maverick still hurt, the Knights defense receives loads of accolades for its performance, against Baltimore and the season as a whole.

 

Between every analyst and ex-player breakdown, fans around the league get the message: it’s time to take the Knights defense seriously. Very seriously. They are compared to the Seahawks, and even the more conservative pundits don’t object to throwing the Knights in the ring with the century’s best defenses.

 

The Knights offense may be limited without Maverick (Sunday was the first time they scored more than 20 points this year), but with the defense playing at such a high level, they’re undoubtedly contenders in the AFC.

 

During his press conference Monday afternoon, Harden receives plenty of questions about his defense. They’re all terrible questions, of course, but he’s more than happy to give his defense the recognition they deserve.

 

One reporter asks, “Coach, there’s been some speculation that Zack Grantzinger has put himself in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year. What do you make of that?”

 

“I think he’s earned it,” Harden says. “He’s a hell of a football player. He does it all. So yeah, I think that’s fair. So far, though. We still have half a season to play. But as long as we’re throwing Defensive Player of the Year nominations out there, Malik Rose is in the discussion too. I know cornerbacks don’t get the stats everybody loves like linebackers do, but you turn on the tape of any game, and you’ll see what makes Rose so special. He’s a big part of our defense and a big reason we’re 5-2.”

 

A few reporters perk up in their seats at the mention of Rose’s name. Harden has, since the Javion Torrey story broke, angrily refused to take any questions on Rose whatsoever. Now that he voluntarily brought up the cornerback’s name, is it open season?

 

“Coach,” a reporter asks with big eyes, “on that note regarding Malik, what have—”

 

“Don’t even think about it,” Harden says. “Next question.”

 

 

 

Upstairs, the Knights’ win lifts spirits and creates an energy that carries over into Tuesday. The Knights are now second in the AFC West, with the Chargers right behind at 5-3, and the Chiefs have pulled a few wins together to reach 4-3. It’s shaping up to be another super competitive AFC West, and this week, a huge divisional matchup looms with the 6-1 Broncos.

 

Phillips is on his way out of Schneider’s office when Keegan appears, paper in hand.

 

“Ah, Michal, come in,” Schneider says. Phillips stays in the room to see what this is about, not used to Schneider calling on Keegan in any way.

 

“What’s that?” Phillips asks.

 

“Pro Bowl voting,” Keegan says. “Current votes, trends, projected totals based on those trends.”

 

“Hoping for some good news,” Schneider says. “Everything I’ve been saying, about team image? Here’s another example. Fans don’t like voting for Knights, unfortunately.” Schneider scans the paper. “Ah, looks like we’ve gotten a nice boost the last forty-eight hours.”

 

He continues scanning and reads a few names aloud, starting with the highlights. Brian Penner is first among centers, Briggs Randall third among inside linebackers, and Zack Grantzinger fourth among outside linebackers.

 

“Surprised Grantzinger’s not higher, with the season he’s having,” Keegan says.

 

“His snappy comebacks with the media on a weekly basis don’t do him any good,” Schneider says.

 

Several other starters place in the top ten: Malik Rose (fourth among cornerbacks), Griswold Johnson (fifth among free safeties), Sean Brock (seventh among outside linebackers), Sam Luck (ninth among defensive ends), and Chase Grodd (ninth among offensive guards).

 

“Recognition, gentlemen,” Schneider says. “It’s good to be recognized.”

 

This is an area where Schneider and Phillips will always disagree. For Schneider, recognition brings value, value increases worth, and worth makes money. For Phillips, recognition boosts resumes, and resumes cost money. If he had his way, no one would make the Pro Bowl. There’s a reason the Knights have one of the league’s best teams with one of the league’s smallest payrolls. That will change this offseason, however, and Phillips would rather not think of all the money the Knights will be spending. Based on projections he and DeMartine have been going over, the team will have an unprecedented increase in salary from 2014 to 2015.

 

On the practice field and in the locker room, the wave of buzz from the Ravens game reaches the players too. As usual, some are louder about it than others are.

 

Players dress and file out with the first day of practice in the books. Martin is about to leave when he sees Brock taping a cutout from what looks like a newspaper to the inside of his locker.

 

“The hell is that?” Martin asks.

 

“I’m glad you asked,” Brock says.

 

“Oh no,” Grantzinger says.

 

“Fellas, listen to this.” Brock reads from the newspaper clipping. “‘The Knights’ defense has come up big this year, particularly in several close games, where they’ve needed to defend small leads in the fourth quarter. No player has been more instrumental in those games than the defense’s closer, Sean Brock, who notched clutch fourth quarter sacks against Jacksonville, Arizona, and had the game-clinching fumble yesterday in Baltimore.’ You all hear that? You are in the presence of greatness. Everybody bow before The Closer.”

 

“Live it up, Sean,” Grantzinger says. “Must be nice to be revered for only producing in one quarter.”

 

Grantzinger gets the usual response of oh’s and ah’s as more teammates take notice in the back-and-forth developing. Brock is about to respond—

 

“That’s enough!” Harden bellows, silencing the entire locker room. “Enough of the bullshit. What did I say earlier? Everyone’s too happy, too fucking proud of a game that’s forty-eight hours old. And I know we’re all looking ahead, too. We all know what’s coming up on the schedule next. Knock that shit off right now, or we’re gonna lose a game the easy way. I shouldn’t have to say ‘one game at a time’ to you guys but I’m going to anyway. We’ve gotta beat Denver first. We’re 0-1 in the division, in case nobody fucking noticed.” His frown gives way to hints of a smirk. “And you all know me. I love playing Peyton Manning.”

 

 

 

Malik drives home after Saturday’s walkthrough, his showdown with Demaryius Thomas just a day away. As he turns through the neighborhood and into his driveway, he sees no cars, no sign of anything suspicious whatsoever.

 

He walks through the foyer and into a quiet house. He doesn’t announce his arrival in case Tatyiana is sleeping, instead walking down a long hallway to Jasmin’s room. He finds her playing with dolls around an elaborate toy mansion, holding all her focus.

 

“Jasmin!”

 

“Hi, daddy!” she says, not breaking her concentration from the dolls, something Malik always found funny.

 

“Mommy told me you went to Jessica’s house today.”

 

“Mhmm.”

 

“Did you have fun?”

 

“We played with Legos! We had lots of fun.”

 

“That’s great, baby.”

 

“Jessica’s dad was talking about you.”

 

“He was?” Malik crouches down beside his daughter, not wanting Eva to hear—even though she probably already has. “What’d he say?”

 

“He told Jessica she’s not allowed to come to my house anymore. They were in the kitchen, but I heard them. He said something about ‘Mr. Rose,’ and I said, ‘He’s not Mr. Rose, he’s my daddy!’”

 

“That’s right, I am,” is all Malik can think to say.

 

 

 

Harden soaks in the pre-game hype in Farmers Field and does his best to make his players feed off it. He can’t stop his players from thinking about next Sunday, but this week’s game is just as important. Falling to 5-3 wouldn’t be awful, but a loss today makes the Knights 0-2 in the AFC West and propels the Broncos to 7-1, much more problematic.

 

The Knights win the coin toss, defer, and Peyton Manning takes the field. The Broncos come out throwing, and Manning has a first down in two plays. No problem, Harden tells himself. Can’t stop every first down. But Manning finds more receivers, hitting them in stride, and the vaunted Knights defense crumbles before Harden’s eyes. Too disappointed to get angry (for now), Harden calls play after play that fails, and Manning leads a surgical drive that ends with a Julius Thomas touchdown.

 

Harden waits for every defensive starter to get within earshot, then unloads.

 

“What the fuck have I been saying?! All fucking week. Don’t look ahead, don’t look ahead. We put our heads up our asses and Peyton marches right down the field and scores a fucking touchdown. You want to be embarrassed in front of your own fans? If not, wake the fuck up!”

 

Not considering a single adjustment, Harden watches the offense respond. McKenzie sticks to last week’s strategy, pounding the rock with Jameson, but Buchanan steals the spotlight this time.

 

His first throw of the day is a twenty-yard strike to Johnson over the middle. Then a seventeen-yard throw to Bishop. Buchanan looks poised, and his arm strength appears to have improved.

 

On the edge of the red zone, Buchanan fakes a handoff to Jameson. An all-out blitz comes, and he throws it toward the end zone, absorbing a crushing hit. Watson runs in coverage, half a step ahead, and the pass drops right in his hands. He drags his toe to get a second foot in bounds and falls down. The nearby official nods his head, signals touchdown, and Farmers Field comes back to life.

 

“That’s good play calling, Mac,” Harden says to McKenzie before high-fiving Buchanan, who gets praise from just about everyone on the sideline, including the teammate wearing a t-shirt, shorts, and sneakers.

 

“Nice throw, Max,” Maverick says, patting him on the shoulder with his left hand. This is the first home game where Maverick feels like being on the sidelines instead of in a press box. He wants to be on the field, of course, taking hits and throwing touchdowns himself. Soon enough, or so the doctors say.

 

When the Broncos offense retakes the field, Harden studies his players closely. Manning still finds receivers, but coverage appears tighter, and some Knights actually manage a few plays, deflecting passes in coverage and batting them down at the line of scrimmage. About fucking time.

 

The Broncos get the run game going, but the drive stalls near midfield. The Knights take over, and Buchanan can’t find any receivers for big gains. Jameson still manages a few first downs, but the drive eventually ends in a punt.

 

Excitement fades as the game turns into a field position battle, both offenses unable to get more than five yards at a time. Knights fans experience a moment of terror when Manning fires deep for a wide-open Emmanuel Sanders, but the pass is overthrown.

 

Several punts later, the Knights take over on their own twenty with 3:22 to go in the half. A series of stuffed runs and penalties brings up third and sixteen.

 

“Don’t you dare run the ball,” Harden instructs McKenzie. “Show me some fucking balls, Mac.”

 

McKenzie figured that was coming and has his play ready. Buchanan lines up in shotgun with NesSmith to his left. He takes the snap, and a screen develops. Buchanan fakes a throw, as Denver has the screen bottled up. Buchanan rolls right, escaping some pressure, steps up, and throws deep. Watson runs stride for stride with Rahim Moore as the two sprint past midfield, but Watson accelerates and gets some separation as the pass hits him in stride. Moore dives, and Watson keeps his feet moving, staggering a bit but escaping the tackle and running free for an eighty-five-yard score.

 

Watson catches his breath in the end zone, seemingly about to hand the ball off to an official. Suddenly, he spikes the ball and pumps his fists, screaming along with the rest of the stadium. He jumps around and celebrates with his teammates in the end zone before walking back to the sideline, where he sees Coach Harden and McKenzie. All three throw the horns up, a gesture that looks like a two-handed rock and roll symbol to anyone who didn’t go to North Dakota State University.

 

 

 

Uncertainty fills the crowded locker room as players deliberately take their time dressing after practice. Today is the last day the team consists of 75 players. Monday morning, they will return as a final roster of 53 and start preparing for the 2013 season’s first game in Indianapolis. Over the next few hours, 22 people are about to lose their jobs.

 

While the surefire starters leave freely, their roster spots secured, the guys on the fringe have no choice but to wait. Some will be given an opportunity, more time to prove themselves. Others will be told this is the beginning of their next life.

 

For Joseph Watson, this is a day he has long feared. In the months since the Knights drafted him in the seventh round, he has done everything to earn a roster spot. At the moment, however, all he can do is relive each mistake he’s made since May. Every drop, every poor route, every mistimed jump.

 

He goes through the team’s final preseason game two nights ago, where he had six receptions for 82 yards. He could have done more, but it didn’t help that the quarterbacks throwing to him, Max Buchanan and Nathan Stanley, were both rookies. But all Watson can think of is the would-be seventh reception that went right through his hands.

 

Eventually, his time comes. An assistant coach walks up to his locker and says, “Coach needs to see you.” Watson tries to compose himself as he walks to Coach Harden’s office. The first thing he sees when he walks in is a North Dakota State pennant, a reminder that Harden coached at his alma mater. That has to mean something, right?

 

Watson takes a seat and looks across at Coach Harden, and Coach Everett, who stands. Everett speaks first.

 

“I’ll get to it, Joe,” he says. “You made the team. Congratulations.”

 

“W-What?” He barely has breath to mutter anything, his heart still racing.

 

“You, Joe,” Harden says, “have the distinct honor of being number fifty-three. Last man who made the cut. So from here on out, you earn that spot. Understood?”

 

“Y-Yes, coach. Yes, sir.”

 

Harden grimaces into what Watson guesses is a smile and throws the horns up. Watson does the same, smiling as he is guided out of the office and back to the locker that now permanently belongs to him.

 

 

 

The third quarter sees the game revert to a field position battle, though Denver scores with a forty-nine-yard field goal by Connor Barth, making it 14-10, Knights. Fans in attendance prepare for yet another close fourth quarter finish.

 

Denver starts a possession with 10:24 on the clock and goes no-huddle. The Knights are ready for it, but Manning finds receivers anyway. Harden doesn’t panic yet; the Broncos need to reach the red zone, and his defense is capable of holding them off.

 

Near midfield, Manning drops back against a blitz, steps up, and fires deep. In coverage, Rose receives a shove from Demaryius Thomas, who breaks back on a deep hitch route. Rose stumbles, leaving Thomas open, but Flash comes out of nowhere and catches it. White jerseys force him toward the sideline, and he runs out of bounds at the forty. The Knights take over with 8:45 to go, sixty yards from the end zone.

 

“Finish it, Mac,” Harden says. “I don’t want a field goal to extend the lead. I want the game over on this drive.”

 

“You got it, coach,” McKenzie says, more eager than ever to call the plays. He may still have a limited quarterback, but the last two weeks have given birth to a workhorse running back and legitimate deep threat receiver. He’s got plenty to work with.

 

He starts out conservative, letting Jameson chew through defenders up the middle and letting the clock tick. Jameson converts on a third and two, crossing midfield with less than seven minutes to go.

 

Buchanan hits Wilkes and Johnson on some short passes, getting another first down with 5:30 and counting on the clock. The Knights are on the edge of McCabe’s range, but Harden sure as hell isn’t about to put the game on his kicker.

 

Jameson gets stuffed on first down, and Buchanan throws an errant pass on second down, bringing up third and ten with 4:16 to go. Buchanan drops back behind a clean pocket and fires over the middle. Watson breaks open on a post and dives for the overthrown pass. He hauls it in, gets up, and runs ahead for six more yards before being tackled on the ten-yard line.

 

The clock ticks. McKenzie calls two running plays, and Jameson gets the Knights down to the three. Denver calls timeout, and the clock stops at 2:35. Third and goal.

 

McKenzie wants to call a pass, knowing Denver will be anticipating a run. He considers the usual plays, then gets an idea.

 

“Coach,” he says to Harden. “What about that formation we practiced?”

 

Harden thinks; it seems like a strange idea, like they’re trying to overthink the situation.

 

“Hell with it,” Harden says. “Why the fuck not? Zack!” Grantzinger rises from the bench, helmet in hand. “You’re in. Let’s go.”

 

Grantzinger reports as an eligible receiver and lines up at fullback with the Knights in a goal line formation. Grantzinger tries to ignore the oddity of being on the opposite side of the line of scrimmage, something he hasn’t done since high school.

 

Buchanan sells a handoff to Jameson with the defense converging and rolls right. Johnson is covered. Bishop breaks on his route, but too many white jerseys are around. Near the sideline with defenders closing, Buchanan plants his feet and lobs the ball across the field, toward the opposite corner of the end zone. Grantzinger runs with nobody within five yards of him and catches it. Touchdown, Knights.

 

Farmers Field goes into celebration mode for their star linebacker catching a touchdown pass, for an upset against a divisional opponent, for their football team being 6-2 without their starting quarterback.

 

On the edge of the sideline, Harden finally relaxes a bit as he watches Denver mount another no-huddle drive that reaches midfield before being stopped on fourth down. The Knights offense comes out for some kneeldowns, and Harden manages to crack a smile.

 

 

 

Cameramen with microphones circulate the chaotic locker room, players celebrating and waiting for their coach. Harden eventually enters, finds his usual spot, and things calm down slightly. The cameramen inch closer in the hopes that a Merle Harden sound bite is clean enough to TV.

 

“Alright, listen up, faggots!”

 

There goes that.

 

“That’s a great win. A great fucking win. Be proud of yourselves, enjoy this tonight, then it’s on to next week. For now…” An assistant hands him a football, and he hoists it into the air. “…game ball!” The players cheer at the cheesy ritual they’ll never get tired of. “I could give this to a number of guys, I really could, but it’s not every day a linebacker catches a touchdown pass. Zack!”

 

Grantzinger navigates through the crowd and accepts the ball from Harden, embracing in celebration. The locker room stays fired up, but Grantzinger treks through it, looking for Maverick. When he finds him, the two get close to speak over the noise.

 

“Get your ass back here, motherfucker,” Grantzinger says, “because we’re going on another run this year. Once you come back, nobody’s touching us.”

 

“Damn right,” Maverick says. “I’m working on it.”

 

Harden shakes hands with the entire coaching staff, extremely proud of an impressive victory. It was a rocky, inexcusable start, but his team tightened up and finished the right way. Now, as they celebrate, they can finally think about next week’s game, a destination they’ve had circled on the calendar for months: Seattle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RazorStar 4,025]

Ban Ban Ban

 

jk, it was a great chapter so I'm gonna ban Bware instead.

[Sarge+ 3,436]

Very well done, Steven. You've hit your stride in Part 4.

[Cherry 1,302]

Ban Ban Ban

[SteVo+ 3,702]

Razor & Cherry, stahp with the "ban ban" business. I've told Vin and F4E about things like this in advance. The language is all a part of the story, of how the characters behave and what they say. It is absolutely not me trying to stir things up. So cut it out.

Edited January 8, 2016 by SteVo

[RazorStar 4,025]

[Cherry 1,302]

Razor & Cherry, stahp with the "ban ban" business. I've told Vin and F4E about things like this in advance. The language is all a part of the story, of how the characters behave and what they say. It is absolutely not me trying to stir things up. So cut it out.

We're fucking with you bro. We know it's just part of the story. Obviously nobody with a brain would ban you for that

[Zack_of_Steel+ 3,014]

Holy shit, it's like you read my mind.

 

I meant to post this week inquiring about why we haven't seen Mav on the sidelines. I also was going to make a formal request for Grantzinger to play FB, if only to crush some fools.

 

 

Like Sarge said, you've been kicking ass in Part IV. The pacing is probably the best we've seen in KoA and you're nailing some jokes. I laughed out loud at "listen up, faggots".

 

It feels like each chapter is better than the last. Thanks again for doing this, Stevo. And thanks to Bware for joining as an editor.

Edited January 8, 2016 by Zack_of_Steel

[ATL_Predator+ 1,196]

lmao at Mav on the sidelines...what a sad panda he must be.

 

haters gon hate on Rose tho. Well done once again Steven, I'm intrigued to see where this is going.

[BigBen07 285]

Harden.

 

Brilliant chapter, Stevo. I loved the Grantzinger TD play. Reminded me of the 1985 Bears using William Perry in Super Bowl XX to score a TD.

Edited January 8, 2016 by BigBen07

[Thanatos 2,847]

My favorite chapter so far. I might be biased though.

[SteVo+ 3,702]

I meant to post this week inquiring about why we haven't seen Mav on the sidelines. I also was going to make a formal request for Grantzinger to play FB, if only to crush some fools.

 

 

Yep, I remember when you mentioned that idea via PM and had been planning on showing it in Part IV ever since.

 

 

And thanks to you, and everyone, for the praise and comments. When I first outlined Part IV...

 

 

 

The 6th and 7th chapters (which are coming up next) had me excited most.

 

 

[Sarge+ 3,436]

[SteVo+ 3,702]

Hump Day Bump Day

[RazorStar 4,025]

Taking a leak on the shield.

[Maverick 791]

Awesome stuff as usual.

 

I love your endings. Always gets me pumped for the next chapter.

 

Grantzinger navigates through the crowd and accepts the ball from Harden, embracing in celebration. The locker room stays fired up, but Grantzinger treks through it, looking for Maverick. When he finds him, the two get close to speak over the noise.

“Get your ass back here, motherfucker,” Grantzinger says, “because we’re going on another run this year. Once you come back, nobody’s touching us.”

“Damn right,” Maverick says. “I’m working on it.”

 

Special moment between the star on D and the star on O.

Edited January 15, 2016 by Maverick

[GA_Eagle 595]

I know I'm way behind, but this was fantastic.