Page 106 of Scored

“You made sure Vee saw that I should.”

“I did,” she admitted. “I can play dirty too. Did my plan work?”

“Mostly. I admit to falling asleep one night without it.” I didn’t tell her it was because of Vee.

Lacy nodded. “I can take that. We’re doing the MRI today. Your bruising is better. I want to take one final look at the tendons and ligaments.”

“I don’t have a choice, do I?”

“I suppose you can choose not to dress for the next game and be added to the inactive roster.”

“Damn, Lacy, you do play dirty.”

“Is that a yes?”

“Yes.”

“Come back after lunch.” She looked at her watch. “I don’t want to make you miss the team meeting.”

Standing, I pulled my button-down shirt over my shoulders and pushed my arms down the sleeves. As I started the process of the buttons, I grinned. “I’ll be back, but I might interrupt your lunch again.”

She shook her head. “Nice try. I’m flexible on my lunch schedule.”

The mood in the team film room was jovial, that was until the coaches entered.

“Oh fuck no,” Tilson yelled. “I did not just walk in on a celebration, did I?” When no one responded, he asked again. “Did I?”

“No,” came from murmurs throughout the room.

“I don’t want to hear or see celebrating. You won the AFC championship, congratulations. Now that game is behind us. We have another more important game ahead of us.” His volume rose. “The biggest fucking game in the National Football League. You’ll be playing on the world stage. Last year over 125 million people viewed the Super Bowl.” His eyes scanned every player’s face. “If you don’t want 125 million people to watch you lose, then get your head out of your ass and let’s concentrate.”

Coach Pratt came forward with a stern expression but gentler voice. “We’re not going to spend too much time on yesterday’s game. However, there were plays that deserve discussion. After that, Coach Brown and I will dissect the Eagles and Vikings’ game. We’re going to watch every offensive play the Eagles made and every defensive play, dissect them, learn their tells.”

“By the time,” Coach Brown added, “we face the Eagles at SoFi Stadium, you’ll know every wart, pimple, and bruise on every Eagles’ player’s ass. You’ll know their ugly side so you can exploit it. Is that clear?”

“Yes, Coach.”

Tilson raised his voice. “I can’t fucking hear you.”

“Yes, Coach.” The response was louder than the first one.

After films, I admitted to the guys at my lunch table, “That was painful. I didn’t see the whole NFC game. To have it picked apart...”

“Hey,” Troy said, “Zane killed his snaps.”

A smile came to my lips. “Hell yeah. It’s a Graham thing.”

Spencer looked up from his plate of various high-protein entrees. “You’re not after my position, are you?”

I lifted my hand. “No. You and Zane outweigh me by a hundred pounds apiece.”

“The Eagles wiped the floor with the Vikings,” JD said. “Sorry, Fin.”

“No apology necessary. Coach was right. Last week, I was analyzing the new plays and the Texans in my sleep. I guess it’s going to be the Eagles for the next two weeks.”

“They’re a third seed,” Troy said. “We’re still a first seed.”

“Confident is good,” I replied. “Not overconfident.”