Every second felt like an hour, and every minute felt like an age. The ticking of the clock seemed deafening in the quiet murmur of the green room, overpowering the muffled sounds of the crowd inside the venue. Brandon Booker slid the ring off his middle finger, back on, and off again. He couldn’t remember how long he’d been doing this, or why.
He looked up from his hands and glanced around the room as he continued: off, on, off, on. Some of the prospects were completely silent, passing the time with their own rituals. Rhythmically tapping their feet on the floor in polished, sparkling shoes bought for the occasion; or just staring at a particular section of the wallpaper. Others were on the phone to their agents: clearly agitated and convinced that something meaningful must’ve happened in the last few minutes.
Brandon thought about the journey that had taken him here. From running around the backyard in Phoenix, to Desert Vista High School football. It had all been about fun back then. No pressure, no expectations. Part of him missed being the fastest kid on the field, and the effortlessness with which he’d evaded tacklers and scored touchdowns. He missed picking himself up after every hit with a grin sprawled across his face. No contract discussions, no media obligations, no internal politics. Brandon, ten friends, and eleven opponents. Pizza after games, sleepovers with friends in towns he’d never heard of before. Fuelled by friendship, winning, and far too much soda.
Another prospect loudly re-entered the room, having returned from the bathroom. It was the seventh time he’d been. Or was it the eighth? Brandon had been keeping count, but had lost track. He’d been unable to focus on anything that day. Where was he again? Right, the journey.
Even college seemed simple now. Sure, things could’ve gone more smoothly, but there was never a moment he’d felt like this. He always knew he’d make it, just not quite when or how. What if he couldn’t get on the field? What if he got cut? What if he wasn’t offered a second contract? This world wasn’t as forgiving. There weren’t as many people rooting for him to succeed. It’d be so easy for him to slip through the cracks and become another footnote. Just another name, one only a handful remembered.
What would he do if his football career failed? Or more importantly, what could he do? What was his backup plan? He thought of his parents, his coaches, his teammates. Everyone who’d worked hard to get him this far. Driving him to practice, driving him to games. Standing up for him, picking him up when he was down. Throwing passes, running routes or doing tackling drills after everyone else had gone home. Sacrificing their own needs for his. Could he look his mother in the eye and tell her he’d failed, after hundreds, no, thousands of hours driving him across the city and across the state? Would his father forgive him, after he’d turned down a promotion that would have forced the family to move and Brandon to change schools?
Had it all been leading up to this day? This moment? Or was today just as fleeting?
A chorus of booing began, and every eyeball in the room darted in the direction of the giant TV screen mounted on the wall. Bex was walking to the podium, draft card in hand. The commissioner cleared her throat, and announced into the microphone: “With the first pick in the Season 22 NSFL Draft, the Chicago Butchers select…”
She paused. Brandon took a deep breath, and the commissioner read out the name on the card.
He looked up from his hands and glanced around the room as he continued: off, on, off, on. Some of the prospects were completely silent, passing the time with their own rituals. Rhythmically tapping their feet on the floor in polished, sparkling shoes bought for the occasion; or just staring at a particular section of the wallpaper. Others were on the phone to their agents: clearly agitated and convinced that something meaningful must’ve happened in the last few minutes.
Brandon thought about the journey that had taken him here. From running around the backyard in Phoenix, to Desert Vista High School football. It had all been about fun back then. No pressure, no expectations. Part of him missed being the fastest kid on the field, and the effortlessness with which he’d evaded tacklers and scored touchdowns. He missed picking himself up after every hit with a grin sprawled across his face. No contract discussions, no media obligations, no internal politics. Brandon, ten friends, and eleven opponents. Pizza after games, sleepovers with friends in towns he’d never heard of before. Fuelled by friendship, winning, and far too much soda.
Another prospect loudly re-entered the room, having returned from the bathroom. It was the seventh time he’d been. Or was it the eighth? Brandon had been keeping count, but had lost track. He’d been unable to focus on anything that day. Where was he again? Right, the journey.
Even college seemed simple now. Sure, things could’ve gone more smoothly, but there was never a moment he’d felt like this. He always knew he’d make it, just not quite when or how. What if he couldn’t get on the field? What if he got cut? What if he wasn’t offered a second contract? This world wasn’t as forgiving. There weren’t as many people rooting for him to succeed. It’d be so easy for him to slip through the cracks and become another footnote. Just another name, one only a handful remembered.
What would he do if his football career failed? Or more importantly, what could he do? What was his backup plan? He thought of his parents, his coaches, his teammates. Everyone who’d worked hard to get him this far. Driving him to practice, driving him to games. Standing up for him, picking him up when he was down. Throwing passes, running routes or doing tackling drills after everyone else had gone home. Sacrificing their own needs for his. Could he look his mother in the eye and tell her he’d failed, after hundreds, no, thousands of hours driving him across the city and across the state? Would his father forgive him, after he’d turned down a promotion that would have forced the family to move and Brandon to change schools?
Had it all been leading up to this day? This moment? Or was today just as fleeting?
A chorus of booing began, and every eyeball in the room darted in the direction of the giant TV screen mounted on the wall. Bex was walking to the podium, draft card in hand. The commissioner cleared her throat, and announced into the microphone: “With the first pick in the Season 22 NSFL Draft, the Chicago Butchers select…”
She paused. Brandon took a deep breath, and the commissioner read out the name on the card.
Quote:612 words. NB: Made Chicago the #1 pick because y'all won the fewest games last season. If you don't like it, win more games.
[OPTION]S24 (PHI): 16 GP, 73 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 FF, 3 sacks, 5 INTs, 10 PDs, 2 TDs
[OPTION]S25 (PHI): 16 GP, 67 tackles, 4 INTs, 13 PDs, 1 TD
[OPTION]S26 (OCO): 16 GP, 68 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INTs, 10 PDs
[OPTION]S27 (OCO): 16 GP, 116 tackles, 4 INTs, 23 PDs, 1 TD
[OPTION]S28 (OCO): 16 GP, 84 tackles, 1 FF, 1 FR, 3 INTs, 20 PDs, 1 TD
[OPTION]S29 (OCO): 16 GP, 99 tackles, 3 FF, 1 FR, 5 INTs, 23 PDs, 1 TD
[OPTION]=============================================================
[OPTION]ISFL Playoff Stats:
[OPTION]S23 (PHI): 1 GP, 2 tackles
[OPTION]S26 (OCO): 1 GP, 5 tackles, 2 PDs
[OPTION]=============================================================
[OPTION]Trophies and Achievements:
[OPTION]Drafted 35th Overall by Myrtle Beach in the S21 DSFL Draft
[OPTION]S21 Ultimini Champion
[OPTION]S21 DSFL Pro Bowl Selection
[OPTION]S21 DSFL Defensive Back of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]Drafted 4th Overall by Philadelphia in the S22 ISFL Draft
[OPTION]S23 ISFL Pro Bowl Selection
[OPTION]S23 ISFL Cornerback of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]S23 ISFL Defensive Performance of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]S24 ISFL Pro Bowl Selection
[OPTION]S24 ISFL Cornerback of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]S25 (PHI): 16 GP, 67 tackles, 4 INTs, 13 PDs, 1 TD
[OPTION]S26 (OCO): 16 GP, 68 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INTs, 10 PDs
[OPTION]S27 (OCO): 16 GP, 116 tackles, 4 INTs, 23 PDs, 1 TD
[OPTION]S28 (OCO): 16 GP, 84 tackles, 1 FF, 1 FR, 3 INTs, 20 PDs, 1 TD
[OPTION]S29 (OCO): 16 GP, 99 tackles, 3 FF, 1 FR, 5 INTs, 23 PDs, 1 TD
[OPTION]=============================================================
[OPTION]ISFL Playoff Stats:
[OPTION]S23 (PHI): 1 GP, 2 tackles
[OPTION]S26 (OCO): 1 GP, 5 tackles, 2 PDs
[OPTION]=============================================================
[OPTION]Trophies and Achievements:
[OPTION]Drafted 35th Overall by Myrtle Beach in the S21 DSFL Draft
[OPTION]S21 Ultimini Champion
[OPTION]S21 DSFL Pro Bowl Selection
[OPTION]S21 DSFL Defensive Back of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]Drafted 4th Overall by Philadelphia in the S22 ISFL Draft
[OPTION]S23 ISFL Pro Bowl Selection
[OPTION]S23 ISFL Cornerback of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]S23 ISFL Defensive Performance of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]S24 ISFL Pro Bowl Selection
[OPTION]S24 ISFL Cornerback of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]S26 ISFL Pro Bowl Selection
[OPTION]S26 ISFL Returner of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]S29 ISFL Pro Bowl Selection
[OPTION]S29 ISFL Cornerback of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]=============================================================
Player | Update | Wiki | Twitter
[OPTION]S26 ISFL Returner of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]S29 ISFL Pro Bowl Selection
[OPTION]S29 ISFL Cornerback of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]=============================================================
Player | Update | Wiki | Twitter