Kat didn't even notice the cameras, she was for too focused on winning this damn job. She again took the ball in her hands, flipping it so it would drop laces up. She took a breath, then booted the ball towards the right corner. Nail in the coffin was what she aimed for. And this kick just felt so much better than the ones to the left had...

  Adam sprinted to his left, settling under it at the one. about a yard or so from the boundry.

  The second one he caugh just inside the goalline about 2 yards  from the goaline.

  Fry nodded his head once more. Very nice...the man would have to think on taking a knee or try to beat out coverage folks to the 20

   Nodding to CArl he says...down the middle this time. I am looking for Hangtime  and distance..the trick is to  make the guy return from just in the endzone..we get a chance for a fumble on the return, and dropping him inside the 20...at worse..they take a knee..."


  The kicker looked like he felt more comfortable just letting go...Adam drifted back 4 yards deep in the endzone..he looked back and forth quickly and ran the ball out to the  25, before snapping of a pass on the run to the ball boy.

  Once more he backpeddled to the  5....Carl kicked  again...this one  dropped at the 3, Adam ran it  back towards the 20 once more, tossing the back on the run to the ball boy.

 not bad...depends on how fast our coverage guys are....Ok KAt..You'er up.

Kat smiled. The coffin corners had been very tricky. This, though, this was child's play. Kat confidently booted the first ball down the field, aiming for just beyond the goal line. So far, it felt like her best kick of the day, which showed her she was finally done warming up...

 Once more Adam settles  under the ball..he seemed a bit antsy waiting for it to come down..he took it  2 yards deep and ran it out, flipping  a pass to the poor  ball boy who would hsake his  hands after adam fire the pass up field.

  The second one  came down on the goal line,,,Adam  caught it and   ran it back once more.

  Fry looks over to the Coaches Playform, anyone following his eyes would see Amota using his  markers, NiLie smiling down at the filed and Sims with one arm across his  chest, the other arm resting on it  as  his hand covered his  mouth inthought.

 alright!   Placements..Kickers..get your Holders....BRONK!..stay down there....

  Adam nodded and waved..backpeddling to stand outside the Endzone behind the posts.

  Fry called the longsnappers over The ball boy stood  next to them with a arm full of footballs.you two look like you know  what you are doing...so we will skip the PAT spot  and with the Line of scrimmage being the 10...with the 7 for the spot...you are looking at a 27 yarder...you get three..one from each hash...one from the middle...Carll..you start.."

.....The longnsapper flips the ball back the the #8 quarterback. he set it  down on the right hash   the ball went through....then from the Middles, the ball went into the stands,...then from the left..High enough   and long enough...just...a football width inside the post...

  Fry nooded,Kat? Your's up.

Kat waved over James. It was show time. Time for some real competition. Time to show why she should be this team's kicker. Kat grinned to herself, knowing that she'd finally warmed up fully, her last two kicks had more than shown her that. Kat stretched and waited for James to set her up.

 Nathan walked around with his clipboard watching as the plays ran their drills, and the kickers knocked the ball with pin point accuracy. He stopped a few times to take note and speak with the assistance but he was cautious about talking to players. He wanted to see their attitudes about drills as much as he wanted to see their talent. He needed speed on his defense and we wasn't against a nice solid WRs as a DB if they were up for the challenge.

 Marcus stepped out onto the field with his pads on and his bag tossed over his shoulder. He was solid, 6'5, 245 lbs and built like a MLB prototype. He had a gray and orange Virginia Tech Alumni duffel bag over his shoulder.

He jogged down the bench line and set his bag just on the end. He took a drink from his bottle of Power Aid, then tossed it back in the side pouch. As he turned he saw Coach Lewis, wasting no time he started to jog across the field to meet him.

"Hey Coach, I was told you wanted to see me, so here I am. I just want you to know that I really appreciate you give'in me this chance."

"No need to thank me with your words boy, get out there and show me that bringing you in wasn't a mistake. I want to see you hit like the game was on the line, other wise you can just pick you bag back up and head out."

<orange>"You got it coach, trust me all I can think about is giving someone a beautiful view of the sky!"<orange>

 Marcus turned and took off to do some shed drills.

Mik rode into the parking lot on his bike already dressed in uniform. He'd gotten a lot of weird looks from people but it made the first day seem more special. He'd always done it in the past but he'd only turned out for teams within 5-10minutes of his home normally, and he was still trying to find a place here so it was a little fun to come down the lift of the hotel all dressed up and make the 30 mins ride to the stadium.

He climbed off the bike and looked around at the stadium, NFL was within his grasp and all he needed to do now was lock up a starting role. He grinned inwardly and walked through the gate onto the track of the stadium. The first thing he noticed was that the kickers were in full flow and the defence were all lined up for drills, not much work being done by the offence but it all looked slick and smooth.

He made his way over to where the coaches were and introduced himself, "Mik San-Guigerre, runningback here for training." He gave them a grin and put his bag on the floor, changing from trainers to his running shoes. "I can also play Tight End or Quarterback if we're in a pinch - got experience all along the offence really in Canada, 'cept blocking ain't my thing. But running with the ball is my thing, eh?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:26, Mon 26 Apr 2010.

 Nathan stood there as Mik ran down his resume. Shaking his head slowly he couldn't help but chime in, even if it wasn't his side of the ball, "Let me get this right...blocking isn't your thing. So pretty much what you are telling us is if you don't get the ball we might as well have you on the bench. Tell me running back, if a pass play is called and your asked to stay at home and protect the QB should be just expect to see him on his ass if he can't get rid of the ball. What about if we run a HB off tackle and you are lined up in the TE spot, do we just draw it up to run the other way?"

 Nathan didn't give the guy time to answer he turned and walked away, "Rookies" passing by Coach Sim he looked over, "I'm glad he's your problem and not mine."

 Nathan had zero tolerance for players that couldn't see past their egos, one of the reasons he liked the Defensive side of the ball. He already had his hands full with three of his own guys thinking the team needed them...he couldn't wait to prove them otherwise.

  Sims looked  at Mik with a Lop-sided smile. Mr Amota's eyes widened  as his Young  wife listened to something Amota said.

  The coach said,"well then...you best recheck your position..even the  wideouts block here...and we will be throwing an awful lot...go get to work...

 Marcus ran drop and pops as the coaches watched timing him as he hit the ground and popped back up. After the fifth one the whistle blew and he did his ten yard sprint colliding with a tackle dummy.

 The coaches shared words as Marcus moved to the next station and began his roll backs. The balls of his feet rolling him backwards as he cut to the right intercepting a ball flying through the air. Dropping it to the ground he stopped and looked back. A few of the others were moving pretty well.

 As he headed to the bench out of the way a heavyset Samoan stepped up beside him. "Didn't you play for VT a few years back?"

"I played last year as well, the coach and I didn't agree on a few things so I got to see less playing time."

"Doesn't look like you missed much in your step."

"Thanks but I need to work on my reads, I'm sure Offenses in the NFL can do a good deal better at hiding their intent then most college QBs." Marcus took a drink, "I need to head over to and get ready for these 7s I'll see ya around"

  to move things along.........


   The snaps flew back to  Steele, he was a little nervous  about holding for these placements...Kat counted on them..him..well..not so much..but a missed hold. might mean a missed kick.

  Kat's kicks went through, each with a satisfing thud..none were in dangers of going  wide.

  Fry nodded, Well..now  let us move  back a few steps  shall we..time is running short and we have recivers  and QBs to cut..."


  Carl  lined up and nodded..these  were 42 yarders..these were the important kicks..a miss her not only lost you points, but could cost you points  as you gave a field position.

  His first Kick when straight  down the Middle..cleared the post by another 10 yards.. Adam snagged it on the track by the Dragon's Den...however..the second kick bounced off the left upright and went through...his third  kick was wide left as he over adjusted his  steps...he still had a cocky sneer on his face...he figured 2 went through...

  Kat was up

Kat smiled as she and James figured it out with the short range stuff. And now, now she was faced with the crucial kicks. The 40+ yards. This is where a lot of kickers could run into trouble.

Not for Kat. Not today.

Katelyn Dawlish had sworn to take over this job. Starting kicker. And dammit, that was what she was going to do. The snap flew back to James, who grounded it perfectly. Kat smiled as she launched forward, her foot connecting beautifully, booting the ball through the middle of the uprights with room to spare.

She did it again twice and nodded. No longer was she going to celebrate. She'd been perfect this go around, as she expected for herself. She was going to win the starting job, dammit! Then, she could let herself revel.

Kat gave a thumbs up to James once the third kick from 42 cleared easily. She looked over to Coach Fry, wanting his evaluation.

Mik looked a little surprised by the coaches but straightened his face and nodded before running to join the drills - his mind racing.

Even the wide-outs block? I've never played on such a defensive attack before. We'll be looking for a one glory-pass to grab touchdowns then, I guess. Showy but risky, he thought to himself, still they were NFL coaches, so better to listen to them and see what happens.

He stretched out quickly and joined the end of the line for the drills waiting his turn, sure that what he lacked in power would be more than made up in agility and pace.

The coaches must have seen my tapes from his college days and teams in Canada, he silently mused, wonder why they wanted me then.

He tried to shake his thought and luckily the drills helped him to do so, relaxing into his natural stride.

  Fry looked over at Sims  and Amota. Amota said  something to Sims  who called outI want to see 5  more yards...

  Fry nodded, moved the  long snapper back 5 yards. He looked at the two kickers. he had a smile on his faxce..the kind of  smile cats have when they have a mouse uder thier paw.Alright..." he started  quietly, only the two holders  and two kickers within earshot.Right now...there are about  100 Dragon's  fans who won a contest to watch Minicamp...along with them, the local TV and ESPN...you are about to kick 3 , 47 yarders..these are the game winners..or losers..these are the ones, when we are in OT..that you need to make...or  we have to punt, and let the other team drive  down for thier kickers....here...is the big thing though...I am keeping only one kicker...thsi way..whomever wins the job..can get settled with the holder  and the longsnapper before the first preseaon game...now..Kat has the job bagged...if she was not here..i would settle for you...but...these 3 kicks are it...nothing else after this..49+? we'll do  those when we thing  we can't score anyother way...these..these are money...so it only stands...that you need to make these...good luck...

  Carl looked stunned...did fry just say the broad is the kicker? He took a deep breath...as the longsnapper  and holder settled in..he nodded..and the snap was off, the ball was down, the kick was on the way..just cleared by a yard...the secons one hit the crossbar and bounced forward..Adam  made a show of running about with his  hands over his helmet like there was an afriad..folks in the stands  laughed..his third kick sailed wide left...now...he had top wait..

  Kat was up.

  Coach Hebner pulled Mik aside and looked at him,alright Mik...don't know how much ya  know  about American football..Sims was on the Staff of the Houston Gamblers in the USFL..Jim Kelly..passing..alot...that's what we  will be doing here...at least until we settle in..offense..defesne..we are attacking..if we lose..it  won't  be beacuse we were afriad to try to win...because of this...all the skill folks have to know  how..have to want to..block..you will be inn a pattern...a wideout  snags an out  and turns upfield..you get a piece of a DB or a Linebacker..we get more yards..that same wideout  needs to hit the guy that isn covering him..so you can gain yards on a swing, or a wheel or a screen...but for now..worry about catching the back..and don't  say nothing stupid about blocking again...god ...you would thing you want to be released!

  Ivan grinned a Mik as they took thier places in line,found out i get to Full back...or Hback...Tight ends will be one  slot..HAlfbacks the other..and wideouts  wideouts...out  games are going to look like airraids!"

Kat took a deep breath, zoning in fully. 47 yards. Her best kick in college had been 46. Still this was in her range, and she was coursing with confidence after the coach informed her all she had to do was make these kicks to take the job.

Kat waited, watching the longsnapper send the ball to James. A perfect setup and Kat felt herself take the steps forward. She felt herself connect with the ball, but in the spirit of caution, she'd put less than she'd intended, not wanting to shank the kick.

The ball cleared the bar by a yard. It was good, but not better than Carl's first.

It was the next two where Kat distinguished herself.

The second was a powered kick. The ball was sent screaming between the uprights, practically slamming against the catching net.

The third kick, that, was a thing of beauty. Kat leaned back just enough to where the ball went arching up, it traveled the entire way, and cleared with plenty of space, centered perfectly. Kat nodded. That kick maybe could have cleared 50 yards. She turned to the coach, wanting to know what he said before celebrating...

  Coach Fry watched the balls sail through the pipes. Adam scrambling after them, trying to catch them off the net like an arena football return man. The coach had  a smile   and Looked over to Sims  and Amota...Sims had the sligt smile on his face slightly covered by two fingers of  his right hand...then he nodded.

  Fry turned to the two Kickers he said,well done...Carl? Go see the dragonettes...and thank yuou for your interest in the Dragons..."

  Welcome to the NFL , Kat..."

Kat felt a surge of jubilation course through her. She'd done it! She'd earned her spot on the team! Kat managed to go over to Coach Fry and thank him profusely.

"I can't wait for camp, Coach."

Kat tossed an appreciative wave towards Adam, the man who'd shagged all the balls she'd kicked.

She was beaming as she turned away and ran to James, practically tackling him with her hug. That was how enthusiastic she was feeling right now.

   Sims  Blew the air horn..there was more then 100 fams in the stands now..there were more then a few of the cut players who wanted to hang around, to see who made it...but there were others who  had just shown up at the stadium, Amota  allowed them in...a reward for being anxious about the new  team.

  7 on 7..lets go folks!

   All the coaches  except  for Fry and Hebnar where lined up behind the  offensive side of the ball..Hebner  and Fry were the  officals.

  The rgoups  were roatted  about Set up with two split end and a Flanker wide..a tight end in one slot, a halfback in the other  slot..and the fullback as the H-back...the quarterbacks were in the gun...Sims would show them the pass play for thier routes.

  Worth walked in the defensive backfield growling at the  Linebackers  and D-backs..Time to show the caoches who stays  and who goes...

  Number 17 was the first QB up...Adam was the split  end..a short post for him...others  running  short routes  as well curls  and swings. Adam did not 17 give  a nod of his head to Worth.  at the snap of the ball, Adam  gave the corner a head face  and sliced across the middle... his head snapped  around as 17 let the ball go..high...  Bronk Jumped , hands arms extended  as he heard,...welcome to the NFL...punk! Worth Blasted him just as his hands touched the ball, Adam flew 5 yards sideways, hit the ground  like a rag doll...Folks in the stands yelled...Bronk Bounced up and shouted....AAAALLLLRIGHT!  Now we're talkin!..he handed the  ball to Worth who slapped it out of his hands, Bronk Grinned as he whispers,I think you just help me make the team!

  Two Plays  Later..17 was shown another set of plays..La Roi going across the  Middle, Adam doing a curl..he would be the checkdown, or be the first blocker should La Roi catch it...This time, Adam noted the odd nod..and followed the  eyes to Worth...once more the BAll was high..everyone  there knew La Roi wasn't going up for it...this was Worth's pic..The vetren Saftey closed on the ball...what he did not realize, Adam had  made many a play in  the CFL, by hustling....Just as the ball reached Worth..A Green helmet hit him in the chest, Worth's own Helmet Flew in one direction...the ball  in the other... an Worth hit the Ground  with  a Thud... The Wideout scrambled for the ball on his hands and knees, but the ball hit the Ground a foot away from Him...La Roi...had ducked....

 Adam Got up and walked towards  Worth, the man's upper lip was split, the wideout picked up his  helmet and dropped it on Worth's belly as  trainers rushed over to him,"...Greetings...from the CFL..Punk..."

 Unkown to Adam and most of the others, Amota was Grinning for the first time ..His wife was laughing  as Amota said,"..Samuri!"

  Sims smile grew just a tad,That's how he got the name...The Bomb..."

  The Head Caoch Turned as he and  Amota  were busy with the Clip boards...Amota's  wife talking back and forth between themSteele!  You'er up....Bronk...stay in the roation..La Roi? HAve a seat...

  The head Coach Turned to Nathan,its up to  you if you want Worth out there or not..he's  the only defensive Jag left..all the rest are freeagents, draftchoices  and trade goods...

In reply to Front Office (msg #106):

Mik smiled as he Coach Hebner talked, "Yes Coach I understand, just meant to say that my game is built on pace and agility, not power and strength. If you'se just want me to just block then I'll do my best, eh. I can run round people no problem but I'll need some help from the defence guys to show me how you stop a 300lb monster from pancaking you. Never been a part of such an aerial team before but, eh this is the NFL - I'm willing to learn Coach, willing and ready!" He nodded at the Coach and smiled again.

He turned when Ivan spoke to him and replied, "Yeah it's a whole new ballgame eh? I'll just have to adapt quickly I guess, no more 40-yard runs to gain position for me eh? Let's go see how I do in this drill." He gave the other man a grin, strapped on his helmet and waited to be called for the 7on7.

 Nathan walked up and looked Worth in the face, reading his eyes Nathan waited a moment before speaking. "You can grab a drink and head back around. I'm not done seeing what you have. You took a nice hit out there and while it might have come from a WR the real point is the ball fell incomplete. The way I see it is that is still a win for the defense. INTs are nice don't get me wrong and we will need to work on you making that play but all in all they didn't catch the ball and the WRs had to become the defender, that seems like a plus to me."

 Nathan looked back at Sim, "I want to give him another go. He looks like he has something left in him."

  Worth nodded as Nathan as he finsihed, Ya Coach...it  fell incomplete..never  saw the bastard  coming....

  He put on his helmet  and circled  back around to get into the defensive rotation.

Well we traded or  cut every Jag we though we did not  want...Carl..we  kept because we did not know if Kat would still be there in the  3rd  round...should not have worried though..no one else would dared to have drafted her..there would have been a run on her for Unfdrafted freeagent...Same with La Roi..he's tall and fast..but gutless..I am Hoping Nevers can do something with him. Worth made the pro Bowl his 2nd  and third years in the league..but when you play on a loser..folks tend to forget about you...Cummings  is a damn good Tackle..he seems to have his head on stright..the rest..we  have to mold... Sims  smiles slightly,We are going to throw an awful lot...we are going to attack them no matter  if the score is 50 to 0 us or them...and I am hoping your defense can do the same...win or lose...I want folks not to want to like to play us...

  He points to the BAcks," we have  a few there who can make this thing  work, if they can catch, and block downfield..Mik...Ivan..Horn, the  back that was with Greeb=n Bay last year..we have the tools to build this  thing..and I bet money we will find some others on the  waiver wires and even CFL folks..no one is seeing us coming...and win or lose? its going to be wrth putting on primetime"

 Nathan stood there listening before he allowed a slight grin to cross his face. "Trust me, the defense is going to take that field with one goal, Seek and Destroy. You give me at least two years and we will have the best Rush defense in game, and we will be in the top five for pass defense. I plan on putting together the hardest working squad in the NFL. Work work work and then it will pay off.

Nathan watched as a few of the line man moved down field and lined up for the runs.

  The  next set  in the & 0n 7s went thropugh. Mik and Ivan got time  at slots  and H-back..both had balls thrown to them, both caught them. Sims Looked up at the scorboard  clock, the whole of the while the baord had been showing  differant  players going though thier drills...the folks who had been allowed in were getting to know the team...Amota was crafty..even fans needed minicamp...

  Sims shouted,Steele!  You'er out there..Bronk..X...La Roi..Y  Stalls TE...Mik..left slotIvan...H-back...You start at the 20..see how far you can make it in 2:00 mimutes..If you stall in Fielfgoal range, we get to see  our Lady kickers leg again...Offense wins if they get a score..defense wins if they stop you..Losers take three laps around the field..Steele..call your own patterns... Fry and Hebner  will ref..give the ball to the ball boy to spot..let's go!!!