Drake came out with their 9 friends, looking grim and glancing up at the scoreboard. We were down, but if we could score before the half at least we would be in a good position to strike in the second half.
And score we did. This time the Chiefs defense managed to lock Drake down pretty hard, but it took an extra guy to do so, leaving another receiver the perfect opportunity to make a quick catch and run into the end zone.
As they jogged off the field, Drake and Lance took off their helmets. Through my binoculars, I watched Drake, eager to see his reaction to drawing attention away from the play rather than being the guy who scored, as he was used to.
To my surprise, Drake was all smiles as he and Lance left the field. I nodded to myself, giving myself a virtual pat on the back for marching into Coach Armstrong’s office months ago and demanding he signed this undrafted rookie free agent whom no one wanted because of his ‘character concerns.’
Well, those ‘character concerns’ had been a mirage. Sure, Drake Rollins started out and still was rough around the edges, but it was pretty obvious that he was already one of the best receivers in the league, and we had gotten him for nothing. I made a mental note to figure out with my team when exactly we should start talks with him on a long term contract - him and Lance Parker too.
I wanted them both to be Patriots for a long time.
The second half went far better for us than the first. Buoyed by that late score in the 2 nd quarter, the Patriots came rushing out of the locker room after the half and totally bowled the Chiefs over. When the offense wasn’t on the field lighting it up, Hudson Asher was leading the defense, keeping the Chiefs locked down hard.
In the end we won by 14. It didn’t seem like much, but in the playoffs, winning without taking a serious injury was all you really wanted.
As the fans in my section started to leave, I hugged my new friends I’d made to my left and right, saying my goodbyes. As I filed out, down to the lower floor to get to the field and then the locker room to celebrate our first playoff win in a long time, I texted my assistant. The fans I’d sat with were long time Patriots fans, owning those tickets for more than 15 years. It had occurred to me during the game to comp their season tickets for next year, and my assistant responded almost instantly that it had been done.
I headed down to the field, shaking hands with staff members along the way. The weather had cooled down significantly, and I shivered in my giant hoodie as I walked across the field, looking up and all around at the rapidly emptying stadium. ESPN was set up in one corner doing post-game - I made sure and avoid their sweeping cameras - even if I enjoyed dressing like this and being a regular fan for once, it wouldn’t do for some producer to recognize me and chase me around for an interview.
I did see Lily off to one side doing an interview with a staff member. I always had time to talk to her, so I waited till she was done then I tapped her on the shoulder.
“Mackenzie!” Lily said, clearly surprised at how I looked. “Where have you been?”
I laughed, then pointed to the section I’d been in, way up in the cheap seats. “Up there. It’s definitely more fun watching the games up there.” I smiled again. “Also, no cameras on me.”
Lily chuckled. “Oh, come on, cameras aren’t that bad, are they?” She leaned in. “Can we get an interview? The fans would love to see you dressed up like that.”
“Oh, please, Lily, not right now.” I said, looking down, then back at her. “You really think so?”
“Are you kidding?” She added, softer. “Mackenzie, you’re probably going to be the general manager of the team soon, and people around here already act like you are. Your father owns the team. Of course they’d love to see you act like a regular fan just like them.”
“Ummm, OK,” I said, flustered, but seeing her
And score we did. This time the Chiefs defense managed to lock Drake down pretty hard, but it took an extra guy to do so, leaving another receiver the perfect opportunity to make a quick catch and run into the end zone.
As they jogged off the field, Drake and Lance took off their helmets. Through my binoculars, I watched Drake, eager to see his reaction to drawing attention away from the play rather than being the guy who scored, as he was used to.
To my surprise, Drake was all smiles as he and Lance left the field. I nodded to myself, giving myself a virtual pat on the back for marching into Coach Armstrong’s office months ago and demanding he signed this undrafted rookie free agent whom no one wanted because of his ‘character concerns.’
Well, those ‘character concerns’ had been a mirage. Sure, Drake Rollins started out and still was rough around the edges, but it was pretty obvious that he was already one of the best receivers in the league, and we had gotten him for nothing. I made a mental note to figure out with my team when exactly we should start talks with him on a long term contract - him and Lance Parker too.
I wanted them both to be Patriots for a long time.
The second half went far better for us than the first. Buoyed by that late score in the 2 nd quarter, the Patriots came rushing out of the locker room after the half and totally bowled the Chiefs over. When the offense wasn’t on the field lighting it up, Hudson Asher was leading the defense, keeping the Chiefs locked down hard.
In the end we won by 14. It didn’t seem like much, but in the playoffs, winning without taking a serious injury was all you really wanted.
As the fans in my section started to leave, I hugged my new friends I’d made to my left and right, saying my goodbyes. As I filed out, down to the lower floor to get to the field and then the locker room to celebrate our first playoff win in a long time, I texted my assistant. The fans I’d sat with were long time Patriots fans, owning those tickets for more than 15 years. It had occurred to me during the game to comp their season tickets for next year, and my assistant responded almost instantly that it had been done.
I headed down to the field, shaking hands with staff members along the way. The weather had cooled down significantly, and I shivered in my giant hoodie as I walked across the field, looking up and all around at the rapidly emptying stadium. ESPN was set up in one corner doing post-game - I made sure and avoid their sweeping cameras - even if I enjoyed dressing like this and being a regular fan for once, it wouldn’t do for some producer to recognize me and chase me around for an interview.
I did see Lily off to one side doing an interview with a staff member. I always had time to talk to her, so I waited till she was done then I tapped her on the shoulder.
“Mackenzie!” Lily said, clearly surprised at how I looked. “Where have you been?”
I laughed, then pointed to the section I’d been in, way up in the cheap seats. “Up there. It’s definitely more fun watching the games up there.” I smiled again. “Also, no cameras on me.”
Lily chuckled. “Oh, come on, cameras aren’t that bad, are they?” She leaned in. “Can we get an interview? The fans would love to see you dressed up like that.”
“Oh, please, Lily, not right now.” I said, looking down, then back at her. “You really think so?”
“Are you kidding?” She added, softer. “Mackenzie, you’re probably going to be the general manager of the team soon, and people around here already act like you are. Your father owns the team. Of course they’d love to see you act like a regular fan just like them.”
“Ummm, OK,” I said, flustered, but seeing her
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