Emma listened quietly.  She wasn't a huge notetaker, but she had that look that indicated she was retaining everything just fine.

Emma was finishing up her meal when Sims approached and explained things to her.  In other words, wherever she could legally be played, Emma was going to be played. That was fine with her; she made it a point to study up on whatever position she could legally play in case needed.  "Sounds good to me, coach. Planning on enjoying it," Emma replied.

   Adam layed in Bed... watching   some film on his Lap top until 11:00.. then he shut it  down, and tried to go to sleep.

  He even ordered a carton of chocolate Milk  sent up  and had a  tall glass  as he looked out the window. at the New York lights, about  a mile away..still shining bright.

Emma had a bit of extra energy left over after the meetings, which was natural because it was her first game.  She spent some time in her room watching film as well, particularly studying the quarterback's tendencies on who he liked to throw to in what situations and what moves the receivers and tight ends tended to bite on.  Some of this watching was done while doing push-ups, though not a lot, just to provide an outlet for the energy.  It was certainly not enough to impact her energy for the game.

She then spent about an hour before bed in deep meditation.  This was a routine she'd had for years which helped her relax before the game and it let her internalize everything she'd learned.  It also let her focus inwards and get a feel for how her body was doing.  She'd repeat the meditation in the morning when she woke up as well.

 Getting  ready for Texans...... <<<<<<  from Complex

   The scaffold  was gone now the filed set up for Skills and conditioning.... There were two Cameramen there  from  NBC.. they would be having the game on Sunday Night.

  The   ex Jock reporter, and old DE from the  Buccaneers  who did  alot of the FLA stuff.

   As    SIms  called the Players together  After the   skills and Conditioning,The  Jock , Mandel Wicks, asked in front of the Team.

  ..Coach Sims? You are Known around the league  as  a ..somewhat..odd coach. We have stood  here   for 45 Minutes of Your practice, and it was all skills and conditioning, the  kinda  stuff we  do  in preseason... and You do all your Running at theBeginning  of Practice?... you could have had  an easy, 30 more minutes for the reps...

 Sims  Smiles at the Man who was almost a head taller, but  did not seem  like it  Next to Sims,..Well , Mandel?... MY...players   are pretty sharp..they pick things up  fast, we do not  keep  people around here who can't handle a play book..or have an Ego too big to do what we tell them to do.... Highschool..College..semi-pro... Proball.. if you are uncoachable.. you can't play here...

  Wicks  seemed to take Offense to that, but  smiled through as he asked,..Talking to some of the  other Coaches?... You didn't even look at Last week's  game against the Cowboys, for the Texans?

 Again, with the patronizing smile,..Cowboys  beat them up...... They Beat the   Dolphins.. so better to study  what they did ...um..'right'... You Notice  the  Last two games, they used all three of  thier QBs.... one game they Managed to win.. the other  game, even with thier bye?.. they go9t  crushed  by the Cowboys..so?... You'll forgive  me if i am not too concerned how they played against the Cowboys..

 Wicks    shifted  Uncomfortably..this wasn'[t going  as he thought it would,....of the three QBs, the Hosuton has.. who would you rather Face...

   Sims  smiled at Him, he knew what  Wicks was doing,  Sims   Turned and winked  at the Players, the c Camera couldn't  catch it, when he turned back he said,..Mosh...  I'd Like to see Mosh play against us... he completed what?   1 Pass agaist the  Fins?.... 3 for 24 against the   Cowboys>,, he  has  14 completions this  year...5 Ints.. 2  went for TDs... Yeah.. I'd  Like to see him...

 there was almost a gasp from the Media,..You aren't concerned about his..um..Mobility?

 ...we got a guy who fills in, gets reps at QB... he is very...very Mobile ... but he has more   completions and TDs  that Mosh does....heck.. if  we traded him to the texans..he'd  start!

  Again, there  were Murmurs  from the Media. Wicks  ended the    Interview  as  Yuto  announced it was time for the Media  ( except  for the two guys from the Sundaynight  Football Booth) to leave.

 Wicks    Looked at Sims   after the Mic  was put away and the Cameramen were Moving Off.. he looked at the Players  Some were grinning, some just looked on...You know I have to use that..right? Are you crazy?

 Sims   Gave the   Guy a Pat on the  Back,..I don't  Lie Mandel... I'm Upfront... If the  texans  and Mosh beat  us?.. I'll be the first one to  give them congrates.... but.. i really don't see that HAppening...

 well?..Thanks Coach.. no matter how it works out, you gave me a great piece...

 Once    the Media  moved  off Sims Looked at his team...By the time  we  finish practice... that is going to air, all over the NFL... Houston is going to go nuts... Dallas won't like it much either...and?  I don't give a damn....

 ..The Texans, as an organization, Is not a Friend of the  Dragons or  the Amotas.... I tend to take that personally. The Amota's  are Business people. like  any others..but they are loyal to those  who are loyal to them... they reward, hard work... they punish those who steal from them...either   by  theft of  money..or   'pretending' to play  and work out......So?... whether the Texans  were 0-6...6-0.. or  anywhere  in between.. I wantv to  not  just beat them.. but damage them.. make them look so bad, that thier ownersstart tryign to make  chancges in mid season.. and we can watch their  wheels  fall off, while we keep rolling..

 ..now?.. as a Coach? I see glaring wholes  on defense.. I see   massive gaps  on offense.. and I want to win.... a  year from now?   the win will just be a stat in our history...but  sunday?.. it is a division Rival that must be crushed...

 Then he smiles  and easy Smile,  from your  part.. as players? Some of you wouldn't be here.. that is..the NFL..if it wasn't for the Amotas.....But..putting that aside?....This is a contract game.. that's right..i'm saying it out loud... You bust your asses this  week... and Sundaynight. Your  are going to   pile up  stats  towards your Bonuses.. that  may sound Merc-like? But in the end..we all like getting paid..Amd there isn't anything better, then having a division rival, fatten your paycheck..Now?.. Defesne  on the  North 40 to go through you Game plan... Offense  on the South  40   Go through your Reps...

 ..Smokey?.. You might not  Need it.. But  Punt for a Bit on the sidelines... and  when we do our end practice  runs, you can hits  some FGs...

 Smokey placed his Box of  sand under  the bench and Nodded with a smile, then got some trainers to go with him on the track and shag for him.

......................

 Today would just  me static.. settign up how they want to set  Up..Calw as  being  Mosh ... the other two, were  Pocket passers, they knew  were they would be... Calls were being  set for  the 'mobile' QB.. so they could hunt him down.

 On Offense it was goign to be an air raid.. Safeties  inside.. Bronk  and Mackins would   go deep up the sideliens... Safeties outside the  Hashes,, the WRs   would do slants. While Ben   went deep.. tehre would  be adjustmenst of down and distance... but the backs  would be in the Flats almost the whole time, either flowing out to the flats.  Or  Hooking Up as a slot reciever

   Steele  and Bronk  stood back behind  Duke  as Sims  called out what he wanted..the Team seemed   locked in...

This would be a potentially fun game for Emma. Nothing was going to damage the pride of a team from Texas quite like than a girl putting their players to shame. Football was huge in Texas, and they'd likely feel quite humiliated if she piled up the interceptions and forced fumbles against them.

Still, she had to take them seriously, like every team, to manage that. If she was on the field, she was giving it 150% at all times.

Ben settled down to get some solid work in, running every drill as if it were a game with points on the line.

  Though the   static  set ups  weren't  tiring, they had  worked  hard  at the beginning .

  Sims  Called  the  team together,Ok? tomorrow  we'll go harder.... but  right now... I want to see  2 haed Laps  around the track.... Coach Fry is  Going to keep  track along  with  3 trainers.... the First  player  , from each Position gets a free  Pizza from the Commissary...   it breaks down as... O-line... D- Line..LBs..RBs..  Recievers and DBs... Smokey gets one  by default, cause he's the Only  Kicker..

   they Lined up in masse , Sims  Blew the whistle..  he  ran  arpound the track on the inside of the field.. encouraging those  we  seemed to  be struggling...  pushing those who were  already pushing.

 Cal was at the North endzone , Jumping Up  and down, yelling at his  defesne to  beat 'whatever' Offensive player was   within reach.

While the pizza itself wasn't the reason, Emma pushed hard in her lap running. A lap or two was nothing in terms of running distance, so she could go much harder at it than she normally ran, basically moving at full sprint speed.

Ben put his head down and went for it full tilt... and he didn't even care for pizza much. He had the makings of a beef and broccoli stir fry in the fridge at home (getting his Asian fix in before Lu-Ti got home!).

 The Run  wasn't just for   fun, the pizza was just a prize... the effort was  what  Sims and the Coahes were Looking  for... Jers, Emma , Bronk and ben where already Lapping some of the  Line men.

   Adam's time  on the  track in school showed  as  he leaned into the inside  lanes  on the  turns.. Chugging  Hard..... int eh  first big group behind them where  Backs  , wrs   and DBs... Then  LBs  and a few Line men... they.. only finishing thier  first lap was Most of the Linemen..what folks might not get from this picture, was that was group of Linemen, would most Likely beat 90% of the line men in the league... and some of those linemen, wouldn't have  even finished 2 Laps.

 But these  guys weren't running, they were racing.. Kane and   Miles  were  trash talking   as they ran.. while  Up a head Spencer  was   Laughing  say he was  way ahead...

    as they Neared the  finish line, Adam geared  down.. Ben crossed the line   a step a ehad, Emma a step behind.. Jers  a step behind her..

 as   he walked the Cool down,   Sims  ran Up to   Adam and said..what the Hell was that!.. you  slowed up the last 10-12 yards?

 Adam  jerked his ehad  towards the Press Box.... the two  booth announcers  were sitting outside the Pressbox  with  Yuto..and they had   stop watches...

  Dammit!... I told Yuto no stop watches.. You did good...

  Everyone?.. Go get cleaned up and something to eat... Fry  will let the Commissary  know who  won.. see you at tonight's meetings... then he , himself ran to teh   stairs that lead to the press box, Cal  only a step behind him..

  Adam Glared up at the Booth ..Sims was already  yelling at them and he was only halfway up the stairs...

  a trainer  girl  handed his  a Powerade    and he  thanked her  as  she and other s   held out drinks for the players,..it just shows you.. Media... they always have to try and take advantage  of   you.. that's going to cost the   reporters   big time....they might no9t be let in to   practices  anymore.

"Thanks," Emma said as she took one of the offered drinks and glanced up at the booth where the coaches appeared to be letting the reporters have it. "You'd think they'd learn. Going to end up frisked for stopwatches before long," the woman added.

  ... The  team, and Sims   will collect  on the   policy about   " timing my 40 or my 100 ".. they might  try a loop hole, but  one of those guys  used to play.. and maybe the play by play  guy ran stuff in highschool... but they can get splits and figure out times... I staggered  my sprints   when i saw the watches....the thing is,  they will want to be  the gys that 'break the news'..maybe the network will cover the Million dollars for them.. and they  might try to  cover it up  by saying "..this is  just a guess..."

 He shakes his  head,always  angles ..always.. peopel can't be up front about it...

 then he looks   a bit ashamed, as he looks at  Emma...speakign of not being up front?... Yuto told me they sent  4 tickest behind our Bench for the thanksgiving night game  with the Giants.... He also sent a Packet of   3  Job offers  to Wendy...i asked him not   to tell how  he  found out her   work..but.. all three Jobs  are more money.. and the one has  Varied  hours , that she can almost set herself..for like, training  and   Get her sister to  games and such?..So?.. I guess   i'm sorta as Bad  as them...

 he looked up  at the   Booth  Guys Yuto seemed embarrassed that  they had the stop watches out in front  of him..  the  two  guys held thier   arms out  in  helplessness.. while Sims  went on a Tirade , that was   backed  up with  Cal's own.

"Don't want your time clocked, huh? That's fair. I always had to broadcast what I could do, so I have to admit that's a little bit of the opposite of what I experienced. I suppose some reporter will dig into it eventually, after I've got another game or three behind me," Emma replied with a shrug before taking a sip of her drink. "Suppose I've taken on more of a 'Here's what I can do, match me if you can,' type of attitude." She doesn't care if people know her physical stats, so to speak. Foes still had to figure out how to do something about her.

As to the admission about Jean and Wendy, Emma nodded at that. "Don't have to apologize to me for that, and they're smart ones. They'll figure out who got them that offer. They'll decide if they take it or not. I'll probably get an e-mail from Jean about it soon enough," the tall woman added. The girl had kept in communication with Emma, along with the ones from the college.

Emma glanced up at them and shook her head. "Yeah. They just don't learn, do they?"

  The  40 time thing? It started in college.. i ran a 4.1.. no one believed  it...  I'd  will 100's  400's   1miles   2 miles?.. they chaulked it up to 'wind aided'.. even with   the  digital  times in coleges  and Olympic  trial stuff...so?.. I went the other  way with it... refused to be timed in the  40 or the 100... Coaches   got on the band wagon cause it was makign news..ever one knew i was fast... and?  to tell you the truth...  .1 or .2  isn't going to make the difference  if you have skills..but the mind set is there... let the  wonder how fast.. should the DB try and Jam me.. or back off a few yards... if they back off, can they stop me on a look-in or quick  slant..and?.. My favorite.. do i want to be hit blindside from someone  'moving that fast'...

 His Grin come back,..lots of head games out there....

 Yuto , the booth guys, as well as Sims  and Cal went into the doors  below the press box, that lead  to the Offices.

"See, that's where a lot of people slip up. They worry too much about their opponent and not enough about what they can do. I control myself and how I deal with a situation. What routes can I cut you off from? How much can I control when and how I hit you? Can I get in front of you and get an interception? Do I need to knock you out of bounds? Can I make you fumble? I adjust for what I know of the receiver, but I play to my strengths most of the time. Keeps the head games from working as well on me, but it puts me in their heads." That was Emma's way of doing things. Of course, if they got intimidated by her or underestimated her because of her being a female player, well, she'd just take advantage of that. But that was, again, on them. She was just going to keep doing her thing.

  ..how many folks have you seen over the  years..shoot thier  mouths off, try to be the 'next big thing'  then crash and burn when it comes  time  to show thier wares?

 ..I go wayyyyy out of  my way to burn guys  like that....gets me a bad  rep someplaces, but i stopped giving a damn when i realized  i was  the 'right type' for the NFL... But now that i am here...boy..they are gonna have to pay attention!

 ..gonna get washed up, then Head to the Den.. you know?  I for Got to check the deli's in New York for  big Jar of slaw.... have to make sure i don't forget again. Hope the Den stil has some!

"Yeah, going to go get cleaned up quick and grab some food, then see what time we got left between then and the next meetings," Emma said. She didn't like idle time, and if she had some free time between her meal and where she had to be next, she'd be putting it to good use.

  Adam came into the Locker  room,  and  some of the guys were  getting on Adam,..You got beat, My Man.... You got beat....

  ..yeah.. sometimes that stuff happens...

 ..You don't care?

 ..I'll just win the next time, no big deal...


 they looked at each other   as hhe  took off his practice  stuff  and   got showered up.  Putting on Shorts  and a New dragon T-shary  and   puling on his ball cap, he grabbed his  back pack to head to the Den.

Ben jogged back to warm down, and accepted a cup of Powerade with a "Thanks". He listened to the chatter, then grinned at Bronk.

"Don't ever let me win again," he said mock-ferociously. "I want to beat you fair and square or not at all!"

Then he went off to shower and change, and went with the rest to the Den.

   There was a bit of a smile,..I didn't let you win for you.. i let you win for them....I would't insult you like that....

  ..besides... now? they are Gonna  compare your spedds , jers   speed  and Emma's  speed and try to figure out  mine.....and?  some one..maybe one of them?.. will let some DB's In on the secret... , so they have something ...'interesting' to talk about for filler in the game , when we are up by 1000 points..

Emma took off to quickly clean up, change, and go get some food.

  Micky Manning   who was  now, botht he LBs  and DBs  coach w2as starting to go over  thier Base  for the game.. 3 -4  with  4  DBs.

 thier  next  set would  be a 3-3  with 5  DBs... the 5th one  an extra  safety playing Up.

  he  began to   use over lays of  the  Texan's Offense ( with the  Defesne removed from the Cowboys   game )

  and  thier over lay with thier people in the  3-4  and 3-3..

 ..'k ya'll were'nt Not sure who's  throwin' fer them this  week, but  we don't rightly care... we're just gonna cover our  areas  and  dare them to throw the damn thing...

 Cal  walked in and  Waved Mickey on..

  ..so?  we're goin' with the Village Idiot  defesne....  If they put the pocket  passers in ta throw, we're gonna Blitz the Hell outta them....every one.. DBs..LBs..goddam cheerleaders...everyone...

 ..They put that Runnin' boy back there, we're Gonna  try ta  Keep  him ion the pocket and play like a Big boy quarterback...

 Cal does  speak up,..Like Coach Sims  said, this  is a statement game... The Texans  are  one of the rgoup that tried to freeze the Amota's out... That would have cost me a  chacne   at Coaching..at least in the Pros...one thing... a very important thing.... you hit thier QBs  every chance you get... espeically the runner..if  we draw  a flag, too bad... But I want them ..after the game.. to have to rent out an Olympic sized pull to use  for  an ice tub... we're  Lookign for   two things  from this game..turn overs and Highlight hits...

  Fry  was using the same system Manning  was.  There were   slides of the   Texan's  Defesne  against the Cowboys..with  the Cowboys  edited out.and an Over Lay of the  Dragons Offense.

    we  aren't changing Much... 'course  we never  do. But... our   primary set will be    empty Back field    Ben on the  right side at TE.. Bronk as always....always on the  enemy sideline   wide...Mackins  and   whom ever on our sideline...  Klay and Lucas in the slots... Mik and Lucas  will be  switching out... Mik will also Give Klay a break from time to time...

 ..the premise this week?... Get the BAll out fast, to a reciever  and let him run... If   Duke sees them sneaking up, he'll  audible  to something deep...Don't screw around   dancing.. don't run east and west.... catch the ball...put it away.. and turn up field... as soon as you get tackled, run to set up again... we want to  make thier le3gs feel like rubber   by the 3rd  quarter...

 ...we're going to rain points down on them..no mercy this is going to be a fun game..for us.... when you block.. make them feel it.. Knock them down...we want them, to  not  to 'feel like  playing' by the 3rd  quarter... there's players on that team that have quit on them in thje  4th quarter...lets get them to quit in the 3rd...

This was a game that it sounded Emma might get a lot of playing time in, if they were going with 4-5 DBs most of the game. Lots of hitting the quarterback and blitzing. They didn't do nearly as much of that in the Jets game as they sounded like they'd be doing here.

She was fine with either, really. If they wanted Emma to go tie up the linemen, she'd go tie up the linemen. The film she'd seen really just indicated that they'd inevitably make a mistake and they'd do that reasonably often. She just had to see them make the mistake and capitalize on it.

  the Long day of  meetings   was comign to a close, as  they Defense  were in thier  theater and the Offense was in the  theirs.

   Cal    had the  Micky  slipping over lays, in 'step progression' of the Texan's Offense... especially 3rd and Lon.. against both the Cowboys and the   Dolphins.

    what we  see here.. on third  and  Long.. anything over  8 yards.. They will   run a draw  on thier  side of the 50..or play action pass off of that  and Hit   an Out..... on the other side of the 50, they run  screens  ..either Bubbles to the WR , or    the HAlf Back   chipping on  the outside  Blitz, and  heading out to the wide side  flat..always the wide  side..trying to get thier   playmaker   some room to work....

 ..so?.. with the Drop back passers,  we're gonna have the  Safety on the wide  side.. up in the Box.... You'll move  on the   Back when  they chip the   rusher.. we might get a couple free ones....

..

there is a separate  set of  overlays  with Mosh rolling out.....this  guy?.. is not good...not as a QB... they should make him a 3rd  down back or something... his legs...are his  game..now?>. Just like the screens,  He will roll to the wide side to get in space.... if he doesn't see a target..he's gone.... its like he's  still on the playground...So? The safety on the Wide   side will spy  him..and   you will move  to   treat him like a runner who is already running... let him pass.. Your  teammates have your  back.. You just bring him down...

 There are some Films   of  Mosh just flat out  running , waving the  ball around like a flag, with out a thought to throw it.... down filed is a Wide receiver all by himself    and he  covered  up his  helmet and drops to his knees when Mosh is brought  down for a 3  yards gain...


 Pointing to the  wide  reciever,..I will tell you now.... if the Coverage  safety, lest   this man getv open  like this... I will pull you of the field for the rest of the game... I have to believe, that as bad as  a team the texans  are...that they don't see this on thier  films... sooner or later  Mosh is going to stop trying to be a hero...and play the game...

 Looking over the room, he says in a firm voice.....ANY.... and  I mean..ANY..chance you get to jack up  one of thier QBs... you take it..... as big of a mess as this team is.. it gets  worse when they shuffle   their  QBs...Any questions?