Carlos got into the locker room just as Mik was leaving. He got dressed in silence and just tried to shake away those nerves - until he saw the new Dragon decals on his helmet. Looking around he also saw that his name was on a proper plate on his locker and not just written on tape as it used to be - did this mean he'd made it?

"Well no time to be resting on my laurels, no siree Bob. Now I'll just have to grab a starting role.", he said to the empty locker-room before jogging out onto the field.

There didn't seem to be many in yet and the receivers were working as a unit, so he decided to jog over to the half-back and warm up with him.

"Hey sir, my name's Carlos and I'll be blocking your runs in practice" he said with a grin on his face, "Mind if I join you for a while?"

"Hi son, the name is Mikhail but you can call me Mik. You can try blocking my runs, eh." he said with his hands on his hips, "I'd welcome the company though."

With that Mik took him through the stretches to loosen up and provide as much mobility as possible and they started the suicide runs together, then went on a loosening job around the field as they watched and casually discussed the rest of the team.

Brutus walks out onto the field finally wearing a new pair of cleets. Good thing...the old ones starting coming apart yesterday. He walks over to Mr. Lewis looking at him. This was awkward but he was still on the team. How did he tell them...what he knew about the Cowboys. Leon would make the team a threat...and it was a threat they would face.

He looks at the Offense then thinks. If Leon still played Wide Out then the battle would take place. Brutus the Shadow vs. Leon the Runaway. Still they needed to prepare.

"Coach Lewis I think I should let you in on something. My brother is playing for Dallas now. If I know him..he's playing receiver and probably return man as well. Let's just say...we play similarly. Thought you should know so you're prepared when the Dragons face them. Also thought I should mention it...in case I don't make the team."

 turning  from Sim to  Tibbs  the DC had a half-smile on his face, Well, that's  nice to know. As  for you making  the team? You made the  roster to go to Training Camp...and  we have the Mandatory camp coming up in a month..so just be on you game..and study your ass off...the Defense is going to be running  as much as the offense is...we are going  to raise thetempo of the game...we will Blitz  like  there is no tomorrow...and you guys  are gonna have to take care of stuff on your own most of the time..

 Sims  was  watching the  wideouts working  and SAw Gerhart come out of the Tunnel  late...the older wideout just started streching  as he watched the others go through thier drills Adamm and the others taunted eachother good NAturedly...La Roi was  slowly getting  into the swim,....But Coach Nevers would blister him with well aimed curse words, each time  he dropped or missed a pass.

  It was easy to see, Gerhart had no deacl on his helmet yet

  Nathan nodded to Tibbs,we got a while to worry about the Cowboys...it is flattering they are so worried  about us...I think Amota's  battle  with Jones is bleeding into the ranks...could be just what we need...Now go stretch..

  Steele, Black  and Fillings  camp out along with Arnest....Dons  the back up TE  and  Nicks  the  third HB stood there along  with Ivan as the  3 OBs  loosened up thier arms, they would catch the ball and hand it to the QB. Ivan Caugh  for Jo, Nicks  for Steele and Anrest  for Fillings

  Steele  Grinned at Jo,well..looky here..You got yourself a Decal, guess they think you can back me  up well enough..."

Jo laughs then looks at him."Actually you'll be the back up. I'm going to try my damnest to be a starter. May the best win. Not man...but player. Seriously with us...we can be a serious threat to any team. We have different styles so most would have trouble knowing what to expect. You start..then they get comfortable. The Dragons bring me in...I go deep and move the ball quick. Makes it hard to prepare against."

Jo stretches then feels that not in her side again. She had checked that old injury again last night but hopefully it wouldn't be a problem."Course our biggest problem may come in...what receivers make it. Some just won't get it done. Others...are perfect."

  James grins, well from what i understand from those i talked to at the party, Sims  will use a both for certain, and even bring Fillings in from time to time..he is suppose to have a short Yardage package  for Adam as well...from the Playbook he used in Japan. The bottom line is pressure..we are to push the defense and make them cover , or make them Blitz...if they go to Combinations...  he shrugs.  then we just need to find the same holes the  recievers  do..

  He nods to those  catching for them, will be interresting  , right enough. I think the backs  will get alot of shuttle passes and draws though..

Jo laughs then thinks on it."With three QBs no one will know what to expect. Course I think if they do combinations it might work against them. Cause you can only stretch your defense so far. We see an opening we expose it with the best QB for the job. Fillings I don't know much about. But I do know what you show on the field. Adam...he's a great receiver as long as the defense is not concerned. His size will make them doubt him as a threat. Till they see him play that is."


Over with the defense Brutus stretches then rubs his side again. That thing would flare up this morning. But pain was nothing he couldn't handle. Played enough ball in prison with cracked ribs...no way would he let this minor thing keep him down. He looks at Nathan then into the stands. He spots someone up there then."Coach Lewis I think we may have some team scouts up there. I recognize one of those guys when I tried out for the Raiders. Must be trying to see what we got...or try to sign someone away. Guess not every team sees us as the undesirables anymore."

 Nathian nods as he follows Tibbs's eyes to the stands.that's how it goes alright. First you make  fun of what you dfo not understand...then you study it  to make sure you can handle it..then you try to pick the pieces  that will fit your team. All our  folks  are under contract, so we are safe from that standpoint...You'll see those who are cut, will be approached  by somem teams , just so they can milk them for information..then they will get cut.

  The DC   chuckles,wasted  some  time today thopugh, we won't  be out here Much longer  and not much they can see..

  As  if on Cue  Sims blew a whistle  and the other caoches  brought  the Players into bigger Groups......
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:22, Sat 10 July 2010.

 The Quarterbacks  and Centers moved over  with the Recievers  and BAcks. Sims Told the   group,This  is  speed, andconditioning time...each QB  throws  three passes in a row..the last pass has to be deep..everyone  runs  back to the line, lines up as if  we are going no Huddle...bust your humps on this  he looks over the  group and adds,You will be seeing alot of this in Camp..we are going to run teams into the ground...win or lose..no matter the score..they will know  they played us..from both sides of the ball...

  Nevers and Hebner  would set the recievers..Nevers  2 wideouts and the TE...Hebner, the H-back  and  slot..as they ran back they would  point out where a player should  run the next snap from.  La Roi,  Adam and Mackins would  see the long  balls Gerhart,, the  backs  and TEs as well as Simmons  would get the short  passes

  Through the hard push, Sims  would blew  the whistle  to 'end' the play and they would  run back...as easy as it seemed..it was brutal in its own right, as the  players had to hustle  back..this part of the tream  went  towards the Dragonscoreboard Endzone.

  The DBs  and  Linebackers  were at midfield. Lewis was hounding them in thier own version of the Hustle drill he would set out 4 linebackers and 4 DBs..then send out  those who were not  the 'defense' to run pass coverages  against them. The DB's  Coach   and Linebackers Coach would  throw footballs and Lewis  would watch the drops  and shifts, Now  and again calling  for a Zaone  oe man..or Combo..at each whistle  they would line  up and do it again as  they moved  from one sideline to the other, then turn  around  and do it  again.


  The OL  and DL had the hardest of the hustle drills. There  were 2 two man sleds on the outside of the Field  where the track was. 2 OL would set up on  one, 2 DL on the other..at the  call of  "hut" Both  sets  of players had to fire out  and  drive the sled  for  10 yards, the the whistle  would  blow  and they would do it again..those who weren't hitting the  sleds  had to sprint  the  10 yards to catch up..they would  do that  for 100 yrds, turn the  sleds  around and 2 differant pairs  would take thier turn..Ol and DL coaches  hollaring  and pushing the big men.

  Of all the Lineman, only one seemed the least put out by this drill Vaugn Dorrin an undersized OG that played at Mellon.

..at the other  end of the Filed , set up at  the 25 (  for 42 yd FGSm ) was  Kat and Arnest.  He would Hold for her to kick as Fry moved them from side to side..in a few yards..back out..when Fry would  Give Kat a few moments to rest, Arnest would  Punt to a few of the ball boys who would shag the ball for them.

  On the homeside of the field, where the  fans   were  alllowed to be, TheCheerleaders  were working out  as well.between excercises and  routines...a small cluster of  fans sat lower in the stands, so they could be close for when the girls  were done  and they could  get autographs  and pics. Some folks tok picks of them working out

  Sawyer and her team moved  around the field, taking  pics  and videos as Sawyer  would make notes. Both Jacksonville  papers had reporters there as well the old paper trying to keep up  with  the New Jacksonville paper , with coverage of the team

---> From the Locker Room

 After thanking the coach and finding his locker, Wade had changed and made his way to the practice fields. It took him only a few moments to find the rest of the linebackers.

As he waited for his turn with the drill he studied some of the more seasoned veterans, trying to pick up anything he could use to help him make the team. He knew he was fast and knew he was a pretty damn good pass rusher, but this wasn't a bunch of Japanese players or Scrubs. This was the NFL and Wade was determined to make the team and succeed on this level.

   A Tall Black lineback with the #51 came over to Wade as he waited. The  Man took off his helmet to fuss with the pads, even though this  was supposed to be  a "light" workout. Wade could see all were sweating , and almost everyone  was pushing hard..The name's Marcus Payne..one of the few holdovers  from the  Jags...

  he nods his head  as he watches the   coaches throwing  the ball and the reaction of the  backfiled  folks. speed, and quick reps was what it  was about. Some of the older players  were stubbling a bit..the yonger ones had  wide  eyes  as they seemed to struggle  with the concept..now then..ya won't  catch me saying i am an old Jag...there is nothing pretty about the JAgs...i felt like i was in prisoned there..this is new..and if you  park your ego and can live with the contract? This is gonna be a good place to play..

  A ball comes bouncing over towards them Payne  picks it up and tosses it to a #84. An older Receiver who had  just missed a catch..a string of vindictives were flying  from the WR coach, as theb older Wideout took the ball at a staggering sprint back to thier  workout area.

  Payne  grins as he puts back on his helmet,...lotsa folks gotta step up...best to do it now, then Training Camp..it might be too late then...

  Wade smiled as Marcus introduced himself and offered a handshake. "Wade Wheeler, formerly with the Yokosuka Seahawks over in Japan.'

He watched #84 sprint back to his fellow wideouts before adjusting his chinstrap. "No ego here. I just wanna play some ball and hopefully help the Dragon's bring hope the Lombardi."

When it was Wade's turn to do the drill it felt like the temperature had just risen twenty degrees and his heart sounded like a jackhammer in his chest. The whistle blew and Coach Lewis called for a Zone Blitz, Wade's bread and butter. Showing blazing speed he blew through the narrow gap between the left guard and tackle and bore down on the quarterback.

His confidence bolstered he reset for the next play. This time the play called for Wade to cover the slot receiver. Using his athletesism and speed he managed to stay on him...until the receiver made a sharp cut inside, and imediately revered back toward the other direction and caught the ball in stride, with Wade still a few feet behind him. Coach tore him a new rear end and then they reset for the next play.

  After  Wade's  attempt to cover  one of the DBs who was taking his turn as  a "wideout" Another Vet came over to him,Again, this  fellow already sported a Dragon deacal on his helmet, Wade's helmet and a good many others still had plain Green helmets  with adhesive tape with thier names on the front.

 Name's  Worth... he nodded to the DB  who was taking his turn as a DB while another DB took a turn  at wideout,..these guys are fast..but they ain't recievers. My Name's  Worth. Byron...Worth. We got a couple of good ones over there.., he pointed to  where the wideouts and backs where, ..Just work on being agile, and change of diretion. We should  be able to handle  most recievers behind you, with the way this defense is going to be attacking. The whole season is going to be one big pounding..If Lewis has his way , we will lead the leauge in sacks  and tunrovers...but we might be up there in giving up big plays as well...

  ..If the Offense can keep the pressure on thier defense..and we push thier offense..sooner or later, one is gonna break down. That's  why our training as it is..I didn't like that in the begining...but I was here when JAcksonville's team was a joke...we may lose a few games? But they ain't gonna be able to tell who won, just by looking at us...

  After  another set of Reps, even Adam was breathing a bit harder, but he smiled the  whole time. nothing  like the feel of the ball in his hands  as he broke into a cut, or took off downfield

  La Roi had  more then his share of drops, Adam jogged up to to him once  and was shaken off..the second time La Roi listened like a pouting  child..the third time He listen and began to work on his cuts.

  Gerhart had trouble  with the deeper  routes, but all knew that, he was not a speed fellow. But when he started to drop balls, as  the leg weariness set it, that's  when Nevers and Sims fired broadsides at him.

  Mackins  and Simmons were like  two little kids. They followed the cuts, made almost all thier catches. They frowned when  Adam was pushed away by Gerhart as the older WR shouted,..I don't need your help! I was playig here while you were playing in other countries...just worry about your own job!

 Bronk, who normally takes every thing instride, Gave Gerhart a shove,..I am worried about..MY JOB! the smile  was gone  as he snarled..if you suck out there, that's  one less guy they have to worry about...dammit!..Even La Roi is trying to come around!

  The taller  Black man said..hey!  I'm right here!

  Gerhart  just turned away to get into line  once more.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:15, Mon 12 July 2010.

 Steele Shook his head, Jo was up next, even  Steele  was breathing  hard  as they ran up and rest the "hurry up", but it felt good to work hard. It could only pay off in the 4th quarter  and in december..and ..maybe..january.

 Good luck Jo..glad he won't be in my shift...

 As  Alexia leads/watches  her group go through thier routines, Sawyer comes up  and asks her( pad in hand) So?  what do you think so far? Last day of Voluntaries and all..who do you see doing things? You are in the Middle of it all..not quite on the filed, yet , not in the stands?

  The  Whistles Blow and the  team heads off the Field to do the  class work now. Even  Kat  and Arnest, have to learn the kick coverages, and setup  so they can lead the players  of that group onto the  filed when needs be.


  Lu-Ti waits  for Adam  and grins, as the Other Dragonettes stand  with thier arms  crossed to see if the wiude out  wioll pay up.

  He nods His head  and Takes off on the  track  , doing the laps he promised for losing the dance contest. Some of the Girls Clap and hoot  as he turns  the corner for his second lap. When he is  done, there Is a New JAcksonville  camaraman there to snap his pic  with the dragonettes.

  The work  was mostly on knowing where you were to be, in terminalogy. This jelped make the  chaulk talks  make  more sense, as they listen to the coaches explaining  this Offnese  and defense, built on attack, stamina and execution

  Steele , Fillings  and Jo  were made to sit up front  as Sims and Necvers went over most of the plays..stressing what to look for, what to key on and how they wanted the ball to be thrown or haned off as quick as possible..and with  the least mistakes.

<From Locker Room>

Kane stepped out into the sunlight, squinting as the bright rays hit his blood-shot eyes.  Once his vision adjusted, he saw that the defense was already moving off the field.  Kane swore softly as he trotted over to where they exiting the field.  He hoped he could blend into the defense without anyone noticing, though it was hard for a man of his size to blend in anywhere.

   towards the end  of the Meeting, Lewis  turned to  Kane,no change in voice inflection..no malice or sarcasim as he says,was a damn good  night last night.... He nodded his head, As  soon as we leave here You are Going to give me 10 yard  sprints...three times up and down the field...It  will be  in full pads...amd its gonna cost you 100.00 dolllars.

  His  eyes  look over the rest of the Defense,he calmy adds,..you folks  are pros  now..or some of you want to be...Punishments here will help your body and  help the kitty..You'll find out more about the kitty as the season goes on...You'll pay before you leave here.

  Rught then...Make  sure you take personal stuff out of your lockers if you aren't  coming back in until June. If you are going to  be coming back to use the facilites , then don't  worry about it...KAne?  I'll be  waiting outside.

Kane swore softly to himself and slumped lower in his chair.  The last thing he wanted to do this morning was run sprints in the muggy Jacksonville air.  He supposed he did deserve it, but he was also kind of hoping that Coach Lewis would cut him some slck, seeing as how he was a veteran and star on the defense and all.

After the film session ended, Kane pulled himself upright.  Lumbering out of the room, he took his time getting to the field.  Once there, he stuffed his helmet over the mop of his hair.  Getting down into the three point stance, he exploded upwards and ran for 10 yards before stopping.  Speed was never going to be the big man's speciality, but physics did seem to help to keep a large body like his in motion once he had gotten up to a decent enough run.  With each step, Kane could feel his head pounding as the excesses of last night were finally coming due.  Grunting, Kane lowered himself back down and started on the next of the 10 yards . . .

 Lewis stood at the back of the endzone...he was going to use every inch of the filed for the 10m yard  sprints.

  He  would blow the  whistle and run to the 10 yard line..then blow it  again When Kane  stopped...Then Blew it again the swecond he bent over in stance.

  around  the 30 yard Line two  Guys  lined up on either side of him. Mik on his Left, Adam on his  right...Lewis snapped. what the hell t do you think you guiys  are doing?

  Mik and Ada  Not really right, to let him get all the extra  work..eh?m grinned,

  Adam Nodded,..we can use the sprints...

  Lewis  frowned, but there  was a twinkkles in his eye  as he blew  the whistle  again...By the 50..Ivan  and  Stalls had  Joined the group...Lewis pretend  not to notice...the whistle blew again  and again..mercilessly..the dragons  were calling encouragement to Kane and even waiting to get into stance , until he did.

  By the other  30, Simmons  and Mackins  Joined the group..even thpugh simmons  was in street clothes...when the  reach the back of the Endzone  and tunred around...Worth and Payne  joined in as  well..Payne dressed  in jeans  and cowboy boots, He put his  hat on his bag...

   At  the 20.. givins   Joined the Group..he looked  at Adam  and shrugged..then took off on the whistle

  Ger hart watched them all as he walked out through the  Tunnel, shaking his head, Tibbs  Joined in as  well around  the 50...even  Arnest the Punter..his Long  hair  flopping in the wind , Jioned in at the  40...

  When they reached the  back of the Endzone he nodded to them all Good  job..Good  Hustle...put your 100.00 dollars in Coach fry's Fine  Can.

  As he  walked  back towards his offices  the Other players grinned  and joked with Kane.

Kane grunted, a smile spreading across his face barely seen in the shadows of his helmet.  He slapped Adam on the shoulders, rather roughly, as a sign of appreciation.  As others joined him, it gave Kane encouragement and helped ease the pain of the sprints and combat the nauseau bubbling in his stomach.  Though the others could easily outpace him, Kane didn't give up, always arriving to join the others in front of him and lower his body down into the stance.

It was still a pretty hellish ordeal for the hungover giant, but he was feeling pretty good in spite of his pounding head at the end of it.  The group had steadily grown and Kane began to feel that, despite all the odds against them, this little team of theirs might actually be able to do something this year.  You could teach or learn a lot of things on the field, but teamwork wasn't one of them.  It either came natural, or not at all.

Kane was bent over, hands on knees, gasping for breath as he completed the last of the sprints.  His jersey was soaked through.  He wrenched off his helmet, his mop of hair sprouting around his head in a wild mess of an afro.  Kane turned and spit to one side, then straightened up.  Sweat poured down his face and he felt like he might either pass out or throw up at any moment, but he still smiled at Coach Lewis.

"Yeah, you'll get the money.  I even throw in a little extra tip for ya, Coach!

Kane followed the rest of the group back to the locker room.  Some laughed and slapped Kane's large stomach, asking the big man if he was sure he wasn't having a heart attack or wouldn't feel better if they just took him direct to the hospital.  Kane gave back as good as he took, his normal jovial good manner breaking like sun from behind clouds.  He punched a few of the faster guys, mostly the WRs and Mik, that had run with him, in the air, stating that he had simply let them win so as not to damage their fragile egos.  He knew what a bunch of prima donnas WRs and RBs could be, he stated loudly to anyone who would listen, a smile plastered across his face.

<To Locker Room>