Terrell, enraged at Jeremy, sternly says, " I don't know what you're trying to do, but I will not stand for your shenanigans. This is my team, and you're not going to fine me. It would be best if you let me do my job and left me to run the team. "
Jeremy, disgusted with Terrell, replies, " Get it through your thick head that it's not your team, it's my team, and I am letting you run the team this year. You're walking on thin ice from now on, I WILL be fining you the bare minimum with possible termination, and if you keep pushing your luck with me, I'll take it to the news outlets that you were fined or fired due to conduct detrimental to the team. You'll be lucky to get another coaching job after that. Now get ready for practice. "Terrell Hillis, huffing and puffing, turns and heads to the locker room, muttering under his breath.Jeremy heads to where Alexandra is sitting at. Once Jeremy gets to Alexandra, he sits down and apologizes, " I'm so sorry for that interaction; you should never be treated like that. I'm dealing with him, and I promise he will not do that again. I know you can handle yourself; I just had to jump in because he's, unfortunately, my employee, and I wasn't sure what he would do. Thank you, by the way, for going with what I was saying about the partnership; that worked out perfectly with Terrell. "Alexandra looks at Jeremy, saying, " I should thank you for being a buffer. I don't know what his problem is, but I think there's something seriously wrong with him because he went over the top over something so small. " Alexandra then smiles and continues, " I appreciate that you through curveball at him to show him that his actions could have significant consequences, so I had no problem going along with your partnership statement. It was amusing, and it was interesting to feel like I was on the same page as you. "Jeremy smiled and reached down to grab a bottle of 86-proof whiskey. He pulled up the bottle imported into a glass with three cold whiskey stones and poured about three fingers worth right before practice.Alexandra looked at Jeremy with disapproval and said, " Is it a good idea to drink that if you're coaching me today? I'm not trying to judge or say anything, but I never had any coach drink alcohol before practice or a game. Did you do this before games as a player? "Jeremy smiles angrily and says, " I didn't drink while I was a player; I started drinking after I retired to deal with watching football. I hope you never have to have this feeling. I only have this one glass to get through practice. We'll do a light training today and get deeper into training."Alexandra, not satisfied nor happy about Jeremy's response, went along with it for now, but she was going to keep an eye on the drinking.Jeremy then asked her, " Which linebacker position have you played, and which one do you want to play going forward? "Jeremy takes a sip while Alexandra replies, " I've been playing the Sam position, and I enjoy playing that; I would like to continue being the Sam linebacker. "Jeremy sarcastically laughs, saying, " As a Quarterback, I hate you. We'll see what we do to keep you at the Will position in your career. I will tell you tho, in the indoor football world, there's not a Sam linebacker, just a Mike and a Will linebacker, really with an occasional blitzing. So the plan will be to as a Sam linebacker and teach you to be an indoor Mike or Will linebacker. Does that sound good to you? "A Will linebacker or also called the weakside linebacker, lines up on the backside of the formations, mostly blitzing and making sure that no running plays gash through the weakside of the defense. The Will linebacker is usually the fastest and used in coverageThe Mike Linebacker or also called the middle linebacker, is essentially the quarterback of the defense. They will relay information to the other positions on defense to best set up the defense for what the offense will bring. A Mike linebacker will blitz and go into pass coverage. They must be the jack of all trades as a linebacker.A Sam linebacker or also called the Strong side linebacker, typically will line up on the side of the right end or whatever side has the most players lined up. They usually are to cover the tight end or running back and can also disrupt the tight end at the point of attack. They are usually the better tackler and are used in the pass rush.Alexandra nods in agreement, and Jeremy continues, " Do you have a workout schedule, or do you need one? Do you like working out? "Alexandra responds, " I do like to work out, but I don't have a workout schedule because I haven't figured out one that works for what I want to do. I want one that'll help me be a better linebacker along with helping me reach my goals, but I don't want to be too muscular or fit as I like how I look."Jeremy thinks for a bit, then says," Ok, I'll figure out a workout schedule for you that works for what you want to do without messing up your body. "As practice starts, Jeremy and Alexandra go over and dissect plays as they happen. Jeremy shows Alexandra what the quarterback is doing during the pre-snaps and asks her what she needs to relay to the defense, so it can adjust to what the offense is going to do during the pre-snap.Jeremy has Alexandra analyze not only what the linebackers were doing right or wrong but also the whole defense. He tests her on what she thinks the offense will run, a pass or run play and what play she would run to counter the offense. Practice ends, and the coaches and players head to the locker room.Jeremy hands Alexandra his keys to the VIP room for her to get changed for training. Alexandra comes out wearing a sports bra, a crop top jersey, and athletic leggings.While Alexandra is stretching, Jeremy speaks up, saying, " Since I'm going to be coaching you and we're going to be spending more time together. Why don't you tell me about yourself to be able to coach you better? "Alexandra looks up while warming up and replies, " Well, where do I start? "Philadelphia’s autumn sun filtered through the glass walls of the Talons’ NAFL practice facility, casting long shadows across the turf and weight room. The city pulsed with football fever: Jeremy’s name was already in MVP conversations, Lockjaw Blaze’s legendary career was the talk of morning radio, and the Talons were chasing another championship. But for Alexandra Jordan, the only woman on a NAFL roster, the spotlight had faded. Her story wasn’t front-page news anymore. She was back on the practice squad, her dream of suiting up on game day on hold—again.Yet Alexandra refused to let herself disappear.Practice Squad LeadershipMonday morning, the defensive coordinator called her into his office. “Jordan, I want you to lead the film session for the practice squad and rookies this week. Teach them what you know. Make sure they’re ready.”Alexandra blinked, surprised. She’d always been vocal, but this was different—an official responsibility, a sign of trust. She nodded, determination
The Philadelphia skyline shimmered in the late September sun, but inside the Talons’ practice facility, the world was all hard edges and fluorescent light. Alexandra Jordan stood at the edge of the weight room, chalk dust on her hands, watching the rookies finish their last set of squats. She counted out the reps, her voice steady, her presence a comfort.“Two more, Marcus. Finish strong.”The rookie linebacker grunted, legs shaking, and managed the final rep. Alexandra nodded, a small smile breaking through her fatigue. “That’s how you get better. Every day.”She clapped his shoulder as he racked the bar. Around her, the other practice squad players watched, some with gratitude, others with a hint of envy. Alexandra was the heart of this group—the one who’d been so close, who’d played in a championship game, who still came in first and left last. She was the only woman in the NAFL, a three-time champion from another league, and yet here she was, a practice player, still waiting for h
The city of Philadelphia was electric. The Talons’ home opener was more than just a game—it was a coronation, a test, and a promise all at once. The defending champions had returned, banners rippling in the late summer breeze, and the stadium was a cauldron of hope and expectation. Black, silver, and teal flags waved from every seat, and the roar of the crowd was a living, breathing thing.Alexandra Jordan stood on the sideline, helmet in hand, heart pounding. She wore her practice squad jersey, the only woman in the NAFL, and watched as the team she’d fought so hard to join took the field. She was close—so close she could taste it. But for now, she was on the outside looking in, her name just missing from the final 53-man roster. The sting was sharp, but the fire in her chest burned hotter.Jeremy, the Talons’ starting quarterback and last year’s championship hero, jogged onto the field to a thunderous ovation. His name echoed through the stadium, and Alexandra felt a surge of pride.
Philadelphia was a city that thrived on debate, and after Alexandra Jordan’s preseason debut, the city was ablaze. Sports radio hosts argued over her every snap. TV anchors replayed her tackles and her mistakes in endless loops. The front page of the sports section ran her photo—helmet off, sweat streaking her face, eyes fierce—with the headline: “Jordan’s Shot: Sideshow or Spark?”The Talons’ practice facility felt like the eye of a hurricane. Alexandra arrived early, ducking past a knot of reporters outside the gates. She could hear them calling her name, but she kept her head down, her bag slung over her shoulder. She was used to it by now—the questions, the doubters, the ones who wanted her to fail and the ones who wanted her to change the world.Inside, the locker room buzzed with a different kind of energy. Some teammates greeted her with nods or fist bumps. Others just watched, sizing her up. She was no longer a novelty, not after last season’s historic championship game appear
Philadelphia’s summer air was thick with humidity and expectation. The Talons’ practice facility buzzed with the energy of a team that knew what it meant to be hunted. Last year’s championship banner hung above the field, a daily reminder that every opponent would bring their best, and every returning player was expected to do more.Alexandra Jordan jogged onto the turf, her cleats biting into the grass. This was her second season with the Talons, and she was still on the practice squad—a veteran now, but not a star. She was the only woman on a NAFL roster, the first to ever play in a championship game, and the only one in a league of men. The Philly media never let her forget it, but neither did they let her forget her legacy: three Cannibals rings, a reputation for leadership, and a relentless drive that had brought her to the edge of history.She paused at the sideline, glancing up at the championship banner. She remembered the euphoria of Denver, the parade, the confetti, the feel
Denver was a city transformed. Black, red, and purple banners draped every streetlamp, and the air was thick with the sound of horns, cheers, and the kind of hope that only comes with victory. The Cannibals’ parade snaked through downtown, a river of celebration. On the lead bus, Alexandra Jordan stood with Heather and Mia, the championship trophy gleaming in her hands. The crowd’s roar was a living thing—waves of gratitude and awe for a team that had done the impossible: back-to-back-to-back champions.Alexandra let the joy wash over her, but beneath the surface, her heart was already turning toward the next mountain. She’d always been driven by what came after the confetti, the question of what was left to prove. Now, as Denver celebrated, she knew her journey was far from over.A City’s FarewellThe parade wound past the Capitol, the mayor waving from the steps. Fireworks exploded above Civic Center Park, where a stage had been set for the champions. Jeremy, radiant in a tailored s