Chapter 244: Fight hard
Jack Elliott, the same age as Levi, also participated in the draft in his junior year. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 153rd overall pick in the fifth round this year.
For a kicker who is often seen in the sixth or seventh round, this is a good pick, and he is the third kicker selected this year.
Unfortunately, Elliott failed to stand out in the competition within the team and was laid off; and the next day, he was transferred to the Cincinnati Bengals' training staff.
If nothing else goes wrong, Elliott will spend his career sitting on the bench conscientiously like a blue-collar worker. Although the salary is not high, at least he will be able to live comfortably and the spotlight will never fall on him. Because there are really not many injuries at the kicker position.
However, something unexpected happened.
Philadelphia Eagles kicker Caleb Sturgis was injured in the victory over the Washington Redskins and was placed on the injured list. The Philadelphia Eagles immediately panicked. Unlike other positions, the three special teams teams There are no substitutes for fixed members, and they can only open the skylight once they are injured.
In a hurry, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Elliott from the Cincinnati Bengals' sparring group.
Three days ago, Elliott came to Philadelphia from Cincinnati. He didn't even have time to pack his luggage. He didn't have a place to live in Philadelphia. He was temporarily living in a hotel temporarily arranged by the team. His teammates didn't recognize him clearly, and then... then he Just stood in this position.
The decisive moment.
Everything happened so fast, like a tornado.
Nervous?
God, Elliot felt like his heart was going to vomit.
However, the moment he saw Levi, Elliot found his goal——
He longed to be like him.
Rookie. Asian. running back. Any label attached to him may make people get lost in the pressure, but he didn't. Even if he became the focus of the entire league, he still moved forward at his own pace.
He hopes to find his place in the league like him, and also hopes to beat him and stand in the spotlight and receive cheers.
"Jack, this is your chance."
Elliot encouraged himself secretly.
There was a buzz at Arrowhead Stadium—
Not because of Levi, but because they expect the team to win with their heads held high, and they need to support their team.
After experiencing the dullness and depression of the first half, and the ups and downs of the second half, it was finally the decisive moment, and the whole audience became excited.
Then, this time I saw Levi.
There is no doubt that Levi has won the support of the fans in just two games, but after all, the foundation is still shallow. Today is the first official game at Arrowhead Stadium, so the fans have not unified their support for the time being:
Levi? Edgewalker? Or something else?
Moreover, this is a war of the special service team. It doesn't seem very polite for them to support Levi alone like this, right?
Sparsely, support gradually gathered together, and finally condensed into a rope, releasing astonishing energy.
"fly!"
One sound, another sound.
Seeing this scene before him, Bart's heart tightened——
It’s that number 23 again.
Although there are many cases where main players enter the special team and play key roles, Bart is very nervous when he sees this No. 23 and subconsciously wants to complain.
"Reed is really stupid. He is gambling that he should choose a fast receiver. What is he doing by sending a running back? This is a desperate choice. Doesn't he have other available players?"
Lawson glanced at Bart and said, "Levi is a player known for his speed."
Bart:…
The breath was stuck in my throat and I couldn't spit it out or swallow it, so I could only stare at Lawson fiercely.
However, Lawson had no time to talk to him——
Elliott, ready to tee off.
As Bart said, this is a battle of speed. The Kansas Chiefs sent Levi, and the Philadelphia Eagles sent Ahola who just scored a touchdown.
Although it is a battle of special teams, both teams are playing their best at this time.
Elliot raised his head and glanced at the opposite side. The frontline players of the two teams were separated by ten yards of space from the midfield line. It was like two armies facing each other. On the verge of breaking out, the faces hidden behind the helmets burst out with a powerful voice. They collided so hard that the air in the central field almost condensed.
Then, the cheering cheers from the audience gradually faded away.
"Fly!" "Fly."
"fly……"
In the end, it all disappeared, leaving only my heart pounding against my eardrums.
Start, kick, kick.
The football, instead of flying, was grounded.
The reason is very simple.
If it is a lob, it is difficult to control the parabola in just twenty yards of movement space, and the ball will often hit the densely populated area of the opposing players. The side that chooses to gamble has almost no chance of winning.
But the ground ball is different. As long as the speed and line are controlled properly, the player on the kicking side can run after the ball, which can shorten the running distance; at the same time, it also destroys the possibility of the opponent player catching the ball smoothly.
Bones.
Football, kicked out.
Elliot has also started and will follow immediately without hesitation. No matter what happens, he also hopes to do his part as much as possible.
Ah, ah ah ah.
Roaring and roaring, just like the physical collision of three hundred Spartan warriors, the hot blood and brains quickly left wounds on the surface of the skin.
Elliot watched the football rolling quickly, like a grasshopper jumping in the grass:
Light. slow. change.
All the perfect elements for a gambling kick are present.
Elliot was delighted, opportunity.
Over there, Levi has also started.
Before the gambling kick, both sides also have positions. Generally speaking, there are eight players on the front line, divided into three groups, covering different positions and areas of the ten-yard line; the other three players are in the backcourt to prevent the opponent from sneaking up on long kick-offs.
Therefore, when Elliott saw Levi standing on the left side of the Kansas Chiefs, he deliberately moved towards the left side of the Philadelphia Eagles and the right side of the Kansas Chiefs, using him, Levi and the other end of the court as a triangular frame. Kick the football out to the other sideline.
Just as it happened, Ahola was standing on that side.
In other words, the vertical line from Ahola to the landing point of the rugby ball is shorter than the distance from Levi to the landing point of the rugby ball. In this way, time is gained.
Moreover, Levi noticed that in this gambling kick, Elliott deliberately reduced the force, that is, slowed down, so that the football could not roll out.
Oops!
Rivera sounded the alarm and watched as the football ran out of steam as it crossed the midfield line, seemingly ready to stop at any moment with a 0.1% chance.
Tap, tap, tap!
Sprinting with all his strength and lowering his center of gravity, Levi's vertical speed had reached its extreme, and he released it all without reservation, whizzing by like a hurricane.
Then, the two sides had already collided first.
Instead of hurriedly bending down to pick up the ball, which could disrupt the formation, the Kansas Chiefs players on the right side were focused on rushing toward the oncoming Philadelphia Eagles players in an attempt to intercept.
Bang!
A crash!
Amidst the chaos, Ahola jumped out and rushed towards the rugby with a diving dive.
Close.
Closer.
Then, it touched.
Ahola's fingers could already feel the leather texture of the rugby ball, but before he could close it, a ferocious impact hit him like a scourge.
waist!
The waist is almost broken.
Levi rushed towards Ahola in a diving posture and knocked Ahola away with his helmet. Immediately afterwards, you could see the reddish-brown elf jumping playfully on the green grass. The moment he landed, he made a move with his left hand. Sweeping it out, he subconsciously took the reddish-brown football into his arms.
boom!
The roar of collision and confrontation rebounded like water splashes and swallowed him up.
Levi had no time to react, he just curled up and tightly controlled the football in his arms, like a newborn baby curled up into a ball, refusing to let go.
The world roared.
(End of chapter)