Chapter 2 #2
“Oh man, Coach Aarons did not love me doing that. Neither did my wife. Might be a first and a last, but I just…I saw the safety coming toward me and had the split-second thought of maybe I can clear him, so I jumped. Thankfully, it worked out.”
I chuckle as I nod. It was impressive, that’s for sure. “You didn’t have the ending you were expecting, but still closed the season at ten and seven last year. Not a bad record, but not the best you guys have seen. What’s the thought process going into this year?”
“Win.” His chuckle vibrates. “We want to win. I feel like I’m still playing good ball, a lot of the guys are.
Plus, we’ve got a strong group of new players coming in and they’re hungry too.
Which is always good. All in all, I love playing and being out there with my teammates, and I’m going to have a good time regardless, but the goal is to win. ”
Ford is a leader, it’s very easy to see why so many of the young guys look up to him.
I’ve been covering the Knights for years now in some capacity, whether that’s been player interviews, in-game reporting or speaking at foundations and charities they are a part of.
They’re a good team, a fun one. They’re incredibly close off the field, and I think that translates to their in-game chemistry.
“Speaking of teammates, you’ve played your entire career with the same core group of offensive players.
Which in itself is unheard of and honestly, really impressive.
” He nods. “I know Graham Turner just announced his retirement. What’s he going to do now that he’s not blocking the line for you guys?
” I smile, crossing my right leg over my knee.
Ford rubs his hands together in front of him.
“Oh man, Turner’s about to go back to the farm.
” He laughs as he lowers his voice a bit.
“Graham’s great. I’ve loved playing with him, and I know he really took this decision seriously.
He’s done a lot for us, so now he deserves some time to relax and hang out with the goats he always shows us pictures of. ”
My face twists in confusion, but I laugh at his statement. “Graham has goats?”
“Graham has goats,” he echoes.
With wide eyes, I nod at him, somehow not shocked at all that the kindhearted Graham Turner would be returning to a small-town life after football.
“Speaking of goats, we have to talk about your quarterback. He’s got to be in that greatest-of-all-time conversation. Some of the plays he’s able to make I think leaves all of us scratching our heads wondering how the heck that just happened.”
I watch as Ford sits up straighter and leans forward a bit. His dark features soften as he begins to speak about his friend and teammate.
“Liam’s the best. He kind of had this chip on his shoulder when he entered the league, right?
High expectations and a shadow he really wanted to get out from underneath.
I think a lot of people doubted him, and sometimes they still do.
But he’ll go down as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
When he was drafted and we started camp together, I remember he wasn’t the quickest guy or the biggest. But he had a good arm.
Everything this league likes to see physically from a quarterback, Liam didn’t have at first. Now, he’s exactly what every coach wants. ”
Ford smiles to himself and it causes me to picture a younger Liam, a kid who simply loved the game of football and had a dream of being in the NFL and kept running with it.
“He’s so smart. He fools people, though, because everyone sees this flashy guy who goes out and has a good time, but anyone who knows him can tell you what kind of man he really is. He’s so fucking—oh sorry, can I curse here?” He covers his mouth and the crew laughs.
“Technically, no, but go on.” My lips curve up.
“I’ve just never known someone who knows the game the way he does.
We all know how much he likes the spotlight, he has that cool guy swagger, the game day fits, all that extra stuff…
I mean, you see how he carries himself. Liam won’t shy away from a chance to joke around or a moment in front of the cameras.
But ask any one of the guys in that locker room and they’ll tell you how his switch flips for game time.
He’s smarter than I think people realize. ”
Ford doesn’t mince words when he sings his praises for Liam. None of the guys I’ve ever talked to about him do. The respect, admiration, and just overall commitment they have for their quarterback shines through in the way they speak about him.
Although, if someone were to judge Liam based off what’s in the press or how they see him through a small lens on social media or in the tabloids, they’d probably never believe a word any of them say about his work ethic and maturity on the field.
Liam screams playboy. He screams everything about the fast life that so many people think would be a distraction. But regardless of how he spends his time off the field, he doesn’t let any of it affect how he performs on the field. I’ve watched him on film and in games for years.
On the gridiron, he’s magic. But off it? There’s no telling who he really is.