Aldrich #2
“Yeah okay. Forget the picture stuff. She in your kitchen cooking food that you eat. That’s trust. She’s taking care of your daughter who is the most vulnerable part of you. You might not be feeling something yet. Or you are lying to yourself. Which is it?”
I opened my mouth to refute what he was saying but it was like my daddy came down from heaven and silenced my vocal cords by daring me to lie. I just stood there confusion surely playing over my face, because I for damn sure couldn’t answer that question.
“Hey, Money! You ready to get started?”
I was saved by Chris Peppers coming his ass down the hall looking timid as shit to approach us but trying to infuse his voice with some confidence. Kid was going to have my gratitude so I wouldn’t have to answer this question.
“You’re good, Chris. What’s good?” I dapped him up and Stew did the same.
“Happy to be here and learn from the best.”
“Y’all two have fun. Remember what I said, Money. You’re going to have that reality hit you sooner than you think.” He shot me a knowing look, as if this conversation wasn’t over.
“Yeah, I hear you.” He only grinned at me and I hated that he was acting like he could see what I was feeling. I turned to Chris and smiled, “You ready to get started?”
“I appreciate the meal, bruh.”
We sat down to lunch after we were done with the drills and working out.
I needed to get my mind right and I did it by running up and down the field like my life depended on it.
The rookie kept up but I knew he was glad when I finally stopped working his ass out.
When we broke from practice I let him know we were going to sit down and talk about whatever was on his mind.
“It’s just food, I’m not paying your bills and shit.”
“Yeah but you’re not trying to fuck with me or have me doing shit that would mess up my chances.
Unless all of this was some kind of test.” Chris was looking at me like he was wondering if I had ulterior motives.
But he wasn’t my enemy, and truly I knew that his doing well only helped me in the long run.
“Nah, you’re doing me a favor, for real.
I need someone to help me take the load off some plays.
You’ll see that Grant isn’t about being selfish and he doesn’t play favorites.
And to be real you know the likelihood of injury in our position.
We not guaranteed to last long, if at all.
Your being here helps us both so I’m more than happy to have you around.
I know many people don’t live the shit, but this organization is one that will have your back for real.
They don’t just talk that shit; they walk it.
I’ve seen them come through for a lot of fellas when other people would just release them. ”
Chris was nodding as he finished his food.
We’d swung by a place called Grass Fed that people on the team loved.
The food was good as hell and it was easy to find something healthy on the menu that still tasted good.
I knew no matter what he was in the mood for he would find something he liked on the menu, cause they had everything from burrito bowls to burgers.
“That’s good to hear. I didn’t want to get someplace that wasn’t big on caring about the players but when I didn’t do as well in the draft as I hoped I was more than happy to take whatever I could get.”
“You've got a lot on the line?”
He nodded slowly and I could see he was apprehensive about saying much. “Yeah, something like that.”
I respected his desire not to spread his business since I was carrying burdens myself.
“I ain’t gone pry but whatever you need, just ask for it.
You seem to be a smart kid, and although you didn’t do as well as you wanted to, you got drafted.
There’s about a thousand other dudes who’d kill to have the chance that you have right now.
Whoever your agent is, you make sure they do you right in their contracts so they’re not bleeding you dry before you even make a dime.
The wrong agent can mess you up just as badly as an injury can. ”
“True. I’ll have a lawyer look over everything before I sign the contract, though. The person working my deal is someone my people know so I’m not too involved with that.”
“Get involved. The last thing you want to do is to hand off your money and the power behind it to someone else just because they’re your people. In fact, the last thing you want is to have people close to you too familiar with your money.”
He studied my face to see if he could find deception. “Your people burned you?”
“Nah, I was blessed with a mama who ain’t like that. My daddy died a few years back but she knew enough about the sport and what it can do to people to advise me on the right thing. If my contact wasn’t public information she wouldn’t even know what money I got.”
“Damn, I’m sorry for your loss.”
I could only nod at words since I knew he was being polite despite not knowing me then. “‘Preciate it.”
“But yeah, my people been asking me for a minute about the money and when I’ll start to get paid. The person who’s handling my deal fronted me the money to come out here so I could train with the team and get settled and shit.”
That sent up all kinds of red flags because anyone fronting money without terms was going to use that shit against you as quickly as they could.
“Bruh, I’m not tryin’ to be in your business, but you need to dead that. And fast.”
He looked confused but what he didn’t look was angry.
Most people, if they felt like their people had been insulted would immediately come to their defense, Chris didn’t do that.
Despite him having the whole pretty boy, clean-cut look about him, there was a look in his eyes that let me know he had that dawg in him.
“Give me your thoughts on that because it’s been plaguing me for real since I took it. I don’t enjoy owing a man.”
“It’s much better if I let you talk to a professional about it.
All I’m saying is, whatever amount they gave you, they're either gonna get it back twice with fees for securing your deal or they’re gonna hold that shit over your head.
I like to think the worst of people when it comes to money they give that freely. ”
“Fuck.” He was nodding like I’d just affirmed what he’d been thinking and ran his hand over his waves.
“Listen, I’m not trying to sway you, but my agents have an entire team of people they can help set you up with. One thing they’re gonna do is be honest with you about what you can expect and how you can improve your earning potential on and off the field. They're not just talking bullshit either.”
“You’re with B and B, right?”
“Yeah, I feel like ten of us are, even Coach Stew. They’re headquartered here in town so if nothing else just reach out to them and get a consultation.
Can’t hurt.” I shrugged it off but really I was getting antsy because something about this deal he had with his people was rubbing me wrong.
I was going to look more into Chris’ background because the last thing I wanted him out here doing was moving stupid so that we had distractions this year.
My ass was enough of one, the entire running back core couldn’t be fucking up the season before it started. ”
“Good looking, will you send—”
I pressed the button and held it up for him to see. “Already dropped their contact out to you and let them know you might be reaching out. They won’t pressure you but since one owner is married to Jacoby Grayson and the other is like their family, I doubt they’d mind talking to you off the record.”
“Shit, you weren’t just talking when you said like family, huh?
” Chris was smirking but I could see the relief in his eyes that hadn’t been there before.
I’d always been a hungry player because success fueled me.
It wasn’t the type of desire to succeed that was born out of poverty and desperation but the desire to continue on the legacy of a man that our family had lost too soon.
But the hunger in Chris’ eyes was one that looked as though he couldn’t go back if this didn’t work out.
So I was damn sure going to do what I could to make sure that it did.
“Nah I wasn’t. Speaking of, I’ll be training with two of the fellas Anthony and Marcel until camp officially starts. We lock in our schedules for the week to keep each other accountable. I’ll make sure that you get added on that way you aren’t just sitting around stressing out.”
“I appreciate that shit for real, Money. Good lookin’.” He reached across the table to dap me up and I returned it without hesitation.
“You win, we all win. It’s as simple as that.”
“For everybody?”
“Nah, but for the ones who matter it is.”
He nodded his understanding as he slipped his phone back in his pocket. I glanced at my watch and saw it was getting late and the last thing I wanted was to get caught in work traffic and it took me even longer to get home.
“I’m about to head out. Gotta get home and see my baby girl.”
“Congratulations on that. My last girl tried to pin a baby on me and it didn’t come out until I was attached as a muthafucka. So, yeah…I can’t fault you for how you were moving.”
I had mixed emotions about what he said. He’d let me know that he’d heard the rumors and was still giving me a chance. But I didn’t like someone knowing my personal business enough to have an opinion about me.