Chapter 75 74: Drastic Ups and Downs
In just one day, he went from a nobody to the center of attention. And in just one more day, sky-high expectations crashed into bitter disappointment.
The Aura had vanished!
The drills at the Rookie Training Camp each year were the culmination of years of refinement, proven by time and results. A player's physical attributes and abilities were laid bare by these drills. There was a reason Cam was called "Superman," and it was an iron-clad fact that Logan was the Brown Bear Team's brightest draft prospect. Everything—absolutely everything—could be seen with crystal clarity in the test scores:
Cam Newton, this year's Heisman Trophy winner and the top prospect for the number one draft pick, unquestionably posted outstanding results on the second day of the Rookie Training Camp: 40-yard dash, 4.59 seconds; vertical jump, 35 inches; broad jump, 126 inches; 20-yard shuttle, 4.18 seconds!
A simple side-by-side comparison made Lu Ke's disadvantage clear at a glance: 40-yard dash, 4.89 seconds; vertical jump, 31 inches; broad jump, 105 inches; 20-yard shuttle, 4.50 seconds; three-cone drill, 6.99 seconds.
He was completely outmatched. Cam's test numbers obliterated Lu Ke's in every single category, and by an absolute margin!
Of course, the comparison was unfair. Never mind that Cam was the most athletic quarterback of the year, while Lu Ke had been nothing more than an obscure practice player before the season. There was simply no basis for comparison. Even in terms of overall quarterback skill, there was no need to pit Cam against Lu Ke.
The quarterback was never a position known for outstanding physical traits. In the 40-yard dash, Wide Receivers and running backs had the absolute advantage. The vertical jump was the domain of Tight Ends and cornerbacks. As for the broad jump, running backs, linebackers, and Forward Players relied most on their explosive power...
In other words, a quarterback would struggle to top the charts in any single test, typically ranking in the middle of the pack, or even lower. Ultimately, a quarterback's ability lay in on-field decision-making, game management, and passing accuracy—and these were precisely Lu Ke's strengths.
In fact, Lu Ke's performance in the physical tests at the Rookie Training Camp showed comprehensive improvement. His numbers were better than at the regional tryouts, and compared to six months ago, he was a completely new man. His rate of improvement was remarkably fast.
But comparisons can be brutal. After stealing the show on the first day of the Rookie Training Camp, Cam and Lu Ke were naturally placed side-by-side under the spotlight of immense public expectation. And then... Lu Ke's lack of physical talent was laid bare, with nowhere to hide.
Forget Cam; even Logan's and Marcus's results were much better than Lu Ke's.
Logan, Tight End: 40-yard dash, 4.62; bench press, 22 reps; vertical jump, 38 inches; broad jump, 127 inches; 20-yard shuttle, 4.18 seconds; 60-yard shuttle, 11.57 seconds.
Marcus, running back: 40-yard dash, 4.50 seconds; bench press, 20 reps; vertical jump, 36 inches; broad jump, 120 inches; 20-yard shuttle, 4.40 seconds; 60-yard shuttle, 11.66 seconds.
The comparison was crystal clear. Logan, as the Brown Bear Team's ace Tight End, put on a very respectable performance. And Marcus, who had been a game-changer in the final few matches of the season, had ability that, while not top-tier, was certainly up to par.
If Lu Ke were just an ordinary rookie quarterback, then his test results, while not dazzling, would have been considered average for a rookie—far from terrible. But now, after the perfect score on the Fonderick test had put him in the spotlight, he was in the eye of the storm, only to turn in this kind of performance. Just as Adam had predicted, it was a massive disappointment.
Moreover, Lu Ke was a player of Chinese Descent, a groundbreaking presence on the field. The critical eyes on him were even harsher, and the stereotypes were unshakable.
Even if he got a perfect score on the Fonderick test, so what? This was the sports world, not Harvard University.
Ultimately, what the teams cared about were physical attributes, technical skills, and the keys to winning games. Now, it seemed Lu Ke had failed to satisfy on the very first count. Naturally, all the interest and attention vanished. Expectations that had soared so high had come crashing down hard.
In just two short days, the frequency and scale of the ups and downs were more intense than any rollercoaster. The brutal, unforgiving nature of competitive sports was on full display for the rookies for the first time. It was about dreams, and yet, it wasn't.
"Look, isn't that one of the Wall Street suits? What's he doing here at the NFL Rookie Training Camp?" The speaker was Cam, grinning from ear to ear, looking refreshed and triumphant. His swaggering posture was completely undisguised. "Buddy, you sure you're not in the wrong place? This isn't some stock market office, or an office in the White House."
For Lu Ke, the physical testing process was like an ugly duckling being slowly exposed for what it was. But for Cam, it was a process of steadily revealing his brilliance. His physical gifts and natural talent were on full display in every drill.
This year's Heisman Trophy winner finally swept away the gloom and regained his spirit. The previous day's frustration and depression all vanished, and he once again became the well-deserved Pride of Heaven!
An invigorated Cam was at it again, cheerfully mouthing off. Lu Ke's misfortune was his bliss. His grating shouts drew a wave of laughter from the crowd, making it difficult for Lu Ke to ignore even if he wanted to.
Lu Ke unhurriedly glanced at Cam. "You mean, I should be sitting high up in a VIP room, holding the power of life and death over every player? And then, through your victories, win my next Rolls-Royce?"
"You!" With just a few words, Cam was once again humiliated. Blazing anger propelled him a large step forward, bearing down on Lu Ke with the force of Mount Taishan. "No! I mean this place isn't for you. You should get the hell out! This is a football field, not for some office drone like you!"
Instead of getting angry, Lu Ke actually smirked. "And how can you be so sure? I mean, don't you ever second-guess your own judgment? If I were you, I'd think long and hard before making that call." 'After all, you're not that bright.' That last part went unsaid, but the implication couldn't have been clearer.
"FUCK!" In his fury, Cam was suddenly at a loss for words. He couldn't think of anything to say besides cursing. He clenched his fists and snarled, "Talk, talk, talk! That's all you're good for, you're useless otherwise. You dare compete against me head-on?"
"Listen to the coward yapping," Lu Ke said, lifting his chin with a contemptuous look in his eyes, stinging Cam again with the insult. Then he continued, "Alright then, let's take it to the field and see. Let's see if you only know how to run the ball, or if you can actually throw it too."
After the Fonderick test on the first day, Marcus had noticed his score was the same as Cam's and had mocked him, saying he was better suited to be a running back than a quarterback. Now that Lu Ke was dredging it up again, Cam looked like he was about to explode, like an overinflated ball at its bursting point.
"Are you two planning to settle this in private, or in public?" A teasing voice cut in from the side. Everyone turned to look, but Cam and Lu Ke remained frozen, still staring daggers at each other. "If you want a public showdown, now's your chance. The position skill drills are about to begin. Come on, we'll see who's the more accurate passer."
With those words, Cam and Lu Ke finally snapped back to their senses. They had to suppress their emotions and turn their heads. They saw three coaches standing in a triangular formation not far away, with relaxed smiles on their faces. They were even chatting and laughing while facing the conflict before them. Only then did reason quietly return.
Today was the third day of the Rookie Training Camp. All the rookies once again bustled into the stadium, ready to begin today's position skill drills.
In football, the fundamental skills required differ for each position. Therefore, at the training camp, Alliance coaches and scouts design various drills and tests based on the requirements for each position. These are the position skill drills.
In these drills, the rookies complete a variety of prescribed movements and exercises under the coaches' direction, showcasing their technique and ability. The coaches and testers then record their performance.
After entering the professional leagues, it's quite common for a team to ask a player to switch positions based on these test results to better fit the team's needs, which makes the position skill drills an indispensable part of the evaluation.
Kip Kester, the quarterback coach for the San Francisco 49ers; Joe Lombardi, the quarterback coach for the New Orleans Saints; and Carl Smith, the quarterback coach for the Seattle Seahawks, watched the energetic, hot-headed young men before them, completely unconcerned. On a football field, a lack of conflict would be the strange thing. On the contrary, they were more than happy to see competition, whether it was friendly, malicious, head-on, or subtle. Competition always opened up more possibilities.
It was worth noting that Kip and Carl were two of the men from the group by the elevators on the first day of the Rookie Training Camp. Kip was the short, fat one, while Carl was the skinny beanpole.
"Next, we'll begin the passing drills," Joe announced, standing at the point of the triangle as their representative. "Each quarterback will be paired with a receiver. On this half of the field, we're testing the quarterbacks' qualifications; on the other half, they're testing the receivers' skills. So, listen carefully to the coach's instructions for the direction and location of the throw. As soon as you have your instructions, you'll start the play. Any questions?"
Joe's gaze carefully roamed over the twenty-one quarterbacks. After confirming there were no questions, he turned around and left, chatting and laughing with Kip and Carl.
With a turn of their heads, Lu Ke's and Cam's gazes collided. You could practically smell gunpowder in the air. The moment had finally come. Time to see what they were really made of. The matter of which quarterback had the better arm was about to be settled!