Chapter 153 151: Choosing Sides
Lu Ke's professional career had been incredibly short—so short it could barely be called a "career" at all. But over the last few months of tryouts and travel, he had met all sorts of quarterbacks—
There were the ambitious and condescending ones like Cam Newton; the open-minded and easygoing ones like Scott Torsin; the mature, steady, and unflappable ones like Matt Hasselbeck; the aggressive and cocky ones like Colin Kaepernick... And, of course, the gentle and approachable ones like Alex Smith.
Competition was never lacking in sports, and healthy rivalry was precisely one of its greatest charms. While a lone champion dominating the field was certainly exhilarating, the greatest players to go down in history often came in pairs. Those legendary rivalries, those epic clashes of titans, were what truly made the blood boil.
On the gridiron of the twenty-first-century NFL, the duels between archrivals Peyton Manning and Tom Brady cemented each other's greatness!
Lu Ke wasn't a great player yet, but the path to greatness was never short of rivals. The competition with Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick was merely the first hurdle of his career. He wouldn't back down, and he certainly wouldn't be intimidated. Only by defeating his opponents fair and square on the field could he hold his head high and move forward.
Unlike Colin, Lu Ke chose his own way. He openly welcomed Alex's return and boldly met the challenge for the starting quarterback spot. "I hope you make a full recovery. Welcome back to the field. I'm looking forward to you rejoining the competition at one hundred percent!"
Alex's gaze lingered for a moment before a faint smile graced his handsome face. He gave a slight nod. "Thanks for the well wishes." He wasn't the type to wear his aggression on his sleeve. Even when faced with a challenge from the new generation, Alex remained unhurried. After another small nod, he released Lu Ke's hand. "I need to start warming up. See you on the practice field."
Lu Ke nodded in understanding, then strode past Alex and began his own methodical preparations for the day's practice.
He had played outstandingly in the first week of the regular season. But now, Alex was back.
One was a veteran in his seventh year in the league; the other, a rookie who had played a single game. Deciding between them would be a tough call for any team, and it meant that an intense competition was about to begin.
Faced with competition both within the team and from the outside, Lu Ke wasn't the least bit intimidated. On the contrary, he was fired up and eager to go, starting the day's training full of anticipation.
As practice time arrived, the team's rookies trickled into the training facility, only to be met with a surprising sight:
The team's former starting quarterback, Alex Smith, was back on the practice field. He was jogging methodically, gradually warming up his muscles. His pace wasn't fast, just steady—it was clear he was still in the recovery phase.
The team's current starting quarterback, Lu Ke, was out on the field as always, repeating his interval training. In just a few short weeks, the rookies had become all too familiar with his routine: a 10,000-meter run with eight 100-meter intervals. And they weren't just fast—they were all-out sprints. The training method was so brutal that the rookies had nicknamed it "Creative Suicide."
The two quarterbacks didn't speak or compete. They simply put their heads down and threw themselves into their training. Bathed in the morning sun, the quiet field was bursting with vitality, yet there was an odd sense of harmony to it all, making the other players eager to join in.
The rookies gradually began their own warm-ups. Logan stayed in one spot, marching in place and swinging his arms. He didn't start moving until Lu Ke drew near, then he fell in step beside him. "What's going on?"
Strictly speaking, you shouldn't talk while running. Proper breathing is crucial, and talking drains your energy fast. But Lu Ke's body was already accustomed to the ten-kilometer runs. Besides, he wasn't a track athlete; the point was to build endurance, control his breathing, and increase his stamina for the game.
So, Lu Ke answered, "It's nothing." Noticing Logan's glance toward Alex, Lu Ke couldn't help but smile. "Competition. The healthy kind."
Logan nodded, understanding. "That's what I heard, too." Alex Smith was known for being a friendly guy. "So, what's your strategy?"
"Stick to my routine." Lu Ke was momentarily speechless, shooting Logan a sideways glance. "What, were you expecting something else? For me to invite three, maybe five women over to his room at midnight?"
Logan's eyes widened and his jaw dropped, a look of devious understanding spreading across his face. Lu Ke couldn't help but chuckle.
Just then, another figure appeared, running alongside him on his right. It was Marcus. "What's going on? How is Smith back? I thought he wasn't due back from his injury until next week. He's already starting rehab training?"
It was like déjà vu all over again. Lu Ke just shook his head and suddenly accelerated, tearing down the straightaway at a sprinter's pace. A short-burst forty-yard dash was still his weakness, but suddenly changing gears during a long endurance run had become his specialty.
Marcus and Logan were instantly left in the dust, watching helplessly as Lu Ke pulled farther and farther ahead.
"He's a freak, right?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure."
...
As players continued to arrive, the practice field gradually grew lively. But whether intentionally or not, the players split into two camps. They stood scattered in two corners of the field with a small group milling about in the middle. While this prevented the division from looking too stark, the overall trend was still obvious.
On one side were the rookies, led by Lu Ke, along with a few players from the special teams. Outnumbered and isolated, they looked as if they'd been quarantined in their corner.
On the other side were the veteran players, led by Parris Harrisson. They were gathered around Alex Smith, scattered across the other half of the field in a bustling, lively crowd. More than two-thirds of the Defense Team was there, along with the entire Offense Line and most of the special teams players.
Scattered in the middle were the receivers—the Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, and running backs. They greeted Lu Ke, then went over to greet Alex, ultimately settling in the no-man's-land between the two groups. Overall, though, they continued to interact sporadically with Parris's side, while their communication with the rookies was almost nonexistent.
For a moment, it felt as if Lu Ke's group occupied one-third of the field, while the remaining two-thirds belonged to another world entirely. There, at the boundary between sunlight and shadow, the power imbalance became increasingly clear.
On the San Francisco 49ers' current 53-man roster, Alex was an undeniable elder statesman, with seniority that surpassed even Parris's. Moreover, Alex had been the team's starting quarterback for six years. The team's win-loss record was one thing; personal connections were another. Alex's clout within the team was something even Parris couldn't match.
In the first game, the entire team had been united, pulling together to secure the victory. But now, before the second game, Alex's return was causing the atmosphere within the team to quietly shift once more.
One thing was certain: Lu Ke would still be the starting quarterback for the Week 2 game, as Alex was only just beginning his recovery training. But what about Week 3? Week 4? Clearly, Lu Ke still had far too few supporters on the team. His standing here seemed barely better than it was against the tide of doubt from the league at large.
Gazing at the other end of the field, at the laughter and the relaxed, cheerful atmosphere, it seemed everyone had already decided that with Alex's return, Lu Ke would inevitably have to surrender the starting spot. The entire team was revolving around Alex in perfect harmony.
If Lu Ke were just a bystander, he would have been happy for them. Such a harmonious, happy scene was truly a pleasant sight. The problem was, he wasn't a bystander.
"Bambi?" Kendall whispered from nearby. "What's wrong? Why is the vibe on the team so weird today?" Everyone else had noticed, but clueless Kendall was still oblivious, a look of pure confusion on his face.
"You can't see it? Everyone's picking sides," Logan spat, grinding his teeth. "Crabtree, whatever. He and Smith have always been close. But Williams and Gene? Those ungrateful bastards. If it weren't for you, they'd be practically invisible on the field. Smith never throws to them. And Williams even got a touchdown thanks to you!"
Clearly, Logan held the wavering wide receivers in strong contempt.
"Huh? Then... then what should we do?" Kendall asked, completely bewildered and lost.
Lu Ke let out a wry laugh. "We don't do anything. I just won't pass to them next game." It was supposed to be a joke, but Kendall took it seriously and nodded earnestly.
Logan looked at Kendall with envy. "You've got it good. I really envy you." 'Such naivety was its own kind of bliss.'
Kendall scratched his head shyly, and everyone else burst out laughing.
"Huddle up! All offensive personnel, huddle up!" Kip Kester arrived at the practice field, giving the scene a quick scan before calling out. He broke into a smile as he saw Alex walking toward him. "Hey, Alex, how are you feeling? Think you can do some passing drills today? Or are we sticking to basic recovery work?"
Kip had only joined the team this year, but it was clear he and Alex had spoken many times before and were on good terms.
"No problem," Alex said, beaming. "I can do some passing drills, see how the injury feels."