A light drizzle misted down, cloaking the city outside the window in a smoky veil of moisture. It was April, yet Philadelphia's biting cold wind, sharp as a blade, still slipped its way inside collars.
Lance gazed out the car window at the cityscape unfolding before him—gray and industrial, every corner a relic of Philadelphia's storied past.
Among the big East Coast cities, Philadelphia tends to fade into the background, overshadowed by New York, Boston, and Miami. Yet Philadelphia has played a pivotal role in North American history, recognized in 2015 as the first U.S. city to be designated a World Heritage City—a testament to its legacy.
With teams in all four major sports leagues—the NBA's 76ers, the NFL's Eagles, MLB's Phillies, and NHL's Flyers—Philadelphia has a rich sports culture and even a professional soccer team, the Philadelphia Union. Its diversity and history in sports are hard to match.
This year, the NFL Draft was moving from New York back to Philadelphia, its first return since 1961.
The NFL Draft is one of America's major events, drawing over 15 million viewers annually. The league invites about 36 players to wait in the green room for their names to be called by a team, though some players prefer to wait at home.
But Lance didn't have that choice. Even if Donald agreed, Goodell wouldn't. They needed Lance on site—whether or not he was picked in the first round, his presence would help boost viewership in Asia.
History was in the making.
Most players arrive at the green room accompanied by their parents, but Lance knew it would be too much for his own parents. Spending three or four hours in the green room, under constant camera scrutiny, would be grueling.
So, Lance came to Philadelphia accompanied by Donald Yu.
Donald glanced at Lance, who was quietly observing the scenery outside. Though he was accustomed to Lance's calmness, he was struck by how collected Lance remained, despite this moment's potential impact on his future. "You're not nervous?"
"Oh, I'm extremely nervous," Lance replied, smiling.
Donald paused, momentarily unsure whether Lance was joking or serious.
Lance chuckled softly. "I'm serious. I've done all I can, but now my fate is in others' hands. Not being nervous would be impossible."
He continued, "Besides, plenty of players have waited all day in the green room only to remain unpicked. Rodgers fell to the 24th pick in the first round, Henry wasn't picked until the second round, and Brady didn't get picked until the sixth. Anything can happen."
Indeed, the spotlight was entirely on Lance. It seemed that everything was falling into place for him, but reality can be tricky.
First, Lance is of Asian descent—no Asian player has ever been picked in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Second, he's new, having been in the football world for only a year.
Lastly, he's a running back. Regardless of his talent, the league's attitude toward running backs remains harsh.
These factors could still lead to Lance falling out of the first round; if things went unexpectedly wrong, he might even go undrafted. His fate was no longer in his control.
Surprises are part of the NFL Draft's allure.
In fact, of the players considered all-time greats—Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers—only Manning went first overall, and many didn't even crack the top ten.
This is the NFL Draft.
Who knows which player or team will make headlines this time?
Donald knew Lance was right. He was tense himself, yet Lance's poise and acceptance had a calming effect on him.
"I believe in you," Donald said.
Lance smiled. "Believe I'll get into the league, or believe that no matter the draft round, I'll make my mark?"
Donald's lips curled into a small smile. "Both."
The NFL Draft would be held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
When Lance arrived at the venue, the palpable energy hit him immediately—
In the center, tables were lined up for the 32 teams' representatives. The revamped audience stands were packed, with fans from all 32 teams, not to mention the fans outside, gathered in overwhelming numbers.
Large screens, cameras, and microphones filled the room, capturing every move under a microscope.
The atmosphere was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking.
Lance spotted familiar faces from his draft class, fellow Crimson Tide players like Alan, Foster, Humphrey, and Howard. Alabama had one of the largest player representations today. He also saw Mahomes, McCaffrey, Fournette, Garrett, Watson, and other familiar faces.
Unlike Lance, they were visibly more anxious, infected by the charged atmosphere.
At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, everything was primed and ready.
Behind the scenes, in the war rooms of the 32 NFL teams, decisions were being made.
Team managers, head coaches, offensive and defensive coordinators, salary cap analysts—everyone was gathered, analyzing each move and making decisions based on real-time updates.
Strictly speaking, this setting was calmer than the draft venue, but the pressure and intensity were even greater.
Contrary to common belief, many team managers hadn't yet made their final decisions. Many were still weighing options, exchanging offers, and making last-minute deals.
The Baltimore Ravens were no exception.
Hubble was watching game footage, reviewing plays over and over, so absorbed that he didn't notice when the team's manager, Ozzie Newsome, entered the room.
Newsome glanced at the screen, his expression neutral. "John, are you still set on this?"
Hubble didn't answer immediately, finishing the footage in front of him before shaking his head. "No, we've already discussed it and made a decision. I'm not changing my mind."
"Lance is good—he's very good. But if trading up to get him costs us too much, it's not worth it. I know the price of building a championship team."
Hubble's face showed a mixture of frustration and resolve, but he knew he had to face the reality.
The Jaguars and Panthers had shown a lot of interest in Lance. One had the fourth pick, the other the eighth. Add in the unpredictable Browns, and if the Ravens wanted to swoop in, the cost would be steep.
After careful consideration, they'd decided to prioritize defense.
At that moment, someone opened the door and called out.
"Coach, Andy Reid is on line three."
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Powerstones?
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