So, the NFL's got 32 teams, right? Each of these squads can chat up to 60 rookies during the rookie camp, and there are like 332 rookies in total hanging around.
This means the big shots, like Cam and Von, might get face time with all 32 teams. But the lesser-known dudes, like Luke, might only get a few teams interested.
Now, not all teams are created equal. Some are powerhouses, others... not so much. Plus, players have their own faves, and then there's the whole opportunity thing.
Team strength? Easy peasy. Every player dreams of snagging the NFL's top prize, the Super Bowl, kinda like the NBA championship ring. Even the big-name players might take a pay cut just to get a shot at that ring. For rookies, it's even more of a dream. Joining a championship team? That's the jackpot.
Then there's personal preference. Every player has a team they love, thanks to football culture, kinda like soccer clubs in Europe. Some players have been die-hard fans of a team since their great-grandpa's days. Playing for that team? That's the ultimate goal.
And then, timing is everything. For most rookies, getting playtime is crucial. Take quarterbacks, for instance. If they're riding the bench behind legends like Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers, they might be stuck there for years, never getting a chance to shine, and eventually fading away. But if they join teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, or New York Jets, they could jump right into the starting lineup and show off their skills.
Teams have their picks, and players have theirs. It's a two-way street. Sure, teams have the upper hand in the draft, but these camp interviews are just the kickoff. Everyone's hoping for a solid start.
After the training games, the rookie camp gets crazy busy. Even though it's almost the last day, the hustle doesn't slow down—it hits a peak.
For the organizing crew, they've gotta set up 32 meeting rooms for the 32 teams to do their interviews. Each player gets about 5 to 10 minutes, so for 60 players, that's at least 8 to 10 hours of non-stop action. The whole fourth day is gonna be a whirlwind, and the committee's gotta handle food, security, and keeping things in order.
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There you go, all casual and ready for some web fiction action!
Alright, let's give this a more chill, conversational spin:
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So, the teams had to huddle up for some serious meetings, pulling in all the scouts from the field, plus the team managers and coaching staff—about thirty folks in total. They had to hash out which players they were into and send out interview invites before 8 PM. Then, they had to come up with questions and focus on the key players. It was gonna be an all-nighter for sure.
On the flip side, the players needed to chill a bit but stay on edge too. They were waiting for those interview invites while also prepping for the next day's interviews. And yeah, they had to suit up—literally the only time they'd be rocking suits during the whole camp.
"How many teams?" Rahim Moore looked at a sweaty Luke, totally floored.
Luke grinned wide, "Fifteen teams."
By nightfall, Luke had gotten invites from fifteen teams. Totally unexpected and a sweet surprise, especially since he had no college career, no high school game stats, just two incomplete games, and his rookie camp performance. Getting fifteen invites? That was a win!
And don't forget, Luke's an Avalis and a quarterback—the most cutthroat position out there.
Marcus strolled over with a big smile, bumped Luke's shoulder, "Not surprised at all." He turned to Rahim, "Dude, look at Bambi. First thing he did after coming back today was hit the gym. He hasn't stopped training for the past three days. Haven't you heard? Everyone's buzzing about Bambi and Justin. These two are training beasts."
Rahim rolled his eyes, "Are you sure they're beasts? Not nuts?"
Luke frowned a bit, looking down at Marcus with a smirk, "Bro, you been stalking me or what? How else would you know I hit the gym as soon as I got back? You wouldn't be..." His eyes scanned Marcus up and down, the implication clear.
Marcus jumped up and shoved Luke's shoulder, but with the height difference, it was like an ant trying to move a tree, "Hey! Watch it. How can you throw out such wild accusations? I'm a clean and upright dragon, waiting for my future wife's appreciation. If you scare them off with your talk, what am I supposed to do?"
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There you go, all casual and ready for some web fiction action!
Alright, let's give this a more laid-back, conversational spin:
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"Dragon?" Logan, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow, looking all amused.
Marcus put his hands on his hips and thrust his waist forward, "What, you wanna see for yourself?" But instead of being intimidated, everyone just looked entertained. Marcus realized he was in a bit of a pickle, stood up sheepishly, and saw Luke's half-smiling face. He widened his eyes and raised his chin, trying to meet Luke's gaze, but that was a tall order—literally. "What are you looking at? Never seen a dragon before?"
"Are you sure you're a dragon? Not a pony?" Luke raised his right hand, placed it on top of his head, and then extended it out horizontally, comparing their heights. His hand went lower and lower until it rested on Marcus's head. The message was clear: he was teasing Marcus for being short, more like a pony than a dragon.
Now, Marcus wasn't actually short—he stood at 5'9"—but he was still 5 inches shorter than Luke. Plus, Marcus was a running back, stockier and more solid, while Luke was leaner, making him look even taller. The visual contrast was pretty stark.
Everyone in the room burst into laughter, except for Marcus, who looked totally bummed. He raised his chin high, looking like a Lilliputian staring up at a giant, and said, "Bambi! You, you giant deer! You're no different!"
"Giant deer? What's that supposed to mean?" Logan, standing nearby, chimed in sarcastically, "Do you mean a giraffe?"
"No, I mean a giant fawn!" Marcus shouted back, "A giant deer! And you, you're a hairy beast!" He then made a childish face, sticking out his tongue like a kid.
"And what are you? Stuart Little?" Luke's comeback left Marcus frozen, while everyone else laughed their heads off. David even rolled under the bed, making the scene even more hilarious.
After the laughter died down, Luke refocused and asked, "What about you guys? How'd you do?"
"Twenty-one teams," Rahim said, stepping up.
"Twenty teams," Logan added.
Rahim and Logan were the top prospects from the Bruins. Rahim was a safety in the defense group, and this year safeties were in short supply, with only fifteen rookies, so naturally, more teams were interested. Logan was a tight end in the offense group, and while there weren't many tight ends this year, each team typically had three wide receivers and one tight end, so the demand wasn't as high. Logan had a good number of inquiries, but not as many as Rahim.
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There you go, all casual and ready for some web fiction action!
David hesitated, but Marcus jumped in with a tease, "What's there to be shy about? Even Bambi was straight up. I got ten teams."
David paused, "Me too. Ten teams."
Marcus was a running back, and this year the competition for running backs was fierce, with thirty-two players in total. The overall talent wasn't mind-blowing, and Marcus himself wasn't a standout. He didn't grab much attention in the camp, so he was less popular.
David was a defensive tackle, competing in the same spot as Justin James Watt. This year, there were twenty-five rookie defensive tackles, one of the most competitive positions, with about ten players at first-round level. But would ten teams all pick defensive tackles in the first round? Not likely. So, David had fewer interview chances.
"Looks like tomorrow's gonna be a busy day!" Luke couldn't help but say. Besides the five interview slots given by the system, ten more teams were interested in him, which was definitely something to celebrate!
"Bambi, what's your favorite team?" Rahim asked, curious. Almost every player had a favorite team, but few got to play for them.
"Green Bay Packers." The answer came from Logan, who then showed a disdainful expression, "We all grew up in San Francisco, but his favorite team is the Green Bay Packers. What nonsense!" Logan rolled his eyes dramatically.
The area around San Francisco is known as the "Bay Area," the second-largest metro area in California after LA, including San Francisco, Oakland, and Silicon Valley.
The NFL has two teams in this area, the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders, naturally attracting countless die-hard football fans. The Green Bay Packers, on the other hand, are in Wisconsin, spanning half the North American continent from San Francisco, with no connection at all.
Luke spread his hands and laughed, "The first game I watched was the Green Bay Packers. What can I say? Their team vibe and culture are just too cool. Besides, the San Francisco 49ers are my second favorite team. I don't see a conflict."
"Blah blah blah." Logan still looked dissatisfied, his face full of disdain, making everyone laugh again.
Rahim asked again, "I mean, did you get an interview invite from your favorite team?"
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There you go, all casual and ready for some web fiction action!