He was late.
Lu Ke had been in the film room, watching game footage over and over again. He was so lost in it that he forgot the time for the official media day. This is the official meeting between the team and the media before a game, and according to league rules, all players must attend and stay for a certain amount of time. Violators will be fined by the league. As a rookie, Lu Ke wasn't interested in the media, but he was very concerned about fines.
It was another Wednesday. Before the official media day, all the players gathered in the film room to watch footage of this week's opponent. Lu Ke was so engrossed that even when his teammates and coaches urged him to leave, he just waved them off, saying he understood. He didn't expect to lose track of time.
Lu Ke was watching last week's game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. In the fourth quarter, the Giants' defense successfully stifled the Patriots' offensive strategy, paving the way for their crucial victory.
Among the current New England Patriots, who have won three championships in four years, elite quarterback Tom Brady is undoubtedly the star. But those in the know and industry insiders understand that the team's true mastermind is Bill Belichick. The coach is a sly old fox whose tactical prowess and game intuition are unmatched in the entire NFL. Belichick is a master strategist on the field. His skillful use of every player is sublime. The seemingly insignificant and unknown players become shining cogs in his tactical system, essential parts of the victory machine.
Of course, the chemistry between Belichick and Brady is undeniable. Brady is considered an elite quarterback not just because of his handsome face, but because of his exquisite short passes, his perfect timing under pressure, and his bold and daring deep passes in critical moments. However, the reason the Patriots have dominated the new century is their balanced team strength, which forms a harmonious whole. Even without Brady, the Patriots can continue their winning ways with a backup quarterback. Belichick is, without a doubt, the true hero behind the scenes.
In his coaching career, Belichick has not only groomed an elite quarterback like Brady but has also faced countless Hall of Fame-level quarterbacks, such as Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Aaron Rodgers, and Drew Brees. However, Belichick's favorite and most admired opponent has always been Peyton Manning.
The reason is simple: Big Manning and Belichick are both tactical masterminds on the field, both capable of strategizing and winning from afar. Every confrontation between the two is a brilliant clash of wits and strategy, like two masters playing chess.
But in last week's game, especially in the fourth quarter, the Giants' defense succeeded in tactically containing the Patriots' offense. They shut down Brady's best short-passing plays and were effective in defending against tight end Rob Gronkowski, which is a rare feat.
While watching the game film, Lu Ke repeatedly watched those defensive plays, observing the changes in the defensive formations and the performance of the defensive players, especially the defense against Gronkowski. This was crucial for preparing for this week's game. Without realizing it, Lu Ke completely lost track of time. It wasn't until offensive assistant Bobby Engram returned to remind him again that Lu Ke finally snapped out of it.
He hurried to the media center, but his mind was still replaying the offensive and defensive plays he had just seen. The Giants are not a team that relies solely on defense; otherwise, they wouldn't be called the "wild card." They are a team that advances through their offense, and their success or failure depends on Eli Manning. In the first half of this season, the Giants' interceptions thrown and intercepted were the highest in the league.
Among the Giants' defense, only one player is of Pro Bowl caliber: defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. This second-year player, drafted 15th overall in 2010, has been outstanding in rushing the quarterback, stopping the run, pass defense, forcing fumbles, making interceptions, and even returning kicks. He has been a dominant force this season.
Last year's second-team All-Pro safety Antrel Rolle, defensive end Justin Tuck, and defensive end Osi Umenyiora have all been hampered by injuries this season. Their performance and playing time have been limited and their performances have been less than satisfactory. Just relying on Jason Pierre (his given name, Paul is his surname) is not enough to completely stifle the New England Patriots' offense. So how did they do it? The tactical plays tailored to the situation must be the main reason.
Unconsciously, Lu Ke's feet had already carried him to the entrance of the media center. He cautiously pushed the door open, tiptoed into the room, and quietly closed the door, trying not to make any noise and interrupt the ongoing interviews. Turning around, Lu Ke kept his eyes down, still lost in thought about the game film.
After taking a couple of steps, he sensed something was wrong and looked up. Then he saw it: All eyes were on him, like a thousand arrows piercing his heart. He instantly became the center of attention. There were about sixty or seventy people in the room, from reporters to teammates and team staff. The feeling was bizarre. It was then that Lu Ke realized he was still on his tiptoes, mimicking a cat's walk, which was a little awkward.
"...Sorry, I'm late. I hope I didn't interrupt any interviews. Please continue," Lu Ke said, changing direction and walking toward Logan and Marcus. But the next moment, the reporters surrounded him like a tornado. The scene was spectacular.
Official media day is a professional interview setting, mainly divided into two parts. One part is free interviews. Even special teams or backup players can be interviewed. All the players are scattered in different corners of the media center, and reporters can choose who to interview, move around freely, or switch subjects, much like a large exhibition. The other part is an official press conference. There's a backdrop with team and sponsor logos, and a podium in front of it. The team arranges for key players, notable figures, injured players, and the head coach to take the stage for a Q&A session.
It was still the free interview part, but suddenly, all the reporters swarmed toward Lu Ke, surrounding him completely. Lu Ke was startled; he had never seen anything like this before. Lu Ke looked at the bustling reporters with a face full of questions. What had happened in the five minutes he was late?
"Bambi, you just broke Peyton Manning's rookie season touchdown record in just nine weeks. What are your thoughts on that?"
"After breaking Peyton Manning's rookie season touchdown record, what makes this week's game against Eli Manning different for you?"
"First, you tied Kurt Warner's record, and now you've broken Peyton Manning's record. As an undrafted rookie, did you ever foresee this day coming?"
"Now, you even have a chance to challenge Tom Brady's single-season touchdown record. Do you have any special plans?"
"What are your expectations for this week's game? How many touchdowns do you think you can throw?"
...
Question after question exploded like bombs. In the chaos, Lu Ke finally realized what was happening, but he couldn't answer in the tidal wave of sound. So, he had to repeatedly motion with his hands for everyone to calm down. When that didn't work, he had no choice but to use his "lion's roar" technique: "Quiet!"
After his roar, the room finally fell silent. The reporters' eyes were wide, their gazes so intense that they seemed ready to devour Lu Ke alive, causing a wave of goosebumps on his skin. Then, without warning, Logan's voice rang out, "Bambi! Bambi! Bambi!" There weren't many words, just the simple call of Lu Ke's nickname. But the meaning was clear: it was a shout of amazement for the new league record Lu Ke had just set.
Other teammates joined in, chanting, "Bambi!" They didn't shout at the top of their lungs but deliberately lowered their voices to create a powerful atmosphere, like a storm brewing, that spread throughout the media center. The reporters in the room couldn't help but look shocked. Such a reception in the locker room was something not even Alex Smith had received, let alone a rookie. But now, Lu Ke had truly earned the respect and support of the locker room, and it was a surprising and incredible sight to behold.
As the center of the cheering, Lu Ke was flattered. Instead of being flustered, he walked to the podium and raised his hands high, like a symphony conductor, and began to lead the cheers. He seemed to be signaling that it was time to move from the low notes to the high ones. With this simple gesture, he instantly defused the situation and gracefully accepted the applause. Soon, all the players burst into laughter, and the atmosphere in the media center became incredibly vibrant. They had never felt such a vibrant and powerful energy from this young team before, and it was a sight to behold.
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