Legendary Football Superstar

Luke, an Avalis American, was just a few months away from turning twenty-two when he officially joined the San Francisco 49ers in August 2011. He became the second Avalis American player in NFL history to make the official roster.

His dream had finally come true!

The emotions were intense, the excitement was off the charts, and the joy was overwhelming. It was almost hard to breathe. He felt like he was going to burst with happiness, so he did what anyone would do he let it all out.

Luke clenched his fists, jumped high, and swung his right fist wildly in the air, using all his strength to release his inner excitement and thrill. Every cell in his body roared, every muscle celebrated, and even his fingertips began to tremble slightly, as if the blood flowing through them had reached a boiling point.

This wasn't just about the past year; his journey to this dream started way back in his childhood. From the first time he stepped onto a football field at nine, from stumbling steps to enduring hardships, every step over the past twelve years was filled with toil, sweat, struggle, and perseverance. He had finally knocked on this door!

He knew that the world behind the door was even more perilous, more brutal, and more challenging. He also knew that this was merely the simplest first step on the road to success. But he was ready. He would stride forward with his head held high, and nothing could stop him! He would cut through thorns, climb mountains, ride the waves, and forge ahead!

After leaping high and landing heavily in a wild celebration, Luke finally noticed Tom standing beside him, and a hint of awkwardness appeared on his face. The momentary release of passion seemed a bit over the top.

However, Tom didn't mind at all. Instead, he stood there quietly with a big smile, "The fans will love this way of celebrating, especially after you score a touchdown."

Although his chest was still filled with excitement and happiness was still boiling over, Luke forced himself to calm down and said with a smile, "That is, if I get the chance to play." As a backup quarterback, he was no stranger to waiting on the sidelines, having spent his entire senior season in college as a backup.

This playful remark brought a smile to Tom's face. This rookie, with his witty and composed demeanor, would surely be liked by the media. Of course, that is, if he gets to play; and win games.

"Where were we?" Tom returned to the main topic, "Oh right, the lawyer. We need to get there quickly." Tom motioned for Luke to step into the elevator, pressed the floor button, and then thought for a moment, "The lawyers will answer any questions about the contract. There are a few things I need to clarify first."

"First, you are the team's third quarterback." Tom didn't elaborate further, but Luke nodded in understanding.

It was clear now that the San Francisco 49ers had decided to make Colin Kaepernick the starting quarterback for the team. The next four preseason games would be Colin's best stage. Alex Smith was the second quarterback, and it seemed his injury wasn't as severe as reported by the media. During the regular season, Alex could step in at any time and reclaim the starting position, depending on Colin's performance as a rookie quarterback.

Naturally, Luke was the third quarterback, the backup to the backup.

"Secondly, what's your jersey number?" Tom asked. Luke reflexively said "11," but then saw Tom shake his head, "Alex is number eleven, so you'll have to choose another number."

Tom was about to let Luke take his time to think it over, but Luke quickly added, "How about fourteen?" His birthday was November 11th, and choosing his birthdate as a password was not a good idea. Besides the number "11," Luke's favorite number was "14," with "1" representing "11" and "4" representing the four ones in his birthdate. "Fourteen it is," Tom decided on the spot.

Luke couldn't help but recall: when the system had asked for his jersey number, he had chosen "eleven." Now it was "fourteen." Was there a conflict? Or did the system adjust the jersey number based on his real-life situation?

However, the thought only flashed through his mind briefly before Tom continued, "Today is just for reviewing and explaining the contract. We won't be signing it officially. Tomorrow morning, you need to come to the team for a comprehensive physical examination. Once the report is out, we'll arrange for the official signing."

"Understood," Luke had no objections. This was the standard procedure for team signings.

"Also, the team's training schedule will be sent to your email, so don't worry. But basically, it's like this: Monday is off, Tuesday is for watching game tapes, and Wednesday you officially report to the team base for training. Of course, this might change depending on the game schedule," Tom quickly explained.

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During the regular season, Sunday is game day, with most games kicking off in the afternoon. Additionally, there are Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football, and Monday Night Football games, all of which are broadcast nationwide, with each game averaging around twenty to thirty million viewers.

Different game days naturally mean different training schedules.

Without pausing, Tom continued, "Training starts at 9 AM every day, and you'll be notified of any special circumstances. Also, I'll arrange for you to meet with a nutritionist and a fitness coach to set up a meal plan. But these are things to worry about later, so don't stress about it now."

"Oh, and one last thing, your personal locker, training gear, and jersey will be arranged for you tomorrow, so don't worry about that either." After stepping out of the elevator, Tom stopped, "So, do you have any other questions?"

"Can I have one of your business cards?" Luke's request brought a satisfied smile to Tom's face, who promptly pulled a card from his jacket pocket.

However, Tom didn't hand it directly to Luke but instead instructed, "Use the phone during office hours and email after hours. In case of an emergency, and by emergency, I mean any unexpected incidents, like getting drunk at a bar, getting into a fight, or anything like that, make sure to call me. If you have an agent, have them call me immediately."

As a rookie journalist, Luke understood even better than Tom what "unexpected incidents" could entail, but he didn't say much, just nodded, "Got it." Then he took the business card, looked it over, and, since he was still in his training gear with no pockets, held it in his palm.

Tom pushed open the glass door in front of them and smiled, "My job ends here. See you tomorrow!"

Inside the office behind the glass door, a middle-aged man in a suit greeted them, "Good afternoon, I'm Jonas Fish, the representative lawyer from the NFL Players Association. Nice to meet you."

In the U.S., unions are a big deal. In football, for instance, all player contracts, legal stuff, and personal interests are protected by the union. They stand up against the league and the teams, alongside the player's agent.

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For someone like Luke, an unknown rookie without an agent or a lawyer to review his contract, signing an unfair, exploitative contract would leave him with no recourse. To prevent this, the league requires that a union lawyer be present when signing contracts with rookies and undrafted players. Other players can also request this service if needed.

"Luke Howard." Luke stepped forward and shook Jonas's right hand. Jonas smiled and said, "For the next part, don't say anything. Leave it all to me, and we can discuss any questions afterward." So, Luke did just that.

Legal jargon was not Luke's forte as a rookie journalist. Once the official lawyer from the San Francisco 49ers stepped in, Luke left everything to Jonas, who discussed the legal terms with the team's lawyer.

In fact, to protect rookie players' interests, the league has clear minimum salary guidelines for rookies, with the highest salaries for first-round picks. The league only sets the minimum, while the maximum depends on the agent's negotiation skills.

Undrafted rookies are also included in this.noveldrama

Generally, rookie contracts follow a standard template with minor variations between teams. Despite this, Jonas meticulously discussed every detail, taking about forty minutes before the negotiations paused. Jonas then borrowed a conference room to simplify things for Luke.

"My personal advice is to read through every item in the contract carefully. If you have any questions, write them down in an email, and I'll answer them," Jonas paused briefly. Most professional players dislike dealing with these matters as they find them too tedious and mentally exhausting.

But surprisingly, Luke didn't mind and listened attentively. Jonas's lips curled into a slight smile, "If you don't have the patience to read the entire contract, I've marked the sections that are directly related to your personal interests. I think you'll want to pay attention to these." In fact, many players wouldn't even bother with these sections and would just sign, "Lastly, regarding the salary part. The San Francisco 49ers have offered a reasonable figure, and I see no issues with it."

At Jonas's prompting, Luke looked down at the contract in his hand and saw a string of numbers, causing his eyebrows to raise slightly.