Blitzed (The Alpha Ballers #3) by Lucy Snow Read Free Book Online Page A

production. You assemble those contracts and positions and you see what happens, then make adjustments.”

    “Football players aren’t robots, Steve.”

    “Yeah, but this is business, Mackenzie. Sure, you can be nice to them and all, but don’t forget, they work for you. You’re not their friend. When it’s time to let go of someone, trade them and see what you can get back, or cut them and move on.”

    “It’s just not that easy, though.”

    Steve dropped his voice down low. “It may not be right now, but trust me, I’ve been in business a while. Not sports, of course, but the parallels are closer than you think. It’s better to get rid of a player a season too early rather than a season too late.”

    I didn’t say anything, not sure how to process that. On the one hand, Steve made a good point - having someone on the roster who was just taking up space was bad for the whole team. But at the same time, personalities mattered, people mattered.

    It just wasn’t as simple, as cut and dried, as Steve was making it out to be. There were real people involved. “I get that, and I get that this is business, but it’s also a family, of sorts.”

    Steve laughed. “I like that you think that way. It’s certainly refreshing, and I don’t often meet people who think like that, especially not,” he stopped and looked me up and down. I couldn’t help but blush, and took a quick sip of my drink. “Especially not any who look as good as you.”

    “Thank you, Steve, that’s very nice of you.” It was only recently that I had learned how to take a compliment properly, and I was still getting used to it. Still, even if Steve wasn’t the most exciting guy in the world, it was always nice to hear something like that.

    “Sure thing. Keep in mind, though, your coach, Armstrong, he thinks like I do. He’ll get rid of a guy at the peak of their production rather than keep him too long, and if he gets a good offer, pretty much everyone can go.”

    On that point Steve was 100% correct, Coach Armstrong would absolutely not hesitate to cut or trade a player when whatever internal calculus he used to determine their value suddenly started showing they were no longer helping the team out.

    “I’ll be on the lookout in case he decides he wants to get rid of anyone.”

    “Well, while your eyes are open, be sure and check out Hudson Asher.”

    “Oh?” No trouble there, if Hudson Asher was ever in the same room as me, I knew it, and I kept an eye on him, even if I didn’t want to. I was like a moth to his flame, all of a sudden, though I couldn’t explain it for the life of me.

    “Yeah, he’s a prime candidate. He’s got good experience, he’s led a great defense before, but he’s getting a little long in the oooh.”

    I giggled. “He’s 32, Steve, he’s a couple years younger than you.”

    “True, true, but, as you put it, I look at spreadsheets all day, Mackenzie. Hudson Asher’s job is to be a physical monster.”

    That it is, that it is. And he was very, very good at it. “So you’re saying he’s on the decline.”

    “I’m saying whoever he is, he’s not Superman. Linebackers, especially guys who play angry and physical like he does, they don’t usually make it to the mid-30s and still have numbers anyone is willing to extend a contract on.”

    “What should we do, then?” I asked, humoring him for a little. As much as I wasn’t the biggest fan of our current line of discussion, I had to admit it was a little sexy to see Steve so fired up about something. This had definitely been lacking in our earlier dates.

    “I think you should first look for a good trade offer. Like I said, he’s had a good career up to this point, there are desperate franchises that need a good middle linebacker and who will give you more than he’s worth. You get a good deal like that, help some other team bring in veteran leadership while getting some picks you can use on younger talent, and it’s a