Roger has just begun his life as a quarterback in the American Football Association, in the nation’s capital. After weeks of bad performances and a minor scandal, the coach feels the need to move on and explore other options, leaving Roger a broken man. He is given a fresh start in Minnesota. Will he take advantage and prove his doubters wrong?
(Delay of Shame is a three-part series. In Part 3, “New Set of Downs,” Roger has been given a second opportunity to prove that he belongs in the league when he is traded to the Minnesota Anglers.)
Northern Exposure
Less than a month after Gifford’s trade to the Anglers, Roger Gifford and his wife move into a spectacular home in St. Paul, Minnesota. Roger’s wife finds out she is pregnant during the offseason, but does not tell Roger immediately because she knows that he needs to keep his mind on practice. Roger spends time with his new coaches, owners, and teammates throughout the summer. Unlike the fans in Washington, the Angler fans are thrilled to have such a dynamic quarterback on their roster. Roger listens to the radio shows and reads the columns in the local newspapers and could not be happier with how cordial these fans have been thus far.
Gifford does well in preseason workouts and impresses the coaches enough to be named the starter over the Anglers’ previous first-stringer, Curtis Pondexter. Gifford does well in limited time in the preseason, as does Pondexter. The rest of the roster has been the largest problem for the Anglers, and because of that, most preseason power rankings have Minnesota finishing last in their division and around 25th out of the 32 teams in the league.
Don’t Count Us Out
Early on, it appears as if Roger Gifford needed nothing more than a change of scenery. In Week 1, he torches the Green Bay Booze Hounds for 420 passing yards and 95 rushing yards en route to a 42-21 thrashing. Roger Gifford does not continue on that record pace throughout the season, but he is able to maintain his elite performance up until their bye week in Week 9. The team that wasn’t expected to win more than four games all season is 5-3, with impressive wins over the previously undefeated Houston Stetsons and the defending conference champions, the Indianapolis Mud Flaps. The Anglers enter their bye week feeling as if they can run the table and gain home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Roger Gifford, a captain, a two-time Offensive Player of the Week, and an early MVP candidate, has become a leader within the locker room of the Anglers.
“It’s the bye week. Go get some rest and come back stronger so we can keep this going. We’re going to be the number one seed if we stay on course, all right? ’Team’ on three! One! Two! Three! TEAM!” The team goes wild and then leaves the locker room.
While Roger is on vacation in New Orleans, Mark Shannon calls Gifford to congratulate him on his turnaround. Coach Shannon is currently out of work, but does have a reputation of keeping in touch with his former players. Mark and Roger have a lengthy conversation about the season, and Roger’s former coach gives a bit of advice.
“Roger. You’re finally playing your game. I’m glad that you’re finally able to use your natural talents, and it clearly has made a difference. You are playing like I hoped you always would. Just please, Roger, remember where you came from, and play like you never want to go back.” A solitary tear of content rolls down Roger’s cheek and he smiles and nods his head. Roger composes himself. “I won’t let you down, Coach. I won’t let you down.”
Crunch Time
The Anglers roll off back-to-back victories before injuries to their star running back and their linebacker leave the team searching for solid replacements. The team cannot overcome these major losses and Minnesota loses its next three games, including a loss to the lowly Pittsburgh Forgers. The Anglers face the Detroit Maulers in Week 15 and destroy the defending Big Game champions by a score of 35-3. The Anglers are 8-6 going into Week 16, and if they want to make the playoffs, the formula is simple: Win the next two games and make the playoffs; lose once and beg for help. Lose both of the remaining games – call your travel agent.
Roger looks at the calendar. Two games left. Tomorrow – a Week 16 matchup against…the Washington Bluefins. This is like no other game he’s ever been a part of. Roger has never been so nervous in his life. But being on a team full of players and coaches that he trusts keeps him feeling moderately comfortable. That is, until he’s alone in the hotel, the night before game day.
Gifford wakes up in the hotel room in cold sweats repeatedly on Saturday night. 1 AM, 3:15 AM, 4 AM. Rough nightmares about anything that could go wrong, going wrong. A late interception, a sack, an injury. This game against the Bluefins is a primetime game, and a loss could mean the end of the Anglers’ season.
Roger is also having flashbacks. All of the fans from Washington who only remember him as the guy who lost 9 of his 12 starts last season. The fans who called for him to be traded because he was “washed up” and a “bum.” The headlines that read “Folly Roger” and the news stories about Gifford being a bust. Roger takes a deep breath and realizes that he has a golden opportunity to shut everybody up. All he needs to do is go out there and win.