Read Online QB1 by Pete Bowen - Free Book Online

string. The team designated
him the franchise player. He was going to receive a salary of $14
million this year. That’s the average of the top 5 players in the
game at Quarterback. That’s a lot of money but, we felt that was
unacceptable because that was only a one-year contract with no
bonus money. If Tony were a free agent, he could expect the highest
contract in football and a huge signing bonus. We told the team
Tony would sit out the year rather than play under the franchise
tag contract. It was never going to work and I can only attribute
the team’s stance to sheer arrogance and stupidity. It isn’t the
first time Tierney’s been accused of that.”
    Rosenbloom continued, “What the Team had to
do was trade Tony or Paul Isackson and trading Tony Reilly wasn’t
really an option after last season. Tony proved he was a better
quarterback than Isackson. Why Tierney was screwing around with
this is beyond me. I don’t get what the end game was for San
Francisco. Tierney’s always been a tough negotiator but this was
ridiculous. He alienated Tony and the fans with this
craziness.”
    “I know the last couple of months were
difficult for Tony. I know that it hurt your relationship with
him,” he said to Liz.
    “You can say that again,” she said. “I
thought we were over.”
    “Don’t feel bad, he was angry and barely
speaking to me. He wasn’t himself. He was anxious and angry with a
situation he couldn’t do anything about except wait for it to be
worked out. He wanted to play football but we were out of options.
Last month he said the situation was driving him crazy. He was
taking off till it was resolved. He didn’t know or he wouldn’t tell
me where he was headed. He told me to send him an email when it was
done. I’ll be honest with you; I had no idea where he was for the
last month. Three days ago I sent him an email and said I thought
the situation was about to change and that he should probably
return. When they found his body last night, it was the first time
I knew where he was in a month.”
    “Join the club,” said Liz.
    “He wrote me back that he would be returning
early in the morning. Up to that time, I was sending him daily
emails keeping him up to date on negotiations which frankly until
yesterday afternoon hadn’t budged in a month. The Team was dragging
its feet, for God knows why. This should have been handled months
ago. I still don’t know what the issue was with the Team. They
finally worked out a deal to trade Isackson to Miami a couple of
days ago. It was all going to happen today. The contract making him
the highest paid quarterback in football was ready for his
signature. That all turned to shit this morning.”
    I said, “Yes it did. That’s an amazing
coincidence.” I thought about it for a minute. “I don’t like
coincidences. Mr. Rosenbloom, who knew Tony was on his way
back?”
    Rosenbloom said, “People on my staff and I
told the Team that we would be in today to sign. No one was going
to say anything until it was a done deal.”
    “Who were you dealing with on the Team?”
    “Details of the contract were worked out with
the Head of Player Personnel, George Crowley.”
    “Did you tell him Tony was arriving early
this morning?”
    “No, I told Oscar Tierney.”
    “When did you tell him?”
    “It was about 7 PM last night.”
    “Can you find out if your staff leaked or
told anyone that Tony was on his way back?”
    “Sure, but that’s highly doubtful.”
    “Why?”
    “Because they knew they’d get fired by
disclosing something like that. It goes to the press and there
would have been a crowd of reporters waiting for him when he
landed. I can’t imagine that happening out of this office.”
    I said, “I can’t imagine the Tony Reilly
being murdered by a terrorist.”

    Chapter 12
     
    We got in the car and I yelled up at the
driver, “Eddie, Food. I’m starving.” I hadn’t had a thing all day
except coffee. It was 3 PM. “Can we do burgers,