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sink.
    â€œI understand that. But they have a few options, like arbitration.”
    Gray shook his head. “They won’t do that. Sturtz has a big mouth, but he won’t go that far. It’d make him radioactive. Besides, if they file a grievance, who says it’ll be green-lighted?”
    â€œThere have been more and more arbitrations lately. The league doesn’t want a lot of these negative issues floating around. It’s bad PR, so it’s better just to deal with them. It also sets precedents.”
    â€œIt’s still not likely.”
    â€œI know, but do you really want to take that chance? Sturtz is not going to sit around and do nothing. He’s not going to fold up and go home the way we want him to. He’s pretty pissed off.”
    Gray took a paper towel from the pile, dried his hands, then examined himself in the mirror.
    â€œI don’t suppose you’d want to franchise T. J. at some—”
    â€œNo, absolutely not. I won’t waste the franchise tag on … on him.”
    On an offensive player was what he really wanted to say, Palmer knew.
    â€œAt the very least, he’ll probably want—”
    â€œLook,” Gray cut in, “we’ve got limited funds, right?”
    â€œWell … yes.”
    â€œSo we have to make choices. I’m choosing to concentrate on the defensive side of the ball.”
    That’s because you don’t want Dale Greenwood looking too good out there, do you? Chet Palmer thought meanly. Mean or not, most people in the organization were aware of the silent rivalry between this uninspiring head coach and the offensive coordinator who was the real reason the team had been even remotely competitive the last four seasons.
    â€œThat said,” Gray went on, “I’m not eager to pour a fortune into T. J. Brookman. Everything needs to stay as is. That’s the key right there— everything has to remain status quo . I want to invest in some of those new defensive guys we drafted, not to mention some guys during the season and next year. That money is mine.”
    â€œEven if it means we lose T. J. now?”
    â€œWe won’t lose him,” Gray said, and Palmer detected the faintest hint of concern. You don’t want to pay him what he’s worth, but if you lose him, your ass could be on the line. That’s quite a situation you’ve put yourself in—not to mention me.
    â€œHe’s not going anywhere,” Gray assured him. He wrapped an arm around Palmer’s shoulders. “We won’t let that happen, right?” Alan Gray thought Chet Palmer was the biggest wuss on the planet—and thus had served him very well. Some GMs were alpha, and some were beta. The moment Gray realized Palmer was in the latter group, he made sure the team kept him around.
    â€œNo,” Palmer said with a sigh. “We won’t let that happen.”
    â€œAnd these three boys we’re bringing in?” He smiled and held his hands out. “Well … life can be full of disappointments, right?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œGood. Then do whatever it takes on your end of things, and I’ll do whatever it takes on mine, okay?”
    â€œOkay.”
    â€œAttaboy.”

6
    During the four-and-a-half-hour journey from Atlantic City to Albany, Daimon Foster kept telling himself that he had been invited to this training camp for a reason, and that reason was because he was good . The fact that he hadn’t been formally drafted didn’t mean a thing, other than the possibility that a lot of scouts and coaches had made the mistake of overlooking him. He was on his way up here because he had what it took to be a pro. If the Giants didn’t truly believe that, they wouldn’t be wasting their time.
    It was this last thought that really got him pumped, inspiring him to savor the kind of grand visions he had previously kept in a dusty mental storeroom. Visions of a