Knights of Andreas 2.02: War Room

[SteVo+ 3,702]

Knights of Andreas

Part II

 

Chapter Fourteen – War Room

 

As Commissioner Goodell walks to the podium and announces the first picks of the 2012 NFL Draft, the Radio City Music Hall crowd reacts modestly. The first five players come off the board without surprise. At any moment, though, a shocking trade or draft choice could send everything into bedlam.

 

Just before Goodell walks across the stage, each draft pick is recorded officially and disseminated to all thirty-two NFL teams and their respective locations across the country, including the war room in Los Angeles, three thousand miles away.

 

At the head of a long table sit the general manager, owner, and head coach, dressed in their best suit/tie combination. Around them are scouts, coaches, and other front office personnel. A mounted television in an upper corner shows NFL Network’s draft coverage; right next to it, a digital clock ticks down from ten minutes. The second a pick is made official, the clock resets, and the Knights learn of the selection by telephone moments later.

 

Every detail in the room, from the three-inch binders on the table to the big board of three hundred names on the wall, represents a culmination of months of scouting, research, and analysis. Chance Phillips has, at his disposal, every single prospect’s strengths, weaknesses, medical history, and where they project on the Knights roster (he has much of this memorized by now, of course). He also has his own personal research into draft trends and strategies across the NFL. He considers himself a draft specialist; this weekend is his offseason highlight.

 

The Knights have eight overall selections in the draft, including the tenth overall pick and a third round compensatory selection (courtesy of Nnamdi Asomugha). Phillips has a lot of holes to fill, and he has a plan to do so.

 

The picks come off the board until the Panthers are on the clock with the ninth pick; the Knights are on deck.

 

“The pick is in,” says a man on the phone with New York. “It’s Kuechly.”

 

It’s a moot point now, but Luke Kuechly drew heavy consideration from the Knights. Placing him next to Briggs Randall could create the league’s best inside linebacker tandem. But the Knights signed Dan Connor in free agency; the position isn’t a huge need.

 

The digital clock resets to 10:00 and ticks down; the Knights are on the clock.

 

This pick, of course, has been the subject of countless mock drafts over the last few months. A popular mock pick among media pundits is Memphis nose tackle Dontari Poe. Several uneducated mock drafts have mentioned Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox or a trade up for USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil, two players at positions already filled for the Knights. As it happens, however, Phillips has no intention of making his pick right now.

 

Phillips picks up the phone and dials another war room, three time zones away. “Howie, it’s Chance,” he says, referring to Howie Roseman, Philadelphia Eagles general manager. “Everything still good?...Great, let’s do it.”

 

The Eagles have the sixteenth pick and have made their intention to trade up well known around the league, while the Knights have quietly expressed interest in trading down. Standard market value dictates the Eagles give up a third round pick, complicated by the trade Philadelphia made for DeMeco Ryans, in which they swapped third round picks with Houston, resulting in a lower selection. Per the arrangement, they’ll add a fifth round pick to even the deal.

 

“Okay,” Phillips says to the war room, phone still in hand. “So we trade ten for sixteen, eighty-eight, and one-fifty-three.”

 

 

 

From his southern California mansion, Jonathan Maverick makes his way through the crowd of partygoers toward the fridge. The night is young and the party is live, but many have gone quiet with his team on the clock.

 

“I bet you guys they don’t draft me any help,” he says, eager to spice things up.

 

“How much?” a partygoer asks.

 

“A million bucks. Actually, how about this—this is better—if they draft an offensive lineman, I’ll do a double shot of tequila.”

 

The crowd cheers in agreement. Maverick is a seasoned partier, but tequila is the one evil force that can get him truly fucked up.

 

“Trade!” some people near the television announce. “They traded it!”

 

“See?” Maverick says. “I guess we’re not drafting anybody at all. Figures.”

 

 

 

The picks pass again as the Knights wait patiently. Phillips has accomplished his objective.

 

“So, do we take our guy at sixteen?” Wayne Schneider asks.

 

“Depends on if we get any other trade offers,” Phillips says. “Technically there are still two of our top guys on the board.”

 

“Kansas City’s taking Poe!”

 

“Make that one of our top guys.”

 

With Dontari Poe off the board, the Knights’ top target is now the player who sits ninth on their big board. Normally, taking your ninth highest prospect with the tenth pick would be sensible, but Phillips has a strategy: play the league’s tendencies against itself. He knows his guy will still be there at sixteen.

 

The Cardinals take Michael Floyd at fourteen, and the Rams take Michael Brockers at fifteen. The Knights are on the clock again.

 

“Okay,” Phillips says, “we’ll wait five minutes for any trade offers and then make the pick.”

 

A few scouts dig into the binders in front of them, as if they can still learn something new. Phillips knows better, counting down the minutes idly; being on the clock is typically a boring experience.

 

The phone rings. It’s Cincinnati.

 

“Chance Phillips…Hey, Mike, what’s on your mind?…That sounds fair. I gotta give it a few minutes, though. If I get any other offers, I’ll call you back. Otherwise I think you’ve got a deal…Okay.” He hangs up. “Cincy wants the pick; they’ll trade a third rounder for it.”

 

“Fair compensation,” Paul DeMartine says.

 

“Hold on now,” Schneider says. “Are we sure he’ll be there at—where is Cincy’s pick?”

 

“Twenty-two,” Phillips says. “I think he will be. And even if he’s not, DeCastro is a fair consolation prize.”

 

Everyone nods, apparently satisfied. The Knights’ clock ticks down. 6:25, 6:24, 6:23…

 

The phone rings. It’s Chicago.

 

“Chance Phillips…Hey, Phil…Well, I’ve got another offer on the table…Third round…Didn’t think so…Okay, thanks for the call, Phil.” He hangs up. “Chicago wanted to slide up a few spots but for nothing higher than a fourth.”

 

5:01, 5:00, 4:59…

 

“Let’s do it.” Phillips calls Cincinnati, and both teams relay the trade details to New York. The trade is made official, and the Bengals are on the clock.

 

 

 

From inside Radio City Hall, ESPN’s broadcast team gets the cue.

 

“So we’ve got another trade here,” Chris Berman says, “as Cincinnati has traded up; they are now on the clock. We’ve got Los Angeles moving down again, Mel.”

 

“Well remember, we all thought they would stay put at ten and take Dontari Poe,” Mel Kiper Jr. says. “They traded down, picked up a few extra picks, now they’re trading down again.”

 

“And this is a team,” Berman says, “finished 6-10 last year, Jon. Still in, as we would say, a rebuilding phase. So you wouldn't think they would be in a hurry to move out of the top ten as they did. Apparently, Chance Phillips, the GM out in L.A., disagrees.”

 

“The Los Angeles Knights are definitely still rebuilding,” Jon Gruden says. “They’re not one or two guys away, Boom. So Chance Phillips is sitting in his war room and he’s saying, ‘I don’t see one prospect I’m in love with, so I’m just gonna stockpile picks to try and reload this roster.’”

 

 

 

The Knights now have eleven selections overall, including four in the third round. Confident in his scouts, Phillips will stand pat and draft his board for all those picks if need be, though that’s not his plan.

 

The picks pass without danger for the Knights. Just before they’re up, New England trades up with Denver and takes Chandler Jones, someone rated highly on L.A.’s board. But thankfully, they’re on the clock at twenty-two, and number nine on their big board is still available. Phillips quietly thanks the NFL for undervaluing offensive guards and overvaluing the scouting combine.

 

 

 

“The pick is in!” several partygoers yell.

 

Maverick finishes his martini and moves toward the TV screen as the commissioner announces the pick.

 

“With the twenty-second pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Knights select Chase Grodd, guard, Iowa.”

 

The mansion explodes with screaming. Many partiers spill drinks onto the floor. Several head for the liquor cabinet and unveil a large bottle of tequila. Maverick should be praising the heavens for an upgrade in pass protection, but at the moment, he can only calculate which toilet is closest to the living room.

 

It’s going to be a long night.

 

 

 

Everyone in the war room stands up and shakes hands. The phone gets passed around as Phillips, Schneider, and Coach Daniel speak with Chase Grodd, the newest Knight. An absolute mauler in the run game, he figures to start at left guard immediately.

 

Things settle down quickly because everyone knows the Knights may not be finished for the night; they have several other holes to fill and, thanks to both trades, plenty of ammunition to move back up. The Knights’ next pick is forty-first overall, the ninth pick in the second round.

 

A few more picks roll in until the highest rated player on the Knights’ board is at a position of need. Phillips works the phones, eager to get back into the first round.

 

The Packers are up with the twenty-eighth pick, but they stay put and take USC linebacker Nick Perry.

 

The Ravens field several calls to trade down, but they don’t want to move down too far. They make a deal with Minnesota, who picks Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith.

 

The Broncos, after already trading down nine spots, don’t want to move down again without a substantial offer. Phillips isn’t ready to provide one, so Denver stays put and drafts Cincinnati defensive tackle Derek Wolfe.

 

The 49ers look to trade down, but just like Baltimore, they don’t want to move far, taking Los Angeles out of the running. Tampa Bay strikes a deal and takes Boise State running back Doug Martin.

 

The Giants are up with the final pick of the night. Frustrated and desperate to make a deal, Phillips speaks with Giants GM Jerry Reese on the phone as the clock ticks down.

 

“Look, Jerry, I know you don’t want to trade down again. I understand—”

 

“Then make me an offer, Chance. I’m not trying to swindle you, but it’s gotta be worth it. Just a third-rounder isn’t worth it.”

 

“How about my highest third, seventy-four overall? I think that’s fair to move up nine spots.”

 

Phillips waits for a response as the entire war room focuses on him.

 

“Yeah, I don’t think that’s gonna work,” Reese says. “Actually, Chance, I don’t think we can do business for less than a second-rounder.”

 

“Second round?” Everyone in the war room shoots Phillips a disapproving look. DeMartine shakes his head and waves his arms. Abandon ship. Phillips can feel a trade within reach, but Paul is right.

 

“Sorry, Jerry. I can’t do it. Thanks anyway.” Phillips slams the phone down, and the war room goes quiet until the Giants draft Virginia Tech running back David Wilson.

 

“Okay, gentlemen,” Phillips says. “We’ll reconvene tomorrow at three. Expect another busy night.” After the room disperses, he calls the war room in St. Louis. The Rams own the first pick of the second round and are unofficially on the clock. “Hi, Les, it’s Chance Phillips. We can talk in detail tomorrow, but I want that pick. I’ve got three third-rounders. Call me.”

 

 

 

The Knights’ first round pick receives mostly positive reviews from the media. Though many fans are disappointed the team didn’t stay in the top ten to draft a playmaker at a flashy position, nobody can argue with an upgrade on the offensive line.

 

Everyone notes that the Knights have collected a ton of extra picks by moving down, and could very well be active again tomorrow. ESPN’s Adam Schefter mentions the Knights specifically when reporting that the Rams are already fielding calls for the thirty-third pick.

 

 

 

As the war room fills in again Friday night for rounds two and three, Phillips is already working the phones, in near constant contact with St. Louis. A trade is imminent. Many teams want to trade up in the second round, but nobody is willing to surrender more than a fourth round pick. Phillips offers the eighty-eighth pick, the Knights’ lowest non-compensatory pick in the third round, and the trade is finalized just before the telecast begins.

 

The trade is made official, and the Knights waste no time phoning in the selection, taking one of a few players with first round grades still on their board.

 

 

 

A still hungover Maverick somehow remembers to turn on the draft. He steps over empty liquor bottles and beer cans to get the remote. He looks around at the mess but somehow can't see himself cleaning anytime soon. The screen fades in and the sound kicks in with Goodell mid-sentence.

 

“…thirty-third pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Knights select Kevin Zeitler, guard, Wisconsin.”

 

Maverick’s stomach churns a little, thankful that pick didn’t happen last night. When the wave of nausea passes, his senses return and reality hits him: they drafted two guards with their first two picks.

 

This situation would normally call for a drink.

 

 

 

The same post-selection ritual takes over the war room as congratulations are again in order. Zeitler is similar to Grodd as a prospect and should start at right guard from day one. The Knights entered the draft with holes and both guard positions, and they have filled them with their first two picks. But they’re not done.

 

A few more picks later, only one prospect with a first round grade is on the Knights' board. For the Knights, it happens to be another key position of need. After all the pre-draft simulations and predictions, everything has fallen perfectly into place.

 

They just need to make one more trade.

 

“Let’s ask ourselves this first,” Phillips says as the 49ers are on the clock with the thirty-sixth pick. “Are we willing to trade both third-rounders to get back into the second round?”

 

“Remember,” DeMartine says, “we talked about this in one particular simulation, and at the time, we said yes. And to get someone we view as a first round prospect, I still say it’s worth it.”

 

“I agree,” Schneider says.

 

“Okay then,” Phillips says. “Finding someone willing to trade out of the second entirely may be tricky, but let’s see who’s open for business.”

 

The 49ers draft Illinois receiver A.J. Jenkins. The Rams are up after their trade with Los Angeles and take Appalachian State receiver Brian Quick.

 

The Jaguars are open to a trade but want to stay in the second round. They take Clemson defensive end Andre Branch.

 

Miami has the same story, though they would be interested in a trade for L.A.’s second round pick next year. Phillips doesn’t want to trade future picks, so Miami drafts Stanford tackle Jonathan Martin.

 

“Only a matter of time before someone takes our guy,” DeMartine says.

 

“Keep the faith,” Phillips says, phone in hand. “We’ve got a lot of picks to enjoy regardless.” The war room in Cleveland answers. “Tom, it’s Chance Phillips. Look, I’m running out of patience so I’ll make this simple. I want your pick and I’ve got two third rounders to offer. Seventy-four and eighty-four. Interested?” Phillips doesn’t move for a moment, then smiles and pumps his fist, and the room comes to life again. “Alright, Tom, let’s make it official.”

 

Within minutes, the trade is finalized, and the Knights are on the clock. As they phone in the pick, Coach Harden looks pleased.

 

“Great pick, gentlemen. I can’t wait to work with this kid.”

 

 

 

In the backyard of a middle class home about an hour from Soldier Field, friends and family enjoy a Friday night barbeque. Among them is celebrity Chet Ripka, a Hall of Fame player who gave the Bears many great years at strong safety. Ripka travels back home a lot during the offseason to see old friends, though he wishes this particular party didn’t coincide with the draft.

 

“Hey, Chet!” a friend near the outside television yells. “They just traded; the Knights are up.”

 

“Again?” Ripka says, making his way towards the screen. Management’s aggressiveness has surprised him this year, and he doesn’t mind that. He has seen enough drafts to know not to take them seriously, but he still wants to learn about his new teammates. The small crowd around the TV goes quiet.

 

“With the fortieth pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Knights select Griswold Johnson, safety, Adrian.”

 

“Hey, a safety! Is that your replacement, Chet?”

 

“Yeah,” Ripka says, taking another sip of beer, “could be.”

 

 

 

The Los Angeles war room finally enjoys a prolonged celebration. Their next pick is the last in the third round, and they don’t have any plans of trading up before that.

 

As the phone gets passed around, Harden excitedly talks to his new free safety. Johnson is the first Division III player off the board in this draft, and for good reason; he dominated the level of competition at Adrian College. If he played at a Division I school, he probably would have gone in the first round.

 

Chance Phillips quietly enjoys a satisfying moment. A hectic and disappointing free agency period left the Knights with holes at left guard, right guard, and free safety. All three positions have now been filled—by rookies, of course, but Phillips likes having a team full of potential. He believes in his coaching staff’s ability to develop talent.

 

The second round commences pick by pick. NFL Network gets in touch with Phillips and Coach Daniel, requesting on-air interviews, but they both decline. The Knights have no plans to trade up, but neither man wants to leave the war room while the draft is ongoing.

 

When the third round begins, the Knights’ big board has six prospects with second round grades available. Phillips doubts they will all fall to their next pick, a compensatory selection that cannot be traded.

 

Within ten picks, three of the six prospects are gone. Two more go quickly after. Halfway through the third round, only one remains on the board.

 

The picks reach the twenties and he’s still there. While Phillips wonders if the Knights are about to get lucky, a second round prospect still available late in the third round is a red flag. Is there some obscure injury the Knights don’t know about? As casual conversation dies, Phillips instructs his team to work the phones. If something’s up, he needs to know.

 

The picks roll in with occasional trades, and the prospect in question remains on the board. The Falcons, the last team in the third round with a 3-4 defense, make their pick, and it’s not him. No news seems to be buzzing around the league. The Knights must simply have him rated higher than everyone else.

 

Finally, the Patriots make the penultimate selection of the evening, and it’s not the Knights’ target. Half overjoyed, half bewildered, Phillips says, “Well, we can’t trade this one, so let’s not waste any time.”

 

A few minutes later, an announcement is made via intercom in Radio City Music Hall (the podium announcements have stopped by now): “With the ninety-fifth pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Knights select Damian Jones, defensive tackle, California.”

 

Another round of handshakes commences for the final time as the war room dissipates for the evening. Harden seems particularly giddy, and for good reason; he was more responsible for Jones’ second round grade than the scouts were. At a sturdy 6’2”-325, he could be the franchise nose tackle the Knights have been seeking.

 

 

 

The Los Angeles war room reassembles Saturday morning for the final time with a simple plan: draft the board. Phillips doesn’t anticipate any trades and wants to secure as much depth as possible with his final five picks. As the remainder of the draft goes along, the Knights do just that.

 

In the fourth round, they draft Devon Wylie, wide receiver from Fresno State.

 

In the fifth round, they draft Zebrie Sanders, offensive tackle from Florida State, and George Iloka, safety from Boise State.

 

In the sixth round, they draft Isaiah Frey, cornerback from Nevada.

 

In the seventh round, they draft Marcus Jameson, running back from USC.

 

And just like that, it’s over. The war room empties, business finished for the weekend. Phillips will now work hard on signing his nine draft picks to contracts, but otherwise, all significant phases of the offseason have ended; the roster for the 2012 Los Angeles Knights has taken shape.

 

OTAs are right around the corner, followed by the dog days of summer inactivity, then training camp, which leads into preseason action, and then, finally, football.

Edited November 28, 2014 by SteVo

[Vin+ 3,121]

Shut up, Mav.

 

Good stuff, SteVo.

[Cherry 1,302]

Fucking poached all of Cincy's picks

[RazorStar 4,025]

They don't need em.

[seanbrock 1,684]

Next week we get into training camp and OTA's where the players and coaches take more of the spot light. Really liked this chapter though. We got ourselves a great GM. Phillips is working the draft the way we all wish our own GM's would.

[BwareDWare94 723]

That was very well written SteVo. Seeing your skills develop by the chapter has been incredible.

[theMileHighGuy 656]

Good stuff. I enjoyed the intricacy of the process, and respect the effort it likely took to manage the draft details of the other teams you involved.

[GA_Eagle 595]

Ditto what milehigh said. Keeping the rosters straight for what you want to accomplish would screw me up