The outbreak of "Bounty Gate" caused a sensation in the entire league, once again refreshed people's perception of the phrase "no means are compromised for victory", and also refreshed people's feelings about the phrase "profit first", which seriously cast a shadow on the fair play of competitive sports.

Objectively speaking, rugby is originally a tough and rough sport, and the quarterback is the focus of firepower, and excessive collision and rough defense are part of the game; But confrontation is confrontation, and there is a prize pool that is specially created to further encourage unfair fierce confrontation in the form of a bounty, which is another level.

In any sport, collisions and blows aimed at maiming opponents are frowned upon, even in boxing. Rugby is no exception.

After such negative news broke out, the reputation and prestige of the NFL suffered a serious blow; And the New Orleans Saints are even more pointed at for a while, like rats crossing the street.

In order to stop the loss in time, Roger Goodale punished the matter with the highest standard treatment; and showed a resolute iron fist, and decisively drew a quick end to the whole thing.

According to the investigation, the league officials determined that the head coach and the president of the team, as those in the know, concealed and did not report it, which further contributed to the deterioration of the situation; However, with no operating funds at the club involved, and the team's owner, Tom Benson, who was aware of it, made it clear that he objected and fully cooperated with the investigation, the league believes that Benson has nothing to do with the matter, but the management is still to blame.

Eventually, the League imposed a fine of $500,000 on the New Orleans Saints, the maximum amount of fine the League has the right to impose; It also stripped the team of second-round picks in 2012 and 2013, a penalty decision made after the Saints had previously traded their 2012 first-round pick to the New England Patriots.

In addition, defensive staff coach Craig Williams is the culprit and is banned for life, and head coach Sean Payton is banned for one year as an insider; On the player side, the main leader, Jonathan-Vilma, was banned for one year, and the other players and coaches involved were also banned and fined for varying lengths.

The severe crackdown was like a storm, and the dust settled in just a few weeks, and the negative impact was kept as small as possible. Still, the bounty gate sparked a heated frenzy in all the news media.

Throughout the offseason, Arkens deliberately blocked all news and cut off all contact, and really calmed down to think about the possibility of retirement, until after the end of the retreat, when he suddenly heard the news, even though everything was over, it was still hard to believe that all this had happened.

After arriving at the training camp, Arkens' first instinct was to ask Lu Ke for confirmation.

Looking at Lu Ke's reaction, Arkens knew that those news were not April Fool's jokes, and he couldn't help but shake his head again and again, "Fortunately." Jesus Christ, is so lucky. Luckily, we met them in the divisional competition. ”

In the wild card game, the New Orleans Saints still played a ruthless game against the Detroit Lions.

While Matthew Stafford was uninjured, no one knows if the defensive team's rough charge changed the outcome of the game; Or rather, the aggressive collision caused Stafford to shrink his feet, and the performance in the second half of the game was completely unable to open up the situation, and finally the elite quarterback Drew Bliss gradually pulled away and collapsed.

The fact is, immediately after the next round, the New Orleans Saints are standing opposite the San Francisco 49ers.

Lu Ke's foot movement and physical confrontation are not strong points in the first place, if in the middle of the game, the Saints defense team consciously makes a rough impact, the consequences are unimaginable, maybe this collision may bury Lu Ke's entire career. Just a maybe, it still made everyone break out in a cold sweat.

Thinking further, was it because of the multiple serious collisions against the New Orleans Saints that indirectly led to multiple injuries in the game against the New York Giants, which ultimately led to the team losing the game?

It's a speculation, but there's no way to verify it, but it's still embarrassing for the San Francisco 49ers, especially after witnessing the unwillingness and regret of players like Ted Jean and Justin Smith.

That's why Arkens sighed like this, and after sighing, he still sighed uncontrollably, patted Lu Ke's shoulder heavily, and didn't say a word, but it was full of deep meaning and emotion. He didn't know what the other players and coaches thought, but personally, all the hopes of victory were maintained in Lu Ke.

Simple movements, Akens felt Lu Ke's physique and body shape, rough and rough did not look earth-shattering, but the muscles were stronger, the body was tighter, and the hidden explosive power was transmitted through the palm.

Akens couldn't help but squeeze Lu Ke's muscles heavily, and his eyes showed a glint of joy, "It seems that this offseason, someone has trained diligently. ”

Lu Ke clenched his fists with a chuckle, and deliberately made a bodybuilder show off his biceps, as if he was showing off his offseason results, which instantly made Akens laugh, and then those familiar voices could be heard in the distance

"Hey, David, you're showing up!" "What, the strike is finally over? Has the salary been doubled? "Finally, finally, one of the biggest players in our main team has appeared" "Now it's okay, the special service team can finally calm down, and the backbone is back" "Man, welcome back"......

Welcome back.

The smile on Akens' face spread brightly, he still missed this stadium, even if he was just standing here, his blood couldn't help but start to boil, "Ten goals on goal, how about it, anyone's bet?" I bet Bambi won't be able to kick any of them. ”

"Wait, do you bet on your arms or your feet? Foot? Then I'd better forget it. ”

"Haha, Bambi, the teams in Europe's top five leagues are preparing to poach, and now all of them are gone, you can't do this."

……

Amidst the bustling laughter, the day's training began again.

Although Akens was the only one in the training lineup, the familiarity was gradually returning to the training, and it seemed that even the vitality under the scorching sun was becoming lively. However, training is training after all, and even Arkens has to be part of his daily training routine.

From the group warm-ups, to the specific drills in each position, to the tactical training of the first and second teams, everything went on track step by step, and it was just a normal day in the offseason.

"Get moving, you're all too slow, grass! Was the footsteps just now the rhythm of an eighty-year-old lady? Why is it so slow! Speed up, all speed up! ”

"Again, again, what is the tactic I just mentioned, and why are the wings running in the wrong direction? What are you guys up to! Grass! Lift me up! ”

"Crash! Collision! Collision! Don't hesitate and don't be greedy! I'll let you defend Seventy-Five, and you'll defend Seventy-Five for me, and leave Sixty-Eight all going on, do you hear me? ”

"Hey! Hey! Sixty-three, sixty-three, are you crazy? Ha? Everyone pauses for me and concentrates, Sixty-Three, are you insane? ”

Over the training ground, Jim Hubble's voice echoed roughly and violently, reminding each tactical drill of flaws and conditions, mixed with the scolding of offensive coaches, defensive coaches, lineback coaches, close end coaches, etc., etc., intertwined into a large net, tightly enveloping all players.

A tactic must be practiced over and over again. The same tactic, how to use the first ten yards, how to use the third ten yards, how to use the own half, how to use it in the red zone, all of these are completely different, every player must deeply understand the tactics and use them in practice, otherwise everything will be in vain.

While training, Hubble lost his mind because of the behavior of player number 63 and forcibly interrupted the training, "Everyone pay attention, number 63, what was my first sentence before training?" Tell me, huh? What exactly was my first sentence? ”

Sixty-three Tony-Jerod-Eddie, this year's undrafted rookie. In college, he played as a pinnacle in the defensive line, but in the San Francisco 49ers' defensive system, there is no pinnacle position, so he now switches to defensive tackle.

In the face of Hubble's storm, Eddie couldn't help but hang his head and touch his helmet, "Don't hit the quarterback." ”

"Be louder! Jesus - hell - Christ! Hubble roared in a more ferocious voice.

"Don't hit the quarterback!" Eddie could only close his eyes tightly and shout as loudly as he could.

Hubble nodded, "Yes, don't hit the quarterback!" So what were you doing? Are you crazy? His face was full of incredulity, and then he looked around and looked at all his teammates, "Again, I stress, don't hit the quarterback!" Otherwise you'll give me//me! You lunatic! Now start training again, the tactics just now, do it again! Grass! ”

Unexpected injuries in offseason training can be fatal for any player and any player. No one wants it to happen, and everyone is avoiding it.

It's not for Lu Ke alone, but all the coaches of the thirty-two teams will do this, in the offseason tactical training, all defensive players are not allowed to hit the quarterback, to avoid any possible injury, there are injuries in other positions, and the subsidy can still be played after all, but there is an accident in the quarterback position, which is a fatal blow.

Look at the San Francisco 49ers' succession of surprises last offseason, and that's the proof of that.

This year, Hubble didn't want to do it again.