That year I was at the top of every team’s wish list, many companies were lined up to give me endorsement deals, and my agent negotiated an obscene amount of money for me, which at the time was an unprecedented contract for a rookie quarterback.
They discussed my groundbreaking deal on every sports show in the nation; so much so, that veteran players around the league complained. They’d never even met me, but already didn’t like me, saying things like I didn’t deserve the money because I hadn’t proven myself yet. They even said I would ruin the game for everyone if I accepted such an “outrageous” deal.
The nerve of those has-beens. I was the top dog in collegiate sports and deserved every bit of that money. I had proven myself on the field in college repeatedly. Hell, I have the accolades to prove it. I won my university the big championship and broke two of my school’s records and one state record in passing yards. Who were they to question my worth?
So I took the deal.
And yes, after I signed on the dotted line, I flamboyantly spent a lot of my paycheck on cars, houses and definitely on women but I’m young and successful and it’s my right to spend my money however I want to, right? You would think that would be the case, but the press hasn’t always seen it that way. I’ve been the target of blatantly biased reporting ever since my rookie year. The headlines have been brutal.
Top Draft Pick: Spotted Drunk & Belligerent In Local Bar… Again.
Extravagant Nighthawk Quarterback Hires A Modern Day Butler
Caraway Selfishly Vacations With A Kardashian During Training Camp.
League Admits Caraway Deal Is The Beginning Of A Dangerous Precedent In Professional Sports.
You Be The Judge: Is Jett Caraway A Golden Boy or Spoiled Boy?
Things only got worse towards the end of my rookie year. Through hard work and grit, I got our team to the big dance and playing in my first Superbowl. We had to win a lot of tough games in order to get there, but on that day we were outplayed and out-coached, so we lost. It was disappointing and soul crushing. No amount of money in the world would ever change the fact that I got to the Superbowl and lost it in front of millions of people.
I wasn’t used to losing, and whatever their opinion of my personal life, the fans weren’t used to me losing either. Losing is not in my DNA, but I’m also a realist and understand that losing can sometimes be part of the game. It happens. Which is why I still don’t get to this day, why people only blame me for the results of the game that day?
They said I choked, but I’ve never choked in a game in my life. They said I wasn’t a good leader but conveniently forgot it was my leadership that got us to the Superbowl in the first place. They said I was selfish and immature, but I showed nothing but respect to my teammates and coaches. I always have. I’m Texas born and bred. We come out of the womb revering our elders.
The vitriol thrown my way, especially from some of my own teammates shocked and angered me, and because they hurt my feelings, I reacted and asked the front office to be traded but to my surprise they agreed. I was unceremoniously traded to another team who traded me again two years later.
And now I’m here.
In a city that doesn’t want me.
With my previous team, I played under the bright lights under a multi-million dollar dome on brand new turf paid for by the thousands of fans who filled the seats every game, but everything is different with the Nighthawks. We play in an older stadium on real grass under the sun or the stars, rain or shine.
And the fans are different.
They’re grittier, tougher and very dedicated to the team. New York is a big football market and has some of the most loyal and toughest fans in the league, even though their ticket prices are probably some of the highest in the nation.
Unfortunately, those same fans think I’m some sort of selfish, undisciplined, immature, overpaid flop; probably because a picture has been painted through countless media interviews and op-ed pieces that I am. I’m certain that the negativity from the press since my college days has seeped into the consciousness of this entire city.
They’ve been brainwashed.
And now they hate me.
The overall consensus of the fans here is that they wish management would go with our back-up quarterback, Josh Rivera, instead of me. He’s the beloved homegrown veteran from Queens, New York, and I’m the jinxed kid from Texas that nobody believes in.
So you see what I’m up against, right? They’re all just waiting for me to make one mistake, and then they’ll call for my head on a platter.
I can’t let today be that one mistake.
While I may be extremely nervous right now because we’re losing this game in a close score, and I just got the shit knocked out of me, I also realize that today is a great chance for me to show the world what I’m really made of.
I’m that kid growing up who arrived to practice early and left late. I’m the kid who trained twice as hard as anybody else during the off season to build muscle and increase my accuracy. I’m the kid who lives, eats and shits football. It’s in my blood, and I truly believe it’s my destiny to be the best who ever did it.
That destiny starts now.
Two
JETT
