The Prospect: Shannon Kennedy

[Loki]

Dec 18, 2008 12:40:39 GMT -5 JacktheRipper said:

quit slacking. I want to see updates or you don't get a sticky!!!

Eat me bitch, they're coming.

[Jewel27]

Love the stories Loki!!! Your a great writer!!! Pretty cool you are going into writing...

I have a buddy here at Iowa who is going into Sports journalism...he already has some connections at the CR Gazette about half hour north of here....

[Chief Bstn]

this is prob the worst story eva

[chosenone58]

What happened here?

[Chief Bstn]

Dec 18, 2008 14:27:50 GMT -5 Loki said:

Dec 18, 2008 12:40:39 GMT -5 JacktheRipper said:

quit slacking. I want to see updates or you don't get a sticky!!!

Eat me bitch, they're coming.

[Loki]

******************************
August 11th, 2009
******************************

Wow, I can't believe I left you guys out in the cold for this long. To think all the time I put into this thing and all it took was a big computer virus for me to forget about you guys for months and then ultimately an entire season! I'm sure you guys know most of what happened last year: Adrian Peterson continued to evolve into the beast he's known to be, the "return" of Brett Favre, and the Super Bowl-winning Pittsburgh Steelers. There's always drama but I figure it'd be nice to recap you on my year in and out of football.

When I last wrote, we were 5-1 and I had been just a couple starts into being back at QB for the injured Jay Cutler. Through those 3 games at QB (2 as starter), I was 45 of 64 for 536 yards, 5 TD's and 2 INT's. The guys really rallied behind me but as we all know, my enemy of sorts, running back CJ Infante was signed by the Broncos.

Despite whatever things we may have put behind us because of Emily being a tramp and everything, I still resented him for what he did sometimes. He was supposed to be my best friend...supposed to be.

I started 3 more games before Cutler returned from his injury, going 2-1 to lead the team to be a 7-3 record for him to come home to. I returned to my scatback/slash-style position and continued to play well, though it was nowhere near as well as we all know I can play QB. I had little trouble with CJ throughout the year except for a locker room argument that made sure to land in some Bronco fan blogs but nothing more.

We wound up finishing the season behind Cutler 2-4 and just missing the playoffs. While the media called for both Cutler and Coach Shanahan's head, I had an offseason to look forward to. Denver chose not to resign me and also let Shanahan going at the end of the season. Denver was shell-shocked by the news and to be quite honest, so was I.

Nonetheless, Chloe, JC, and I were on the move again. I told my agent this time around, it was QB or nothing. Everyone saw what I could do. I finished the year averaging 232 yards passing per game before Cutler took over. That's 1392 yards passing in just 5 1/2 games. I was even more accurate than years past so in 09, I had to be a quarterback.

Soon after Denver decided not to resign me, new head coach Josh McDaniels and Jay Cutler got into a dispute and ultimately, as we all know, a trade to Chicago in exchange for Purdue standout Kyle Orton. Orton hadn't done much good in Chicago but I suppose he wasn't terrible either. He did what he could with what they gave him.

Finally, the call came.

"Shannon, they got the perfect offer on the table for you right now," my agent Ronald Neumann said.

"Who does? What offer?" I replied excitedly as I heard his thick New York accent on the other end. He never cared to even say hello, he just let me know what was good.

"St. Louis. 2 years for 8.2 million. You'll make 3 million this year."

Chloe screamed in joy. Stupid me had the phone on speaker.

"St. Louis?"

"I know. They got Bulger right now but let's be honest. He's fragile and an interception machine. He's not as good as he used to be. This team's almost guaranteed to fall into your lap. Coach Spanguolo is promising a preseason battle for the job vs. Bulger and Kyle Boller."

I licked my chops at the opportunity to battle it out with those two. I knew I was better. Without Holt, Bulger was a shadow of his former self. I could do it. "I'll take it!"

"Are you sure you don't want to think about this Shannon?" he asked. Making sure this was it.

"I'm positive Ron!" Chloe tackled me to the ground. I laughed hysterically as I tried to keep the phone to my ear.

"Then consider it a done deal, bud!"

"Thank you so much!"

And that's how I got here. Training camp with the St. Louis Rams, just three days away from the first game of the preseason vs. Mark Sanchez, Rex Ryan and the new New York Jets. The battle in camp's been fun, but now it's my time to shine!

[Loki]

******************************
August 13th, 2009
******************************

"Come on Shannon, I can't have you looking like shit the day before our first preseason game! If you want the job, you better start looking like it!"

Coach was reaming me and rightfully so. I couldn't get a handle on the ball. My mind was elsewhere and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find the concentration I needed to get my head in this last practice before the game tomorrow vs. the Jets.

"Shannon," Chloe said standing outside the bathroom door of our lush, new St. Louis apartment just this morning. I could tell by the look in her eyes that it was bad news..at least in some form anyway.

"What's wrong baby? What is it?!" I questioned, quickly walking to her from down the long, hardwood-floored hallway.

"I'm..I think I'm pregnant."

My eyes shot wide. We weren't prepared for this. We weren't prepared for this at all. "Really?" I said, sounding both excited and worried.

She shook her head. "This is the third test I've taken, I'm pretty much positive now. "

I brushed a strand of her dark brown hair from her face and pulled her head in to kiss her on her forehead. I didn't know what to say. This wasn't something she didn't want, but I'm pretty sure we wanted to be better planned for this. I'd been so against getting married to her, settling with her, not because I didn't want to but because of what Ashley had done to me. To be fair, we were pretty much married as it was. I loved this girl and I wasn't going anywhere. So I smiled, "You think it's gonna be a boy or a girl?"

She looked up at me, relieved and smiled happily, "I know you'd love to have yourself Daddy's little girl."

I smiled big. It was true. I definitely wanted a girl.

Now I was distracted, worried, as I led the first team in practice. Coach informed Mark, Kyle and myself who'd be taking what in the preseason game. Mark would start and then we'd split the game into threes. Our amount of time at QB pretty much depended on the defense but I suppose this was our best way to decide a three-way fight for the QB position. This practice was hurting my chances.

Coach pulled me aside. "What's going on with you? What's the problem kid?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know Coach, I'm just not hitting the slants for some reason." It wasn't just the slant routes; it was the outs, the posts, and even the deep ball. They were all ducks, quacking their way far from my receivers' hands.

"Well get your head on straight. If you want that starting job, you're gonna have to earn it!"

I nodded my head and he walked away. I headed to the sideline and grabbed myself a sip of Gatorade from the water cooler. Chloe's words rang in my head and my nerves shot up. What the hell am I supposed to do now?

[SilverChaosVII]

I think I just shat myself

<3333 you Loki

[chosenone58]

Wow. It's been seven months since my last post, but you're the reason I keep coming back Loki. I effing LOVE this thing!

Maybe Shannon should explain to Chloe his reasons for not wanting to get married. There's nothing wrong with being a "man scorned." LeBron isn't married and he is girlfriend have two kids. But he refers to her as his wife and everything.

Now get your damn head in the game!

[Loki]

Oct 7, 2009 21:26:24 GMT -5 SilverChaosVII said:

I think I just shat myself

<3333 you Loki

I'm a sneaky of a bitch. <3 you too

[Loki]

Oct 8, 2009 9:29:57 GMT -5 chosenone58 said:

Wow. It's been seven months since my last post, but you're the reason I keep coming back Loki. I effing LOVE this thing!

Maybe Shannon should explain to Chloe his reasons for not wanting to get married. There's nothing wrong with being a "man scorned." LeBron isn't married and he is girlfriend have two kids. But he refers to her as his wife and everything.

Now get your damn head in the game!

Haha it was coming sooner or later. Just needed an urge and it's back. Glad you're still following, more will be coming soon!

[Loki]

******************************
August 14th, 2009
******************************

The whole situation with Chloe still weighed heavy on my mind, but tonight it was all about football.

Giants Stadium was rocking for this young preseason game and I loved every minute of it. It felt like home for me; if only we were playing the Giants.

Coach Spags told me I'd be the third quarterback to hit the feel, after Bulger and Boller got their reps in. I was a little disappointed but I dealt with it. What else could I do?

Bulger looked great and led our team down the field on our opening drive for a 3-yard score by Samkon Gado. Gado's a tough runner for his size, I can't say I don't enjoy his style of play. With that we jumped out to a 7-0 lead, but Mark Sanchez and co. made sure to make quick work of that.

Sanchez and the Jets running attack made our defense look like some high school scrubs and scored on a 34-yard dash by Thomas Jones after just 4 plays on the drive. Sanchez hit Cochery for a big 25-yard bomb the play before that which drew Coach Spags into a frenzy. He was not happy and the defense heard about it...they heard about a lot in this one.

Bulger finished up the game 4-4 for 43 yards and Coach put in Kyle Boller for his set of reps with a split of first team and second teamers. I liked it. The Jets still had most of their first team defense in at the time (second quarter), so I knew I'd be able to show off my stuff with some of the back-ups and maybe impress vs. some of their good players towards the middle of the 3rd quarter when I expected to go in.

On Boller's first pass, he almost handed Jets linebacker Larry Izzo but Izzo's hands, or lack thereof, kept the ball in our O's possession. Two plays later, Boller would make up for it. Coach called for a play designed to hit Keenan Burton on a slant. Burton ran it perfectly, Boller timed it horribly and through it way behind Burton and into the arms of a Jets corner who sure enough, took it to the house.

Coach had enough and told me I was going in for the next drive. I guess two passes was all he needed to see out of Boller today.

Amendola put us in great position close to the 50 on his return and I trotted onto the field with mostly 2nd teamers and just under 2 minutes to play in the first half.

The first play was a handoff which Gado picked up a couple on. Then he called for a pass. I stood behind center and eyed up the defense. I shifted my tight end to the right side and snapped the ball, took one step and fired at former Giant Tim Carter for a quick slant but he dropped an easy ball. Carter entered the huddle with his head down but I patted him on the back and let him know it was coming his way again on 3rd and 8.

I got the call from the coach and stepped under center again. This time, Carter and I connected for a sweet 18-yard completion on a flag. I led Carter perfectly and he got both feet down just before going out of bounds.

1st and 10 with the ball on the 30 and just over a minute to go in the half. We lined up again and I fired one in to Amendola on a 10-yard out. He caught it but I didn't get it far enough out there and we failed to get out of bounds. The clock kept running so we hurried to the line.

The defense looked wary and tired; I could swear they were expecting a spike so I called for one or at least...a fake one. I snapped the ball and my receivers blew by their corners as I faked the spike. I smirked for a moment as I noticed everyone almost tumble head over heels, then lobbed it deep, real deep. Through my tightly held breath I could hear the crowd getting louder as the ball fell from the sky and right into Tim Carter's bread basket in the end zone.

I was ecstatic and the Jets D, stunned. I through my fists in the air and raced to the endzone to celebrate with my teammates.

At halftime, Coach said I was done. "Relax, you looked great on that drive. I don't wanna risk you getting injured...I'll need you during the season." He grinned as he saw my emotions quickly change from frustration to joy.

We went on to lose the game 38-34. We were all a bit disappointed, especially Coach, but it was good to see that our offense is gelling well together. Our D definitely needs some work though. All I know is I'm just happy to be playing football again to get my mind off of things!

[SilverChaosVII]

Shannon's a weapon yo! But we all know his receivers are makin him look good.

[Loki]

******************************
September 4th, 2009
******************************

Been too busy to write in awhile but the preseason is official over..our record you ask? A dismal 0-4. Thankfully, it was only the preseason! Bulger and I were neck and neck pretty much the whole way through with Boller tailing far behind.

"Marc! Shannon! Get in here!" Coach called from his office. The team made some smart "oooh" sounds like we were in trouble for starting a food fight or something in high school so I jabbed Steven Jackson in the gut on my way.

I entered just as Marc and Coach shook hands and did the same, all of us simultaneously taking a seat.

"I'm sure you guys know what's up. We got the last preseason game coming up and I feel now's a good time to let you both know the situation for this season as far as the depth chart is concerned."

We both nodded.

"You both had excellent preseason's but ultimately me and the rest of the Coaches have decided that Marc, you're going to be our starter for this season. You looked great every game and we just feel comfortable with you in there, knowing how to run this offense that we ran last year and plan to run this year as well."

"Thank you so much Coach!" Bulger replied enthusiastically.

"Shannon, you impressed me and I'm disappointed that you're not a starter in this league because you're better than most."

Clearly not better than Marc freakin' Bulger I thought.

"Don't let this get you down, you're a great quarterback and I'm happy to know that if anything were to happen to Marc, you'd be our guy out there and we'd lose pretty much nothing on the offensive side of the ball."

No, you'd gain.

"Thanks Coach, I completely understand."

We all stood up and shook hands. I congratulated Marc and wished him the best of luck before Marc and I exited the office and headed our separate ways.

"You okay man?" tight end Billy Bajema asked as I took a seat at my locker.

I faked a smile. "Yea I'm good man. He beat me out, what can you do?"

"It happens. At least you're not third string," he joked. Bajema was named the third string TE for us.

"I guess. I just have that itch, ya know? I gotta be out there on the field!"

It bugged me that he "beat" me out. Maybe if I had some reps with the first team, I could've looked better. Hell, almost all of my incompletions were drops. I had one pick to his two and only a couple fewer touchdowns thrown. I wasn't happy and I hated having to pretend I was happy.

"What's wrong honey?" Chloe asked as I came strolling through our front door.

"Nothing, I'm fine."

"Oh please. I've known you for what? 10 years now. You think I'm gonna believe that trash? What happened baby?"

"I just 'lost' out on the starting job to Marc, that's all. I don't agree with it, I played too hard to be second best."

She placed a kiss on my lips that send chills down my spine. "Don't be disappointed baby. You played your heart out, there's nothing else you can do. Now you just hope for the best."

"Bulger to get hurt?" I said with a smirk on my face.

She hit me. "No! You jerk. Just hope for the best. With all this wildcat stuff and teams needing QB's, you never know."

She was right so I pulled her tight and planted a big kiss on her. I was just happy to be home with her and JC and of course, the one in the oven.

"Where's J..." Before I could even finish the question, I was tackled to the floor by JC and before I knew it I was being bombarded with questions.

"Daddy! Daddy! Did you win? Are you the quarterback for the Rams? Do you have any friends on your team, Daddy? How old is your Coach? 60?!"

"Whoa son, calm down!" I lifted JC off of me and placed him on the couch. I knelt before him. "I didn't get the quarterback job, so I'm going to be second string."

"What's second string?"

"It's a back-up. If the quarterback gets hurt, then I have to go in and replace him."

"Oh...so you lost?" he said with a sad tone.

I nodded my head. "Yea but it's nothing to be sad over, everything's going to be just fine," I said with a big smile and pulled him in tight for a hug. I caught Chloe out of the corner of my eye leaning against the wall for the entrance from our living room to the kitchen with a big smile on her face and I shot her a wink. "Everything's going to be just fine."

[SilverChaosVII]

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

lmfao

FUCK THAT SHIT!!! Go run Marc over with a car... that'll show em.

[chosenone58]

I agree with my man, SC right here. I didn't come here to read about Mr. Kennedy riding the pine! lol

Nice updates, Loki.

[Matt314hew]

Loki, just read this entire story today. Gotta say it is awesome. Glad you are still doing this.

[chosenone58]

It's been over a week.......


That is all.

[chosenone58]

It's been over a month.....

[chosenone58]

It's almost 2010.....don't tell me we're done here! Unacceptable.