It was sunrise on the big day of the scouting combine. I was so excited I had been at the Training ground since before the sun rose. The sleds were here as well as four sets of pads, three helmets, and two footballs.

Not to mention a Bar and a few weights. I was pushing the limits of our limited weight room myself and I wasn’t a bodybuilder by any means. I hoped to find some stronger than me so I would have to just see how many reps each man can do instead of a max.

Lawrence had hired a town crier who had been advertising about the purse that would be shared with the players who played in the game all weekend. The turnout was unreal. There must have been 2000 men here, way way too many.

Once I had explained that it would take 2 hours a day for a month every morning except Sundays and that it would be hard work and lots of exercise, roughly half left. Then I asked anyone older born before 1100 to stand up. That caused another 2 or 3 hundred to leave.

I had to make an exception for the Knights the King had sent. I had said 18-25 but a few had to be over 30. I then had them run an endurance test. I had measured out approximately 1 mile and had them all follow me on it at a good run.

What was left at the end of the mile were about two hundred men. One of which was Goodwin but he was panting heavily. I was surprised honestly I figured I would have to pass him along based on pure size. He stood almost a head taller than most there but he had kept up.

I took note of the ones that seemed not to be breathing hard. Sir Adrian was one of them. He looked ready for the next challenge.

I had Father Clarence and the priests take the names of them and give them a number. It was a simple thing: a number on a board tied around the neck. They were to give it to the Priest at the start of a drill.

We got their measurements in my slightly revised metric system. I also got a quick description of their talents. As well as what jobs they had done recently with more than half a year’s experience. I figure I could use even the cuts somewhere in my businesses.

We then were put in groups of ten and told to remember that group's number. When it was called all ten would report to the starting line. Someone there would get them in the right order to run. This way someone in the group should recognize when they are called.

Most of the Agers wouldn’t be able to count to get themselves in proper order. So the priests at the starting line would have to. This ignorant workforce really made it difficult for every one of my projects. I needed a school.

I had them do everything from run the 40 yard dash to the broad jump and vertical jump. I had the biggest men try their hand on the sled while two rode it trying to find some lineman. I also did a catching drill where they have to catch a ball from front and then immediately another QB throws from back and you have to catch that.

I had Sir Adrian take the other QB position at least for that drill. He ended up being way too good at it. I hate naturals. I also had the Knights join us during these drills. As I wanted to get measurements as well.

After the drills I narrowed down the peasants further to 100.

After this it was almost noon so I called a lunch break and I fed the multitude that was left. Then I started explaining the game to them as they ate. I got rid of 10 immediately because of how difficult they proved to teach. After they understood the basics I had all the Knights throw a pass to the peasants to see two things.

How they could throw obviously but also how they handle the peasants. Did they degrade them after every mistake or did they try to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it? I wanted natural leaders, not ones I had to train the bigotry out of them.

Sir Adrian was running away with the other QB position, Not only did he have a natural arm but he also was less of an ass to the peasants. He would fuss but at least he would tell them what they did wrong and he never hit one.

That’s more than you could say about most of the other Knights. Most couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn and then blamed the poor peasant for it. I had already dismissed 5 Knights for striking peasants. I made it clear that wouldn’t be tolerated on a football field.

One other Knights showed some promise. His name was Sir Hugo. He stands at 1 yard 76 centiyards (5’9”) He was way too short to be a QB (at least for 21st century football) and he has a weak arm but he also has uncanny accuracy.

Who knows though heart accounts for a lot and he had that in spades. He was however too hard on a peasant once when he clearly overthrew him. I reprimanded him and he seems to have rebounded.

I ended up just deciding to play a game to let them learn through actually playing. I ended up playing middle linebacker as well because hell I was the largest man in the kingdom anyway. I could also coach both the O of my opponent and my own D this way. Which was strange to say the least.

The 1st game my team trounced Sir Adrian’s 21-7. Their TD came from a draw that I had taught them which the QB fakes a pass and then hands the ball off to the RB. I decided to try Hugo at QB. My team beat his by 21 points but he scored twice once on the ground and once through the air.

The QB competition might not be as cut and dry as I thought. By the end of the Combine I had decided on entering the regular practice with 80 men but that would be cut down to the 32 each team by the middle of next week. There were a few prospects I was excited about.

Two twin brothers who were like monkeys climbing a tree to catch the ball out of the air. I had them slotted at receiver. A RB that was one of the shortest prospects left at 162 cy (5’3”) that was also the fastest prospect at the combine. It's hard to express considering how I timed it but he ran the 40 in about 5-7% (margin of error) less water time then the next fastest. I had already nicknamed him the Flash and he seemed to like it.

I was right on the money about Goodwin being a good lineman. He ended up getting two sacks himself playing defense. I had told him when he played on oline that if anybody got a sack on me he wouldn’t eat that day. Needless to say I never got hit from the left side where he played.

I was not so fortunate elsewhere on the line. I couldn’t get them to understand that you have to block them not hit them. Fights were starting all the time because somebody got mad and punched somebody. Like I said they're like kids.

The weirdest part is how I was constantly having to tell the opposing defense or offense what they were doing wrong. That usually never happens. Coaches do it, not the QB or MLB on the opposite team.

After the Combine it was already passed 3 or 4 in the afternoon. I had kept them much longer than 2 hours but no one complained. I had started to say hit the Showers when I realized we had none. That wouldn’t work. They would be leaving everyday and going to work already nasty. It's really miserable to work when you have dried sweat caked on.

“Lawrence”

“Sir-Yes-Sir”

“I want a building built at the bottom of the hill there with at least 15 individual stalls a man can turn around in. Above it places a large water container with a pipe running into the building and into each stall. I want the men to bathe after every practice”

“But it is unholy to bathe sir”

“Not after Football son. God requires the sweat from football be returned to the field that sprung it. They must wash it off after every practice. This was written in the sacred scripture of my country”

“Don’t call it bathing. It is a shower of that of the rain from God. Use a rainwater collector and a barrel to catch it above the level of the showers. Also have one to collect the water from the showers and use it to water the field. I will draw up some plans.”

“As you wish Sir.”

Who knows if that will work but I’ll be damn if my men are going to be miserable all day to satisfy some ridiculous taboo. Not to mention I have got to get these Agers to start bathing the stench was killing me. That might become literal as going without bathing is one of the reasons diseases were so rampant in the middle ages in Europe.

After I left the training grounds I went out to the spot that we had selected for the stadium. It was a great location overlooking both the River Thames and London. I could see why the King jealously guarded it so. It was quite breathtaking this close to sunset.

Bolt and Lego were already there waiting for me. I had brought Gilbert along and introduced him to my “Engineering Corp”. We went on a quick tour before sundown and I laid out where everything would go and let them know what they should be doing before I got there in the morning. Lawrence and the Empress had also come, along with it seemed about half of the football players. It felt like time for a speech.

“Gentlemen we stand before greatness. At this site in less than one month’s time we will leave the whole of the World talking about us. We will spawn a game that will endure centuries. Your grandchildren will one day wonder how a world without football could be possible. Without hope without dreams this world seems bleak compared to the one I see in our future. Go forth and tell everyone that the greatest game to ever be played will commence one month from today.”

That got a yell that sent a shiver down my back. I might just have started something special here.