Heath chuckles. “Relax. You’re fine.”

I sink back into the chair. “I didn’t think I wasn’t.”

“It’s about Foller.”

I guess I’m not.

I shake my head. “I thought this stuff ended months ago.”

“It did and it didn’t,” Heath interjects. “That was a team investigation. The League decided they’ll be looking into it on their own.”

Leaning forward, I balance my elbows on my knees and clasp my hands together. “I thought this was done and over with.”

“Look, Fitzy. I’ve got the owners down my neck on this. I might not see eye to eye with Foller, but I know that, like players have their own playing styles, so do coaches. We make an effort to hold all players to the same standard. We have to with coaches too. I love this team,” Heath says with pride. “I love this organization and its fans. But you have to understand, I’ve been through the wringer to rebuild its reputation well before you got here.”

Heath is referring to a few seasons ago, when some of the Rebels lived up to their name, becoming a PR nightmare. Their franchise quarterback was involved in organizing and hosting a dogfighting ring. One lineman was charged with domestic abuse. A receiver had a DUI two days before a playoff game.

He continues, “It isn’t always easy to remind people that football is a wholesome sport. That it’s about toughness and grit, sure. But it’s about heart in taking care of your teammates—your brothers—on and off the field. Hard to do that when there’s noise about the coach being, well, not a very wholesome guy.”

“That coach won you a Super Bowl a few months ago.”

“He benched last year’s league MVP too. And for what? Because he wouldn’t hit his teammate hard enough during practice ahead of the game?” Heath sighs.

Lifting a hand, I cut Heath off, “With all respect, Heath, let’s call a spade a spade. Football is a tough sport. Physically, mentally, all of it. If you aren’t prepped for that, you’ll never win. You can get in shape all you want. You can lift weights until the cows come home. But you’ll never be tough here”—I tap my temple—“if no one teaches you.”

“Teaching toughness and beating it into you are two different things, Fitzy.”

“We’re not talking physical abuse for god’s sake.”

Heath lifts a thick, white eyebrow. “If we were, would you feel differently?”