American Football: Domination

"Skipping practice, sneaking off to a hotel, living it up—has the Kansas City Chiefs' rookie #23 already let success go to his head?"

"Fresh off a do-or-die win, rookie running back Lance couldn't wait to relax at a hotel."

"The league's top rookie spends four hours alone at a hotel with a supermodel after a crucial game!"

"The Chiefs' season isn't over, but Kansas City's top star is already partying, causing locker room tension to boil over."

"Lance ditches his teammates to visit a hotel—who was waiting for him behind closed doors?"

Once again, the age-old truth proved itself:

The more famous you are, the more drama surrounds you.

Lance had barely left the Marriott Hotel before rumors and photos exploded across social media, igniting a wildfire of speculation.

And each rumor was more absurd than the last.

It didn't take much effort or intelligence—one didn't need to be Sherlock Holmes—to notice that the photos only showed Lance alone. Not a single model, not even a fly, appeared in the images. There was nothing suspicious in the photos, and the accompanying captions were completely fabricated.

But as long as there was a juicy headline, there was traffic.

And with Lance, the league's most talked-about and controversial player, at the center of the story, the social media frenzy was inevitable.

And this was just the beginning.

The reporters who had been left behind at the training facility finally showed their professionalism, peeling back the layers of the story and finding their first lead—

Coca-Cola.

With that crack in the door, the top-tier journalists tapped into their networks and resources. One by one, they reached out to major brand sponsors. From there, it became a battle of skills and connections as each reporter scrambled for a scoop.

Some brands maintained a tight-lipped stance, claiming no knowledge of any negotiations with Lance. Others played coy, admitting they had heard his name mentioned in early-stage discussions. Still, some brands seized the opportunity for publicity, stating outright that they were in talks with Lance's camp and hoped to work together.

Almost immediately, the whispers on social media evolved.

Speculation, rumors, and baseless claims spread like wildfire.

Before any official announcements, the credibility of every report was questionable. Yet fans and followers eagerly consumed the stories, treating every rumor as gospel truth. They spoke as if they'd personally witnessed Lance signing contracts. This storm of rumors gave the media all the justification they needed to turn the spotlight elsewhere:

"The team's crisis remains unresolved, but Lance's focus has already shifted off the field."

"Lance prioritizes personal gain over the Chiefs' success."

"The Chiefs face do-or-die games every week, but Lance is preoccupied with maximizing his personal profits."

"Missed practices due to personal business commitments."

"Coach Reid's leniency is turning Lance into a locker room cancer."

"Was the win against Oakland a true resurgence or just a brief flash of brilliance? Clearly, Lance has more important things to worry about."

"Though players eventually kneel before sponsor checks, did Lance pick the wrong time?"

"Is Lance becoming the unchallenged force in Kansas City's offense? Are teammates resentful but too afraid to speak out?"

It all felt eerily familiar.

Back in the first month of the regular season, when the Chiefs traveled to Los Angeles to face the Chargers, the media had spun similar tales of Lance skipping practice and losing himself in the spotlight. Now, in the final month of the season, with the Chiefs preparing to face the Chargers again, the same narrative resurfaced, dragging out the idea of fame's toxic allure.

It seemed like everything had changed, yet nothing really had.

Life, as it turns out, is a circle.

As the media noted, the Chiefs' playoff hopes were still hanging by a thread. Every upcoming game was a do-or-die battle to secure a postseason spot. Their remaining schedule was brutal:

They had just defeated the Oakland Raiders. Next, they faced the Los Angeles Chargers, followed by a non-division matchup with the Miami Dolphins. The season finale would be against the Denver Broncos.

Last week's victory over the Raiders, who were also 6–6, had moved the Chiefs to 7–6. Meanwhile, the Chargers had also won, bringing their record to 7–6, matching the Chiefs.

This week's game against the Chargers was yet another divisional showdown. The winner would keep their playoff hopes alive, while the loser would likely fall out of contention.

So, even though the Chiefs had snapped their losing streak with a decisive win, the alarm bells were still ringing.

With the stakes so high, the media latched onto Lance's every move and refused to let go.

Adding fuel to the fire, the Chargers' season had been a rollercoaster. After losing to the Chiefs in Week 3, their offense, led by quarterback Philip Rivers, had faltered badly. Yet their defense had stepped up, carrying them to this point and keeping their playoff hopes alive.

Currently, the Chargers' defense ranked third in the league overall, boasting the top-ranked pass defense but the 31st-ranked rush defense—second to last in the league.

This stark contrast made their games highly unpredictable.

Fortunately for the Chargers, the NFL's current trend favored passing offenses, with few teams relying heavily on their ground game. This had given them some breathing room.

Now, with the Chargers visiting Arrowhead Stadium, the matchup was considered a toss-up. But one key question loomed large: Could the Chiefs' transformed rushing attack, spearheaded by Lance, exploit the Chargers' struggling run defense and deliver a critical victory?

Because of this, the controversy surrounding Lance only intensified.

In such a crucial game, at such a pivotal moment, was Lance truly putting his personal interests ahead of the team? If so, his decisions could create instability in the Chiefs' locker room.

The media frenzy exploded.

Even the most loyal Chiefs fans began to worry. Lance was carrying a heavy burden heading into the game against the Chargers.

But what was the reality?

Inside the locker room, the atmosphere was harmonious.

Kelce shook his head in mock frustration as he scrolled through the latest social media rumors. "Man, these reporters are so naive, so clueless. They should come try it themselves. Then they'd see if the rookie is slacking off. All they do is run their mouths—every single one of them full of crap."

"One round of getting crushed by the rookie in shuttle runs would shut them up real quick," Houston added casually.

Laughter erupted throughout the locker room.

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Powerstones?

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