Just saw the NFL Honors, WHAT A NIGHT :)! Few months back PwtFalcon introduce me to Tom Grossi on Youtube, AND HE WON FAN OF THE YEAR. He's really good so check him out when you can.
And when I learn the Texans got their first player in the hall of fame, with these two in mind I had to type this story.
CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE AT THE HONORS.
Better Than any trophy
February 8, 2024...
The glamor, the galore, the heart...this was what the NFL Honors had become. Since 212, the NFL honors had become a newest tradition in the NFL, honoring both past and present. In the glitz of Las Vegas, at the Resort World theater, all had come for the occasion before the greatest Sunday game of the season, the Super Bowl.
A young man looked around in awe, not expecting to reach such a place. Yes, Tom Grossi, the fan who represented the Green Bay Packers fan base, had won Fan of the Year as was to announce the couch of the year ON LIVE TV.
Tom Grossi: This, is, incredible. Oh man the fans are gonna be so excited for this-
?: Tom Grossi.
He froze at the new voice, turning fast before his month dropped. Seeing in a suit of his favorite teams colors, WAS HIS TEAM'S RUSHER. Pack chuckled as he walked over.
Pack: Welcome to Legacy Tom, it's an honor to meet such a dedicated fan representing our team.
Tom Grossi: *Shock* I-well-*returns to normal* Thank you so much, it's an honor to meet you.
Both shoke hands with smiles.
Pack: Honor to meet you, me and my friends watch your channel. You got passion and wit in your work, a huge heart with that charity stream with you smile and laughter, even got Thor laughing with the "purple incarnate of satan'.
Tom had to chuckle at the fact the team he was NOT A HUGE FAN OF Rusher laughed at the name he gave them.
Tom Grossi: Did not expect to hear that, but to hear you guys watch my channel is amazing.
Pack: Top faves. Sorry about that last game but DANG this season was exhausting!
The two began to walk to the stage.
Tom Grossi: Really? I mean the beginning was kinda, bad-
Pack: Not just my team Tom..I swear me and the rest of the Rusherz had NO IDEA who was gonna make it to the end. We were hit with ties and unexpected wins and-It was complete chaos back at the HOK.
Tom Grossi: Scale of one to ten how chaotic?
Pack: Close to the season we had to deal with that strike that shrunk the season.
Tom winced, knowing full well the Rusherz had seen alot since their arrival.
Tom Grossi: YIKES.
Pack: Yeah, good news with all this is everyone's now chill with the red alert on that sickness gone so we're getting alot of action on the field.
Tom Grossi: True. So, any plans here?
Pack smile fell as he sighed, turning to his fan.
Pack: Well, it's been a hard hitter today with one of the teams playing on Sunday. Their Rusher being hit hard.
Tom Grossi: *worried* Which one?
Pack: It's Arrow-Head, Chief's Rusher, he's-been feeling down today since we're close to the Super Bowl. Hitting him hard that Norma's not gonna be in the stands anymore. The team has been really feeling the blues with that thought as well.
Tom Grossi: Yeah...figure it will hit the team hard when Sunday comes. Is there anything I can do?
Pack gave him a small smile.
Pack: Just be you, do what you do best that you do for our team and give him a smile. Smile leads to the gates of fortune after all.
Tom smiled nodding as they headed to the back stage.
.
.
Later...
Toro: *Nervous* ARG I'M SO NERVOUS!
Toro, wearing a suit in his team's colors, paced back and forth in worry as C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. chuckled.
C.J. Stroud: Your more nervous than you were during playoffs.
Toro: *Nervous* Just-Oh man two of my team members in the Honors just-ARG!
Will Anderson Jr.: Easy, they just got done with opening ceremony. Still got time.
Toro: *Nervous* I know-I know but-you guys and the others are hiding something from since we got to LV! AND IT'S NOT HELPING!
The two smirked...oh they, the team, the Rusherz, the entire NFL has been keeping the secret since they got the okay.
C.J. Stroud: Just trust us when we say it's a good thing.
Will Anderson Jr.: And it's gonna be a good one too.
Toro sighed, nodding.
Toro: Okay, I trust you-
The door opened as Scavenger popped his head in.
Scavenger: Toro, your needed with us out front.
Toro: *nods; smiles* Got it. *gets up; to his players* Good luck boys. Proud of you.
C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr.: *smiles* Thanks Toro.
With that Toro went out with Scavenger.
Toro: You nervous too?
Scavenger: Yeah, Lamar is just as nervous too. But not matter what I'll always be proud of my boys.
Toro: Same.
With that they went off to join the others.
.
.
.
The night went on as the Rusherz watched in smiles and pride as the Honors went on. Pack beamed when he saw Tom Grossi helped announced Kevin Stefanski as the Coach of the year.
Toro almost destroyed the table in excitement when C.J won not one but TWO awards with Rookie of the year and Offensive Rookie of the year and Will winning Defensive rookie of the year right after that.
Pick-Ax: Man Toro, three awards in a row. You got some future Hall of Famers on you team.
Toro: *blushing* Thanks Pick-Ax. You got some great players on your team too. Christian McCaffrey earned that win and you and Claw must be proud.
Claw: He is an amazing guy-OH here's the results for FedEx Air Player of the Year.
...BROCK PRUDY.
IMMEDIATELY PICK-AX WAS STANDING ON HIS CHAIR CHEERING WITH THE OTHERS, BEAMING. The others chuckled as Scavenger tired to get Pick-Ax back to his seat.
Pick-Ax: *joy* TAKE THAT YOU NAYSAYERS! MR. ILLERLIVENT MY HID! ULNAR COLLATERAL LIGAMENT MY HID! MY BOYS GETTING A PRO-BOWL AND A TROPHY IN HIS SECOND SEASON AND WE'RE STILL THREE DAYS FROM THE SUPER BOWL! WHOSE LAUGHING NOW!
Scavenger finally got him to sit down with a smile, from stage Brock had heard him through the cheers and he smiled at him.
Scavenger: Think he heard you.
Pick-Ax: *joy;calm a bit* HE SHOULD. He deserves alot more praise too.
They nodded in agreement as Pick-Ax looked on in pride at his team's QB.
.
.
A raspy breath. K-9 had to take a raspy breath after the Jim Brown award was given to Christian McCaffrey.
Blow-Torch: *To K-9* You going to be okay?
K-9 sighed, nodding.
K-9: Just-almost a year and it's still a shocker. But-*Small smile* I'm okay.
Arrow-Head nodded in silence, he had been for almost the entire day. So with their being a break before the Art Rooney Award, they decided to check on him.
Pillage: Are you and the team going to be okay?
Arrow-Head looked at his friends fast hearing that.
Freedom: We saw a news article you guys have been feeling sad with the Super Bowl coming up and-it's her first year not there.
Arrow-Head blinked as a few tears fell, wiping his eyes.
Arrow-Head: I-It feels, empty without her. I knew it was going to hit hard when February came but-never thought it would be a gut punch.
Liberty: No argument there. I kept looking for her in the crowd today and had to remind myself she's not here.
Arrow-Head looked down sadly, Toro grabbing his hand and making him look at him.
Toro: She had a amazing life though Arrow, she adored every second with the league and loved us all. I'm sure no matter what she and her husband are still watching the Super Bowl.
Arrow-Head gave a small smile nodding. Tom Grossi came close to them, given he was sitting behind the Rusherz.
Tom Grossi: AND, she got to see her team win the hundred season Super Bowl. She always said before she left she wanted to see her team win more, so she defiantly got what she wanted with your two wins.
That made Arrow-Head smile even more nodding.
Arrow-Head: Yeah-your right. Thanks you guys.
Pack smiled as Tom, who smiled back.
.
.
IT. WAS. HERE. The grand finale, THE 2024 CLASS FOR THE HALL OF FAME. All the time, the balloting, the nomination, the checking, CANTON WAS READY TO CALL. Toro took a breath, knowing full well that this was the biggest part of the Honors now. He could see Grizzly beaming with pride; knowing the Bear Rusher had three more players joining the Hall of fame this year, Julius Peppers being alongside Steve McMichael and Devin Hester.
Toro: Oh boy, the big one...but-*to the others* You all said there was a surprise for me during the ceremony. Didn't see anything or head anything yet.
THEY SMIRKED.
Alto: Just wait for it.
Toro nodded, still confused as the announcers continued.
Rich Eisen: IT IS NOW TIME, TO MEET THE 2024 CLASS, OF THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME.
The music began to swell as from the stage, seven figures rose. Toro watched on-then froze at the second person on stage.
Toro: *shock* N-NO WAY.
He had no idea if that was him-till they announced his answer.
POWER, SPEED, GREAT HANDS.
Toro: *gets up; tears* ANDRE!?
There he was, ANDRE JOHNSON. ONE OF HIS PLAYERS WHEN HIS TEAM JUST STARTED THAT JOINED THEM IN 2003. Toro shoke as he forgo any manners and ran out of the sets and down the walkway as the announcers went on with the names.
Toro: *Tears* ANDRE! ANDRE! ANDRE!
Andrea looked to the voice, eyes widening seeing Toro running down the walkway as the final person was announced. Toro launched himself from the ground onto the stage tackling Andre in a hug as the two fell back on stage. Andre hugged back as Toro sobbed in joy.
Andre Johnson: *tears* H-Hi Toro, I'm going to Canton.
Toro nodded as he sobbed...HIS TEAM, WAS IN. ANDRE WAS IN THE HALL OF FAME, HE WAS GOING TO JOIN THE GREATEST THIS YEAR.
The sounds of cheers of the new members of the hall of fame was heard as the two hugged.
Toro: *tears* T-This is the greatest thing th-this is better than any trophy.
Andre's tears fell more as the hug between the two tightened, the Rusherz of their respected Hall of Famer inductees coming up.
Julius Peppers: Think he likes the surprise.
Grizzly: Oh yeah. Mission accomplished.
Later, Hotel...
Toro: *joy* I CAN'T BELIEVE YOUR IN THE HALL OF FAME! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ALL MANAGE TO HID THAT FROM ME!
All present laughed as they rested in the lounge area of the hotel, Andre sitting next to Toro.
Misty McMichael: It was all thanks to Pillage and Alto. Alto got the word and he and Pillage worked behind the scenes, when they told us what they wanted to do we hopped right in!
Tommy DeVito: Gotta say, we were not expecting you to jump up on stage like that. But hearing that you now have a player in the hall of fame, and one as beloved in the Texans and Andre is understandable.
Andre Johnson: *chuckles* And to think, it's a decade after I was inducted into the Miami Sports hall of fame.
Toro nodded with a smile.
Toro: Just-So happy, I was so happy to see you on stage we have so much catching up to do! I haven't seen you since 2020 during that whole shut down!
Andrea Johnson: Yeah, we can do all that especially when the Hall of fame game comes...Just wish I got you a championship-
Toro stopped him shaking his head.
Toro: You got me something better than any type fo trophy, you got our team in glory and long-lasting legacy in Canton. Your in with so many great people; Your with Joseph Carr, Vince Lombardi, George Halas, Ed Sabol, SO MANY PEOPLE...Your going to be a staple of our team's history there. Your going to start a new venture and legacy for us, YOUR THE FIRST TEXAN IN THE HALL OF FAME ANDRE. That's more than any trophy can bring and believe me, there are guys in there who never won a ring yet are dearly loved. I am so happy your being inductive.
Andre warmly smiled hearing this, nodding as he hugged Toro.
Andre Johnson: I'm so glad that I brought the team something great.
Toro nodded with a bug smile.
.
.
Tom Grossi smiled from the side, taking a breath of satisfaction.
Tom Grossi: Oh yeah, this is what football is. Can't wait for Super Bowl Sunday.
He put his hands in his new jacket pockets...stopping as he took out a piece of paper. Opening it-he smiled seeing the number and message.
'TALK TO US WHENEVER YOU LIKE; WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU-PACK'
-Toro was right, there were things out there better than trophies.
THE
END