Perhaps to outsiders, it would seem that after Lance defeated Brady twice in the same season and went on to win the Super Bowl, Brady would hate Lance to the core.
However, that was not the case.
Brady didn't even consider Lance a real threat. How many championship rings did Lance have? How many regular-season games had he won? How many playoff games? Compared to Brady, they weren't even on the same playing field.
There was no need—absolutely no need.
Besides, Brady himself had been in Lance's shoes before: coming out of nowhere, leading his team as a dark horse to a miraculous Super Bowl win, seemingly standing at the pinnacle of the world overnight.
But he quickly realized that it was just the beginning. The real challenge was only starting. The New England Patriots had become the dominant force in the NFL since the turn of the millennium, but it hadn't been without countless struggles and hardships—something Brady knew better than anyone.
So, a miracle could happen once, but it was exceedingly rare for it to happen again.
Brady had lived through it all.
Lance borrowed a bit of luck from the universe and managed to reach the top of the Super Bowl. Brady sincerely congratulated him—there was no need for pettiness. If Lance wanted to challenge him—or if he wanted Brady to consider him a peer—he needed at least a second ring to back it up.
For someone like Brady, who had enough championship rings to fill a hand, he was always humble and never bragged about winning another game or anything like that.
Class, you know? Class!
To squabble with some fresh-faced kid would be beneath him—he would never be that foolish.
The minor outburst during the AFC Divisional Round? That was just a momentary slip.
So—
When Donald proposed the idea of Lance joining Brady's offseason training camp, Brady wasn't offended. He just didn't want to be a babysitter. Changing diapers and holding hands to guide Lance through training step by step as if he were a three-year-old? Brady didn't have the patience for that.
Moreover, Brady's offseason training camp was notoriously high-spec and high-intensity. His goal was never just to have a good season but to win—win games and win championships. His offseason camp wasn't for splashing around and having fun; the quality and intensity of training were non-negotiable.
If Lance couldn't keep up and started whining, what then?
Was Brady supposed to comfort him?
Impossible.
Brady rejected Donald's suggestion without hesitation.
However, Donald wasn't about to give up so easily. He tried to persuade Brady by highlighting the media impact and PR benefits—
"Imagine the media reaction if they found out that Brady and Lance were training together."
Even if Brady and Lance shared the same agent, there were plenty of athletes represented by the same agent who couldn't stand each other. And these two? The two biggest stories of last season?
The offseason would become much more lively and would build anticipation for the next season.
With Manning retired, Brady was left without a true rival. He needed a new nemesis to spark excitement, drive viewership, and bring in sponsorships.
There was money to be made.
Having played in the league for over a decade, Brady knew all too well how to "play along." His attitude softened, saying he would think about it, and when he came back from vacation, they could discuss it further.
But—
Something unexpected happened, something that even Donald didn't see coming.
Just moments earlier, Lance had told Donald he couldn't join Brady's training camp.
And right after, Donald immediately made the connection—
"Watt?"
Donald guessed.
Lance nodded, "Right. You're as sharp as ever."
Donald didn't catch the hint of teasing and replied seriously, "JJ just asked me for your number, and then this happened."
Lance chuckled, "So, what do you think?"
Donald's mind immediately began spinning at full speed.
It wasn't hard to imagine some potential developments.
Brady would return from vacation only to find out Lance had turned him down?
And if Brady had actually agreed to Donald's proposal, thinking it over and saying yes, only to have Lance reject him?
That would not look good.
However—
Donald took a deep breath, made a decision, and spoke clearly, "We'll go with your plan."
Lance raised his eyebrows slightly. "You sure? What about Tom?"
Donald replied, "Don't worry. That's what you hired me for—to handle these things. Training with JJ is good for you too."
Although Watt had been sidelined for two seasons, he was still an icon in the NFL—a symbol of grit and resilience. In some ways, he was even more popular than Brady.
Brady's association with the New England Patriots meant his public image wasn't always positive. Over the years, the Patriots had been mired in controversies: Spygate, Deflategate, and more. One scandal after another.
Watt, on the other hand, had nearly a flawless public image both on and off the field. And as a defensive player, he represented another side of football, showing fans that there was more to the game than just quarterbacks. This gave Watt a lot of respect among his peers.
For Lance to train with Watt and become friends with him was a win from any angle.
As for Brady…
The "Brady vs. Lance" rivalry could stay heated, and that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
Donald considered it. Maybe he should smooth things over with Brady and then intentionally leak the news, stirring up the fire, adding fuel to the rivalry before the next season even began.
Within moments, Donald already had several strategies in mind.
His thoughts paused, and Donald made up his mind without hesitation.
"So, when does the camp start? Where's JJ planning to train? Is there anything I can help with? Facilities? Logistics? Equipment? Staff? Transportation? Accommodation?"
It was so seamless and effortless that Lance actually found himself a bit stunned.
He had imagined having to convince Donald, assuming Donald would want to protect Brady since he was Brady's agent too. But Donald hadn't—
He simply focused on the matter at hand.
To be precise, Donald focused on Lance's best interests, even if it meant sidelining Brady's.
Now, it was Lance who was slightly worried about how Donald would explain things to Brady.
But Donald was right. That's what agents were for.
Still, Lance didn't take Donald's professionalism for granted. Even in a business relationship, mutual consideration was important.
"Thank you, Donald," Lance said.
Donald was surprised.
Lance didn't pause. "I'm still waiting for JJ's update on the specifics, but I think he'll take care of it. You can help fill in the gaps based on your experience."
"Oh, right, you might need to find me a place to stay near the training facility."
Donald snapped back to his usual demeanor. His appreciation for Lance grew—such small details made a big difference.
Donald replied, "No problem. Have you settled on the training location?"
Lance smiled, "Miami. We're heading to Miami."
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Powerstones?
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