The Best Poetry ( not really ) | Teen Ink

The Best Poetry ( not really )

June 13, 2019
By Anonymous

What a game! The fans are just going crazy at this point in the game. Tj Cooper caught the game-winning touchdown. The fans are going crazy because it wasn't just a catch, it was the best catch of the year, over the head, in the back of the endzone keeping his feet in bounds at the same time. But the win doesn't mean anything because the Jaguars aren't going to the playoffs this year and everyone knew that. The Jaguars knew what they were doing in the draft when they drafted Cooper with their 17th pick in the 1st round. Everyone was saying ‘’ Take him in the 2nd round’’ but the Jags said ‘’ No we know his potential and we're drafting him in the 1st round.’’ And look what he just did for them he caught the game-winning touchdown bringing them to a record of 9 and 8. ( And the best catch of the NFL season, But we aren't gonna go there )


Cooper was always underrated when it came football. And he knew that, and that's why he always tried his hardest when it came to football. He grew up in Texas playing wide receiver and running back is whole life since Pee Wee up until college. His whole family didn't want him to play football because they did not want their only son getting hurt, but they weren't wrong. In middle school, he suffered from a broken leg from hurdling into the endzone. The doctors told Cooper that his leg will never fully recover and it would be injury prone for the rest of his life and football career. The injury didn't bother Cooper up until Freshman year of college when he broke down on the field in pain because he tore his Achilles in his other leg. The doctors told Cooper not to play football again if he ever wanted to walk. But Copper told himself ‘’ I'm not going to let this define me’’ and he continued to play football but harder then ever. That is why his overall dropped in the draft and nobody wanted him in the 1st round other than the Jags.


Coppers last game of the season ( when he had the best catch of any receiver in the NFL ) was the best game Copper ever had in his football career. The day was perfect all around 75 degrees outside, the cool whip of the wind across your face taking the sweat right off, the smell of fresh cut grass and pine mixing together to make a sweet smell, the sound of the fans shouting ‘’ DEFENSE’’ or  shouting ‘’ OFFENSE’’, and the sound of the cannons when all the players run out of the tunnel hyping up the crowd and their teammates. Cooper started the 1st half great by getting 9 receptions and 95 yards. The 3rd quarter went downhill real quick. Cooper went to run a slant but the second he went to cut he fell to the ground wincing in pain. The head coach and the field medic went over to Cooper to diagnose what had happened to him and to help him up. It turned out that Cooper had hyperextended his knee.


But Cooper refused to go down and he was back in the game by late 4th quarter. His team was down by 7 and Cooper caught the ball on a wide receiver screen and ran all the way to the endzone following his lead blockers. And just like that he tied the game up and sent the game to overtime. The Jags won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball first. Cooper went into overtime with 15 receptions, 165 yards and 1 touchdown. This was the best performance of any offensive rookie of that year. The Jags offense was stalling out once they got to the red zone. It was 4th down and the Jags we're looking to put the game in the bag. The ball was snapped and Cooper went out for a fade, Foles threw the ball to him and Cooper rose up like a mountain and snatched the ball out of the air with one hand and dragging his toes in the endzone to keep in bounds. The Jags won the game and everyone was all hyped over the catch but not the win because there was no way the Jags were going to the playoffs that year. But Cooper did end up winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and continued to strive to be better every season he played in the NFL. ( Only 4 more seasons because he injured his leg again and retired )


‘’What a game Cooper!’’

‘’ What do you mean coach that was the easiest catch of the year’’

‘’ Don't be cocky Cooper you're still a rookie’’

Cooper walked off saying ‘’ the best rookie of the year.’’ Jack just laughed to himself and said ‘’ What a unit!’’ Jack to his walked off to his office remembering how he got to the big league. Obviously, Jack got to the league because he was an amazing coach bringing UCLA to the big championship every year for 6 years straight, and when he coached high school he brought them to the championship 5 out of the 7 years he coached there for. The last year that Jack coached for UCLA he meets Tj Cooper. Jack was born in New Mexico coming from a family that loved football. Jack's dad was the head coach of a college team but Jack couldn't remember what team he coached for. But everything was fuzzy whenever it came to trying to remember anything from his childhood.


Jack graduated from high school and became the assistant head coach of the Pee Wee team. During the offseason, Jack went to college to study how to be a professional head coach. Jack eventually graduated and after hearing that the high school he attended needed a head coach he jumped on the opportunity and got the job. He told his team that he wasn't just expecting to make the playoffs but to win the championship. He did exactly that and brought them to the championship that same season. They won the game by 3 touchdowns making the game just a merciless beating. After 6 more seasons of coaching Jack got a call from a big league school… UCLA. Jack realized the true potential he had as a coach and once again jumped on the chance and became and the assistant head coach of UCLA.


As a head coach, Jack always had the offense of Power Run and the defense of 4-3. With this team, Jack knew he could make something out of them once he became the official head coach of the team. And Jack did exactly that by bringing UCLA to the big championship every year he coached. Jacks last year before he would get the job of being an NFL head coach he meets Tj Cooper. He knew once he meet Cooper that he was going to be an amazing wideout for the team and maybe even the NFL. Cooper and Jack had a bond that would always stay. During the last game of the playoffs, Cooper went down on the field with a leg injury that took him out of the championship his Freshman year. After UCLA won the game Jack got a call a month later from the…. NFL!


Jack broke down crying after he got a call from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jack knew that he had to take this chance to advance his career and that he would never get this opportunity again so Jack answered yes and flew out to Florida to begin being mentored. When Jack got to Jacksonville he entered the office of the current head coach and sat down on the new crisp leather couch. The head coach began talking to him and said ‘’ I hope you're ready for this, this isn't college football this is the NFL it's a whole different new game.’’

‘’ Oh I know it is and I'm ready’’ Jack said

‘’ Ok let's see it then’’ said the head coach

The Jaguars ended up winning the first round in the playoffs of the following season but then lost in the 2nd round. The current head coach ended up retiring sooner than everyone realized and Jack took up the lead role and became the official head coach of the Jaguars.  2 years later the NFL draft came up and Jack could not believe who was being projected as the 16th pick in the 1st round… Tj Cooper, wide receiver, UCLA. Jack knew they needed to get him and traded down their 5th pick for the 16th pick to the Browns. That's when he realized that he actually can get Tj in the draft and be reunited with an old friend from his college coaching days.


The draft snuck up on Jack and before he realized it he was shaking Coopers hand on the stage and  giving him his jersey and hat. When the first day of the practice came he pulled Cooper off to the sidelines and talked to him.

‘’ You ready for this season, I remember you from college and I hope you've had improved’’ said Jack.

‘’ Oh I am  you're looking at the Rookie of the Year’’ Cooper said

‘’Let's see it then ‘’ said Jack

Cooper was right he did win the Offensive Rookie of the Year and had the best catch of the year in overtime to win the game and  bring the Jags to a winning record of 9-8. But the sad thing was Cooper retired after 4 more seasons because he had suffered too many legs injuries his whole life. After 6 more seasons, Jack retired on day of the draft due to old age leaving behind an incredible legacy and huge shoes to fill.



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