Gauntlet - Season 2
Gauntlet - Off-Season
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Eric Roberts …. Leonard Palmer
Patrick Schwarzenegger .... Alex Wright
Jared Keeso .... Stan Swift
Jessie Buckley .... Gwendolyn Marsh
Saffron Burrows …. Sharon Matthews
John David Washington …. Lincoln Tatum
Tom Wright .... Vernon Wallace
Plot: Ken Heath (William Fichtner), head coach of the Memphis Pharaohs, sits in his office at the team's practice facility going over the tape of the team's loss in the first round of the playoffs. The team's owner, Leonard Palmer (Eric Roberts), enters the office. He tells Heath not to sweat the early exit too much. No team can expect to win without their starting quarterback and running back in the playoffs. Heath says he has to learn what not to do next time. Palmer tells him that the goal this off-season should be to load up on more offensive firepower so that the team won't be so reliant on just two players to produce the lion's share of the scoring. Heath tells him he plans to address just that come free agency. Palmer then tells Heath that he has one more trick that should help things out on the offensive front and calls out for someone to enter the office. Stan Swift (Jared Keeso) then enters the office. Palmer introduces Heath to Swift, who he has hired to be the team's new offensive coordinator. Heath is angry, believing that Palmer has hired his eventual successor as head coach. Palmer tells Heath to calm down. The team struggled to put points on the board late in the season, so he went out and hired the best young offensive mind in all of college football. Swift tells Heath that he's a big fan of his and hopes to learn from him in the upcoming season.
Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) is at an event with his girlfriend, Memphis Mayor Sharon Matthews (Saffron Burrows). She takes him around the party to help raise funds for her upcoming campaign for Governor of Tennessee. Collins drinks heavily to get himself through all of the glad-handing. The guests at the party all ask Collins if he is going to re-sign with the Pharaohs now that his contract has expired. Collins simply tells everyone that it isn't entirely up to him.
Lincoln Tatum (John David Washington), the former running back for the Pharaohs, holds a workout for teams to see that he still has some gas left in the tank following his serious knee injury. He injects steroids before the workout. Even with the help of performance enhancing drugs, Tatum has clearly lost a step. The scouts and coaches in attendance are not impressed by the workout and nobody seems interested in offering him a contract or even a training camp spot. Tatum storms into a locker room and throws out his steroids. He then throws away his cleats and leaves the building.
Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) is in the middle of a transcendental meditation class led by Gwendolyn Marsh (Jessie Buckley). After the class, Thomas introduces himself to Gwen and thanks her for leading such a good class. She is surprised that someone like him would be in her class, but he tells her that he is trying to improve his focus for work. She asks what he tells and he tells her that he's a professional football player. He asks if he can buy her lunch or coffee to talk to her more about meditation. It of course doesn't take long for the two of them to end up back at his apartment having sex.
Coach Ken Heath attends the AFA Draft where he meets the new AFA Commissioner, Vernon Wallace (Tom Wright). Heath hadn't heard about the change, and Wallace reveals that the former commissioner Ted Watros, was ousted by the owners earlier in the week. Heath sits down at the team's table in the draft room, where he is caught off guard by a surprise visit from Palmer and Swift. The Pharaohs have the 10th overall pick in the draft. Heath tells Palmer and Swift that the safe choice at number 10 will probably come down to a defensive lineman. All the buzz around the building is centered on Michigan State quarterback Alex Wright (Patrick Schwarzenegger), known almost as much for his swagger off the field as he is for his success on it. Wright is expected to be one of the first couple of picks in the draft, but as the draft begins, team after team pass on drafting the top quarterback in the draft. When the Pharaohs are on the clock, Palmer demands that Heath draft Wright. Heath is worried that he is slipping in the draft because team's know something they don't. Palmer won't hear any of it. Wright is a potential franchise quarterback with star power to spare. Heath relents and drafts Wright 10th overall. Wright heads up to the stage where Commissioner Wallace hands Wright a Memphis Pharaohs jersey. Wright is then ushered over to the Pharaohs' table where he excitedly greeted by Palmer and Swift. Heath is more apprehensive, but welcomes Wright to the team.
Tim Collins is at home with Sharon when he sees the news of the Pharaohs drafting Alex Wright. Collins tells Sharon that it is a sign that it is probably time to finally hang it up and retire. Just then, Collins' phone rings. He answers it to find Coach Heath on the other end. Heath asks if Collins has heard the news yet. Collins says he has. Heath insists that it doesn't mean they don't want Collins on the team, but that the pick was made over his head by Palmer. Heath asks if Collins would be willing to re-sign and help mentor Alex Wright. Collins tells Heath that he'll honestly have to think about it.
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Eric Roberts …. Leonard Palmer
Patrick Schwarzenegger .... Alex Wright
Jared Keeso .... Stan Swift
Jessie Buckley .... Gwendolyn Marsh
Saffron Burrows …. Sharon Matthews
John David Washington …. Lincoln Tatum
Tom Wright .... Vernon Wallace
Plot: Ken Heath (William Fichtner), head coach of the Memphis Pharaohs, sits in his office at the team's practice facility going over the tape of the team's loss in the first round of the playoffs. The team's owner, Leonard Palmer (Eric Roberts), enters the office. He tells Heath not to sweat the early exit too much. No team can expect to win without their starting quarterback and running back in the playoffs. Heath says he has to learn what not to do next time. Palmer tells him that the goal this off-season should be to load up on more offensive firepower so that the team won't be so reliant on just two players to produce the lion's share of the scoring. Heath tells him he plans to address just that come free agency. Palmer then tells Heath that he has one more trick that should help things out on the offensive front and calls out for someone to enter the office. Stan Swift (Jared Keeso) then enters the office. Palmer introduces Heath to Swift, who he has hired to be the team's new offensive coordinator. Heath is angry, believing that Palmer has hired his eventual successor as head coach. Palmer tells Heath to calm down. The team struggled to put points on the board late in the season, so he went out and hired the best young offensive mind in all of college football. Swift tells Heath that he's a big fan of his and hopes to learn from him in the upcoming season.
Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) is at an event with his girlfriend, Memphis Mayor Sharon Matthews (Saffron Burrows). She takes him around the party to help raise funds for her upcoming campaign for Governor of Tennessee. Collins drinks heavily to get himself through all of the glad-handing. The guests at the party all ask Collins if he is going to re-sign with the Pharaohs now that his contract has expired. Collins simply tells everyone that it isn't entirely up to him.
Lincoln Tatum (John David Washington), the former running back for the Pharaohs, holds a workout for teams to see that he still has some gas left in the tank following his serious knee injury. He injects steroids before the workout. Even with the help of performance enhancing drugs, Tatum has clearly lost a step. The scouts and coaches in attendance are not impressed by the workout and nobody seems interested in offering him a contract or even a training camp spot. Tatum storms into a locker room and throws out his steroids. He then throws away his cleats and leaves the building.
Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) is in the middle of a transcendental meditation class led by Gwendolyn Marsh (Jessie Buckley). After the class, Thomas introduces himself to Gwen and thanks her for leading such a good class. She is surprised that someone like him would be in her class, but he tells her that he is trying to improve his focus for work. She asks what he tells and he tells her that he's a professional football player. He asks if he can buy her lunch or coffee to talk to her more about meditation. It of course doesn't take long for the two of them to end up back at his apartment having sex.
Coach Ken Heath attends the AFA Draft where he meets the new AFA Commissioner, Vernon Wallace (Tom Wright). Heath hadn't heard about the change, and Wallace reveals that the former commissioner Ted Watros, was ousted by the owners earlier in the week. Heath sits down at the team's table in the draft room, where he is caught off guard by a surprise visit from Palmer and Swift. The Pharaohs have the 10th overall pick in the draft. Heath tells Palmer and Swift that the safe choice at number 10 will probably come down to a defensive lineman. All the buzz around the building is centered on Michigan State quarterback Alex Wright (Patrick Schwarzenegger), known almost as much for his swagger off the field as he is for his success on it. Wright is expected to be one of the first couple of picks in the draft, but as the draft begins, team after team pass on drafting the top quarterback in the draft. When the Pharaohs are on the clock, Palmer demands that Heath draft Wright. Heath is worried that he is slipping in the draft because team's know something they don't. Palmer won't hear any of it. Wright is a potential franchise quarterback with star power to spare. Heath relents and drafts Wright 10th overall. Wright heads up to the stage where Commissioner Wallace hands Wright a Memphis Pharaohs jersey. Wright is then ushered over to the Pharaohs' table where he excitedly greeted by Palmer and Swift. Heath is more apprehensive, but welcomes Wright to the team.
Tim Collins is at home with Sharon when he sees the news of the Pharaohs drafting Alex Wright. Collins tells Sharon that it is a sign that it is probably time to finally hang it up and retire. Just then, Collins' phone rings. He answers it to find Coach Heath on the other end. Heath asks if Collins has heard the news yet. Collins says he has. Heath insists that it doesn't mean they don't want Collins on the team, but that the pick was made over his head by Palmer. Heath asks if Collins would be willing to re-sign and help mentor Alex Wright. Collins tells Heath that he'll honestly have to think about it.
Gauntlet - The Season Approaches
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Eric Roberts …. Leonard Palmer
Patrick Schwarzenegger .... Alex Wright
Jared Keeso .... Stan Swift
Jessie Buckley .... Gwendolyn Marsh
Saffron Burrows …. Sharon Matthews
Corey Hawkins .... DeAndre Colson
John David Washington …. Lincoln Tatum
Charles Melton .... Jeremy
Plot: Heading into training camp, Coach Kean Heath (William Fichtner) is meeting with his coaching staff, including new offensive coordinator Stan Swift (Jared Keeso), go over the team's depth chart. Heath is pretty content with the moves made during the off-season and the draft, and most of the staff agrees with him. Swift, however, speaks up and says that he feels the team is lacking a true number one wide receiver. A few of the other coaches change their tune and begin to side with Swift. Heath asks Swift who exactly he thinks they could get to fill that supposed void. Swift says that Colson is still a free agent, plus he was Colson's position coach in college, so he should be able to learn the system pretty quickly. Heath begrudgingly admits that it's not a bad idea. He leaves the conference room and heads to his office to make a phone call.
Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) is packing up his things and leaving the house of Sharon Matthews (Saffron Burrows). She tells him that he can give her a call once he's done with football and maybe they can resume their relationship, but she is not interested in spending another season dating a football player. Collins is obviously heart-broken by this decision, but he does as Sharon requests.
Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) and his new girlfriend Gwendolyn (Jessie Buckley) are out for a run along the Mississippi River. While they take a water break along the Riverwalk, Thomas is approached by some fans who ask for his autograph. He obliges. After the fans leave, Gwendolyn admits that she is impressed by the fans recognizing his face even though he wears a helmet during games.
Former Memphis Pharaohs running back and current Free agent Lincoln Tatum (John David Washington) calls his agent to see if any teams have been in touch since his workout. The agent says unfortunately nobody has, but with training camp about to begin time is running out so if he doesn't hear from anyone soon that may be a bad sign.
Heath and Swift enter the office of team owner Leonard Palmer (Eric Roberts). Heath asks for the green light to make a highly competitive offer for the services of Colson. Palmer looks over to Swift, who subtly nods his head. Palmer tells Heath to go ahead and make him an offer.
Rookie Pharaohs quarterback Alex Wright (Patrick Schwarzenegger) arrives at the team facility for the rookie mini-camp and immediately begins trying to absorb the team's playbook. He is greeted by Swift and immediately starts discussing the different formations the team will be utilizing. Wright is clearly overwhelmed by Swift's expectations of him, but tells Swift he will do his best to get the playbook down as soon as possible. During the rookie drills, Wright impresses the coaching staff with his dead-eye accuracy. Even without knowing the playbook all the way, it is clear that Wright can make throws few other have the natural arm skill to do. Collins watches from the stands. He knows his days are numbered if Wright continues practicing as well as he is.
Coach Heath sits down with free agent wide receiver DeAndre Colson (Corey Hawkins) to offer him a multi-year contract to join the Memphis Pharaohs. Looking over the offer sheet, Colson is quick to sign on for the 3-year, $30 million contract. Heath shakes his hand and gets ready to show Colson around the team facility. They quickly run into Coach Swift. Colson and Swift give each other a big hug. Swift takes over the tour and starts showing Colson around the team facility, leaving Heath standing in the hallway holding the signed contract.
Lincoln Tatum and his boyfriend Jeremy (Charles Melton) are driving down a dark road late at night when suddenly a deer jumps into the path of their car. Tatum serves out of the way of the deer, but hits a tree. Jeremy, who was not wearing a seat belt, is sent flying through the car's windshield.
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Eric Roberts …. Leonard Palmer
Patrick Schwarzenegger .... Alex Wright
Jared Keeso .... Stan Swift
Jessie Buckley .... Gwendolyn Marsh
Saffron Burrows …. Sharon Matthews
Corey Hawkins .... DeAndre Colson
John David Washington …. Lincoln Tatum
Charles Melton .... Jeremy
Plot: Heading into training camp, Coach Kean Heath (William Fichtner) is meeting with his coaching staff, including new offensive coordinator Stan Swift (Jared Keeso), go over the team's depth chart. Heath is pretty content with the moves made during the off-season and the draft, and most of the staff agrees with him. Swift, however, speaks up and says that he feels the team is lacking a true number one wide receiver. A few of the other coaches change their tune and begin to side with Swift. Heath asks Swift who exactly he thinks they could get to fill that supposed void. Swift says that Colson is still a free agent, plus he was Colson's position coach in college, so he should be able to learn the system pretty quickly. Heath begrudgingly admits that it's not a bad idea. He leaves the conference room and heads to his office to make a phone call.
Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) is packing up his things and leaving the house of Sharon Matthews (Saffron Burrows). She tells him that he can give her a call once he's done with football and maybe they can resume their relationship, but she is not interested in spending another season dating a football player. Collins is obviously heart-broken by this decision, but he does as Sharon requests.
Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) and his new girlfriend Gwendolyn (Jessie Buckley) are out for a run along the Mississippi River. While they take a water break along the Riverwalk, Thomas is approached by some fans who ask for his autograph. He obliges. After the fans leave, Gwendolyn admits that she is impressed by the fans recognizing his face even though he wears a helmet during games.
Former Memphis Pharaohs running back and current Free agent Lincoln Tatum (John David Washington) calls his agent to see if any teams have been in touch since his workout. The agent says unfortunately nobody has, but with training camp about to begin time is running out so if he doesn't hear from anyone soon that may be a bad sign.
Heath and Swift enter the office of team owner Leonard Palmer (Eric Roberts). Heath asks for the green light to make a highly competitive offer for the services of Colson. Palmer looks over to Swift, who subtly nods his head. Palmer tells Heath to go ahead and make him an offer.
Rookie Pharaohs quarterback Alex Wright (Patrick Schwarzenegger) arrives at the team facility for the rookie mini-camp and immediately begins trying to absorb the team's playbook. He is greeted by Swift and immediately starts discussing the different formations the team will be utilizing. Wright is clearly overwhelmed by Swift's expectations of him, but tells Swift he will do his best to get the playbook down as soon as possible. During the rookie drills, Wright impresses the coaching staff with his dead-eye accuracy. Even without knowing the playbook all the way, it is clear that Wright can make throws few other have the natural arm skill to do. Collins watches from the stands. He knows his days are numbered if Wright continues practicing as well as he is.
Coach Heath sits down with free agent wide receiver DeAndre Colson (Corey Hawkins) to offer him a multi-year contract to join the Memphis Pharaohs. Looking over the offer sheet, Colson is quick to sign on for the 3-year, $30 million contract. Heath shakes his hand and gets ready to show Colson around the team facility. They quickly run into Coach Swift. Colson and Swift give each other a big hug. Swift takes over the tour and starts showing Colson around the team facility, leaving Heath standing in the hallway holding the signed contract.
Lincoln Tatum and his boyfriend Jeremy (Charles Melton) are driving down a dark road late at night when suddenly a deer jumps into the path of their car. Tatum serves out of the way of the deer, but hits a tree. Jeremy, who was not wearing a seat belt, is sent flying through the car's windshield.
Gauntlet - Training Camp
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Eric Roberts …. Leonard Palmer
Patrick Schwarzenegger .... Alex Wright
Jared Keeso .... Stan Swift
Corey Hawkins .... DeAndre Colson
John David Washington …. Lincoln Tatum
Plot: Ambulance sirens blare as Lincoln Tatum (John David Washington) comes to in his totaled car. He looks to the passenger seat, but his boyfriend Jeremy is nowhere to be found. He scrambles from the wreckage and finds the lifeless body of Jeremy mangled beyond recognition several yards from the car. Paramedics rush towards Tatum as he passes out from his own blood loss.
As the Memphis Pharaohs training camp rages on, veteran Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) decides to flat-out ask Coach Ken Heath (William Fichtner) if he's the starter heading into the season or if the coach plans on starting the rookie Alex Wright (Patrick Schwarzenegger). Heath tells Collins to focus more on getting his body and mind ready for the season and less on a little workplace competition. Collins returns to the field to continue taking reps with the rest of the first team players, but new offensive coordinator Stan Swift (Jared Keeso) tells him to go ahead and sit this one out as the coaches want to see how Wright does with the first team offense, and more importantly, how he does against the Pharaohs' first team defense. Wright trots out onto the practice field and immediately demonstrates a strong understanding of the playbook. On his first play in practice, Wright hits new wide receiver DeAndre Colson (Corey Hawkins) with a laser on a deep slant route for an easy touchdown.
In the locker room, running back Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) asks Collins if he's worried about losing out to the rookie. Collins admits that he still feels he is a starting caliber quarterback in this league, but he's a good long run in Memphis, so whatever happens happens. Collins then asks Thomas if he's threatened by the team signing an offensive weapon faster than him. Thomas insists that there's no way Colson is faster than he is.
Lincoln Tatum wakes up in the hospital. He asks the doctors if Jeremy is okay, but the doctors inform Tatum that Jeremy died on impact in the crash. Tatum begins crying. The doctors then inform Lincoln that he suffered severe damage to his right leg. Lincoln asks the doctor if he'll ever be able to play football again. The doctor tells Lincoln that he'll be lucky if he ever walks normally again.
Back at Pharaohs' training camp, Swift continues to shadow Wright feeding him extra information about the offense. Collins watches this from a distance and decides to go up and formally introduce himself to the rookie phenom. Collins shakes Wright's hand and says that if he needs anything to give him a call. Collins gives Swift a look, and Swift walks away. Wright quietly asks what there is to do for fun in Memphis. Collins offers to show Wright around the city, but Wright turns down the offer much to Collins' surprise. Wright says that he isn't interested in hanging around with an old timer like Collins. Wright then puts back on his helmet and heads back out onto the practice field.
Coach Heath lines up several of the players, including Colson and Thomas, to check out their times on the 40 yard dash. Thomas confidently steps up to the starting line and finishes with a time of 4.32 seconds. The coaches are impressed with this time since it is the same speed he posted at the AFA Draft Combine, showing that a season in the pros hasn't slowed him down any. DeAndre Colson then comes up to the line. He blazes down the line with a time of 4.29 seconds.
To celebrate the start of the season, the owner of the Memphis Pharaohs, Leonard Palmer (Eric Roberts), invites the team to a party at his mansion. At the party, Coach Heath asks to speak with Tim Collins. They go into Palmer's library and have a seat. Heath tells Collins that he has yet to make up his mind on which quarterback to start in the season opener as it is not an easy decision. Collins has been his quarterback for well over a decade and that counts for something, but Wright is the future of the team, for better or worse. Collins asks Coach Heath to let him know what the decision is before the media finds out. He doesn't want to hear about it from Twitter. Heath shakes Collins' hand and heads back to the party. Heath finds Palmer and Swift talking about how the training camp has been going, especially in regards to the competition at quarterback. Swift tells Palmer that he feels like Wright has showed the ability and put in the work to deserve the starting spot. Palmer says the marketing department will certainly be happy if that's the case. Coach Heath interrupts them and says that it's his job to decide who the starting quarterback, but that he'll be sure to let the marketing department know what his decision is. Heath then leaves the party.
Lincoln Tatum is back home with his leg in a cast. He hobbles his way to his bedroom safe and pulls out a gun. Tatum sits down on his bed next to a picture of Jeremy. He looks at photos from his playing days that are adorning the walls of his bedroom. With a tear in his eye, Tatum reaches the gun toward his head and pulls the trigger.
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Eric Roberts …. Leonard Palmer
Patrick Schwarzenegger .... Alex Wright
Jared Keeso .... Stan Swift
Corey Hawkins .... DeAndre Colson
John David Washington …. Lincoln Tatum
Plot: Ambulance sirens blare as Lincoln Tatum (John David Washington) comes to in his totaled car. He looks to the passenger seat, but his boyfriend Jeremy is nowhere to be found. He scrambles from the wreckage and finds the lifeless body of Jeremy mangled beyond recognition several yards from the car. Paramedics rush towards Tatum as he passes out from his own blood loss.
As the Memphis Pharaohs training camp rages on, veteran Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) decides to flat-out ask Coach Ken Heath (William Fichtner) if he's the starter heading into the season or if the coach plans on starting the rookie Alex Wright (Patrick Schwarzenegger). Heath tells Collins to focus more on getting his body and mind ready for the season and less on a little workplace competition. Collins returns to the field to continue taking reps with the rest of the first team players, but new offensive coordinator Stan Swift (Jared Keeso) tells him to go ahead and sit this one out as the coaches want to see how Wright does with the first team offense, and more importantly, how he does against the Pharaohs' first team defense. Wright trots out onto the practice field and immediately demonstrates a strong understanding of the playbook. On his first play in practice, Wright hits new wide receiver DeAndre Colson (Corey Hawkins) with a laser on a deep slant route for an easy touchdown.
In the locker room, running back Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) asks Collins if he's worried about losing out to the rookie. Collins admits that he still feels he is a starting caliber quarterback in this league, but he's a good long run in Memphis, so whatever happens happens. Collins then asks Thomas if he's threatened by the team signing an offensive weapon faster than him. Thomas insists that there's no way Colson is faster than he is.
Lincoln Tatum wakes up in the hospital. He asks the doctors if Jeremy is okay, but the doctors inform Tatum that Jeremy died on impact in the crash. Tatum begins crying. The doctors then inform Lincoln that he suffered severe damage to his right leg. Lincoln asks the doctor if he'll ever be able to play football again. The doctor tells Lincoln that he'll be lucky if he ever walks normally again.
Back at Pharaohs' training camp, Swift continues to shadow Wright feeding him extra information about the offense. Collins watches this from a distance and decides to go up and formally introduce himself to the rookie phenom. Collins shakes Wright's hand and says that if he needs anything to give him a call. Collins gives Swift a look, and Swift walks away. Wright quietly asks what there is to do for fun in Memphis. Collins offers to show Wright around the city, but Wright turns down the offer much to Collins' surprise. Wright says that he isn't interested in hanging around with an old timer like Collins. Wright then puts back on his helmet and heads back out onto the practice field.
Coach Heath lines up several of the players, including Colson and Thomas, to check out their times on the 40 yard dash. Thomas confidently steps up to the starting line and finishes with a time of 4.32 seconds. The coaches are impressed with this time since it is the same speed he posted at the AFA Draft Combine, showing that a season in the pros hasn't slowed him down any. DeAndre Colson then comes up to the line. He blazes down the line with a time of 4.29 seconds.
To celebrate the start of the season, the owner of the Memphis Pharaohs, Leonard Palmer (Eric Roberts), invites the team to a party at his mansion. At the party, Coach Heath asks to speak with Tim Collins. They go into Palmer's library and have a seat. Heath tells Collins that he has yet to make up his mind on which quarterback to start in the season opener as it is not an easy decision. Collins has been his quarterback for well over a decade and that counts for something, but Wright is the future of the team, for better or worse. Collins asks Coach Heath to let him know what the decision is before the media finds out. He doesn't want to hear about it from Twitter. Heath shakes Collins' hand and heads back to the party. Heath finds Palmer and Swift talking about how the training camp has been going, especially in regards to the competition at quarterback. Swift tells Palmer that he feels like Wright has showed the ability and put in the work to deserve the starting spot. Palmer says the marketing department will certainly be happy if that's the case. Coach Heath interrupts them and says that it's his job to decide who the starting quarterback, but that he'll be sure to let the marketing department know what his decision is. Heath then leaves the party.
Lincoln Tatum is back home with his leg in a cast. He hobbles his way to his bedroom safe and pulls out a gun. Tatum sits down on his bed next to a picture of Jeremy. He looks at photos from his playing days that are adorning the walls of his bedroom. With a tear in his eye, Tatum reaches the gun toward his head and pulls the trigger.
Gauntlet - Memorial
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Eric Roberts …. Leonard Palmer
Jessie Buckley .... Gwendolyn Marsh
Saffron Burrows …. Sharon Matthews
Kat Graham .... Nikki
Plot: On the final weekend before the season starts, Coach Ken Heath (William Fichtner) finds himself sitting at a memorial service for former player, Lincoln Tatum. Memphis Pharaohs owner Leonard Palmer (Eric Roberts) speaks before the congregation of mourners about what a special person Tatum was. Longtime former teammate, Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel), is also in attendance. Collins, bored of Palmer's words begins to scan the crowd. His eyes finally settle on his ex-girlfriend, Memphis Mayor Sharon Matthews (Saffron Burrows). She catches him looking at her. Collins gives her a nod and turns his attention back toward Palmer, who is now wiping away his tears as he continues to eulogize Tatum. Palmer finally announces that he is done speaking and invites Coach Heath to come up to the podium to speak. Heath tries to turn down the opportunity, but Palmer cajoles him into coming up. Heath keeps it short. He tells everyone that he enjoyed every day coaching Tatum and that he'll miss him, and then leaves the podium.
As he is leaving the service, Coach Heath is bombarded by reporters wanting to know if he's made up his mind on who will start at quarterback in the season opener. Heath calmly explains that it is neither the time nor the place for such a conversation. One of the reporters continues hounding Heath for information, even following him through the parking lot to his car. Heath starts yelling at the reporter and shoves him out of his way so he can get into his car.
The next morning, Coach Heath wakes up to find out people are calling for him to be fired after he supposedly assaulted an innocent reporter. When he arrives at the team facility, Palmer is waiting for him in his office. Palmer comments that Heath needs to address the media following the incident at Tatum's memorial. They need to do damage control before it spirals out of control.
Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) attends a yoga class with his girlfriend Gwendolyn (Jessie Buckley). After the class, Thomas autographs some of the other students' yoga mats. When they leave the building, Thomas runs into ex-fling Nikki (Kat Graham), who is visibly pregnant. Thomas is stunned speechless by the sight of Nikki, especially since she is pregnant. He asks her flat out if the baby is his, but she is not interested in talking to him. Gwendolyn asks Thomas what all that was about, but Thomas tells her that he isn't quite sure. She was someone he used to fool around with when he was partying, but he doesn't think the baby would be his.
Coach Heath holds a press conference in front of the team facility. He looks into the camera and apologizes for losing his temper with a member of the press, but he was not happy with the time and place of the reporter's questions. He is about to walk away from the cameras, but then he turns around and faces them again. He tells them he stands by his actions. A friend's memorial is no place for questions about the team's quarterback situation, and that the reporter got what he deserved. A few members of the media present clap for Heath's response. Heath then tells them that he is leaning toward starting the rookie Alex Wright. Heath then walks to his car and drives away.
Tim Collins, who was watching the press conference while working out, turns off his television. He drives to Sharon's house and knocks on the front door. Sharon answers and asks him what he's doing there. He tells her that he is no longer the starting quarterback of the Memphis Pharaohs. She opens the door further, and Collins walks inside the house.
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Eric Roberts …. Leonard Palmer
Jessie Buckley .... Gwendolyn Marsh
Saffron Burrows …. Sharon Matthews
Kat Graham .... Nikki
Plot: On the final weekend before the season starts, Coach Ken Heath (William Fichtner) finds himself sitting at a memorial service for former player, Lincoln Tatum. Memphis Pharaohs owner Leonard Palmer (Eric Roberts) speaks before the congregation of mourners about what a special person Tatum was. Longtime former teammate, Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel), is also in attendance. Collins, bored of Palmer's words begins to scan the crowd. His eyes finally settle on his ex-girlfriend, Memphis Mayor Sharon Matthews (Saffron Burrows). She catches him looking at her. Collins gives her a nod and turns his attention back toward Palmer, who is now wiping away his tears as he continues to eulogize Tatum. Palmer finally announces that he is done speaking and invites Coach Heath to come up to the podium to speak. Heath tries to turn down the opportunity, but Palmer cajoles him into coming up. Heath keeps it short. He tells everyone that he enjoyed every day coaching Tatum and that he'll miss him, and then leaves the podium.
As he is leaving the service, Coach Heath is bombarded by reporters wanting to know if he's made up his mind on who will start at quarterback in the season opener. Heath calmly explains that it is neither the time nor the place for such a conversation. One of the reporters continues hounding Heath for information, even following him through the parking lot to his car. Heath starts yelling at the reporter and shoves him out of his way so he can get into his car.
The next morning, Coach Heath wakes up to find out people are calling for him to be fired after he supposedly assaulted an innocent reporter. When he arrives at the team facility, Palmer is waiting for him in his office. Palmer comments that Heath needs to address the media following the incident at Tatum's memorial. They need to do damage control before it spirals out of control.
Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) attends a yoga class with his girlfriend Gwendolyn (Jessie Buckley). After the class, Thomas autographs some of the other students' yoga mats. When they leave the building, Thomas runs into ex-fling Nikki (Kat Graham), who is visibly pregnant. Thomas is stunned speechless by the sight of Nikki, especially since she is pregnant. He asks her flat out if the baby is his, but she is not interested in talking to him. Gwendolyn asks Thomas what all that was about, but Thomas tells her that he isn't quite sure. She was someone he used to fool around with when he was partying, but he doesn't think the baby would be his.
Coach Heath holds a press conference in front of the team facility. He looks into the camera and apologizes for losing his temper with a member of the press, but he was not happy with the time and place of the reporter's questions. He is about to walk away from the cameras, but then he turns around and faces them again. He tells them he stands by his actions. A friend's memorial is no place for questions about the team's quarterback situation, and that the reporter got what he deserved. A few members of the media present clap for Heath's response. Heath then tells them that he is leaning toward starting the rookie Alex Wright. Heath then walks to his car and drives away.
Tim Collins, who was watching the press conference while working out, turns off his television. He drives to Sharon's house and knocks on the front door. Sharon answers and asks him what he's doing there. He tells her that he is no longer the starting quarterback of the Memphis Pharaohs. She opens the door further, and Collins walks inside the house.
Gauntlet - Ready for Kick-Off
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Eric Roberts …. Leonard Palmer
Patrick Schwarzenegger .... Alex Wright
Jared Keeso .... Stan Swift
Corey Hawkins .... DeAndre Colson
Saffron Burrows .... Sharon Matthews
Plot:Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) arrives at the players parking lot at Memphis Municipal Stadium. He walks through the corridors and into the home locker room. None of the other players talk to him as he makes his way through the room to his locker. He sits down at his locker, right next to the locker of the man who took his job, Alex Wright (Patrick Schwarzenegger). Wright seems oblivious to the situation and asks Collins how he's doing. Collins says he's doing fine for a man who lost his job.
Coach Ken Heath (William Fichtner) calls Tim Collins into his office. Collins sits down across from Heath, but he's obviously not happy to see him. Heath apologizes for not keeping his promise to tell Collins his decision before the press got hold of it. Collins says the press didn't "get hold of it", Heath announced it at a goddamn press conference. Heath says it was a regrettable turn of events, but he felt he didn't much of a choice in the matter since the team's owner, Leonard Palmer, was breathing down his neck. Nonetheless, Heath asks Collins if he can help show Wright the ropes.
Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) sits at his locker trying to pump himself up for the game, but his mind is clearly elsewhere. Offensive coordinator Stan Swift (Jared Keeso) is going over some passing routes with Alex Wright and wide receiver DeAndre Colson (Corey Hawkins. He calls Thomas over to look over the routes as well. Thomas tells Swift he's already looked over everything and now just needs to get his head in the right place. Swift says the best way to do that is to take a looks at the x's and o's, but Thomas just looks at Wright and tells him if he hands him the ball he'll make sure points end up on the board.
As the team is getting closer to taking the field, Collins returns to his locker and starts giving Wright pointers on the New York Americans' defense. Wright immediately begins taking notes on what he says. Swift tries to counter what Collins is saying, but gives up after not having any good arguments against Collins' points.
Coach Heath comes out of his office and addresses the team in the locker room. He tells the team it's a new season. Every single team in the league has the same record and the same chance at making it to the championship. He tells everyone that this could, should and better be their turn. Memphis has never won the championship and he figures this year is as good as any to change that.
Owner Leonard Palmer (Eric Roberts) entertains his guests in the owners box as he does every opening week. He congratulates Sharon Matthews (Saffron Burrows) on being up in the polls for Governor of Tennessee, but adds that she could always use more fundraising money. Sharon turns to him and asks if he's still trying to get her to green light a new stadium. Palmer confirms that is what he is getting at, and she says that if the price is right she can look into it.
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Eric Roberts …. Leonard Palmer
Patrick Schwarzenegger .... Alex Wright
Jared Keeso .... Stan Swift
Corey Hawkins .... DeAndre Colson
Saffron Burrows .... Sharon Matthews
Plot:Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) arrives at the players parking lot at Memphis Municipal Stadium. He walks through the corridors and into the home locker room. None of the other players talk to him as he makes his way through the room to his locker. He sits down at his locker, right next to the locker of the man who took his job, Alex Wright (Patrick Schwarzenegger). Wright seems oblivious to the situation and asks Collins how he's doing. Collins says he's doing fine for a man who lost his job.
Coach Ken Heath (William Fichtner) calls Tim Collins into his office. Collins sits down across from Heath, but he's obviously not happy to see him. Heath apologizes for not keeping his promise to tell Collins his decision before the press got hold of it. Collins says the press didn't "get hold of it", Heath announced it at a goddamn press conference. Heath says it was a regrettable turn of events, but he felt he didn't much of a choice in the matter since the team's owner, Leonard Palmer, was breathing down his neck. Nonetheless, Heath asks Collins if he can help show Wright the ropes.
Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) sits at his locker trying to pump himself up for the game, but his mind is clearly elsewhere. Offensive coordinator Stan Swift (Jared Keeso) is going over some passing routes with Alex Wright and wide receiver DeAndre Colson (Corey Hawkins. He calls Thomas over to look over the routes as well. Thomas tells Swift he's already looked over everything and now just needs to get his head in the right place. Swift says the best way to do that is to take a looks at the x's and o's, but Thomas just looks at Wright and tells him if he hands him the ball he'll make sure points end up on the board.
As the team is getting closer to taking the field, Collins returns to his locker and starts giving Wright pointers on the New York Americans' defense. Wright immediately begins taking notes on what he says. Swift tries to counter what Collins is saying, but gives up after not having any good arguments against Collins' points.
Coach Heath comes out of his office and addresses the team in the locker room. He tells the team it's a new season. Every single team in the league has the same record and the same chance at making it to the championship. He tells everyone that this could, should and better be their turn. Memphis has never won the championship and he figures this year is as good as any to change that.
Owner Leonard Palmer (Eric Roberts) entertains his guests in the owners box as he does every opening week. He congratulates Sharon Matthews (Saffron Burrows) on being up in the polls for Governor of Tennessee, but adds that she could always use more fundraising money. Sharon turns to him and asks if he's still trying to get her to green light a new stadium. Palmer confirms that is what he is getting at, and she says that if the price is right she can look into it.
Gauntlet - Season Opener
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Eric Roberts …. Leonard Palmer
Patrick Schwarzenegger .... Alex Wright
Jared Keeso .... Stan Swift
Saffron Burrows …. Sharon Matthews
Corey Hawkins .... DeAndre Colson
Kat Graham .... Nikki
Plot: Coach Ken Heath (William Fichtner) leads his team, the Memphis Pharaohs, out on the field for the first game of the season. He names Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) the team's offensive captain for the game. Heath tells him to defer to the second half if they win the coin toss. He heads out to the coin toss, which the Pharaohs win. Thomas tells the referee they want the ball. The referee announces the kick-off and Coach Heath asks Thomas what happened. Thomas says his nerves got the best of him and he forgot what Heath wanted. DeAndre Colson (Corey Hawkins) goes out to return the opening kick-off. He takes the kick out of his own end zone, seeing an opening, and takes the ball all the way to mid-field on the strength of his all-world speed. Thomas looks over to Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) and finally admits that Colson is definitely faster than him. Collins laughs that he was the only one who didn't already know that. Offensive coordinator Stan Swift (Jared Keeso) is up in the coaches booth and relays the opening play to rookie quarterback Alex Wright (Patrick Schwarzenegger).
The first play from scrimmage is a counter run play from Thomas that nets the team 10 yards. On the next play the offensive line breaks down, collapsing the pocket around Wright, who is able to shake free from one defender and bolts down field. He keeps scrambling, all the way to the end zone, but takes several hits along the way and held onto the football gingerly. The announcers comment that this is a much faster Memphis Pharaohs team than we saw the season before. Swift tells Wright he did a good job escaping pressure on that play. Heath tells Wright to make sure he has a secure hold on the football and to not fight contact for extra yards, especially after he already had the first down. Leonard Palmer (Eric Roberts) calls the team's marketing director from the owners booth and tells him to start coming up with campaigns around Alex Wright.
After the game, the Memphis Pharaohs celebrate a Week 1 victory in the locker room. Reporters are interviewing Alex Wright, who finished the game with three touchdowns. Colson invites Thomas to come out to club to celebrate the win. At first Thomas turns down the offer, but decides to come along. Tim Collins leaves the game without showering since he never broke a sweat on the bench.
At the club, people keep trying to hand Thomas drinks, and he turns them down. Colson tells Thomas to let loose and celebrate, they lead an undefeated professional football team. Thomas obliges and takes a drink. Then he has another and another. Thomas ends up getting into a fight with security and is asked to leave. Colson tells Thomas to calm down. He's supposed to celebrate and have a drink, not go on a bender and start a fight. Thomas leaves the club. Thomas is embarrassed by his behavior and doesn't want to drive home drunk. He also doesn't want his girlfriend Gwendolyn to see him in this condition. He sits on the hood of his car and calls Nikki (Kat Graham). He tells her he's pretty sure that baby growing inside of her is his. She can tell he's drunk and asks where he is. He tells her what club he's outside of. Nikki tells him to wait where he is.
Collins and Sharon Matthews (Saffron Burrows) lay in bed. He vents to her about how difficult it was to watch a game from the sideline after all these years on the field. He doesn't know if he'll ever get used to it since he's never been a backup before - not in the pros or in college. She asks him if he's thought about retiring at all. He tells her he just isn't sure right now.
Nikki arrives outside the club where she finds Thomas laying on the hood of his car. She tells him to get inside her car. He drunkenly stumbles over to her car and gets in. She says that she thought he got his shit together last time she saw him. He says he thought he did. She asks him why he didn't call his girlfriend, and he says he doesn't know. She confirms his suspicion that the baby is his. Thomas is stunned silent.
Coach Heath wakes up in his office in the middle of the night when he hears a noise. He follows the noise to the film room where he finds Swift and Wright already going over the game film from that night's game. He tells them to lock up when they are done and heads home.
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Eric Roberts …. Leonard Palmer
Patrick Schwarzenegger .... Alex Wright
Jared Keeso .... Stan Swift
Saffron Burrows …. Sharon Matthews
Corey Hawkins .... DeAndre Colson
Kat Graham .... Nikki
Plot: Coach Ken Heath (William Fichtner) leads his team, the Memphis Pharaohs, out on the field for the first game of the season. He names Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) the team's offensive captain for the game. Heath tells him to defer to the second half if they win the coin toss. He heads out to the coin toss, which the Pharaohs win. Thomas tells the referee they want the ball. The referee announces the kick-off and Coach Heath asks Thomas what happened. Thomas says his nerves got the best of him and he forgot what Heath wanted. DeAndre Colson (Corey Hawkins) goes out to return the opening kick-off. He takes the kick out of his own end zone, seeing an opening, and takes the ball all the way to mid-field on the strength of his all-world speed. Thomas looks over to Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) and finally admits that Colson is definitely faster than him. Collins laughs that he was the only one who didn't already know that. Offensive coordinator Stan Swift (Jared Keeso) is up in the coaches booth and relays the opening play to rookie quarterback Alex Wright (Patrick Schwarzenegger).
The first play from scrimmage is a counter run play from Thomas that nets the team 10 yards. On the next play the offensive line breaks down, collapsing the pocket around Wright, who is able to shake free from one defender and bolts down field. He keeps scrambling, all the way to the end zone, but takes several hits along the way and held onto the football gingerly. The announcers comment that this is a much faster Memphis Pharaohs team than we saw the season before. Swift tells Wright he did a good job escaping pressure on that play. Heath tells Wright to make sure he has a secure hold on the football and to not fight contact for extra yards, especially after he already had the first down. Leonard Palmer (Eric Roberts) calls the team's marketing director from the owners booth and tells him to start coming up with campaigns around Alex Wright.
After the game, the Memphis Pharaohs celebrate a Week 1 victory in the locker room. Reporters are interviewing Alex Wright, who finished the game with three touchdowns. Colson invites Thomas to come out to club to celebrate the win. At first Thomas turns down the offer, but decides to come along. Tim Collins leaves the game without showering since he never broke a sweat on the bench.
At the club, people keep trying to hand Thomas drinks, and he turns them down. Colson tells Thomas to let loose and celebrate, they lead an undefeated professional football team. Thomas obliges and takes a drink. Then he has another and another. Thomas ends up getting into a fight with security and is asked to leave. Colson tells Thomas to calm down. He's supposed to celebrate and have a drink, not go on a bender and start a fight. Thomas leaves the club. Thomas is embarrassed by his behavior and doesn't want to drive home drunk. He also doesn't want his girlfriend Gwendolyn to see him in this condition. He sits on the hood of his car and calls Nikki (Kat Graham). He tells her he's pretty sure that baby growing inside of her is his. She can tell he's drunk and asks where he is. He tells her what club he's outside of. Nikki tells him to wait where he is.
Collins and Sharon Matthews (Saffron Burrows) lay in bed. He vents to her about how difficult it was to watch a game from the sideline after all these years on the field. He doesn't know if he'll ever get used to it since he's never been a backup before - not in the pros or in college. She asks him if he's thought about retiring at all. He tells her he just isn't sure right now.
Nikki arrives outside the club where she finds Thomas laying on the hood of his car. She tells him to get inside her car. He drunkenly stumbles over to her car and gets in. She says that she thought he got his shit together last time she saw him. He says he thought he did. She asks him why he didn't call his girlfriend, and he says he doesn't know. She confirms his suspicion that the baby is his. Thomas is stunned silent.
Coach Heath wakes up in his office in the middle of the night when he hears a noise. He follows the noise to the film room where he finds Swift and Wright already going over the game film from that night's game. He tells them to lock up when they are done and heads home.
Gauntlet - Hangover
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Eric Roberts …. Leonard Palmer
Kat Graham .... Nikki
Jessie Buckley .... Gwendoline Marsh
Tom Wright .... Vernon Wallace
Jaimie Alexander .... Natalie Cornish
Plot: Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) wakes up on a couch. He looks around and finds Nikki (Kat Graham) asleep in her bed. He looks at his phone and notices several missed texts and phone calls from Gwendolyn. He sneaks out of Nikki's apartment, careful not wake her. Once he's outside he calls Gwendolyn (Jessie Buckley) back. She tells him she was worried since she expected him to come over after the game. He apologizes to her and says he went out with some teammates, but had forgotten his phone in the locker room after the game and just had to go to get it back. He says he can come over later on if she wants to spend some time together. She says that she'd like that. Thomas then begins walking toward the night club to get his car back.
Coach Ken Heath (William Fichtner) is sitting his kitchen alone eating breakfast and watching the news when he sees a story about Jefferson Thomas reportedly getting into a scuffle with security at a night club last night. Heath quickly finishes his breakfast and immediately heads to the team facility. When he gets there he sees there are already a couple of news vans outside. Reporter Natalie Cornish (Jaimie Alexander) is there and approaches Heath as he gets out of his car in the parking lot. She asks him if he's heard about Thomas' night club incident. Heath tells her that the team intends to investigate what exactly happened that night and they take the alleged incident seriously.
When Heath enters his office, his phone is already ringing. He unplugs the phone and puts his head down. Then his cell phone starts ringing. He answers it and on the other line team owner Leonard Palmer (Eric Roberts) immediately begins asking if he knows what happened. Heath says he doesn't know much yet, but is going to look into it. Palmer tells Heath to make the situation go away. Jefferson Thomas is the team's best player and they can't afford to lose him for any extended time.
Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) pulls into the team facility parking lot and is surprised to see news vans there. He walks up to the door and Natalie Cornish asks if he heard about Jefferson Thomas' bar brawl. Collins tells her he hasn't heard anything about anything like that and that he's just there to look at some game tape. She then asks him how it feels to watch a win from the bench. Collins glares at her and says no comment. Collins finds the facility empty aside from Heath running on a treadmill. Heath invites Collins to work out with him. Collins spots Heath on the bench press. Heath says he's trying to burn off some stress with another fire around to put out. Collins asks what happened and Heath explains that video surfaced this morning of Jefferson Thomas getting into a drunken scuffle at a night club. Collins says that isn't good for the team.
Jefferson Thomas makes it back to the night club where he finds a few parking tickets on his car. He gets in and drives over to Gwendolyn's place. When he gets there he finds her furious that he would lie to her about last night. He's confused by what she means, and she shows her the night club video on her phone. He tells her he was with some teammates and there was just a misunderstanding with security, it wasn't a big deal. He didn't even know there was a video of it.
Heath receives a phone call from AFA Commissioner Vernon Wallace (Tom Wright). Wallace tells Heath that the league is going to conduct an investigation into Jefferson Thomas' night club incident and that if wrong-doing is found, he may face a suspension since the league takes any accusation of violence seriously. Heath tells Wallace he understands and is hoping to figure out what exactly happened himself.
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Eric Roberts …. Leonard Palmer
Kat Graham .... Nikki
Jessie Buckley .... Gwendoline Marsh
Tom Wright .... Vernon Wallace
Jaimie Alexander .... Natalie Cornish
Plot: Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) wakes up on a couch. He looks around and finds Nikki (Kat Graham) asleep in her bed. He looks at his phone and notices several missed texts and phone calls from Gwendolyn. He sneaks out of Nikki's apartment, careful not wake her. Once he's outside he calls Gwendolyn (Jessie Buckley) back. She tells him she was worried since she expected him to come over after the game. He apologizes to her and says he went out with some teammates, but had forgotten his phone in the locker room after the game and just had to go to get it back. He says he can come over later on if she wants to spend some time together. She says that she'd like that. Thomas then begins walking toward the night club to get his car back.
Coach Ken Heath (William Fichtner) is sitting his kitchen alone eating breakfast and watching the news when he sees a story about Jefferson Thomas reportedly getting into a scuffle with security at a night club last night. Heath quickly finishes his breakfast and immediately heads to the team facility. When he gets there he sees there are already a couple of news vans outside. Reporter Natalie Cornish (Jaimie Alexander) is there and approaches Heath as he gets out of his car in the parking lot. She asks him if he's heard about Thomas' night club incident. Heath tells her that the team intends to investigate what exactly happened that night and they take the alleged incident seriously.
When Heath enters his office, his phone is already ringing. He unplugs the phone and puts his head down. Then his cell phone starts ringing. He answers it and on the other line team owner Leonard Palmer (Eric Roberts) immediately begins asking if he knows what happened. Heath says he doesn't know much yet, but is going to look into it. Palmer tells Heath to make the situation go away. Jefferson Thomas is the team's best player and they can't afford to lose him for any extended time.
Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) pulls into the team facility parking lot and is surprised to see news vans there. He walks up to the door and Natalie Cornish asks if he heard about Jefferson Thomas' bar brawl. Collins tells her he hasn't heard anything about anything like that and that he's just there to look at some game tape. She then asks him how it feels to watch a win from the bench. Collins glares at her and says no comment. Collins finds the facility empty aside from Heath running on a treadmill. Heath invites Collins to work out with him. Collins spots Heath on the bench press. Heath says he's trying to burn off some stress with another fire around to put out. Collins asks what happened and Heath explains that video surfaced this morning of Jefferson Thomas getting into a drunken scuffle at a night club. Collins says that isn't good for the team.
Jefferson Thomas makes it back to the night club where he finds a few parking tickets on his car. He gets in and drives over to Gwendolyn's place. When he gets there he finds her furious that he would lie to her about last night. He's confused by what she means, and she shows her the night club video on her phone. He tells her he was with some teammates and there was just a misunderstanding with security, it wasn't a big deal. He didn't even know there was a video of it.
Heath receives a phone call from AFA Commissioner Vernon Wallace (Tom Wright). Wallace tells Heath that the league is going to conduct an investigation into Jefferson Thomas' night club incident and that if wrong-doing is found, he may face a suspension since the league takes any accusation of violence seriously. Heath tells Wallace he understands and is hoping to figure out what exactly happened himself.
Gauntlet - Game Time Decision
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Patrick Schwarzenegger .... Alex Wright
Jared Keeso .... Stan Swift
Corey Hawkins .... DeAndre Colson
Kat Graham .... Nikki
Saffron Burrows .... Sharon Matthews
Jaimie Alexander .... Natalie Cornish
Plot: Before the team leaves for its next game in Atlanta, Coach Ken Heath (William Fichtner) meets with DeAndre Colson (Corey Hawkins) in his office to get Colson's side of the story of what happened between the security guards and Jefferson Thomas at the night club. Colson tells his coach that he honestly didn't see what happened, but that Thomas had a lot to drink and was getting a bit out of control at the club. Heath thanks Colson for his honesty.
Reporter Natalie Cornish (Jaimie Alexander) gives a news update on the night club incident, reporting that a security guard from the night club has officially pressed assault charges against Jefferson Thomas. A police spokesperson has told her that they are taking these accusations against Thomas seriously as they continue their investigation.
Coach Heath is at his home when the doorbell rings. He opens it and Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) is outside. Heath thanks Collins for being able to come over. Collins is eager to find out why the coach called him over to his house. Heath says he'll just go ahead and cut to the chase. He would like to offer Collins the job of quarterbacks coach on his coaching staff. Collins asks if Heath is suggesting he no longer be even the backup quarterback of the team, and Heath immediately cuts him off, telling him he still wants Collins as the backup quarterback in case things don't work out with Alex Wright or he gets injured. He wants Collins to be an official player-coach, the first the league has seen since the 1980s. Collins is admittedly confused by the offer, but Heath assures him he thinks that it will work and he wants Collins busier on the bench. He also wants Collins in the ear of Alex Wright more than Stan Swift. Collins asks Heath if he can have a few days to think the offer over. Heath says of course and shakes Collins' hand.
Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) knocks at a door late at night and Nikki (Kat Graham) answers. She is annoyed that he's at her door, and he apologizes but needs to talk to her. She invites him in and sits down. Thomas paces back and forth in the living room while he talks to her. He tells Nikki that he wants her to move in to his house. He wants her and the baby to be close to him. Nikki isn't sure about the idea. Thomas tells her that his dad left while his mom was pregnant and he thinks that's partly to blame for his current issues, and he doesn't want anything like that happening to his kid. Nikki is still unsure until Thomas says that she can have her own room in his house if she wants, the house is plenty big enough.
Collins and Sharon Matthews (Saffron Burrows) are having sex in bed. Afterward, they lay there. She asks him what the coach wanted to talk to him about. Collins tells her that he was offered the job of quarterbacks coach. She asks him what he wants to do, and he says that he thinks he wants to try out the extra responsibilities. Life without football has been a scary thought for him, but as a coach he can stay in the game he loves without 300-pound behemoths trying to rip his head off. Sharon jokes that it sounds like a happy medium.
Jefferson Thomas is at his house helping Nikki move her things in when Coach Heath shows up at his front door. Heath apologizes for not calling first, but Thomas tells him that's alright and invites him in. Thomas introduces Nikki to Heath, who asks Thomas if he can have a quick word with him. Thomas agrees and asks his coach what's up. Heath tells Thomas that he's made the difficult decision to scratch Thomas from the lineup for this week due to the night club fight charges. Thomas is clearly upset and insists he didn't start the altercation. Heath says he isn't pointing any fingers, but is just playing it safe this week while the team and the league both continue their investigation into what happened. Thomas says he understands and shakes Coach's hand.
Offensive coordinator Stan Swift (Jared Keeso) is going over some last minute game tape with rookie quarterback Alex Wright (Patrick Schwarzenegger) at the practice facility before the team hops on the bus to the airport. Coach Heath calls them both into his office where Collins is already sitting. Heath tells them that Collins is the team's new quarterbacks coach. He would like Wright to spend more time with Collins when it comes to going over film so that Swift can oversee more of a tactical game-planning role on the staff. Heath then tells them that Thomas won't be playing that week, so he would like Swift to go over the playbook and find some running plays for Colson. Without their star running back, they're going to need the ball in the hands of their best play makers as much as possible to defeat a stout defense like Atlanta's.
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Patrick Schwarzenegger .... Alex Wright
Jared Keeso .... Stan Swift
Corey Hawkins .... DeAndre Colson
Kat Graham .... Nikki
Saffron Burrows .... Sharon Matthews
Jaimie Alexander .... Natalie Cornish
Plot: Before the team leaves for its next game in Atlanta, Coach Ken Heath (William Fichtner) meets with DeAndre Colson (Corey Hawkins) in his office to get Colson's side of the story of what happened between the security guards and Jefferson Thomas at the night club. Colson tells his coach that he honestly didn't see what happened, but that Thomas had a lot to drink and was getting a bit out of control at the club. Heath thanks Colson for his honesty.
Reporter Natalie Cornish (Jaimie Alexander) gives a news update on the night club incident, reporting that a security guard from the night club has officially pressed assault charges against Jefferson Thomas. A police spokesperson has told her that they are taking these accusations against Thomas seriously as they continue their investigation.
Coach Heath is at his home when the doorbell rings. He opens it and Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) is outside. Heath thanks Collins for being able to come over. Collins is eager to find out why the coach called him over to his house. Heath says he'll just go ahead and cut to the chase. He would like to offer Collins the job of quarterbacks coach on his coaching staff. Collins asks if Heath is suggesting he no longer be even the backup quarterback of the team, and Heath immediately cuts him off, telling him he still wants Collins as the backup quarterback in case things don't work out with Alex Wright or he gets injured. He wants Collins to be an official player-coach, the first the league has seen since the 1980s. Collins is admittedly confused by the offer, but Heath assures him he thinks that it will work and he wants Collins busier on the bench. He also wants Collins in the ear of Alex Wright more than Stan Swift. Collins asks Heath if he can have a few days to think the offer over. Heath says of course and shakes Collins' hand.
Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) knocks at a door late at night and Nikki (Kat Graham) answers. She is annoyed that he's at her door, and he apologizes but needs to talk to her. She invites him in and sits down. Thomas paces back and forth in the living room while he talks to her. He tells Nikki that he wants her to move in to his house. He wants her and the baby to be close to him. Nikki isn't sure about the idea. Thomas tells her that his dad left while his mom was pregnant and he thinks that's partly to blame for his current issues, and he doesn't want anything like that happening to his kid. Nikki is still unsure until Thomas says that she can have her own room in his house if she wants, the house is plenty big enough.
Collins and Sharon Matthews (Saffron Burrows) are having sex in bed. Afterward, they lay there. She asks him what the coach wanted to talk to him about. Collins tells her that he was offered the job of quarterbacks coach. She asks him what he wants to do, and he says that he thinks he wants to try out the extra responsibilities. Life without football has been a scary thought for him, but as a coach he can stay in the game he loves without 300-pound behemoths trying to rip his head off. Sharon jokes that it sounds like a happy medium.
Jefferson Thomas is at his house helping Nikki move her things in when Coach Heath shows up at his front door. Heath apologizes for not calling first, but Thomas tells him that's alright and invites him in. Thomas introduces Nikki to Heath, who asks Thomas if he can have a quick word with him. Thomas agrees and asks his coach what's up. Heath tells Thomas that he's made the difficult decision to scratch Thomas from the lineup for this week due to the night club fight charges. Thomas is clearly upset and insists he didn't start the altercation. Heath says he isn't pointing any fingers, but is just playing it safe this week while the team and the league both continue their investigation into what happened. Thomas says he understands and shakes Coach's hand.
Offensive coordinator Stan Swift (Jared Keeso) is going over some last minute game tape with rookie quarterback Alex Wright (Patrick Schwarzenegger) at the practice facility before the team hops on the bus to the airport. Coach Heath calls them both into his office where Collins is already sitting. Heath tells them that Collins is the team's new quarterbacks coach. He would like Wright to spend more time with Collins when it comes to going over film so that Swift can oversee more of a tactical game-planning role on the staff. Heath then tells them that Thomas won't be playing that week, so he would like Swift to go over the playbook and find some running plays for Colson. Without their star running back, they're going to need the ball in the hands of their best play makers as much as possible to defeat a stout defense like Atlanta's.
Gauntlet - Hotlanta
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Patrick Schwarzenegger .... Alex Wright
Jared Keeso .... Stan Swift
Eric Roberts …. Leonard Palmer
Corey Hawkins .... DeAndre Colson
Kat Graham .... Nikki
Saffron Burrows .... Sharon Matthews
Tom Wright .... Vernon Wallace
Plot: As the Memphis Pharaohs get ready to the field in Atlanta to take on the Argonauts, the team's owner Leonard Palmer (Eric Roberts) is back in Memphis hosting a fundraiser for gubernatorial candidate and current Memphis mayor Sharon Matthews (Saffron Burrows). He shakes her hand and talks to her about how an event with his wealthy friends should put her well ahead of her friends in the fundraising department. Sharon thanks Palmer for hosting the event, and Palmer says that he looks forward to her assistance in building the Pharaohs a new stadium along the Memphis waterfront.
Coach Ken Heath (William Fichtner) asks offensive coordinator Stan Swift (Jared Keeso) to call the plays from the booth while he has the new quarterbacks coach and current backup quarterback Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) work with quarterback Alex Wright (Patrick Schwarzenegger) on the sidelines.
Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) is watching the game from home while he works out. Nikki (Kat Graham) tries not to talk to him about the game since she can tell he's bothered by not being with the team at the game.
On the field in Atlanta, quarterback Alex Wright tries to hit a wide open DeAndre Colson (Corey Hawkins) with a pass but overthrows it for an interception. When Wright gets back to the sideline, Collins pulls him aside and shows him what the defense is doing on a tablet. Collins shows that the defense is sagging back on Colson to defend the deep ball.
Coach Heath is talking to Swift over the headset telling Swift that they should be calling some short passes with how much space they are giving Colson near the line of scrimmage. Swift says they have the best deep threat in the league, so that is how they should be using him. Heath says that is what the Argonauts defense is expecting them to do. On the team's next offensive possession, Wright sees the defense much more clearly and can tell that they are expecting the deep ball to Colson. Swift's ego gets the best of him and he calls a play that has Colson running a deep slant play, but taking the information Collins gave him on the sideline Wright calls an audible at the line. Wright takes the snap and hits Colson on a WR screen pass. With the nearest defender five yards away, Colson has enough room to build up some speed and evade the defender. He then takes the ball all the way to the end zone. After Wright makes it back to the bench, Coach Heath tells Wright that he made a good call on that play.
Without a legitimate running back for the game, the Pharaohs pass the ball a lot more than usual, with Wright looking worth the first round pick the team spend on him. The Pharaohs end up winning the game 30-24 on the road. After the game, Heath commends Collins for his work with Wright on the sideline, suggesting he may have a very real coaching career ahead of him.
That night, after the Pharaohs team plane lands back in Memphis, Coach Heath is notified that the police have decided not to pursue charges against Jefferson Thomas regarding the night club incident. Coach Heath contacts the league's commissioner Vernon Wallace (Tom Wright) to talk about the league's investigation regarding the matter. Wallace tells Heath that the league is satisfied with the police's conclusion that the incident is not worth pursuing as a criminal case and that they feel that the one game Thomas just missed is a satisfactory disciplinary action against him. Heath thanks the commissioner for his time.
At home, Jefferson Thomas hears on the news that the police are dropping the matter of the night club incident. He gives Nikki a hug. He then receives a call from Coach Heath, who tells him that he looks forward to having Thomas back with the team come practice Tuesday morning and for their next game on Sunday.
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Patrick Schwarzenegger .... Alex Wright
Jared Keeso .... Stan Swift
Eric Roberts …. Leonard Palmer
Corey Hawkins .... DeAndre Colson
Kat Graham .... Nikki
Saffron Burrows .... Sharon Matthews
Tom Wright .... Vernon Wallace
Plot: As the Memphis Pharaohs get ready to the field in Atlanta to take on the Argonauts, the team's owner Leonard Palmer (Eric Roberts) is back in Memphis hosting a fundraiser for gubernatorial candidate and current Memphis mayor Sharon Matthews (Saffron Burrows). He shakes her hand and talks to her about how an event with his wealthy friends should put her well ahead of her friends in the fundraising department. Sharon thanks Palmer for hosting the event, and Palmer says that he looks forward to her assistance in building the Pharaohs a new stadium along the Memphis waterfront.
Coach Ken Heath (William Fichtner) asks offensive coordinator Stan Swift (Jared Keeso) to call the plays from the booth while he has the new quarterbacks coach and current backup quarterback Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) work with quarterback Alex Wright (Patrick Schwarzenegger) on the sidelines.
Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) is watching the game from home while he works out. Nikki (Kat Graham) tries not to talk to him about the game since she can tell he's bothered by not being with the team at the game.
On the field in Atlanta, quarterback Alex Wright tries to hit a wide open DeAndre Colson (Corey Hawkins) with a pass but overthrows it for an interception. When Wright gets back to the sideline, Collins pulls him aside and shows him what the defense is doing on a tablet. Collins shows that the defense is sagging back on Colson to defend the deep ball.
Coach Heath is talking to Swift over the headset telling Swift that they should be calling some short passes with how much space they are giving Colson near the line of scrimmage. Swift says they have the best deep threat in the league, so that is how they should be using him. Heath says that is what the Argonauts defense is expecting them to do. On the team's next offensive possession, Wright sees the defense much more clearly and can tell that they are expecting the deep ball to Colson. Swift's ego gets the best of him and he calls a play that has Colson running a deep slant play, but taking the information Collins gave him on the sideline Wright calls an audible at the line. Wright takes the snap and hits Colson on a WR screen pass. With the nearest defender five yards away, Colson has enough room to build up some speed and evade the defender. He then takes the ball all the way to the end zone. After Wright makes it back to the bench, Coach Heath tells Wright that he made a good call on that play.
Without a legitimate running back for the game, the Pharaohs pass the ball a lot more than usual, with Wright looking worth the first round pick the team spend on him. The Pharaohs end up winning the game 30-24 on the road. After the game, Heath commends Collins for his work with Wright on the sideline, suggesting he may have a very real coaching career ahead of him.
That night, after the Pharaohs team plane lands back in Memphis, Coach Heath is notified that the police have decided not to pursue charges against Jefferson Thomas regarding the night club incident. Coach Heath contacts the league's commissioner Vernon Wallace (Tom Wright) to talk about the league's investigation regarding the matter. Wallace tells Heath that the league is satisfied with the police's conclusion that the incident is not worth pursuing as a criminal case and that they feel that the one game Thomas just missed is a satisfactory disciplinary action against him. Heath thanks the commissioner for his time.
At home, Jefferson Thomas hears on the news that the police are dropping the matter of the night club incident. He gives Nikki a hug. He then receives a call from Coach Heath, who tells him that he looks forward to having Thomas back with the team come practice Tuesday morning and for their next game on Sunday.
Gauntlet - The Wright Family
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Patrick Schwarzenegger .... Alex Wright
Jared Keeso .... Stan Swift
William Sadler .... Marvin Wright
Dana Delany .... Trudy Wright
Jaimie Alexander .... Natalie Cornish
Plot: After a win over the Dallas Knights at home in Memphis, the Pharaohs celebrate in the locker room. Everyone that is except for Alex Wright (Patrick Schwarzenegger), who is agonizing over a pick-six he threw toward the end of the game to almost let the Knights back into the game. Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) tells him to lighten up and not to worry about it. The most important thing is that the team won. Football is a team sport and winning is all that will ever matter. He tries to explain that winning will make every mistake forgotten, but Wright is tuning him out and already looking at the play on a tablet. Wright says that his form was off - he threw off his back foot.
Coach Ken Heath (William Fichtner), Offensive Coordinator Stan Swift (Jared Keeso), and Collins meet in Heath's office while the team is in the showers. Collins mentions his concerns that Wright is over analyzing. Swift tries to argue that there's no such thing as too much analysis. Collins sarcastically asks Swift what AFA team he was quarterback for. Collins says that quarterbacks need a short memory or else they'll be up in their heads too much and the mistakes will only spiral out from there. Swift doesn't think it's anything to worry about, but Heath shuts him down saying that it's something they should keep an eye on come practice on Tuesday.
Wright knocks on Coach Heath's office door, and Heath invites him in. Wright tells Heath that his parents are in town and he was wondering if Heath would be interested in meeting them. He says his mom keeps asking to meet his new coach, so he figured now might be a good time for it. Hoping that it could help ease his young quarterback's mind, he agrees to have dinner with his family Monday night. Wright thanks Heath for his time and leaves the office. Heath comments to Collins that in all his years of coaching he's never been asked such a thing.
As the team is leaving the stadium, Wright is approached by reporter Natalie Cornish (Jaimie Alexander) approaches him and asks if he'd be interested in doing a one on one interview with her. He says he would have to run it by the team first. She gives him her business card. Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) and Tim Collins encourage Wright to do the interview. Thomas says the worst case scenario is that he gets to spend a little one on one time with a beautiful woman AND gets free publicity. Collins agrees with Thomas' assessment. Wright runs after Natalie and tells her that he'd like to do the interview with her. She asks if he's free Monday morning. He says his parents are in town, but he can probably slip away for a couple hours.
Jefferson Thomas meets with Coach Heath where he tells his coach that now that he has a family on the way, he really wants to set down roots and tells his coach that he would be interested in working out an extension with the team. Heath says that Thomas still has another season left on his rookie contract, and the team's owner generally shies away from extending players early in case something doesn't pan out. Heath says that if Thomas wants an early extension, he'll have to really earn it out on the field over the next couple of games, then he could probably convince the owner to go for it. Thomas thanks Heath for his time and says he'll get out there and prove the owner wrong.
Alex Wright arrives at the studio and finds that the interview is really a one on one. There are just two cameras set up and no crew in sight. Natalie tells him that she has it set up that way to help lower the guard of her interview subjects. The interview starts out pretty standard, but as it goes on Natalie starts to become more flirtatious with Wright. After the interview, Wright asks Natalie if she acts that way during all her interviews. Natalie says she doesn't know what he means. Wright then decides to ask Natalie out on a date. Natalie accepts, and they plan a date for Tuesday night.
Monday night at dinner, Wright sees Coach Heath enter the restaurant and introduces him to his father Marvin Wright (William Sadler) and Trudy Wright (Dana Delany). Marvin tells Heath that he taught Alex everything he knows and even coached his high school team to a district championship. Heath says that explains Alex's knowledge of the game. Marvin then asks Heath what he thinks of Alex's late game pick six. Heath says that he and his coaches are still going over the tape and that any issues will be addressed during practice, but that he's not too worried about a play at the end of a winning game. Trudy tries to change the subject away from football and asks Alex if he's met any girls in Memphis yet. Alex is about to answer, but Marvin interrupts, telling Heath that he has already talked to Alex about the throwing off his back foot like he did. Alex excuses himself from the table and heads outside. He calls Natalie and says that he knows they already made plans for Tuesday, but asks what she's doing now.
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Patrick Schwarzenegger .... Alex Wright
Jared Keeso .... Stan Swift
William Sadler .... Marvin Wright
Dana Delany .... Trudy Wright
Jaimie Alexander .... Natalie Cornish
Plot: After a win over the Dallas Knights at home in Memphis, the Pharaohs celebrate in the locker room. Everyone that is except for Alex Wright (Patrick Schwarzenegger), who is agonizing over a pick-six he threw toward the end of the game to almost let the Knights back into the game. Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) tells him to lighten up and not to worry about it. The most important thing is that the team won. Football is a team sport and winning is all that will ever matter. He tries to explain that winning will make every mistake forgotten, but Wright is tuning him out and already looking at the play on a tablet. Wright says that his form was off - he threw off his back foot.
Coach Ken Heath (William Fichtner), Offensive Coordinator Stan Swift (Jared Keeso), and Collins meet in Heath's office while the team is in the showers. Collins mentions his concerns that Wright is over analyzing. Swift tries to argue that there's no such thing as too much analysis. Collins sarcastically asks Swift what AFA team he was quarterback for. Collins says that quarterbacks need a short memory or else they'll be up in their heads too much and the mistakes will only spiral out from there. Swift doesn't think it's anything to worry about, but Heath shuts him down saying that it's something they should keep an eye on come practice on Tuesday.
Wright knocks on Coach Heath's office door, and Heath invites him in. Wright tells Heath that his parents are in town and he was wondering if Heath would be interested in meeting them. He says his mom keeps asking to meet his new coach, so he figured now might be a good time for it. Hoping that it could help ease his young quarterback's mind, he agrees to have dinner with his family Monday night. Wright thanks Heath for his time and leaves the office. Heath comments to Collins that in all his years of coaching he's never been asked such a thing.
As the team is leaving the stadium, Wright is approached by reporter Natalie Cornish (Jaimie Alexander) approaches him and asks if he'd be interested in doing a one on one interview with her. He says he would have to run it by the team first. She gives him her business card. Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) and Tim Collins encourage Wright to do the interview. Thomas says the worst case scenario is that he gets to spend a little one on one time with a beautiful woman AND gets free publicity. Collins agrees with Thomas' assessment. Wright runs after Natalie and tells her that he'd like to do the interview with her. She asks if he's free Monday morning. He says his parents are in town, but he can probably slip away for a couple hours.
Jefferson Thomas meets with Coach Heath where he tells his coach that now that he has a family on the way, he really wants to set down roots and tells his coach that he would be interested in working out an extension with the team. Heath says that Thomas still has another season left on his rookie contract, and the team's owner generally shies away from extending players early in case something doesn't pan out. Heath says that if Thomas wants an early extension, he'll have to really earn it out on the field over the next couple of games, then he could probably convince the owner to go for it. Thomas thanks Heath for his time and says he'll get out there and prove the owner wrong.
Alex Wright arrives at the studio and finds that the interview is really a one on one. There are just two cameras set up and no crew in sight. Natalie tells him that she has it set up that way to help lower the guard of her interview subjects. The interview starts out pretty standard, but as it goes on Natalie starts to become more flirtatious with Wright. After the interview, Wright asks Natalie if she acts that way during all her interviews. Natalie says she doesn't know what he means. Wright then decides to ask Natalie out on a date. Natalie accepts, and they plan a date for Tuesday night.
Monday night at dinner, Wright sees Coach Heath enter the restaurant and introduces him to his father Marvin Wright (William Sadler) and Trudy Wright (Dana Delany). Marvin tells Heath that he taught Alex everything he knows and even coached his high school team to a district championship. Heath says that explains Alex's knowledge of the game. Marvin then asks Heath what he thinks of Alex's late game pick six. Heath says that he and his coaches are still going over the tape and that any issues will be addressed during practice, but that he's not too worried about a play at the end of a winning game. Trudy tries to change the subject away from football and asks Alex if he's met any girls in Memphis yet. Alex is about to answer, but Marvin interrupts, telling Heath that he has already talked to Alex about the throwing off his back foot like he did. Alex excuses himself from the table and heads outside. He calls Natalie and says that he knows they already made plans for Tuesday, but asks what she's doing now.
Gauntlet - Trade Deadline
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Patrick Schwarzenegger .... Alex Wright
Eric Roberts .... Leonard Palmer
Saffron Burrows .... Sharon Matthews
Kat Graham .... Nikki
William Sadler .... Marvin Wright
Dana Delany .... Trudy Wright
Brock Lesnar .... Herc Mueller
Jaimie Alexander .... Natalie Cornish
Plot: The Pharaohs head to the home locker room after a shootout loss, 42-35, to the San Francisco Storm where the Pharaohs give up several big plays to the Storm quarterback due to their lack of an effective pass rush. Coach Ken Heath (William Fichtner) chews out the team for giving up that many points to the Storm. Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) tries going over some key plays with Alex Wright (Patrick Schwarzenegger), but Wright seems disinterested. Collins asks what's the matter, and Wright asks if they can wait until Tuesday to start going over everything he did wrong. Collins tries to explain that it isn't just about pointing out mistakes. Wright gets up and leaves the locker room.
Coach Heath meets with the team's owner, Leonard Palmer (Eric Roberts). Palmer tells Heath that the team needs to make a move to bring in some defensive help if they're going to make it to the playoffs. Palmer says that more and more teams are going to expose their lack of a pass rush unless they make a move or two to try to shore it up for the playoff push. Heath says he isn't too worried about the playoffs right now with the team's record at 4-2, but Palmer interrupts him. He says that he isn't asking Heath to do something, he's telling him to do something. Heath nods and leaves the office.
Tim Collins is at Sharon Matthews' campaign headquarters with her awaiting the results of the Tennessee governor votes to come in. After they announce her victory, every one present celebrates with champagne. The television pundits say that they believe Matthews got a boost in the polls due to her relationship with longtime Memphis Pharaohs quarterback Tim Collins. This angers Sharon and she turns off the television. The mood in the room gets tense, so Collins tries to make a joke about hoping that his relationship with a governor-elect will help him get a championship ring.
At his house, Alex Wright expresses surprise to his mother Trudy (Dana Delaney) that she and his father haven't gone back home to California yet. She seems uncomfortable with the question and calls Alex's father Marvin (William Sadler) over to sit down and talk with Alex. Alex asks his father why he doesn't have to be home to coach his team, and Marvin says he retired before the start of the season, but didn't want to make a big deal about it. His team won the district championship the year before, so he decided to go out on a high note. Marvin then announces that he is going out to pick some thing up from the store. Trudy confides in Alex that Marvin was fired from the school after a scandal where it turned out that Marvin intimidated teachers into changing the grades of his players to make sure they were academically eligible to play. Alex is shocked, and Trudy says that winning is really all that Marvin has ever cared about and seems lost without a team to coach.
Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) is at home with his pregnant girlfriend Nikki (Kat Graham). They are watching television when Thomas excuses himself to go to the restroom. He pulls out a little bag of cocaine from behind the bathroom mirror and stares at it for a bit. Thomas then does a quick bump of cocaine. Nikki asks if everything is alright in the restroom, and Thomas says he'll be out in a minute.
Coach Heath is on the phones with the General Managers of the other teams in the league trying to work out a deal for a game changing defensive player. Heath finally gets the GM of the Chicago Crusaders interested in a deal for their aging, but still productive star Defensive End Herc Mueller. Heath offers a 4th round pick, but Chicago isn't interested, so Heath ups the offer to a 3rd round pick to make the deal happen.
At a press conference, Coach Heath and owner Leonard Palmer introduce the intimidating Herc Mueller (Brock Lesnar) at a press conference. Heath says that with Herc chasing after the opposing quarterbacks there shouldn't be any repeats of the game against the Storm. Natalie Cornish (Jaimie Alexander) asks if the team has any problem with Herc's history of anger management issues. Heath starts answering the question, but Herc interrupts saying that he has taken all the classes the league has requested and he plans on leaving all his aggression out on the football field on Sunday when he sets his sights on the quarterback of the Detroit Diesels.
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Patrick Schwarzenegger .... Alex Wright
Eric Roberts .... Leonard Palmer
Saffron Burrows .... Sharon Matthews
Kat Graham .... Nikki
William Sadler .... Marvin Wright
Dana Delany .... Trudy Wright
Brock Lesnar .... Herc Mueller
Jaimie Alexander .... Natalie Cornish
Plot: The Pharaohs head to the home locker room after a shootout loss, 42-35, to the San Francisco Storm where the Pharaohs give up several big plays to the Storm quarterback due to their lack of an effective pass rush. Coach Ken Heath (William Fichtner) chews out the team for giving up that many points to the Storm. Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) tries going over some key plays with Alex Wright (Patrick Schwarzenegger), but Wright seems disinterested. Collins asks what's the matter, and Wright asks if they can wait until Tuesday to start going over everything he did wrong. Collins tries to explain that it isn't just about pointing out mistakes. Wright gets up and leaves the locker room.
Coach Heath meets with the team's owner, Leonard Palmer (Eric Roberts). Palmer tells Heath that the team needs to make a move to bring in some defensive help if they're going to make it to the playoffs. Palmer says that more and more teams are going to expose their lack of a pass rush unless they make a move or two to try to shore it up for the playoff push. Heath says he isn't too worried about the playoffs right now with the team's record at 4-2, but Palmer interrupts him. He says that he isn't asking Heath to do something, he's telling him to do something. Heath nods and leaves the office.
Tim Collins is at Sharon Matthews' campaign headquarters with her awaiting the results of the Tennessee governor votes to come in. After they announce her victory, every one present celebrates with champagne. The television pundits say that they believe Matthews got a boost in the polls due to her relationship with longtime Memphis Pharaohs quarterback Tim Collins. This angers Sharon and she turns off the television. The mood in the room gets tense, so Collins tries to make a joke about hoping that his relationship with a governor-elect will help him get a championship ring.
At his house, Alex Wright expresses surprise to his mother Trudy (Dana Delaney) that she and his father haven't gone back home to California yet. She seems uncomfortable with the question and calls Alex's father Marvin (William Sadler) over to sit down and talk with Alex. Alex asks his father why he doesn't have to be home to coach his team, and Marvin says he retired before the start of the season, but didn't want to make a big deal about it. His team won the district championship the year before, so he decided to go out on a high note. Marvin then announces that he is going out to pick some thing up from the store. Trudy confides in Alex that Marvin was fired from the school after a scandal where it turned out that Marvin intimidated teachers into changing the grades of his players to make sure they were academically eligible to play. Alex is shocked, and Trudy says that winning is really all that Marvin has ever cared about and seems lost without a team to coach.
Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) is at home with his pregnant girlfriend Nikki (Kat Graham). They are watching television when Thomas excuses himself to go to the restroom. He pulls out a little bag of cocaine from behind the bathroom mirror and stares at it for a bit. Thomas then does a quick bump of cocaine. Nikki asks if everything is alright in the restroom, and Thomas says he'll be out in a minute.
Coach Heath is on the phones with the General Managers of the other teams in the league trying to work out a deal for a game changing defensive player. Heath finally gets the GM of the Chicago Crusaders interested in a deal for their aging, but still productive star Defensive End Herc Mueller. Heath offers a 4th round pick, but Chicago isn't interested, so Heath ups the offer to a 3rd round pick to make the deal happen.
At a press conference, Coach Heath and owner Leonard Palmer introduce the intimidating Herc Mueller (Brock Lesnar) at a press conference. Heath says that with Herc chasing after the opposing quarterbacks there shouldn't be any repeats of the game against the Storm. Natalie Cornish (Jaimie Alexander) asks if the team has any problem with Herc's history of anger management issues. Heath starts answering the question, but Herc interrupts saying that he has taken all the classes the league has requested and he plans on leaving all his aggression out on the football field on Sunday when he sets his sights on the quarterback of the Detroit Diesels.
Gauntlet - Bring the Pain
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Patrick Schwarzenegger .... Alex Wright
Jared Keeso .... Stan Swift
Corey Hawkins .... DeAndre Colson
William Sadler .... Marvin Wright
Dana Delany .... Trudy Wright
Brock Lesnar .... Herc Mueller
Jaimie Alexander .... Natalie Cornish
Matt Barr .... Brent Hammil
Plot: In practice on Thursday, Alex Wright (Patrick Schwarzenegger) struggles with his disappointed father Marvin (William Sadler) looking on from the sidelines. After Wright throws a rare practice interception, Coach Ken Heath (William Fichtner) sense something is wrong and has Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) go over and talk to Wright to figure out what's going on with him. Collins asks Wright what's wrong, but Wright says nothing is wrong. Collins catches Wright glancing toward his father as he says this. Collins reports back to Heath and Offensive Coordinator Stan Swift (Jared Keeso) that Wright's dad being there is messing with Wright's head. Heath walks over to Marvin and tells him that the team's practices are closed to the public and asks him to leave. Marvin says he isn't a member of the public, but rather a guest of his son's. Heath tells Marvin that players don't have guests at practice and that if he doesn't leave so now so his team can practice, he'll have security escort him off of the property. Seeing Coach Heath and his father arguing, Wright puts his head down in embarrassment.
Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) and DeAndre Colson (Corey Hawkins) are going over game tape with Swift when Herc Mueller (Brock Lesnar) enters the locker room for the first time since he arrived in Memphis following his trade from the Chicago Crusaders to the Pharaohs. The locker room is abuzz as Heath introduces him to the team, saying that hopefully with his help they can reach their championship goals. Herc thanks Coach Heath for the kind words and says he's excited to get out there and play some football with them.
Wright goes home and talks to his mother Trudy (Dana Delany). He asks her if she's heard about what happened at his practice yet, but she hasn't. He turns on the television to some sports news where they see Natalie Cornish (Jaimie Alexander) reporting on the argument between Coach Heath and Wright's disgraced high school coach father. Trudy says that Marvin is not going to handle it well. Meanwhile, Marvin is at a bar watching the same report as he drinks. A few of the patrons at the bar recognize him from the television and ask him for an autograph. Marvin punches one of the patrons and threatens to break a beer bottle over the head of the next person to mention the incident to him. Next on the sports news, Natalie Cornish interviews the all-pro quarterback of the Detroit Diesels, Brent Hammil (Matt Barr), asking him how he feels about the Pharaoh's acquisition of Herc Mueller. Hammil says he isn't too worried about it and he doesn't think his team will have a problem beating Memphis that weekend.
With the team preparing to travel to Baltimore for their game that weekend, Heath and the other coaches are trying to strategically plot out roommates for their night at the hotel in Detroit. Collins suggests that they should mix up offense and defense, and Heath like the idea, but is nervous about who to have room with Alex Wright. They want him in the right head space going into the game. Collins asks what about rooming him with Herc. Swift is aghast at the idea, but Heath is more receptive. Collins says that Herc may be pretty aggressive, but he's one of the toughest players in the league, and it wouldn't hurt if a little bit of that rubbed off onto Wright.
On the plane to Detroit, Coach Heath asks Collins to deliver the news of the roommate situation to the players. Collins asks why him, and Heath says that players never like to receive this kind of news, and that Collins will have to get used to giving the players bad news if he wants to continue coaching in the future. Collins announces the room pairings, and as predicted, the team is less than happy. When they get to the hotel, Wright doesn't seem particularly interested in chatting with Herc, so Herc turns the television onto a hunting show. Herc says that the show is therapeutic to him since he likes to think of himself as something of a big game hunter out on the football field, and suggests Wright try that mentality some time. Wright says he's never gone hunting before and puts an eye mask over his eyes.
With the score knotted 10-10 in the second quarter of the game between the Pharaohs and the Diesels, Heath calls for a blitz on Detroit's quarterback Hammil. Herc Mueller breaks his way through Detroit's offensive line and begins chasing after Hammil, who makes a break for hit. Herc grabs Hammil from behind and furiously slams him to the ground. Hammil fumbles the ball on the hit, which is recovered by Herc, who takes it into the end zone for a touchdown. Hammil was knocked out cold by the hit, and is taken off the field on a stretcher. Without Detroit's star quarterback playing, Memphis is able to pull away for a 24-13 victory over the Diesels.
In the locker room after the game, the Pharaohs hear that the rumor is that the doctors at the hospital believe Hammil suffered serious spinal damage on the hit. Herc kneels down and offers a prayer for Hammil's speedy recovery. The other players are surprised that someone as vicious on the field as Herc would be the first to pray, but they all join him in the prayer for Hammil.
Genre: Sports Drama
Executive Producer : Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast:
William Fichtner ….Ken Heath
Josh Duhamel….Tim Collins
Trevor Jackson …. Jefferson Thomas
Patrick Schwarzenegger .... Alex Wright
Jared Keeso .... Stan Swift
Corey Hawkins .... DeAndre Colson
William Sadler .... Marvin Wright
Dana Delany .... Trudy Wright
Brock Lesnar .... Herc Mueller
Jaimie Alexander .... Natalie Cornish
Matt Barr .... Brent Hammil
Plot: In practice on Thursday, Alex Wright (Patrick Schwarzenegger) struggles with his disappointed father Marvin (William Sadler) looking on from the sidelines. After Wright throws a rare practice interception, Coach Ken Heath (William Fichtner) sense something is wrong and has Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) go over and talk to Wright to figure out what's going on with him. Collins asks Wright what's wrong, but Wright says nothing is wrong. Collins catches Wright glancing toward his father as he says this. Collins reports back to Heath and Offensive Coordinator Stan Swift (Jared Keeso) that Wright's dad being there is messing with Wright's head. Heath walks over to Marvin and tells him that the team's practices are closed to the public and asks him to leave. Marvin says he isn't a member of the public, but rather a guest of his son's. Heath tells Marvin that players don't have guests at practice and that if he doesn't leave so now so his team can practice, he'll have security escort him off of the property. Seeing Coach Heath and his father arguing, Wright puts his head down in embarrassment.
Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) and DeAndre Colson (Corey Hawkins) are going over game tape with Swift when Herc Mueller (Brock Lesnar) enters the locker room for the first time since he arrived in Memphis following his trade from the Chicago Crusaders to the Pharaohs. The locker room is abuzz as Heath introduces him to the team, saying that hopefully with his help they can reach their championship goals. Herc thanks Coach Heath for the kind words and says he's excited to get out there and play some football with them.
Wright goes home and talks to his mother Trudy (Dana Delany). He asks her if she's heard about what happened at his practice yet, but she hasn't. He turns on the television to some sports news where they see Natalie Cornish (Jaimie Alexander) reporting on the argument between Coach Heath and Wright's disgraced high school coach father. Trudy says that Marvin is not going to handle it well. Meanwhile, Marvin is at a bar watching the same report as he drinks. A few of the patrons at the bar recognize him from the television and ask him for an autograph. Marvin punches one of the patrons and threatens to break a beer bottle over the head of the next person to mention the incident to him. Next on the sports news, Natalie Cornish interviews the all-pro quarterback of the Detroit Diesels, Brent Hammil (Matt Barr), asking him how he feels about the Pharaoh's acquisition of Herc Mueller. Hammil says he isn't too worried about it and he doesn't think his team will have a problem beating Memphis that weekend.
With the team preparing to travel to Baltimore for their game that weekend, Heath and the other coaches are trying to strategically plot out roommates for their night at the hotel in Detroit. Collins suggests that they should mix up offense and defense, and Heath like the idea, but is nervous about who to have room with Alex Wright. They want him in the right head space going into the game. Collins asks what about rooming him with Herc. Swift is aghast at the idea, but Heath is more receptive. Collins says that Herc may be pretty aggressive, but he's one of the toughest players in the league, and it wouldn't hurt if a little bit of that rubbed off onto Wright.
On the plane to Detroit, Coach Heath asks Collins to deliver the news of the roommate situation to the players. Collins asks why him, and Heath says that players never like to receive this kind of news, and that Collins will have to get used to giving the players bad news if he wants to continue coaching in the future. Collins announces the room pairings, and as predicted, the team is less than happy. When they get to the hotel, Wright doesn't seem particularly interested in chatting with Herc, so Herc turns the television onto a hunting show. Herc says that the show is therapeutic to him since he likes to think of himself as something of a big game hunter out on the football field, and suggests Wright try that mentality some time. Wright says he's never gone hunting before and puts an eye mask over his eyes.
With the score knotted 10-10 in the second quarter of the game between the Pharaohs and the Diesels, Heath calls for a blitz on Detroit's quarterback Hammil. Herc Mueller breaks his way through Detroit's offensive line and begins chasing after Hammil, who makes a break for hit. Herc grabs Hammil from behind and furiously slams him to the ground. Hammil fumbles the ball on the hit, which is recovered by Herc, who takes it into the end zone for a touchdown. Hammil was knocked out cold by the hit, and is taken off the field on a stretcher. Without Detroit's star quarterback playing, Memphis is able to pull away for a 24-13 victory over the Diesels.
In the locker room after the game, the Pharaohs hear that the rumor is that the doctors at the hospital believe Hammil suffered serious spinal damage on the hit. Herc kneels down and offers a prayer for Hammil's speedy recovery. The other players are surprised that someone as vicious on the field as Herc would be the first to pray, but they all join him in the prayer for Hammil.