American Football: Domination

Leonard Fournette: Frustrated.

Deeply frustrated.

For the past two years, Fournette had endured constant comparisons: first with Derrick Henry in 2015, and then with Lance—Henry's successor—during the 2016 season. Both times, he had been overshadowed despite playing at the peak of his game. Those comparisons had nearly cost him his high draft position.

Now, as he watched Lance deliver a performance for the ages in his NFL debut, Fournette clenched his fists. He was ready to prove himself.

Thankfully, he had the full backing of his new head coach, Doug Marrone.

The Jacksonville Jaguars had undergone an offseason overhaul. Their previous head coach, Gus Bradley, had been let go after a series of underwhelming seasons.

Bradley: What happened to building a future together, Caldwell? You traitor!

While Bradley quickly landed on his feet as the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers, it was a clear step down. Meanwhile, Marrone, previously the Jaguars' offensive line coach, was promoted to head coach.

Marrone's trust in Fournette was evident, and his game plan for the season opener reflected that.

To be fair, Fournette's performance in his NFL debut was commendable: 100 rushing yards and one touchdown. Marrone's tactics were sound, and Fournette executed well.

But comparisons are inevitable, and Lance's historic performance made Fournette's debut look pedestrian.

Scrolling through social media, Fournette saw comments that stung:

"Lance is a beast. Fournette? Just a guy.""Why did Jacksonville settle for Fournette when they could've had Lance?""Fournette had his shot in college. Lance buried him then, and he's burying him now."

Fournette's chest tightened. It felt as though he was invisible.

Wait a minute—what about the No. 1 overall pick? What about the No. 2 pick?

Surely, they were making waves too.

Fournette did a quick search, only to be greeted by silence.

Myles Garrett, the first overall pick, had sprained his ankle during practice on September 7th. He was sidelined for at least four weeks, missing not just one game but four.

Mitchell Trubisky, the second overall pick, had impressed during the preseason but still lost the starting quarterback job to Mike Glennon. He spent the season opener warming the bench, with no clear timeline for when he might take the reins.

One injured. One benched.

The top two picks were out of sight, leaving Lance to dominate the spotlight. Naturally, that left Fournette as the next target for criticism.

Fournette: Are you kidding me? These two jerks are dodging the heat, waiting for the hype to die down before making their mark. Who taught them this sneaky strategy?

For the foreseeable future, Fournette realized he'd be carrying the weight of these comparisons alone.

Frustration turned into resignation.

While Fournette wallowed in self-pity, the media frenzy surrounding Lance showed no signs of slowing.

Inside the NFL, ESPN's flagship football analysis show, dedicated an entire segment to the rookie sensation.

Josh Lawson, a staunch Lance supporter, couldn't hide his excitement.

"I've watched Lance since his college days," Lawson began. "From the moment Nick Saban gave him the reins at Alabama, you could see the raw talent. What sets him apart is his ability to think on his feet and adapt to any situation."

"He's not just another Adrian Peterson or Marshawn Lynch. In Lance, I see… Lance."

Lawson's declaration sent ripples across the studio.

"Sure, he's still raw," Lawson admitted. "But that's the scary part. He has room to grow. What we saw in Week 1 is only the beginning. The sky's the limit."

His words hung in the air, daring anyone to challenge him.

Blair Butt, however, wasn't impressed.

Butt had been a vocal critic of Lance since draft night, slamming the Kansas City Chiefs for trading up to select him. Throughout the preseason, he had doubled down, predicting Lance wouldn't even make the final roster.

And now?

Every game. Every stat line. Every highlight reel was another slap in the face.

Butt's pride had taken a hit, but he wasn't about to admit defeat.

"Let's keep our heads," Butt cautioned. "It's one game. One game! Every year, we see rookies shine in their debut, only to disappear. Are we really ready to crown him the next big thing?"

He pressed on, his tone laced with skepticism.

"Yes, the stats are impressive. But let's not forget: the New England Patriots were out of sync. Tom Brady wasn't himself. Their defense faltered. Kansas City barely scraped by. Lance's performance wasn't the deciding factor; New England lost this game on their own."

Butt's voice rose as he attempted to steer the narrative away from Lance's brilliance.

Lawson, ever the diplomat, remained calm.

"Blair, I understand your hesitation," Lawson began. "But let's not diminish what Lance achieved. 188 rushing yards. Three rushing touchdowns. A kickoff return touchdown. Those aren't just good numbers—they're historic."

"In fact, I'd argue he deserves consideration for Offensive Player of the Week—not just among rookies, but across the entire league."

Lawson's even tone was a stark contrast to Butt's defensiveness. He wasn't looking to antagonize; he simply wanted to present the facts.

But to Butt, it felt like a personal attack.

Admitting he was wrong? Never.

Butt clenched his fists.

He genuinely believed Lance's debut was overhyped, a fluke fueled by a media machine desperate for a new star.

He decided, then and there, to be the contrarian voice in the conversation. If the NFL was going all-in on Lance, Butt would dig in his heels and push back.

Thus, Lance's first true hater was born.

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Powerstones?

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