Playing For Pizza

The Panthers’ first game of the season is against the Naples Bandits, who take the train to Parma the morning of the game and return to Naples on an overnight train later the same day. The Panthers gather two hours before the game begins to warm up and discuss their strategy. The energy and excitement in the room are familiar to Rick, despite the difference in size between this locker room and his last team’s locker room. 1,000 fans are in attendance, having read about the Panthers’ new NFL quarterback in a newspaper article arranged by the team’s owner Signor Bruncardo.

During the first offensive series, Rick throws an interception to the Naples safety, repeating his disastrous final play for the Cleveland Browns. In his second series, he passes repeatedly to Sly before reluctantly allowing Franco to run the ball. Franco successfully carries the ball for 24 yards, and Rick throws to Fabrizio in the next play for a touchdown. Rick throws four over the course of the game and runs one in himself to lead the Panthers to victory.