Excited Giants fans get their hand picked replacement for Alexander
By "Jeff Jefferson"

Off-Season 2101 (New York, NY) - It seemed like the chanting would never stop from the moment Giants fans arrived in Philadelphia for the 2101 Rookie draft.

'WE WANT OWEN!', followed by the familiar clapping sequence that has been cliche for a century and a half, rang throughout the streets of Philadelphia and inside Citibank arena as the 2101 draft began.

Giants GM Joe Malloy was sitting in the war room, locked and flanked by extra security. Malloy paced nervously, knowing the fans have been calling for his head since Kansas City moved into the top spot in the draft. Earlier in the week, Malloy had acquired promising defensive back Jeff Haslip from Green Bay, and traded up to the #4 spot with Houston. Still, those trades didn't matter to the fans who had been calling into sports talk radio non-stop, wondering if the Giants general manager was going to pick the fans' hand-picked replacement for Ken Alexander. Darren Lockwood, a solid quarterback in his own right, was a four year starter for Boston College and a life-long Red Sox fan, and New York sports fans never cared much for Boston-related sports teams. The thought of Lockwood replacing Alexander, a New York sports icon, was sacrilege.

Fans, and Malloy, waited with baited breath when the Kansas City pick was announced. Speculation was that the Chiefs moved into the top spot, not for a quarterback, but for help on the defensive line.

'With the first pick in the 2101 USAFL draft, the Kansas City Chiefs select Defensive Tackle Tom Doleman, University of Alabama.'

With that, the 'WE WANT OWEN' chants started up again. However, the Washington Redskins, with the second pick in the draft, needed help in just about every position. It took awhile before the Redskins made their pick, as they were going through a regime change. With seconds to spare, the Skins made their pick.

'With the second pick in the 2101 USAFL draft, the Washington Redskins select halfback Pat Watters, North Carolina A&T.'

A sigh of relief spread throughout the Giants fans, and Malloy in the war room. The Redskins went with a gamble and took the all-time rushing leader in NCAA Division I-AA. Still, Carolina had traded up to the third pick, and very well could pull a swerve on everybody despite not really needing a quarterback. People don't call Carolina GM Lee Remley 'Trader' Lee for nothing, and even Panthers QB Kevin Jones was probably not safe.

The 'WE WANT OWEN' chants from the Giants contingent raised to a fever pitch as the third pick was being announced.

'With the third pick in the USAFL draft, the Carolina Panthers select..'

A hush fell over the Giants fans.

'Center, Brian Murphy, Notre Dame'

With that announcement, the Giants fans went crazy. It took some time for them to settle down, but it did not take Malloy long to make his decision.

'With the fourth pick in the USAFL draft, the New York Giants select quarterback Monte Owen, University of Tennessee'

Owen stepped up as the crowd chanted his name over and over, a nervous smile on his face. He's expected to start right away for the Giants, and he knows he has huge shoes to fill. He knows that he can either be the next big thing in New York like Ken Alexander, or the next big bust like Evan Green. He raised the Giants #1 jersey high in the air with a huge smile on his face, flanked by Giants officials and Ken Alexander himself.

Days later, calls to the various New York sports talk radio have been positive, praising Malloy for trading for Haslip and selecting Owen in the draft.

'The fans know the Giants are going through a transitional period.' Charles Russo of the Matt and the Really Angry Canine show said on the air. 'While they do want to win, they realize the best option for them to win sooner, rather than later, is Monte Owen. Owen's looked really good in practice, he's got a nice work ethic. The same day of the draft he was out there throwing the ball and hitting his receivers between the numbers.'

Of course, the Evan Green pick still loomed large.

'He looks good now, but so did Evan Green when he practiced and he ended up not turning out so well. Owen knows he's under a lot of pressure, especially considering who he replaced. If he shows the work ethic Alexander did, and not the lack of effort Green did, he certainly can pass for 50,000 yards in this league.'