THE SECOND PRACTICE of the day is full pads.
"It may be hot here but just wait until White Sands," Lane says after helping me adjust my pads. It's nice that he's finally decided I'm worthy of his attention. Small steps, I assure myself. Afternoon practice is training camp torture and no one is exempt, not even kickers. Coach Morely has me and Lane run four slow laps around the field. He doesn't want us twisting an ankle by doing sprints with the other players.