I have been doing this long enough to have written off men like Curtis Lardner, who was undrafted out of Dunbar Normal, signed the Tuesday after for the minimum. 173 yards is the league's way of saying nothing is settled. Out of Dunbar Normal, which sends one of these to the league about once a decade. The ones who arrive like this tend to know what it cost. That is usually worth something in December.
Across thirteen seasons: 21,174 yards from scrimmage, 273 touchdowns, 208 games. His best was 2,575. This is not that, yet. For four clubs.
He turned thirty-six this year. He is from Ojo Caliente, New Mexico. Ask anybody: he is popular in a way that does not show up anywhere useful.
Roughnecks, 1-1, and two weeks gone. Elias Lockett Jr. is in year four of it. There is one year left on the deal.
One more thing: he reads on the team plane, actual books, which his teammates find hilarious.