Create a 10-word scroll-stopping headline for: Ask The Old Guy: Things looking up after the draft | Vibe NC

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I have to admit, I was not overly enthusiastic when we didn’t take one of the “sexier” pics of the first round.

But then I watched the call. I heard Monroe Freeling in tears on the other end of that line as his dream came true. He didn’t talk about breaking anyone’s pockets in a few years. He just said, “I’m gonna die for y’all.” Suddenly, all my indifference at a trench pick vaporized.

I like good stories. I like when guys we draft get to retire with us after long and successful careers. Here’s a good story: Monroe Freeling sits back and learns under Ickey and Walker for a year, then takes his place at LT in 2027. Maybe Ickey loses a step after his injury, maybe he doesn’t. Obviously, I hope for the latter. Either way, T-Mo slides into a backup tackle role that maybe puts a little less hard mileage on his body, remaining the commanding general of the O-line until a triumphant retirement on his terms with the team he loves. Ickey takes over as starting RT, T-Mo’s heir apparent, and we finally give the NC State man a new contract. If anyone doubts he deserves it, look what he did to Micah Parsons last year in Green Bay.

But the business of football hates a good story. See Thomas Davis’ stint with the Chargers, or the sad departure of CMac, or Steve Smith, or Cam Newton; the list goes on.

I just hope, after hearing Freeling’s passion and thankfulness and vow of dedication last night, that we can honor him with a good story (if he earns it, obviously. But I predict he will.)

Guess that’s not really a question. All right, here’s one. Why, when I hear from time to time that a player would have taken a pay cut to stay with his team and continue writing a good story, do I seem to more often watch helplessly as those players are unceremoniously shipped off? Is that on their agents, who are presumably paid commission and thus not incentivized to just take a million or two less? — Layton, Raleigh, NC

This one’s kinda just an apology for that melancholy essay I just sent in. I’m sure I earned a snarky comment from our resident old team lead correspondent about needing to pay rent on ATOG articles if I’m gonna take up that much space. Just had something I wanted to get off my chest, I guess. Sorry, Darin. KEEP POUNDING! — Layton, Raleigh, NC

When I was pulling the questions this week, I got these two in reverse order, and didn’t know what the heck Layton was talking about for a second, but I knew I dreaded it. But honestly, it wasn’t that bad. Listen, we have unlimited space on the internet if you’re contributing to the discussion, and we have a lightning round for the short stuff.

Freeling’s enthusiasm seems genuine, watching him go through the draft process and an exhausting first day here, the smile never left his face. I’m also struck by how young he is (barely 21) and how gigantic he is.

As I told Kassidy the other day on the podcast, he reminds me a lot of the young Jordan Gross who walked in the…