1st & Ten

As the upcoming season approaches, the Bulls organization is abuzz with faces new and old. Although Bubba has rededicated himself to his marriage and football, Jethro steers him off course with his usual wild antics. Meanwhile, Diane must deal with the inflexible agent of the team's new star running back. Then, there's a shake-up when Tom Yinessa makes an impressive case for the quarterback spot.

While the Bulls arrive for training camp, Diane must deal with the rising tensions in other league front offices as potential players' strike looms over the start of the season. Though his teammates revere and celebrate the physical damage he has suffered during his long career, T.D. Parker's injuries now pose a serious threat to his health and his ability to play.

When Tom Yinessa returns to the Bulls, he finds that his best friend Jamie Waldren has developed a major drug problem. Rookie Clay Daniels complicates matters as he begins to show signs of mental instability. Diane is picked as the figurehead of the battle against drug use in the league, a project which has been rigged against her in an attempt to tarnish her public image.

When Yinessa is accused by the commissioner of being one of the primary pushers of cocaine in the league, he struggles to protect his fellow teammates and prove his innocence to Diane, who is now dealing with growing pressure to cut him from the team. The rest of the Bulls, however, are unified in their refusal to participate in the mandatory drug testing being discussed around the league.

Waldren agrees to participate in a drug rehab and testing program while recommitting himself to sobriety. However, with the lingering temptation of drug use surrounding him, he struggles to stay clean. In the meantime, the running back situation has gotten dire and Diane is forced to negotiate with Rick Lambert's scummy agent who refuses to sign for anything less than an staggering salary.

Found during a drug raid, Johnny is able to keep his name out of the papers. Diane forces him to go into rehab, but he refuses to participate. With her patience wearing thin, Diane arranges to have Valentine traded to Buffalo. With the trade, Tom sees his opportunity at the starting quarterback spot. Coach Denardo warns Bubba that his weight is putting his spot on the team in jeopardy.

Tom Yinessa, now the team's starting quarterback, leads the Bulls to the playoffs. While his compelling story attracts overwhelming attention from reporters, a few of his teammates grow jealous. As the playoffs draw near, Diane is given an old playbook from the opposition team's former coach. Coach Denardo views the playbook with suspicion.

Jamie's habit of excessive spending dries up all of the money from his $400,000 salary. When his car is repossessed, Jamie relies on the help of some dangerous gamblers to help with his debts. Meanwhile, Jethro discovers that, although Tommy isn't his son, he still wants to take on the responsibility of fatherhood.

Coach Fred is offered a head coaching job in Houston, but turns it down out of loyalty to Coach Denardo. Unfortunately, with a potential matchup against Chicago looking likely, Coach Denardo's fierce rivalry with Coach Boyd begins to strain his relationship with his staff. On top of having to deal with an irritable Denardo, T.D.'s home life is complicated when his son begins to act out.

The Bulls and Chicago make it to the championship, and the tension between the two head coaches reaches a new high. To make matters worse, the relationship between Denardo and Fred has all but dissolved, sticking T.D. and Diane in the middle of the two bitter coaches. Coach Denardo is fully consumed by his obsession of beating Boyd and considers putting an injured Waldren in the game.