Super Bowl Domination

Chapter 543 A little selfishness

If Smith chooses to stay, Reed will most likely choose Smith to continue to start. After all, his experience, ability, form and the glory of the past season are all in front of him. Even if Smith has his shortcomings and deficiencies, Reed has no reason to withdraw Smith's starting qualification.

This also means that Mahomes needs to continue to stay in the substitute position.

The truth is so simple.

"Huh, I know."

Levi let out a long breath.

"So, I am an idealist. What I am talking about is a perfect ideal situation. You all compete openly for the starting position. The winners will be honored and the losers will not need to be discouraged. Then you can choose the follow-up arrangements according to your own plan."

“But reality isn’t that simple, is it?”

Levi gave a wry smile.

"This is competitive sports, this is a professional league, and there are many issues to consider besides personal ability. Moreover, the future after failing to compete for a starting position is often not what you want it to be. This is the helplessness and cruelty of reality, and it is also part of life."

"Captain, I'm Sherlock's friend, but I'm also your teammate."

"Believe me, I learned a lot behind you in the past season. No matter who starts next season, I will support them 100%, and I will also applaud those who missed the starting position."

"In my opinion, this should not be a matter of life or death."

"but."

"Obviously, we have no way of predicting the future. We don't know what the guy who wins the starting job will be facing next season, nor do we know what the guy who loses the starting job will be facing in the future."

“We can only focus on the present moment.”

If Levi knew anything about football, if he knew how things would play out over the next six years, maybe he could give a sensible answer now.

Unfortunately, no if.

"So, Captain, it's not about what I think, but what you think."

"You know, whether you choose to stay or go to another team, you can be a starter."

"Your experience, your ability, and your resume are your guarantee, and the Super Bowl championship is the icing on the cake. The decision is always in your hands."

"So, which team would you like to start for?"

Levi looked at Smith with clear eyes, without hesitation, dodging or retreating. Such eyes made Smith look a little embarrassed——

In fact, he was shirking responsibility and pushing the pressure of decision onto others, letting others play the bad guy, while he stood aside pretending to be innocent.

Because he knows what it means to stay, he needs a big contract, and he wants to get a big contract for himself, which may put the team under salary cap pressure; at the same time, he also knows what it means to leave, and he may become the target of condemnation and attack by Chiefs fans and become an ungrateful character.

He doesn't want to bear such pressure.

then.

He hid behind, behind his agent, behind Levi.

until now.

For the first time, Smith discovered that maybe he was not as kind as he thought.

Moreover, character determines destiny, and his indecision and hesitation are the fundamental reasons that prevent him from breaking free from the shackles.

Realizing this, Smith felt a little uncomfortable and couldn't accept his own ugliness.

however.

Looking at the determination in Levi's eyes, without criticism or condemnation, but full of sincerity and trust, Smith calmed down a little.

"You know what happened in San Francisco, so I thought I should take the initiative this time."

“I don’t want to be the one waiting for news.”

Everyone knows the truth, there is no mercy in the professional league, only interests. However, when you really experience it, the pain will not diminish.

Even if you've experienced it once, it's still the same.

Taking a deep breath, Smith looked at Levi and seemed to have finally made a decision.

"I will apply for a transfer."

Levi was the first person Smith notified.

Even the agent didn't know, because this was the decision Smith had just made.

The agent is still preparing to start a cat-and-mouse game with Vecchi, trying to get him a contract with an annual salary of 30 million US dollars plus a high guaranteed bonus.

However, he has now changed his mind.

Smith thought he would be sad and upset, but when he saw the sadness and bitterness in Levi's eyes, all that thought disappeared and the huge rock in his heart slowly fell to the ground.

I imagined that the decision would be much more difficult, but I didn't expect that the decision would be made so easily.

Smith knew it was the right decision.

"Things are supposed to be this way."

"If we don't make it to the Super Bowl, the team will do this. I have been mentally prepared since the draft last year."

"So I taught Patrick everything I knew, and that was the only thing I could do to show my gratitude to Kansas City and the organization for being willing to open their arms to me in a profit-first league and put up with my first-game exit in the playoffs every year."

“I don’t have much, but at least, this is something I can give back.”

Levi was a little sad because he could hear different emotions in Smith's words, such as reluctance, regret, attachment, happiness, bitterness, etc. It was too complicated and too rich, which made him sad as well.

Levi called out, "Captain..."

Smith waved his hand to stop Levi, "I'm fine, on the contrary, I'm more and more sure that my decision is correct."

“Now that we’re Super Bowl champions, things should change.”

"Rookie, I'm not that noble. I want to fight for a higher salary, not just an annual salary, but also a guarantee. I'm not a saint."

"But if I stay in Kansas City, my salary will take up a large portion of the salary cap."

"In fact, this is something the team needs to consider. This is why the team chose Patrick last year. In order to clear the salary cap, replacing me with the younger Patrick was a result of comprehensive considerations."

"And don't forget, you have responsibilities, too."

Li Wei was stunned: Me? What's wrong with me?
There was a smile in Smith's eyes, no sadness or heaviness, and his whole body relaxed.

"Hey, third pick, your salary also takes up part of the salary cap."

"It may seem good on the surface that the team picked two first-round picks, but in reality, they also have to bear the pressure of the salary cap. Fortunately, Chicago shared the pressure with us. You are the third pick instead of the second pick. Otherwise, the team would not have the salary cap to choose Patrick."

It turned out to be the case.

The Kansas City Chiefs had a great time in last year's draft; now it's time for a headache, and the cycle of cause and effect never disappoints.

Levi laughed dumbly, "Then the team should be thankful that I am not planning to ask for a new contract this year."

"Haha, hahaha." Smith immediately heard the sarcasm in Levi's words. He didn't mind at all. Instead, he laughed heartily with relief.

Smith nodded gently, "Yes, so I have become a problem for the team now."

"Because of you and Patrick, the team should have been worried about the salary cap; but now I am asking for a new contract and a higher annual salary. Now I am a problem for the team."

"Bad trouble."

(End of this chapter)