Super Bowl Domination

Chapter 544 A Bad Guy

On the open-air balcony, there is a gentle breeze, a broad view, and an open mind.

Smith did not shy away from admitting, “Yes, I know I am a trouble.”

Levi couldn't help but laugh, "If troubles were so self-aware, it would be much easier to solve them."

Smith shook his head slightly, "Not necessarily."

"If I refuse to back down, I will be a problem for the team and the players."

"For now, my salary has been squeezed into the salary cap, but my goal is to continue to increase my annual salary. The team's salary cap will definitely face difficulties, and the team may not be able to fill the gaps in the free market - God, our second-line defense really needs some support."

"It may even be that my salary takes up too much space, so the team has to lay off players and lose other important roles in the existing team."

At this point, the consequences of Veach's selection of two first-round picks last year became apparent.

Originally, rookies should have a low salary to free up the salary cap and facilitate the team's operations; but now the team has two first-round picks, and salaries have risen suddenly, so that the team's operating space is obviously constrained.

Then, there’s the Super Bowl effect.

At present, Smith hopes to increase his annual salary, but is it just Smith? Don’t other players have any ideas?

After all, players are also workers. They also hope to increase their wages and get year-end bonuses. This is everyone's basic right.

The existence of a hard salary cap means that Vecchi must make trade-offs.

"Of course, there are other options."

"I can give up the big contract and continue to stay with the team, or even take a pay cut to stay with the team."

"But, rookie, I want to be selfish for once."

"I want to get a big contract, I want to get something for myself, I want to prove that I still have fuel in the tank, I want to continue to stand on the court to win and compete for the championship, I want to prove my worth."

“I am greedy and ambitious.”

"Actually, I'm not as kind as everyone thinks."

It didn't seem that difficult to frankly admit his greed and selfishness, and Smith showed a bitter smile.

Levi shook his head gently. "No, Captain, true greed will not admit this, will not introspect, will not struggle, and will not sit down with a teammate and frankly admit his ambition. From the moment you choose to be honest with yourself, this is a kind of self-affirmation and pursuit."

“You choose to believe in your own value, and you also choose to believe that you have more energy and can continue to run and challenge, and choose to believe in continuing to break through.”

"This is different."

True selfishness is not coming all the way to Miami to have a frank discussion with Levi, but refusing to answer calls from the team manager and teammates, letting one's agent and lawyer play the bad guy, pushing everyone away, and pursuing profit recklessly, even at the expense of the team.

Just a few words left Smith stunned.

Staring blankly at Levi, emotions surging in his eyes, Smith then gave a stiff smile and involuntarily adjusted his sitting position.

"Thank you."

Smith whispered.

In order to hide his embarrassment, Smith did not pause and did not give Levi a chance to speak. He took a deep breath and continued speaking.

"So the best option is not to put the team in a dilemma."

"I chose to leave on my own initiative and go to another team with a salary cap to fight for a big contract, and then prove my ability there."

"In this way, the team can get something from this deal, draft picks or players, I believe I should still have some value; then, Patrick can start, clear the salary cap, find suitable players in the free market, and further improve the team."

"Patrick, he's ready."

"You are his best friend, you should know better than me. Maybe he still has some shortcomings and needs to continue to learn and grow, but with you by my side, the last problem is not a problem." "Defending the title is difficult, unimaginable; but at least, I can create some operating space for the team."

“Perhaps this is my last gift to Kansas City.”

"Haha, a gift that's not a gift."

At the end of the speech, the voice gradually became lower and turned into a murmur.

But, it was only a brief moment, Smith looked at Levi again, his shy smile blooming with unprecedented brilliance, as if he had finally found his mission, he was even a little excited and a little agitated, eager to take action, emitting a halo of happiness from the inside out.

In Levi's eyes, there is a burning feeling of a moth flying into a flame——

He is not as frank as Smith.

In fact, Smith was right at the beginning.

Faced with Smith's first question, even though the two were talking face to face, Levi still did not choose Smith, which exposed himself.

Deep down, Levi chose Mahomes.

However, he didn't have the courage to say it to Smith's face, so he beat around the bush.

At this moment, looking at Smith, Levi's mouth was full of bitterness.

"What's the price?"

"Captain, what's the price?"

Levi asked.

"The price is that you become a bad guy, leaving Kansas City with the stigma of a traitor. You just won the Super Bowl, but you abandoned your team for the salary, abandoned the team that had been so kind to you, and became enemies. When you return to Kansas City in the future, you may be booed."

Smith's eyes brightened. "But they are not wrong."

Levi couldn't help but choke.

Smith laughed happily, "Rookie, it's rare to see you at a loss for words, haha."

Levi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Now was not the time to joke, right?

Levi took a deep breath and said, "Besides, you just said that you are greedy and ambitious. However, transferring to a team does not guarantee that the team will be competitive and can become a contender for the Super Bowl championship. It may even experience a trough. If you want to continue to fight for the championship, staying is the right choice."

Smith looked at Levi quietly, "Why, you don't have confidence in me? You don't believe I can transform a team and become a Super Bowl contender?"

Levi: ... "I believe it is not easy to build a Super Bowl champion team. It involves not only the players, but also the team manager and coaching staff. Like a quarterback and a running back, the right coach and the right tactics can bring about completely different results. Football is not a sport that relies entirely on brute force. You should know this better than me."

The key to Smith's second spring with the Kansas City Chiefs lies in Reid, just like Foles under Peterson.

But there was only one Reed.

Smith chuckled. "Almost, almost made you speechless, but you still got away with it, damn it."

Levi was speechless.

Smith looked at Levi's expression and was in a good mood. "This is why I like you, and why everyone on the team likes you. You are smart, but you can remain sincere."

So, standing at a crossroads in his career, Smith had countless friends to talk to, but the first person who came to his mind was Levi.

A kind of trust, also a kind of admiration.

Sure enough, he was right, and Levi did not let him down.

(End of this chapter)