At NRG Stadium, a deafening roar erupted from the Houston Texans' ho crowd, welcoming Watson back to the field. Fans hoped the offensive unit could capitalize on the defensive stop that denied Kansas City's two-point conversion, driving for a ga-tying touchdown. Amid the thunderous noise, the vibration of a phone was easily drowned out.
But Donald Yee noticed.
Donald had co to NRG Stadium in person, knowing that negotiations were at a critical juncture. Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour were all monitoring the ga closely, watching Lance's every move. The situation was truly volatile, and Donald needed to stay on top of developnts and remain in imdiate contact with Lance.
His phone never left his hand—not even during the most tense monts.
With his eyes fixed on the action on the field, he glanced briefly at the screen, quickly typed a reply with his thumb, and then returned his focus to the ga as if nothing had happened.
In the VIP suite, no one noticed Donald's small movent.
But outside, a storm was brewing.
The ssage read:
*"Final terms:
$3.5 million per year, five-year contract.Product line royalties: 0.5% for North Arica, 1.5% for other regions, with royalties activated only if annual sales in Asia exceed $10 million.Nike retains the right to match competitors' offers in the fifth year."*
The sender: Edwardes.
Of course, this was just a frawork for the agreent; the finer details would still need to be worked out by lawyers. But the broad strokes were clear.
Donald replied with a single word:
"Deal."
Because he knew neither Adidas nor Under Armour could match such terms.
In Donald's estimation, Under Armour posed the fiercest competition. Despite lacking Nike's global distribution power, they had fewer athletes on their roster, allowing them to focus their resources and treat Lance as a marquee superstar.
Donald's pitch to Under Armour was straightforward: Make Lance your version of Steph Curry. Just as Curry is the face of Under Armour's basketball push, Lance could spearhead their football expansion.
Donald hadn't forgotten Tom Brady.
But, as a professional, Donald compartntalized. He wouldn't diminish Lance's endorsent value because of Brady. In fact, securing a lucrative deal for Lance would only strengthen Donald's leverage in negotiating Brady's next contract.
Two athletes. Two strategies. Independent yet equally important.
Unfortunately for Under Armour, hesitation cost them.
The root cause? Curry's impending renewal.
Under Armour was preparing to offer Curry a lifeti contract, similar to LeBron Jas' deal with Nike. Diverting resources to sign Lance might compromise their ability to retain Curry. Lacking Nike's financial muscle, every decision carried weighty consequences for Under Armour's future strategy.
While they wavered, Nike acted decisively.
For the first ti since signing Michael Jordan, Nike stood at a crossroads and chose to make history once again.
One mont, Donald closed a deal that would shake the football world. The next, he seamlessly shifted his focus back to the ga, his expression as calm and unbothered as ever. It was as if nothing significant had just transpired.
anwhile, Lance did not disappoint Nike—
In the final monts, the Texans made a desperate push but fell short.
Watson's inexperience showed, and his flaws beca apparent in the most critical monts.
His field vision narrowed, missing open passing lanes.Execution of plays faltered.Passing accuracy declined.
The rookie quarterback made every mistake a first-year player could make. His eagerness to prove himself only led to more errors—a case of haste making waste.
On the other hand, Lance remained composed and consistent, delivering the ga's decisive blow.
A 17-yard rushing touchdown sealed the victory, extinguishing any hope for a Texans coback. Kansas City's unbeaten season continued.
Final score: 43-29.
Five wins in a row.
Watson: Frustrated. Revenge failed.
As the ga ended, Watson stord toward Lance, his helt in hand and anger written all over his face. Both teams' players quickly intervened, pulling Watson back.
"Calm down, Deshaun! Calm down! Did you forget that guy's an MMA fighter? Do you want to end up with a face like a punching bag?"
Watson glared at Lance. "Next ti, you won't be so lucky!"
Lance, unfazed, shot back a calm smile. "Until next ti."
The subtle jab landed like a knockout punch, silencing Watson.
Defeat is defeat. Until they t again, Watson had no choice but to shut his mouth.
Watson puffed up like an angry pufferfish, nearly exploding on the spot. But after a glance at Lance's clenched fists, Texans players hurriedly pulled Watson back to safety.
Watson wasn't alone in his frustration.
Criticism of Kansas City's unbeaten record as being "luck-driven" persisted, fueled by J.J. Watt's injury. With Watt sidelined early in the ga, the victory again lacked the credibility critics demanded.
Social dia also turned its ire toward Lance.
Hospital scans confird Watt had suffered a season-ending leg fracture. For the second consecutive year, the NFL's most dominant and influential defensive player was out.
As one of the league's most beloved figures, Watt's fans directed their anger at Lance, accusing him of causing Watt's injury. Conspiracy theories spread like wildfire, and Lance found himself under heavy fire.
Surprisingly, Watt himself stepped in to defuse the situation.
In a heartfelt post on social dia, Watt wrote a lengthy ssage defending Lance, emphasizing that his injury was purely "bad luck." He even called his matchup with Lance "fun" and expressed hope for a future rematch.
The controversy didn't completely die down, but it did cool off.
Regardless of the chatter, a win is a win. The Chiefs' dream start to the season continued, and Lance's undefeated football streak remained intact.
The real shocker, however, wasn't the Chiefs' fifth straight victory, Watt's injury, or the growing rivalry between Lance and Watson.
Instead, it was the bombshell that dropped before the post-ga press conference even began:
Lance had reached an agreent with Nike.
A monuntal deal was on the horizon, set to shake the entire football world.
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