Chapter 543: 542 A bit of selfishness Chapter 543: 542 A bit of selfishness If Smith chose to stay, Reed would most likely continue to start Smith.
After all, with his experience, capability, state, and the brilliance of the past season in plain sight, even with Smith’s shortcomings and deficiencies, Reed had no reason to strip him of his starting status.
This also ant that Mahos would need to continue biding his ti in the backup position.
The logic was that simple.
“Sigh, I know.”
Li Wei let out a long breath.
“So, I am an idealist.
...
What I’m talking about is the perfect ideal situation, where you compete fairly for the starting position, where the winner is magnanimous, and the loser need not be disheartened.
Afterwards, you could plan according to your own arrangents.”
“But reality isn’t that simple, right?”
Li Wei showed a bitter smile.
“This is sports.
This is the Professional League.
Apart from individual abilities, many issues need consideration; moreover, the future after failing to secure the starting position isn’t always what one wants—it’s the helpless and harsh reality, also a part of life.”
“Captain, I’m Sherlock’s friend, but I am also your teammate.”
“Believe , I’ve learned so much behind you last season.
No matter who becos the starter next season, I’ll support them fully and also applaud those who missed out.”
“In my view, this shouldn’t be a matter of life and death.”
“However.”
“Clearly, we can’t predict the future.
We don’t know what situation the person who wins the starting position will face next season, nor what decisions the one who loses it will have to make.”
“We can only focus on the present.”
If Li Wei understood football, and he knew the developnt trajectory for the next six years, perhaps he could give a wise answer now.
Unfortunately, there are no ifs.
“So, Captain, it’s not about what I think, it’s about what you think.”
“You know, whether you choose to stay or go to another team, you can still be a starter.”
“Your experience, your abilities, your track record are your guarantees.
Being a Super Bowl Champion is just the icing on the cake.
The choice has always been in your hands.”
“So, which team do you want to start for?”
Li Wei looked at Smith, his eyes clear, without hesitation, doubt, evasion, or retreat.
Such a gaze made Smith slightly embarrassed—
In fact, he was shirking responsibility, passing the decision-making pressure onto soone else, letting others play the villain while he stood aside, pretending to be innocent.
Because he knew what staying ant—he needed a big contract, he wanted to fight for a big contract, which might cause the team to face salary cap pressure; at the sa ti, he also knew what leaving ant—possibly becoming the target of the Chieftain fans’ condemnation and attacks, playing the role of the ungrateful.
He did not want to bear such pressure.
Thus.
He hid behind others, behind his agent, behind Li Wei.
Until now.
For the first ti, Smith realized that maybe he wasn’t as kind as he had thought.
And indeed, his character determined his fate.
His indecisiveness, always looking forward and backward, was the fundantal reason that shackled him from breaking free.
Realizing this made Smith sowhat uncomfortable, unable to accept his own ugliness.
However.
Looking into Li Wei’s firm gaze, devoid of criticism or condemnation, filled only with sincerity and trust, this slightly cald Smith’s emotions.
“You know about the situation in San Francisco, so I think, this ti I should take the initiative.”
“I don’t want to be the one waiting for news.”
Truth everyone understands, there’s no rcy in the Professional League, only interests.
But when one actually experiences it, the pain does not lessen.
Even if one has already been through it once, it feels the sa.
Taking a deep breath, Smith looked at Li Wei, who seed to have finally made a decision.
“I will request a transfer.”
Li Wei was the first person Smith inford.
Even his agent didn’t know because this was a decision Smith had just made.
His agent was still preparing to engage in a cat-and-mouse ga with Veach, trying to secure him a contract with a thirty million US Dollar annual salary plus a hefty guaranteed sum.
But now, he had changed his mind.
Smith thought he would be heartbroken and distressed, but upon seeing the sadness and bitterness in Li Wei’s eyes, his heart’s heavy rock slowly landed, vanishing his earlier feelings.
In imagination, the decision seed much tougher, yet now the proverbial boot had dropped.
Smith knew it was the right decision.
“Things should indeed be like this.”
“If we hadn’t reached the pinnacle of the Super Bowl, the team would have done this from the ti of last year’s draft.
I had already prepared myself ntally.”
“So, I’ve imparted all I know to Patrick.
That’s the least I could do, as a token of gratitude to Kansas City and the team for warmly embracing in this interest-first league and enduring my poor performance in the playoffs every year.”
“I don’t own much, but at least, this is what I can give back.”
Li Wei felt sad because he could hear in Smith’s words a mixture of reluctance, regret, attachnt, happiness, and bitterness, complicating and enriching them, which made him feel sad too.
Li Wei called out softly, “Captain…”
Smith waved his hand to stop Li Wei, “I’m fine, on the contrary, I’m now more certain that my decision is correct.”
“Now, we are Super Bowl Champions, things should change.”
“Rookie, I’m not so noble; I want to strive for a higher salary, not just the annual paynt, but also the guaranteed sum.
I’m not a saint.”
“But staying in Kansas City would an my salary would monopolize a large portion of the salary cap.”
“In fact, this has always been a consideration for the team.
That’s why the team chose Patrick last year, to clear up the salary cap, replacing with the younger Patrick as a multi-faceted decision.”
“And rember, you have a responsibility too.”
Li Wei was startled, “?
What did I do?”
A smile crossed Smith’s eyes, no sadness, no heaviness, as he relaxed.
“Hey, Top Scholar, your salary also takes up a part of the salary cap.”
“Having two first-round picks might look impressive on the surface, but it also bears the pressure of the salary cap.
Thankfully, Chicago eases our burden.
You’re the Top Scholar, not the runner-up; otherwise, the team wouldn’t have had the cap space for Patrick.”
So that’s how it was.
At last year’s draft, the Kansas City Chiefs had a mont of glory; now, they faced the headaches, as what goes around cos around, never disappointing.
Li Wei chuckled softly, “Then the team should feel lucky that I’m not planning to ask for a contract renegotiation this year.”
“Haha, hahaha.” Smith imdiately caught the sarcasm in Li Wei’s words, not minding it at all; instead, he laughed freely and with relief.
Gently, Smith nodded, “Exactly, so now I’ve beco the team’s problem.”
“Because of you and Patrick, the team must have always been worried about the salary cap; now that I am also asking to renegotiate my contract for a higher salary, I’m becoming a real trouble for the team.”
“A troubleso trouble.”
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