Dominate the Super Bowl-Chapter 565

Chapter 565: Differences of Opinion 564 Chapter 565: Differences of Opinion 564 “We still need a leader…”

To be precise, both Li Wei and Hunter shared the same stance, but their focuses were slightly different:

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Not only did they need the running backs to unite as a powerful group to overturn the prejudices of the League with their performance on the field, but they also needed a leader who would stand up, raise an arm, and confront the team and the League.

Only in this way could the disadvantaged status of running backs be changed in modern Football, which is dominated by passing offenses, and perhaps even alter the composition of offensive strategies.

Both elements were indispensable.

The difference lay in that Li Wei believed in building momentum first, relying on the collective strength to create a situation, and then pushing leaders to speak out, whereas Hunter thought there was no time to lose and that they should seize the opportunity to support Bell in applying pressure to the team now.

To some extent, both were correct; it was only a matter of different strategies.

Li Wei tried to communicate with Hunter, but Hunter was extremely impatient.

“Now.”

“It’s right now!”

Being too excited, his voice grew a bit louder.

...

Hunter quickly glanced around, immediately lowered his voice, closed the distance, and his speed of speech became as rapid and urgent as gunshots.

“We need to support Bell, we need to unite behind Bell.

We need to seize the opportunity.”

“The League doesn’t care about running backs at all.

For the sake of ratings, they keep promoting passing, passing, passing, completely abandoning Football’s ground game, hoping to make the matches more and more glamorous.

They continuously hype the status of the quarterback, not to mention running backs; even the defensive group is thoroughly ignored.”

“In the world of soccer, winning with defense is called an ugly victory; in the world of Football, the League doesn’t even bother to mention the defensive group.”

“Running back?”

“Nonexistent.”

“During this offseason, people are following Smith, Cousins, Rodgers, but what about the news focusing on Bell?

It’s all about criticizing him for his greed; my God, he just doesn’t want to be tagged with a franchise tag for the second consecutive year.

Pittsburgh is using him like a dog, dumping all the dirty and tiring work on him, yet stingily withholding even a bone.”

“No one cares, understand?”

“No one!”

“If we don’t speak up for him, he’ll be left out there alone, isolated, facing the League’s onslaught.”

“We are surrounded by enemies right now; the team won’t support us, other players competing for the salary cap won’t support us, and those high and mighty quarterbacks certainly won’t speak for us.

All we have left is each other.”

“Bell needs us.

We need to stand up and fight against those devils from Pittsburgh.”

“You have enjoyed those lights, those applauses, now it’s time to give back.”

Slap.

After dumping a load of words carelessly, giving Li Wei no time to respond, Hunter increased the distance between them, turned, and left.

Li Wei: …

To a large extent, Hunter was right.

Although his words were sharp and somewhat extreme, they were indeed true—

Running backs were indeed isolated and the situation was continuing to get worse.

The interest-first League and the teams wouldn’t be the running backs’ comrades-in-arms.

But there was one thing, targeting the League and the teams wouldn’t solve the problem because the teams were ultimately the employers who write the checks—

Offending the Pittsburgh Steelers was no problem; there were thirty-one other teams in the League.

But a blanket attack on the League and team owners would only push the running backs into a situation where they would be deserted by all.

Like Hunter, venting anger thoughtlessly, anyone could do that; but it wouldn’t help Bell or the other running backs gain any substantial benefits.

Just look at Cousins, now that’s a prime example of making big moves in silence.

Li Wei hoped to communicate with Hunter, as the running backs needed to unite all their strength.

In fact, Li Wei could understand Hunter’s urgency and desperation; it wasn’t without reason.

Hunter had also made a spectacular debut last season.

Even with Li Wei’s meteoric rise to fame, Hunter still received much praise from professionals and fans alike, signifying hope—

The hope for a big contract.

Whether staying with Kansas City or transferring to another team, Hunter would be able to negotiate a promising contract for himself.

Here, there was a difference between Li Wei and Hunter, not only because they were competitors on the same team, but also due to their differing draft rounds.

As mentioned before, the difference in draft rounds is directly reflected in contracts.

One is the annual salary.

The other is the guaranteed money.

First-round picks are often called “Golden Boys” because their contracts usually come with full guarantees, with only a few exceptions; but starting from the second round, there is a glaring difference in the amount of guaranteed money.

For second-round rookies, for example, their guaranteed money decreases over time, with 50% in the first year and possibly just 25% by the fourth year, with tons of performance clauses in the contract that, if one is not careful, could diminish wages significantly.

And with third-round rookies, fourth-round rookies, it decreases progressively thereafter.

That’s why teams can often cut these rookies from the second round onwards without worrying about the impact on the salary cap in their third or fourth year; but since first-round contracts are fully guaranteed and take up the salary cap, teams have to be cautious when making decisions.

At this year’s draft, Lamar Jackson was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the thirty-second pick of the first round at the last minute, the turmoil in his heart can only be imagined.

Li Wei was a first-round pick.

Hunter was drafted in the third round.

This meant that the risks they would face in the future were completely different.

Even though it’s just their second year, Hunter was already growing restless, needing to plan for himself, because the second and third years were crucial.

So, Li Wei could understand Hunter’s anxiety.

But—

The communication was not successful; Hunter just dumped his thoughts and rambled on, ignoring Li Wei’s opinions, and turned away.

Li Wei was somewhat helpless.

From another perspective, if Hunter did things his way and Li Wei did things his way, that was fine too; otherwise, neither could persuade the other.

Sure enough.

At the end of the first day of training camp, a flock of reporters swarmed the University of Missouri training base in the small town of Saint Joseph.

The players were somewhat surprised, and Houston even made a rare joke, “It seems that the treatment for defending champions is indeed different.”

Amid laughter, reporters eagerly called out for Hunter and Li Wei, and some of those quick on the uptake immediately understood what was happening.

Hunter looked back deeply at Li Wei, then confidently walked towards the reporters; Mahomes and Kelsey were completely puzzled as they looked at Li Wei, but now was not the best time to explain.

Hunter went all out, holding nothing back—

Not only did he criticize the League for stigmatizing running backs, but he also accused the teams of not valuing them enough.

Top running backs like Gurley and Bell had to beg for contracts worth only half as much as Cousins’ contract, an insult that everyone needed to face up to this farce.

Radical, sharp, bold, crazy.

As Hunter said, he seized the moment.