Dominate the Super Bowl-Chapter 1551 - 1550: Ambitious Aspirations

"If the Houston Texans’ management believes in Watson and believes that this offseason’s free agency and draft can make a difference, and that the team has a chance to compete for the Super Bowl next season, they will undoubtedly keep the team banner and squeeze out the last remaining value."

"But what if your management is hesitant?"

"Perhaps you still believe that Watson is the future of the team, the cornerstone quarterback, but you think he needs some time to grow. Compared to Mahomes and Jackson, he’s still too raw, so you need two to three years to build the team."

"So, how do you think the management will choose?"

A pause, Li Wei looked at Watt, and Watt also looked at Li Wei.

Watt was stunned. He had already guessed what Li Wei was going to say, but he couldn’t open his mouth to stop Li Wei. This realization gave him a deep sense of powerlessness.

Then, Li Wei finally spoke.

"JJ, I have a guess."

"I think the Houston Texans’ management will choose to trade you away because you are one of the few assets left in the team that still has value but is almost exhausted."

"To others, your ability, your reputation, your professional attitude are undoubtedly attractive. But in Houston, how many years have you been there, nine years? Next is the tenth season. If nine years couldn’t bring the team a championship, they won’t believe the tenth season will be any different."

"So, for Houston and for other teams, this is a worthwhile trade."

"The management can absolutely make a trade while you’re still valuable, bringing in draft picks or affordable blue-collar players, to build a suitable lineup over the next two to three years and place hopes on Watson’s growth to compete for the Super Bowl championship."

"Now or the future, JJ, how do you think Houston’s management will choose?"

"That is your team. You know better than me, the team’s atmosphere, the team’s mindset. You have more say in this matter."

Leisurely, unhurried.

Li Wei was always like this. He didn’t rush to build momentum, to overwhelm Watt with persuasion, instead, he left room for thought, allowing Watt to ponder in the gap between words, the more he thought, the more chaotic his thoughts became, and his mouth filled with bitterness.

Looking at Li Wei’s calm and candid eyes, Watt knew Li Wei was right.

Realizing this, Watt seemed a bit helpless, "You know the answer."

Li Wei raised both hands in surrender, "No, I don’t know."

Watt felt a breath stuck in his chest, shaking his head helplessly, "Judging from the current situation in the league, next season, you guys are still a championship contender. I believe Houston should be in this line-up, but honestly, I don’t think we can beat the Chiefs."

"Or rather, we have the ambition, but may not be able to execute it."

Li Wei lightly raised his chin, "So, the answer is clear."

If the Houston Texans believe they are still in the championship team lineup but don’t have the capacity to overthrow the Kansas City Chiefs, the goal before them couldn’t be clearer:

Continue to strengthen the roster.

From all aspects, using Watt as a trade chip is a wise choice.

Perhaps, Watt is willing to stay with the Houston Texans, even willing to restructure his contract to reduce salary cap pressure. But in the face of the Super Bowl championship, Watt knows he doesn’t stand a chance. The Houston Texans would choose the Super Bowl without hesitation, as any player can be traded.

Harsh, but real.

Looking at Watt’s helpless smile, it hurts more than anger and frustration.

Li Wei couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty, "JJ, sorry, I know all this is brutal. Trust me, I understand."

"I’d like to tell you that between DeShaun Watson and you, Houston would unhesitatingly side with you, but I know that’s not realistic. Just like with the Chiefs, if the team needs to choose between me and Patrick, they would unhesitatingly choose Patrick."

Quarterback, always the quarterback, forever the quarterback, in front of a cornerstone quarterback, all other players are replaceable.

Watt is like this, Li Wei himself is the same.

Watt forced a bitter smile, shaking his head gently, "Not necessarily. The Chiefs chose to renew your contract first, didn’t they?"

Li Wei lightly shrugged, "Because running backs are cheap. They know I don’t have many chips, they can break through first, but quarterbacks are different."

Such a bloody fact, Li Wei spoke it out with an airy attitude.

Watt was suddenly stunned.

But Li Wei was particularly calm and sober, "This is the situation, I’m calmly facing it. But, JJ, I believe I can become a pioneer, breaking the status quo, creating my own world one step at a time. Do you have that kind of faith and courage?"

Boom.

The first hit, the second hit, Watt’s heart was hit in succession, standing in place, dazed, a hint of struggling pain showing between his brows.

Watt closed his eyes, "Rookie, if you see through it, don’t speak it. There’s no need to be so cruel, okay?"

Li Wei gave a faint smile, "Sorry, my fault."

Li Wei straightforwardly admitted his mistake, which made Watt a bit embarrassed, "No, it’s not your fault. I just..."

"Phew."

Watt let out a long breath, rubbing his face vigorously, "It’s just too accurate, right on my wound. I don’t know how to respond."

Actually, Watt understood these principles. Watt had a mental account of it. How could he not know?

Throughout the offseason, Watt tossed and turned, unable to sleep, pondering these things all night long. As soon as he wasn’t training or stopped his work, the tangled thoughts rushed in. Those crises, those difficulties, those exchanges of interests, he himself was the clearest.

Before his wedding, the head coach and team manager of the Houston Texans, Bill O’Brien, had talked to Watt, stating that Watt’s position in the team was unbreakable. There was no need to worry. They would continue to fight for the Super Bowl in the new season.

Despite such words, Watt keenly sensed an unusual crisis—

First, if there really was nothing to worry about, O’Brien wouldn’t have talked to him, because everything would be business as usual.

Second, when the team manager uses decisive words like "unbreakable," it implies a crisis because in the Professional League, nothing is one hundred percent.

Watt had been controlling himself, not thinking too much, focusing on the wedding and honeymoon. But the involuntary worry still got caught by Kealia.

Watt and Kealia had also discussed that maybe the Houston Texans might have some changes coming.

If possible, Watt really didn’t want to leave the Houston Texans. But the point is, many decisions are not in his hands.

Wanting to speak but hesitating, not because of anger, but because of helplessness.

Li Wei realized this, but unfortunately, it couldn’t stop here.