Dominate the Super Bowl-Chapter 1576 - 1575: On the Verge of Fame
Indianapolis.
Another year of Lucas Oil Stadium, another year of the joint Rookie Training Camp, another important period for replenishing fresh blood in the league.
Undoubtedly, this is a very special draft class—
The Kansas City Chiefs completed an unprecedented three-peat, with Brady and Watt, two iconic leaders, departing. The long-awaited transition of new and old dynasties in the league has finally happened. The New England Patriots dynasty has become history, and we have fully entered the Kansas City Chiefs Dynasty. Everything is new.
This is still not all. The key is that after the Kansas City Chiefs’ three-peat, they have fallen into fatigue and face numerous challenges. Other teams, led by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, have launched an arms race frenzy at all costs to stop the Chiefs from achieving a fourth consecutive championship, pushing league activity to its peak.
Opportunities are wide open.
The free market is so, and so is the draft. For the rookies about to enter the professional league, this could be a perfect start.
Early on, you could feel the rolling heat wave in Lucas Oil Stadium, with energetic young people eagerly and expectantly making their entrance.
"... I am ready to face the challenges. Yes, all the challenges."
Joe Burrow was surrounded by layers and layers of media reporters.
This young quarterback from Louisiana State University was the 2019 Heisman Trophy winner. On the stage of the national championship game, he led a complete victory over Clemson University to clinch the title. Undoubtedly, he is the hot commodity of this year’s draft.
He’s hailed as the "perfect quarterback prototype," nearly flawless, ready to start right away, calm in the pocket, accurate passing, and full of leadership. He is the first rookie quarterback since Andrew Luck to receive unanimous top praise from the league scouts.
It’s worth mentioning that the Cincinnati Bengals, who hold the first overall pick, early on traded their quarterback "Ginger Head" Dalton to the Dallas Cowboys, leaving a vacancy and making clear their pursuit of a cornerstone quarterback, making this the biggest storyline of this year’s draft:
The first overall pick will once again welcome a quarterback. The question is, Joe Burrow? Or someone else?
Obviously, in the eyes of the media, Burrow has it in the bag, and each one is giving him the treatment of a number one pick, with flashbulbs illuminating the scene.
Of course, Burrow is not the only potential star. Although all the buzz and momentum are with Burrow, he is not without competitors.
The University of Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is considered Burrow’s biggest rival.
In recent years, the University of Alabama has continuously produced top-tier running backs like Derrick Henry, Li Wei, and Josh Jacobs, completing an incredible four consecutive national championships, becoming the hot topic; last season, Tagovailoa’s emergence as a quarterback was a bright spot.
Although the University of Alabama’s streak of dominance in the national championship games finally ended, witnessing the rise of LSU and Burrow, Tagovailoa’s appearance continued the University of Alabama’s fine tradition, his professional career prospects winning the recognition of many scouts.
"Drew Brees 2.0" is what scouts expect of Tagovailoa, perhaps the only shortcoming being his hip injury troubles at the end of the season, affecting his subsequent performance, which made the national championship game Burrow’s sole stage and significantly skewed the draft momentum.
In some ways, the confrontation between Burrow and Tagovailoa has long since been extended from the NCAA to the NFL, with both quarterbacks facing much discussion—
In today’s NFL, it is Li Wei and the Kansas City Chiefs who are in control, and obviously, Li Wei does not wish to see the University of Alabama’s streak of dominance come to an end.
For this, Burrow stated, "I have done it in the NCAA, and undoubtedly, I will continue to do it in the NFL."
Not yet entered the professional league, Burrow has already unhesitatingly aimed his sights at Li Wei—
It is evident that the reporters want this kind of news, and Burrow also knows how to make news and create a stir.
Just a moment ago, the league had just swept the topic of "Brady vs. Li Wei" into the dustbin of history. This veteran Brady seemed able to retire from the historical stage, and joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was more like a last defiant gamble. The media needed fresher and more exciting topics.
Now, Burrow smartly swoops in. Li Wei, who has always been in the position of challenger, finally faces a siege by the new generation. From Watson to Jackson to Burrow in front of him, a squad has already taken shape. The media reporters, as if discovering treasure, screamed with excitement one by one.
Meanwhile, Tagovailoa appears somber and low-key, with the Crimson Tide Storm’s streak of dominance ending under his watch. Some even drew parallels to the Kansas City Chiefs, claiming that their four-peat is impossible and that their newly established dynasty may face an ambush.
See, whether it’s the University of Alabama or the New England Patriots, no one can escape this fate.
In a way, the contest between Tagovailoa and Burrow at this year’s draft was dubbed by some as a prophecy for the 2020 season.
Although Tagovailoa had no idea about the ups and downs behind all this, he was still infuriated.
If this was Burrow’s purpose, then undoubtedly, he succeeded.
Evidently, Burrow has already taken the lead in this competitive batch of rookies, not only winning public favor but also mastering the secret to drawing in the crowd—
One more step forward, and he’ll be on the spotlight stage, and Burrow strides forward with confidence, believing he is ready.
Ready to become a superstar!
Everything is set.
Additionally, the University of Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert is also highly praised. He is generally considered to have limitless potential and a promising future, a "quarterback ceiling." But, unfortunately, he needs time and growth, with his immediate play ability slightly lacking.
In 2020, scouts unanimously agreed this is not a great year for quarterbacks but rather a great year for defense, with promising talents on the defensive line, cornerback, and lineman positions.
Exactly because of this, the Kansas City Chiefs used their first-round pick to acquire Watt, and Veach’s decision here is open to debate—some appreciate it, while others do not.
The age and injuries of Watt are there. Wouldn’t it be wiser for Veach to choose a young, robust cornerback or lineman with the first-round pick?
Nonetheless, Burrow, Tagovailoa, and Herbert, the three musketeers, still grabbed all the attention. Even if all excellent defensive prospects were combined, they still couldn’t compete with the quarterbacks. Before the Rookie Training Camp, the media spotlight had already been entirely focused on them.
The chosen ones!
No comparison, no harm—
Previously in the NCAA, the media had given them plenty of attention, with players always under spotlight coverage. They thought they were already accustomed to fame and popularity, having the best mental preparation for entering the professional league.
But truly standing under the spotlight of the professional stage, they realized the gap.
