Dominate the Super Bowl-Chapter 707 - : The time is not right yet

Chapter 707: The time is not right yet

The Professional League was never a monolith; rifts existed between opinions, as well as opportunities between interests.

Hunter believed that Bell’s strike action indeed leveraged the League’s alliance of interests, allowing different perspectives on running backs to grow and sparking numerous controversies.

Moreover, this year, the running backs truly performed exceptionally, even exploding onto the scene. Los Angeles Rams’ Gurley, Dallas Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott, New York Giants’ Barkley, Carolina Panthers’ McCaffrey, Tennessee Titans’ Henry, and so on, all had their moments to shine.

Clearly, the running backs, whether openly or secretly, all realized the underlying significance of Bell’s strike. One by one, they burst onto the scene, seizing the opportunity to prove the vital importance of running backs to Football.

Of course, there were also the two running backs from the Kansas City Chiefs, Levi and Hunter, whose performances contributed to a vibrant and diverse display across the entire League’s running backs.

Thanks to this, Hunter believed his opportunity had arrived—

...

The opportunity to renegotiate and restructure contracts.

Facing the facts, Hunter was aware that, first, he was the team’s second-string running back, and presently, the one with real sway in the League was supposed to be Levi.

Second, as both were sophomores who had signed four-year contracts when joining the team, the earliest discussion of contract extensions or restructuring could only realistically happen after their third season, during the off-season of February 2020. Starting discussions now was simply too premature.

Nevertheless, Hunter had his own calculations.

First off, if they planned to restructure contracts after their third season, considering Bell’s precedent, they should not let the team dictate terms but should start laying the groundwork now and prepare for their future to avoid the same pitfalls.

Second, Hunter was clear on his role as the second-string running back, so he didn’t dream of a contract that would set a historical salary high. Instead, he aimed to fight for a second-string running back’s contract, which might be easier to negotiate without being greedy like those in the spotlight, such as Levi.

Lastly, to pull this off, they needed to create momentum and fully leverage the current League dynamics, which meant he couldn’t go forward without Levi.

Therefore, during the bye week, Hunter approached Levi to formally discuss the matter.

In Hunter’s view, Levi was thriving, seemingly unaffected by the “rookie wall” and producing high outputs for the second consecutive season, undoubtedly the League’s most high-profile player at the moment. When bringing up the idea of contract restructuring and Bell’s crisis, surely Levi wouldn’t refuse.

However.

Levi refused.

In Levi’s opinion, the time was not right.

If it were veteran running backs, or juniors like Dallas Cowboys’ Elliott and Tennessee Titans’ Henry, who were at the juncture of contract renewals or restructuring, then it would be the perfect opportunity to claim justice for running backs while also vying for personal benefits—

Levi would be one hundred percent in agreement.

But Levi and Hunter were only sophomores. Starting to meticulously plan for their junior year contract restructuring this early was not shrewdness but greed.

The reason was simple, not just for running backs but other positions as well, including quarterbacks.

The NFL is a sport with intense opposition, filled with injuries and unexpected events. Players need to prove their stability and durability over a longer time and more games, which is key to securing a bigger contract.

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Look at the situations of quarterbacks like Cousins and Keenum during this off-season to understand.

Sophomores today, not yet through their second season, are too eager to stir things up. It’s too soon, much too soon.

Levi believed Hunter’s thinking stemmed from his confidence in himself. He believed he was underutilized in the Kansas City Chiefs, confident that he could be a starting running back at any other team, convinced that without Levi holding him back, he would have already soared high and transformed like a carp into a dragon.

That was why Hunter was fearless.

If negotiations with the Kansas City Chiefs went smoothly, nothing could be better. However, if things did not go as planned, Hunter wouldn’t mind transferring to another team in his junior year.

On the surface, Hunter, pulling along Levi, displayed a posture of “advancing and retreating together.”

Actually, Hunter was planning to bluff by using Li Wei as a cover for his own tactics.

So, when Li Wei refused, Hunter was furious, very, very furious—to be precise, he was livid with embarrassment and took on a condescending attitude as if he were thinking “I’m trying to look out for your best interest and for the welfare of the League’s running backs, yet you’re too ignorant to appreciate it.” Under Li Wei’s penetrating gaze that seemed to see through people’s hearts, Hunter stormed off in a rage.

The scene ended on a sour note.

In the following weeks, there were no ripples within the team, and Li Wei thought maybe Hunter had given up, at least for the moment, possibly waiting for the offseason to make his move.

However, the situation took an unexpected turn—

Today, of all days. Surprised or not, unexpected or not?

Hunter hadn’t given up, he had just gone underground.

If Li Wei wasn’t mistaken, it must have been Hunter’s agent who initiated the conversations with the team manager Veach.

Gauging by Clark’s reaction, Veach might truly have wavered and was seriously contemplating the running back’s position in the team’s strategic system.

The current problem was that Li Wei had no way of knowing what Hunter, or rather Hunter’s agent, had independently claimed in front of Veach about Li Wei.

So, what next?

Would Veach or Reed come to talk to Li Wei to confirm things?

On the training field, Reed and the coaching staff were already in place, and from a distance, Reed still had that intense focus, with no sign of irregularity.

Then, a figure approached rapidly, and Li Wei immediately withdrew his attention and became alert.

Turning around, Li Wei saw Hunter.

Hunter flashed a smile, pointing to his head, “Be smart. I’ve paved the way.”

After speaking, Hunter didn’t wait for Li Wei’s response, he took off on his own, light on his feet and laughing freely, making it obvious to anyone watching that he was in a good mood.

Could it be… that Hunter had really succeeded?

Instinctively, Li Wei looked again towards the coaching staff.

Reed seemed the same as usual, and the other members of the coaching staff, led by Childres, had no smiles—

On the surface, it looked like business as usual, completely absorbed in their work; but when you really think about it, today was just a recovery training session; there was no need to be that tense and focused.

Unless… Hunter’s agent had convinced the coaching staff that Li Wei was also unhappy with the status quo and was getting restless.

Unlike Hunter, Li Wei was the starting running back, as well as the captain of the offensive group, and was also becoming a spiritual leader of the team—bit by bit, filling that role.

If, in the midst of the season, with playoffs on the horizon, Li Wei were to have different thoughts or even start testing the waters with the team, the chain reaction could be quite significant.

A small ripple, if not carefully managed, could turn into a tidal wave.

At the Kansas City Chiefs, Li Wei was already beginning to have the capability to shake up the locker room and even the team, from the inside out and outside in, without exception.

The matter was naturally of great importance.

It was precisely because it was unknown, filled with countless possibilities, that all sorts of wild thoughts began to unsettle Li Wei, leaking a hint of unease.

Li Wei: Trouble comes uninvited.