Dominate the Super Bowl

Chapter 546: 545 Inception Chapter 546: 545 Inception “`

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ defensive group impressed everyone in the 2017 season, and now they’ve set their sights on bolstering their offensive group.

They’re not only eyeing the quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs but also their running back.

So, what is it with the Kansas City Chiefs?

Are they an auction house now?

Seeing the question marks all over Li Wei’s face, Smith burst into a full bloom of laughter, “Please, Caldwell is determined to have you, and it’s no secret in the League.”

Li Wei spread his hands, “Hey, I’m no superhero who never yields.

Offer me a five-year, two-hundred-million-dollar fully guaranteed contract, and I’ll tell the coach myself that I can’t resist the temptation and am ready to transfer.”

*Sputter*

In the end, Smith couldn’t hold back and spat out his drink.

Li Wei was dead serious, “Hygiene, captain, please mind your hygiene, okay?”

Smith hurriedly wiped his mouth with a napkin, and after a brief fluster, he silently gave Li Wei a thumbs-up: Impressive, it’s still you who’s impressive.

Li Wei found his smile again, “From what you just said, it seems like you’re more interested in New York than Jacksonville?”

Purely from an objective standpoint, Li Wei thought that the Jacksonville Jaguars were a good choice.

First, they have an outstanding defense.

Second, the offense is solid and stable.

If Smith joined, not only could he be the starting quarterback, but he could also have control over the offensive calls.

This would ensure the team doesn’t rush into long passes and revert to Smith’s preferred short and medium passing strategies, playing to Smith’s strengths.

With that, the Jacksonville Jaguars could indeed become a strong contender for the 2018 season.

Moreover, Li Wei guessed that they should have enough salary cap to meet Smith’s demands for a big contract.

Setting personal preferences aside, Caldwell’s move was both precise and astute.

It was not surprising that the Jacksonville Jaguars could maintain their strength.

Smith looked a bit embarrassed, touched his nose in an attempt to disguise himself, and then let out a breath, “Okay, I admit I fantasize about New York.”

Li Wei, “What do you mean?”

Smith then remembered that Li Wei was completely clueless about football history, “Our generation of players has a filter for a few teams.

One is the San Francisco 49ers, and everyone dreams of going to San Francisco to play; another is the Green Bay Packers, which has the most unique fan culture in the League.”

Li Wei slightly lifted his chin.

He had heard Mahomes mention this before – even top quarterbacks like Brady and Rodgers longed to go to the San Francisco 49ers, but when San Francisco had the chance to choose them, they ignored it every time, disappointing their heartfelt wishes.

“Besides that, it’s the New York Giants.”

“The reason is simple, because of New York, the number one city in North America.

Whenever people talk about New York, things always feel different.”

“It’s a big market city, and we all yearn to explore it.”

Although Li Wei couldn’t understand completely, as he was a foreign soul and the original host seemed to have no particular feelings for New York; Li Wei could roughly comprehend this sentiment, much like the longing for Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen on the Hua Xia Continent, with or without some sort of filter.

As for whether those cities are as wonderful as one imagines, that’s a matter of opinion.

Only by experiencing them firsthand can one know for sure.

“If I could go to New York, that would be a very important step.”

“Moreover, John said, you are friends, and your friends are also his friends.

He would be very glad to welcome your friend to the New York Giants.

He believes you would open your arms to welcome me joining.”

John?

“`

John Mara?

Wait, a flash of lightning crossed Li Wei’s mind, connecting all the clues together, and he couldn’t help but laugh silently, showing a hint of helplessness.

Smith noticed, “What’s wrong?”

Li Wei chuckled, waved his hand dismissively, and added with deep irony, “It’s nothing, it’s an honor to be a friend of John’s.”

After the American League Finals, Li Wei returned to New York, where the owner of the New York Knicks, Dolan, had invited him to Madison Square Garden as a marketing ploy, and it had been successful.

After the match, Li Wei encountered John Mara in the VIP lounge—the owner of the New York Giants; he was the real star that night, completely catching Li Wei off guard, as Dolan never made an appearance.

The meeting concluded, and Li Wei and Donald Yee finished their communication.

At that time, Donald believed the New York Giants should be interested in Li Wei, considering New York was the second-largest gathering place for Chinese people on the North American continent.

Not to mention the Asian market, this city itself was a treasure.

Moreover, the New York Giants did indeed need a running back; and after falling out with quarterback Eli Manning, they needed a new idol—a face, a symbol, a superstar to turn the tide.

It totally made sense for the New York Giants to preemptively set their sights on Li Wei.

If given the choice by Donald, he would also want Li Wei to go to the New York Giants—

Not just because it was a big market, but from the perspective of marketing and commercial operations, New York’s advantages were indeed unmatched by any of the other thirty-one NFL teams, as the rise of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

to stardom clearly demonstrated; similarly, the Rams and Chargers moving to Los Angeles, and the Raiders heading to Las Vegas, followed the same logic.

However, Li Wei stated he had no such thoughts, he was happy in Kansas City, and Donald could only temporarily shelve his idea and rethink his plans.

To make the New York Giants a stepping stone for raising Li Wei’s status and net worth.

In short, Donald began to lay out his strategy.

But now it seemed, John Mara was still cunningly ahead of the game.

Upon reflection, at the time, the Kansas City Chiefs were just contending for the American League championship; the Super Bowl battle hadn’t even begun, everything was still possible.

If it were just for a rookie running back, someone who might transfer only after two years, whose performance next season was still unknown, and who might fade into obscurity if they lost the Super Bowl, there was no need for Mara to get involved personally.

That didn’t make sense.

Even Li Wei wasn’t significant enough.

However, if it were for a quarterback, whose contract was expiring, who could be replaced by a rookie at any moment, who had already proven their strength and attitude, who could help the team smoothly navigate the upcoming two to three seasons while they looked for a successor in the draft, and whose potential transfer would undoubtedly make them hot property in the free market, then everything made sense.

Which is to say, both Li Wei and Donald thought Mara was there for him; but in reality, Mara was playing Go, not just looking at one move, but judging the subsequent possibilities through one move.

Those possibilities finally bore fruit with Smith.

Imagine, if it wasn’t Li Wei, or if Li Wei wasn’t so smart and perceptive, if he couldn’t connect the entire chain of events, what would he say when faced with Smith’s question now?

Firstly, New York was his hometown.

Secondly, he had just recently enjoyed a pleasant conversation with Mara and felt like a VIP.

Just like in “Inception,” planting the seed of a thought in the subconscious, waiting for it to take root and sprout, eventually transforming into “one’s own idea.” Actively lobby for Smith to join the New York Giants, with even a single affirmative word potentially key in swaying Smith’s decision.

Clever, truly clever.