Dominate the Super Bowl

Chapter 605: Persevere and redouble your efforts Chapter 605: Persevere and redouble your efforts After a season of hard work, Li Wei knew the immense pressure quarterbacks faced, whether they were rookie quarterbacks or veteran quarterbacks.

The moment a new season began, they stood under the spotlight, subjected to microscopic analysis by both media and fans.@@novelbin@@

Look at Wentz, look at Goff, look at Watson, no one was exempt.

Last season, quarterback Trubisky, selected by the Chicago Bears ahead of Li Wei with the second overall pick, went through a nightmarish rookie season, constantly under fire and picked apart to the point of feeling like he was in hell.

This season, Mahomes, taken tenth overall in the first round, unavoidably took over the heavy duty of starting quarterback from Smith for the defending champions.

Anticipating the critical eyes of the media, the pressure was unimaginable, and maybe Li Wei, who entered the League last season as an Asian rookie running back, could understand a thing or two about it.

So Li Wei took the initiative, stepping up first to share the pressure with Mahomes—

No matter what the media said, at least the Kansas City Chiefs’ locker room needed to unite and provide Mahomes with enough support and affirmation, helping the young quarterback to quickly find his footing and create a space for him to thrive.

After spending a season with Mahomes, Li Wei knew that he was the kind of player who needed such affirmation and support.

Unlike criticism or reprimands, praise and advice could make Mahomes improve rapidly.

Now, Li Wei was setting an example himself, being the first to take such encouraging actions.

Following suit, the Kansas City Chiefs’ players also generously offered their own praises and affirmations, aiding in the transition of quarterbacks for the defending champions.

From players to coaches, unanimous acclaim left young Mahomes overwhelmed; this sincere and honest guy was lost in the deluge of praises, full of vigor but unsure how to express it.

That night he hopped next door to his neighbor Li Wei, exclaiming and getting excited, yet the following day, he got up for training even earlier than Li Wei, entering the subsequent sessions with high spirits.

Mahomes didn’t know how to reciprocate the support from his teammates and fans, so he threw himself into training, hoping to repay that trust and support through his performance on the field, full of fervor.

Of course, what was most important was that Mahomes truly deserved the praise—

With 28 out of 23 passes completed, an 82.1% success rate, 326 yards, three passing touchdowns, and one reception touchdown.

Being able to pass along routes and even read defenses a second time to pass, along with his explosive throwing ability, outstanding athletic talent, and strict tactical execution earned this quarterback applause across the League.

Such statistics were indeed eye-catching.

Against the backdrop of a “sophomore taking over as the starting quarterback for the defending champions and carrying the future of the team,” it seemed all the more rare and precious.

Despite high expectations, Mahomes still managed to exceed them with even better performances, successfully winning cheers and applause throughout the League.

For a brief moment, it awakened memories of last season.

It was also the kickoff game of the season against a strong opponent, also a grand entrance amidst pressure and controversy, and it was also the Kansas City Chiefs stealing all the focus—

Last time it was Li Wei, this time it was Mahomes.

Looking back to the 2017 draft, Veach’s fast-paced and commanding moves suddenly seemed all the more magical and unfathomable.

Even Veach didn’t expect that he would be thrust into the spotlight, but if it could draw some fire to ease the pressure on Li Wei and Mahomes, Veach was more than willing to step forward and face the media’s relentless bombardment, allowing the team to fully focus on training.

Just as Li Wei said, he believed that Mahomes’ performance deserved the title of American League Offensive Player of the Week, and reality proved him right—

Until all the other events of the first week had concluded, none of the matches could compare with the thrill of the season opener, which was no wonder it drew thirty million viewers and set the internet ablaze.

Naturally, the discussion for the American League’s Player of the Week turned to the Kansas City Chiefs.

“Li Wei vs.

Mahomes.”

Both players had their supporters, but in the end, it was Li Wei who won by a nose, claiming more votes and being crowned the American League’s Best Offensive Player for Week One of the 2018 season, with a powerful performance that marked the beginning of the new season’s journey.

The reason was——

People thought that in his sophomore year, Li Wei would shed the protective aura of a rookie and be left exposed to the concentrated defense of the Defensive group, facing the challenges of the sophomore wall; yet, against the Pittsburgh Steelers’ targeted defense strategy, Li Wei still managed to change the direction of the game with a convincing performance.

Indirectly, this showed that despite more critical scrutiny and heightened expectations after a stunning rookie season, the voices of recognition were growing louder, and to continue to deny Li Wei required more theoretical data and points of view—otherwise, it was just farce.

However, from another perspective, the season had just begun, and a series of challenges still lay ahead, so it was premature to draw conclusions.

Recognition can’t be shouted into existence, it has to be earned, game by game.

To this end, Li Wei always kept a clear head——

The noise and splendor of the internet age are all just bubbles, nothing more than bubbles.

One mustn’t be fooled by them, as the speed at which these bubbles can burst might catch one off guard, and before you know it, you’d be facing the abyss without any preparation.

Perhaps, this was Li Wei’s greatest advantage from time-traveling to the present from the future; he had witnessed the noisiness and turmoil of the coming years and experienced the unthinkable journey through time and space, which allowed him to stay calm and focus on himself.

He needed to stay grounded, step by step, feeling the ground beneath his feet.

And so.

After the season opener, and having gone through ice baths, massages, recovery training, and relaxation therapies, Li Wei didn’t leave but stayed to watch the game tapes—

Particularly the second quarter.

The season opener had ended, and victory needed to be temporarily set aside as preparation time for the next game.

Therefore, the first thing to do before moving on was to summarize the experience and review the game, as understanding one’s own weaknesses was essential to making progress.

This continued until Burton Burns repeatedly waved his hands indicating “I’m too old to keep up” and was the first to head home to rest, while Ronnie Clark still stayed behind to help Li Wei analyse the game tapes.

As a running back, Clark’s physical talents might have had their limits, unable to make it as a starter in the NFL, and even in the NCAA.

But Clark’s brain was a different story, particularly sensitive to tactics, game situations, and confrontations, and he had unique insights of his own.

The nickname “master” was by no means unearned; during their college days, Clark had provided Li Wei with lots of help, and now on the professional stage, it was the same.

The discussion carried on, even continuing on their way out of the training facility on the way home.

Looking at the time, Li Wei turned to Clark with a smile, “Come on, let me introduce you to a secret spot, perfect for unwinding after a game day.”