Dominate the Super Bowl

"Li Wei, are the rumors about your injury true?"

"What do you think of the intensity of confrontation in NFL games?"

"Having sat on the bench for two consecutive games, are you starting to question your football career?"

"Do you agree that Hunter is a more suitable starting player than you?"

"Do you think you can stay on the big roster?"

The preseason had concluded, with all thirty-two teams methodically preparing for the season's kickoff. The fifty-three-man roster deadline had come, and the rumors had grown rampant and outrageous.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

The discussion over the starting running back position between Li Wei and Hunter had reached a fever pitch—

It wasn't just about a starting position.

Imagine, if third-round pick Hunter defeated first-round pick Li Wei for the starting spot, this would further affirm the prevailing view in the League that running backs are overvalued and not worth a first-round pick. Opting for cost-effective, low-round running backs seemed sufficient.

Over time, running backs would be further marginalized, even turning into a blue-collar position.

Especially this year, the twists and turns at the draft had put Li Wei in the spotlight. Even the Kansas City Chiefs were involuntarily caught in the tide of the times. If Li Wei failed to start, it seemed like it would impact the prospects for young running backs in future drafts, with far-reaching implications.

The issue had suddenly become serious.

Heroes are shaped by the times, and that was the atmosphere. Whether Li Wei liked it or not, he now shouldered numerous burdens, related and unrelated to him.

Under the clash of various factors, things had completely veered off course.

There were even rumors that the Kansas City Chiefs were very likely to cut Li Wei.

Preposterous, right?

It was preposterous indeed.

Yet it was precisely its shock value that made it more astonishing. If it were to happen, Li Wei would become the first top-three pick in NFL history not to make the season's fifty-three-man roster, a different kind of history.

Like Ryan Leaf, nailed to the pillar of shame.

Leaf: Is there really a need to keep flogging a dead horse? Is it really necessary?

So, the media couldn't hold back. Even though Reed had imposed a media ban, they still came to the Kansas City Chiefs' training base one by one, swarming at the door, trying to intercept Li Wei.

Seeing this, Mahomes who was heading to work with Li Wei, already knew the drill, cleared the way in front of him like a little assistant, which made Li Wei burst into laughter.

But neither player was prepared to stop, heading towards the gate until a voice exploded like thunder.

"Li Wei, are you not up to scratch?"

The air, suddenly grew silent.

Li Wei's face remained calm, his steps faltered slightly but he didn't pay attention to the other side, knowing that these reporters would do anything to dig for news and create explosive stories. If he stopped, it would mean the reporters had succeeded.

Unexpectedly, Mahomes stopped in astonishment, blocking Li Wei's path, forcing him to stop as well—

Well, that did it.

In a second, no, half a second, the reporters swarmed like zombies.

In the end, the reporters had their way.

Li Wei, slightly helpless, scanned the bustling crowd and instantly locked onto the reporter who had just asked the question, shooting laser eyes in their direction.

Adam Guterres's spine felt a coldness, and he shivered for a moment, feeling as if he were targeted by a cheetah. Shivers ran down his spine, every cell screaming "run away," but his body was frozen in place, unable to move.

Then.

Guterres could see the corners of Li Wei's mouth gently lift, "Want to give it a try?"

No one spoke, yet one could capture a powerful confidence from Li Wei's casual tone, an energy released from within, pressing heavily on the chest, making it hard to breathe.

Only by getting up close to Li Wei could they truly comprehend the disparity in size. Even though the reporters were bustling around Li Wei and Mahomes, there was no hint of danger—like a pack of deer surrounding a Tyrannosaurus rex. Was this normal?

Guterres was at a loss and couldn't find the words to speak.

Li Wei looked around, a casual smile hanging on his lips, with laughter bubbling up from deep in his throat, "Or maybe, you'd like to give it a try? I'll be waiting on the practice field anytime."

No.

No, no, no.

The reporters fell silent, nodding one by one, looking down at their own skinny arms and legs and the soft beer bellies below, shaking their heads even more vehemently. They couldn't help but step back slightly, and the circle around him incredibly widened a bit.

Guterres: Not good.

They had finally intercepted Li Wei, creating an opportunity now during the preseason—it couldn't be missed, certainly not to be taken lightly.

So, what to do?

As a senior football reporter for ESPN, Guterres wasn't easily intimidated. Having weathered countless storms, his vast experience steadied him. How could he possibly flee in terror just from a single remark by Li Wei?

Guterres had a stroke of inspiration, "Li Wei, Brady said you're not worth mentioning. What do you think?"

It was definitely the breaking point. Among all topics and controversies, Brady was always the simplest and most direct choice—never failing.

Li Wei blinked, "Who?"

Ha!

The entire room inhaled sharply.

Logically, having caught the bombshell, the reporters should have been rejoicing, but now, they were too shocked and stunned, as if their eyes were about to pop out.

Dead silence.

For a moment, the reporters' brains froze, completely losing the ability to respond.

Even Guterres, who had thrown out the topic, stood there as if struck by lightning, his imagination having failed to anticipate such a reaction from Li Wei.

Brady: ???

Mahomes nearly choked on his saliva, but he knew Li Wei well. Privately, the man was a scatterbrain, never remembering names. Li Wei surely had no ill intent, no purpose of targeting anyone.

Mahomes quickly nudged Li Wei's shoulder, "New England Patriots. Number twelve. Quarterback." A string of key terms hopped out one after another.

Li Wei had an epiphany, "Ah, I know him."

Reporter: ...

Haha, very good, we know him too. It seems we finally have something in common.

Li Wei's face was the picture of calm, "I very much look forward to meeting him, to a splendid confrontation."

Normally, this would be a mere courtesy—a standard phrase without any special meaning, but in the context of what preceded, the flavor of his words subtly changed.

Guterres was utterly confused; he had wanted a scoop, but he never expected to be knocked senseless by a nuclear bomb, tingling from the inside out.

A challenge!

There was no doubt about it.

It was said that young calves were not afraid of tigers, and the media always enjoyed seeing the new generation challenge the old guard. But Li Wei's manner suggested he didn't take Brady seriously. His light "I know him" was akin to mentioning an average player, the provocation couldn't be clearer, and the follow-up message was also clear:

Brady? So what?

This... Continue reading at empire

It was sensational!

So, was this getting what they asked for?