Chapter 1019 The Professor Appears
At the end of October 2017, Jimmy Garoppolo, another player represented by Donald Yu, left the New England Patriots to join the San Francisco 49ers.
The young quarterback served as Brady's backup for the New England Patriots for four full years, playing only two complete games and twice suffering from injuries and missing training and games for long periods of time; After transferring to the San Francisco 49ers, he started five games before the season ended.
However, such a player who only played seven games in his career signed a five-year, $137 million contract in the following offseason. Before the Bay Packers signed an extension, he became the league's highest-paid player, including $90 million in guaranteed money.
All making history.
So, how did the media react?
Although he was a little confused and hesitant, he still gave Garoppolo applause and cheers, and he did not stupidly throw the negative voices on the social network in Garoppolo's face.
Ironically, after signing the contract, Garoppolo only played three games in the 2018 season when he tore the cruciate ligament in his knee and was directly reimbursed for the season.
In other words, Garoppolo has only played ten complete games in his career so far, and the $30 million in guaranteed money has already been firmly in his pocket.
Look at Garoppolo’s treatment, and then look at Levi’s treatment——
This is the gap.
Of course, everyone knows that quarterback and running position are different, and the entire league seems to have reached a strange consensus:
Cornerback, linebacker, safety, etc. positions Even the top players in the league still need to prove themselves again and again and use all means to fight for the rights they deserve.
At the same time, quarterbacks do not need it. Even average players in the league can easily earn an annual salary that exceeds 95% of the league's players with a little push; and then, lie down. Checkbook, missing the playoffs year after year.
This is such a ridiculous and weird reality, but no one is willing to expose it, as if it is a natural "fact".
However, it is not.
Nor should it be.
Now Levi calls it out, bluntly and loudly, calling attention to the elephant in the room:
Why is there such disparate treatment between quarterbacks and running backs?
To be more precise, why is there such a differential treatment between quarterbacks and all other players? Not just running positions, but other positions as well.
After defending Bell last season, Levi once again broke through the window paper as an "outsider" and "rookie", just like the kid in "The Emperor's New Clothes".
So, his performance so far is not enough to silence the doubters. What else does he need to continue to prove?
Admittedly, Levi could continue to prove himself and silence the trolls with one outstanding performance after another; but he refused.
He believes that he no longer needs to prove himself.
He refused, refused to respond to those baseless doubts, refused to explain himself again and again in the face of unreasonable attacks, refused to constantly prove that he was worthy of those recognitions and honors, refused to exhaust himself and reconcile with the trolls, Refuse to grovel and perform in front of the media.
As for those trolls, let them continue to burn in hatred and jealousy, he will not care about their pain and suffering.
Calm. Calm.
Confident. firm.
Li Wei looked at all the reporters with clear eyes, and the aura emanating from the inside completely suppressed the scene.
At this moment, the reporters began to dodge their gaze, not daring to look directly into Li Wei's eyes——
Everyone knows the current overall environment and development trends of the league. The climate of quarterback dominance has taken shape and is irreversible.
But the facts are facts, but no one dares to challenge other players to their faces as "not important", and no one dares to shout at the running back, "Hey, you are just a bunch of expendables."
Especially in front of Li Wei.
The situation is completely different.
However, reporters are reporters after all. The whole place is crowded and there is strength in numbers; and they will not give up until they achieve their goals. They will never bow their heads and admit defeat easily and rely on the advantage of numbers to be bold.
In the silence, someone broke the deadlock, "So, the busy off-field activities this offseason did not affect your preparation for the season?"
Going round and round, or returning to the starting point. Levi smiled.
Not a sinister or sarcastic smile, but a sincere smile, sunny and bright, brilliant and enthusiastic.
"What do you think of today's game?" Levi asked back.
Buzz buzz, buzz buzz.
In an instant, the atmosphere in the press conference room changed -
Obviously, today's game is the best answer.
The reporter who asked the question was caught off guard by Li Wei. He originally thought that Li Wei was asking a rhetorical question, but he did not expect that Li Wei looked at him intently, his eyes firmly locked on him without moving, a kind of The oppressive feeling of being a prey swept over him, and he seemed to have to answer this question.
Before the brain reacted, he subconsciously said, "Very good."
Levi gently raised his chin, his eyes still locked on the reporter, with a bit of inquiry in his eyes, as if he was discussing Goldbach's conjecture.
"Which specific part, please expand and explain in detail."
Shuashuashuashuashuashuashuashuashuashuashua.
The eyes of the audience were like a midsummer rainstorm, frantically surrounding the reporter.
That guy: Why me?
After swallowing, he still managed to muster up the courage, "The second touchdown, Mahomes connected you with a super long pass."
Levi, "Whose credit do you think is that? "
Reporter: ..."You?" The slightly trembling final voice revealed his strong uneasiness and confusion.
Levi shook his head slightly, "No, wrong answer."
Reporter, "Mahomes and you?"
Levi, "No, it's still wrong. There are Kelsey, Hardman, Hill, etc. You shouldn't leave anyone out."
Back and forth, hitting the wall, no response at all. Leaving room for breathing, the positions of subject and object are reversed, just like a surprise Q&A in a college classroom, the initiative is firmly in Levi's hands, and reporters one by two are eager to find the correct answer.
The entire press conference room was like a tennis match. The audience's eyes were going back and forth between Levi and the reporters, and the atmosphere was completely tense.
Then, Levi raised the corners of his mouth to smile and sat up straight again.
“I think you guys should have no problem, right? Then I’ll leave first.”
It was only then that the reporters realized that they had fallen into Li Wei's rhythm silently. Li Wei took control of the situation and deceived them as he talked——
Why did it end?
Now, the reporter is anxious.
If Levi were to leave like this, wouldn't all their waiting and deliberation be in vain? They had been waiting for today forever, how could they let Levi escape so easily?
Absolutely not!
In the crowd, urgent voices broke through the noise and shouted directly.
"Professor, Professor Hannibal, wait!"
A stone was thrown into the surging waves, and everything fell silent in an instant, as if pressing the pause button, all movements and sights were instantaneous freeze frame.
Wait, what did they just hear?
Is it an auditory hallucination?
(End of this chapter)