Chapter 950: Long-term vision
Calm, calm and confident.
Levi nodded gently, "Of course, I look forward to a record-breaking contract, and more importantly, I look forward to the sincerity shown by the team."
Previously, Li Wei has expressed his beliefs and goals to Vicky -
His patience and concentration are not due to being content, but because of his ambition.
In fact, in Levi's view, Vicky chose to start contract negotiations with him this offseason. This action itself is part of the strategy.
Before, before Hunter left the team, he was fanning the flames in the team and trying to renew his contract in advance. Judging from the way Vic tested Levi at that time, Vic had no intention of dating the second-year player Running back talks contract extension.
However, a lot has happened since then, including Hunter's departure, the team's defense, and the glory of the regular season MVP.
Veach realized that if he waits to discuss contract renewal after the third year, Levi may have more and more bargaining chips. By then, the Kansas Chiefs will really be in a difficult position. On the one hand, they must satisfy Levi and To meet the fans' expectations, on the other hand, it depends on the attitude of the league and other teams——
Once the running back's value completely reverses, it may affect the entire running back of the league. It is estimated that they will all unite to protest.
Just look at the toughness and iron fist of the Pittsburgh Steelers in dealing with the Bell issue. Despite all the criticism, other teams are actually on the side of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
So, after weighing it up, Veach started negotiations a whole season in advance.
It is precisely because Vicky knows that Levi has been brewing a storm.
Levi has never shied away from this.
“But.”
When Levi changed the topic, Mahomes, who was excited and excited, was slightly stunned. How could there be another twist?
"I'm not going to catch all the water."
Mahomes didn't understand what Levi meant.
The smile on Levi's lips rose.
“Do you know why Revis gets so much infamy? Just because he fights for the rewards he deserves?”
"No, because he greedily strives for more, more, and more, which hurts the interests of others on the team and squeezes the salary space of others on the team."
"The NFL has a hard salary cap, and the upper limit is There, no one can cross the line, so each team has a team responsible for calculating the salary cap. They are responsible for monitoring every contract and every transaction to ensure that the team does not violate league rules and encounter backlash.”
“When one person’s salary increases, it means that other people’s salary space is compressed, and not everyone is willing to sacrifice their own interests.”
“Because of this, The offseason of a Super Bowl champion team is often a game. The team manager must give up some players to free up salary space and renew contracts with other more valuable or important players."
"Every. The lineup can change drastically throughout the year, and that’s where it all comes from.”
"Revis asked for it again and again, even if the contract has not expired. He believed that he had just completed an outstanding season. He also asked the team to renegotiate the contract. Such greed not only caused the salary space of other players to be compressed, And it ruined the atmosphere in the locker room."
Now, Mahomes understands, "Because he only thinks about himself and not the entire team."
Even if he joins the Kansas Chiefs. Revis is still a lone wolf. He has never been a member of the group, but a lone traveler fighting for himself.
Levi nodded gently.
"Last season, Cousins joined the Minnesota Vikings. He signed a historic fully guaranteed contract. Logically speaking, it should be history. Players can follow his example in the future. To get more benefits, but that's not the case, obviously the players don't like him."
"Do you know the reason now?"
Last season, the Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars both reached the conference finals historically, but unfortunately they could not go further. Both teams were gearing up. to prepare for the new season. However, the reality is cruel, both teams ultimately missed the playoffs.
Among them, the Minnesota Vikings, who spent a lot of money during the offseason, are undoubtedly the most shocked.
Mahomes paused where he was and didn't speak for a long time.
Suddenly, Mahomes looked up at Levi, his expression showing some hesitation.
"Rookie, did the team choose to lay off Justin and Eric just to negotiate contract extensions with the two of us?"
The clues were connected in this way.
For Mahomes and Levi, that was good news; but for Houston and Berry, it was a farewell announcement.
Levi is not prepared to sugarcoat the peace, "Part of the reason, yes."
Although the reasons behind the departure of Houston and Berry are far more than that, and the facts are more complicated; it is undeniable that Veach is making an overall plan, and only when you give up, you will get something, so they have become the targets of being abandoned.
Mahomes let out a long breath and slumped down on the sofa, once again experiencing the cruelty of professional sports.
Mahomes glanced at Levi, "So, what are you going to do?"
Levi, "I am not Captain America. I am willing to sacrifice myself to help others. I will still fight for it. My own interests, this will not change.”
“But I am not prepared to sacrifice what is really important for short-term interests.”
Mahomes, "What do you mean?"
Levi, "I still expect a big contract that will break the historical record, but I am not prepared to strive for an incredible number. There is no need to be too greedy."
“Perhaps, we can sign a long-term contract and take a longer-term view.”
“I know that the league is developing rapidly now, and the hard salary cap is increasing every year. Players’ The average salary is also rising sharply, and signing a long-term contract means that the contract may become pitiful after three or five years."
"But compared with the annual salary number, we should focus on football. The balance of the team.”
"Perhaps the team can use the salary space to sign more outstanding players, promote more young rookies, and finally form a strong team."
"Salary is very important, very, very important. This is a professional league, If someone says that salary is not important, they are 100% deceiving themselves; but equally, the team is also important, because this is the basis for us to win and win the championship."
"Compared with salary, continue to maintain the team. Competitiveness is more important.”
In the NFL, top players like Brady, Brees, and Manning have taken the initiative to restructure their contracts and reduce their annual salary income, instead of pursuing those numbers. It is to help the team build a more competitive team and compete for the final Super Bowl championship.
This is also Li Wei’s vision——
Fight for what you deserve, but there is no need to insist on making history.
The result of being greedy is that except for a few more digits in your bank account, you end up leaving the sport with nothing.
“And, to be honest, these annual salaries are not as good as my endorsement income.”
“If I can remain competitive, if I can continue to win the championship, my income outside the game and The prize money in the arena will continue to come.”
“This account is not that difficult.”
(End of this chapter)