Chapter 358 Alone
“Sure enough, it’s here.”
Levi picked up the tactical manual and was about to turn around and leave, but inadvertently, he caught a glimpse of a figure wandering above the training ground outside the window of the conference room.
At this time, night has fallen, and Kansas City is shrouded in a peacock blue night. In the distance, you can see the large chimneys of the oil refinery standing like giants on the skyline, supporting the stars in the sky. There are no lights on the training ground, only offices. The lights on the building that were still not extinguished were sparsely projected down, slowly outlining some light and shadow.
That figure was like a wandering spirit.
Wait, that’s—
Number eleven?
Picking up the tactical manual, Levi hurried downstairs. Instead of going to the parking lot, he walked to the training ground. He felt the softness of the lawn again with his feet and walked all the way.
The figure did not continue moving forward, but found a spot at random, sat down cross-legged, with his back to the office building, completely unaware of anyone approaching.
Levi slowly slowed down, stopped not far behind No. 11, followed his line of sight, thought about it carefully, and then he understood.
"Is that the direction of Arrowhead Stadium?"
Number 11 was startled by the sound. He turned around and realized that the person coming was Levi. He couldn't help but chuckle, "Have you been discovered?"
The Kansas City Chiefs play at Arrowhead Stadium, but their training facility is not there.
The training base is only a five-minute drive from Arrowhead Stadium and can be reached on foot. There are two training fields, a complete stadium and an indoor stadium. They are open to the public year-round and are popular all year round. The whole thing is boiling.
If fans are willing, they can come to the training base at any time to watch training and cheer.
At this time, Smith, the main quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, wearing jersey No. 11, was sitting on the training field of the training base looking at Arrowhead Stadium.
Levi was slightly surprised.
In fact, Levi and Smith have never been close to each other. Rather than friends, it is more appropriate to describe them as teammates.
On the one hand, because Smith is usually low-key and introverted, he doesn't talk much, and his voice is rarely heard in the locker room; on the other hand, because Levi and Mahomes are good friends, and Mahomes is coveting Smith's starting position. Also slightly more subtle.
However, after getting along throughout the season, the two have a good relationship.
Smith is a gentle person with no sharpness or edges, and he is willing to share. If Levi has questions, he is very happy to answer them. During the game, the occasional tactical exchanges are also very smooth; in fact, it is not just Levi, if Mahomes had questions, and he answered them without reservation.
Smith is a great partner as a teammate, as a senior/leader, and as a quarterback.
tonight.
Levi did not expect that Smith would not leave the training base until the end, but would also appear at the training ground, bathing in starlight and looking out at Arrowhead Stadium.
All kinds of behaviors reveal a kind of weirdness.
It is precisely because of this that even if they are not friends, apart from training and games, they have never drank or partyed together in private. It is a purely cooperative relationship; but as teammates, Levi felt that he had an obligation to ask after noticing Smith's abnormality. A sound.
Looking at Smith, after hesitating, Levi sat down next to him.
Smith has always rarely taken the initiative to speak, but tonight did seem to be a little different. After noticing Levi's movement of sitting down, he actually took the initiative to speak.
"Hey, can you believe it? This is only my third playoff win in my entire thirteen-year career."
Li Wei was slightly startled——
That’s right, here’s why.
People have been emphasizing the significance of this playoff victory to the Kansas City Chiefs, but no one has mentioned the significance of this playoff victory to the players.
Such as Smith.
Levi shrugged lightly, "I think you may have asked the wrong person."
Smith was stunned, "Ha, rookie, yes, how could I forget this? You know nothing about football, not even Brady, how could you possibly know about my playoff performance?" , with a bit of self-deprecating bitterness.
Levi raised his eyebrows slightly, "Sorry?"
The uncertain tone made Smith laugh out loud, "No, you don't need to be sorry. To be precise, I should thank you. Thank you for bringing this victory."
Levi was about to speak, but Smith made a rare move.
"I know, you want to say this is a team victory, but we all know that you were the one who mustered up the courage to stand firm and lead the team forward at the last moment."
"Or, I don't know if it's you, but it's definitely not me."
The words were slightly sharp, but not harsh.
Rather than being jealous or angry, it is more self-deprecating and bitter. Even if it is an attack, it is directed at Smith himself.
Suddenly, Levi understood -
Post-match press conference.
Normally, the biggest contributor to playoff victory should be the quarterback, but obviously, Smith was left out. Not to mention comparing with Levi, even Mariota gained more attention. In the second half, Mariota connected Mariota's pass is still talked about after the game.
For Smith, this is also a landmark victory. His performance is still good. He made many points in the first half and hit consecutive passes in the last wave of offense in the second half. His stable output is the foundation for Levi The basis for subsequent ball runs.
Unfortunately, no one cared.
Ask yourself and put yourself in someone else's shoes. If it were Levi, he would inevitably be disappointed.
So, how should he comfort Smith?
Levi, "Alex..."
Smith noticed the embarrassment in Levi's words, but he laughed to himself, "Sorry, the output of the target of complaint was wrong. You should be the most inappropriate person to talk to."
Levi also smiled and said, "If you think about it from another angle, I am the only right person to talk to. I'm sorry, I didn't deliberately steal your grace."
Levi said the second half of the sentence in a teasing tone. Smith was about to defend himself, but couldn't help being amused by Levi's tone, "Why do you sound like you're not sorry at all?"
Levi nodded seriously, "Sorry, I'm not sorry at all."
"Haha." Smith laughed directly, "You don't have to be sorry. Without you, we might have lost today, and it would have been even more uncomfortable."
"I just..."
Take a deep breath.
"I just hope that I can shoulder the responsibility, play the role of quarterback, and help the team win. I don't want to be a dispensable role. I also hope to be a member of the team, and I also hope to play alongside you. ”
As he spoke, his voice gradually became lower.
"You know? I have thought more than once, is it my pride that has hindered the team's success? Maybe, I am not as good as I thought; maybe, without me, the team can go further in the playoffs. ”
Levi was stunned.
He never knew that Smith had such troubles:
As a quarterback stands under the spotlight, you naturally need to bear corresponding responsibilities; once you are unable to bear such responsibilities, the overwhelming pressure may completely overwhelm all strength.
(End of chapter)