Chapter 538 Happiness and Trouble
The NFL has become the most watched television program in North America all year round. In addition to the huge base of football fans, the most important reason is suspense.
Thanks to the existence of a hard salary cap, it is often difficult for teams to gather a group of top players to fight for the championship together. The gap between strong teams and weak teams is reduced. Coupled with the strategizing of team tactics, the suspense skyrockets. Every year in the playoffs There are countless possibilities for seats and championships.
It is precisely because of this that the melon-eaters and passer-by fans are not stingy in paying attention.
In the half-century history of the Super Bowl, only seven teams including the Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, and New England Patriots have ever defended the title.
Among them, the Pittsburgh Steelers are the only team to have defended their title twice in different periods; and the last time they defended their title was the New England Patriots in the 2003 and 2004 seasons. In the thirteen years since then, No team can defend the title.
As for three consecutive championships?
None.
This is evidence that it can be directly seen that the competition in the NFL is fierce.
Obviously, the hard salary cap is key.
Now, the overall trend around the league is to focus more and more on the draft.
The team can make full use of the low salary of the four-year rookie contract to win more salary cap operating space, and then recruit players through the free market to build a strong team and lay the foundation for competing for the Super Bowl championship.
Among them, the quarterback is the top priority.
Therefore, it is often seen that a team selects a quarterback in the draft every three to five years, re-selects a rookie quarterback every two or three years and then overturns it all, like a child building a sandcastle.
New York Jets: Why don't you just give me your name?
Now, the Kansas City Chiefs are facing the same test.
Only a few people know that Mahomes was recommended to Reid by Veach's discerning eye; it was not selected by Reid, the quarterback, from countless gravels.
Mahomes, despite becoming a starter as a sophomore and showing incredible arm strength, has always been undervalued in the draft.
Laymen think that this should be the reason why college teams have fewer wins and more losses; in fact, this is not the case.
Of course, the quarterback's inability to lead the team to win and advance to the national championship game will indeed affect the quarterback's draft price; but the real reason is that scouts' evaluation of Mahomes is average.
First, the technique is rough and there is still a lot of room for improvement in passing accuracy.
Second, his style of play is reckless. Indeed, Mahomes has excellent arm strength. He can pass the ball long and aim for the end zone with a fatal blow; but his will to pass the ball forward and deep is too firm and too strong. Being overly impulsive and willing to take risks and gamble long passes regardless of opportunities or difficulties is obviously not the correct attitude of an excellent quarterback.
Therefore, even though Mahomes' passing yards in his sophomore and junior years were very good, scouting reports generally predicted Mahomes in the third round.
Until the rookie training camp, Mahomes showed excellent physical fitness and attracted a wave of attention, which brought Mahomes into the team's sight; then, Mahomes' agent seized the opportunity to promote his quarterback In front of the stage, he starred in an NFLN program.
In the show, Mahomes and former No. 1 quarterback David Carr competed for passing speed. Mahomes became famous when he passed a cannon ball with a speed of 62 miles per hour (99.8 kilometers per hour).
This has allowed Mahomes's draft price to rise all the way, between the first and second rounds, and he is considered to be the third or fourth draft pick among quarterbacks.
In fact, there is a small twist here.
In last year's draft, the Chicago Bears, who had the third overall pick, were generally considered to be the first to select a quarterback. So when the Kansas City Chiefs traded with the San Francisco 49ers to get the second pick, the Chicago Bears panicked and made moves like a tiger. In the end, he got the second pick again.
When the Chicago Bears announced their draft targets, Mahomes felt a surge of emotion——
He didn't tell anyone, and he didn't tell Levi privately until very later that during the rookie training camp, the interview with the Chicago Bears was very pleasant, and they showed a positive tendency; then the two parties exchanged many phone calls, and the Chicago Bears finally Said they would use their first-round pick to select Mahomes.
However, the Chicago Bears selected Trubisky.
Mahomes also didn’t understand what was going on. Instead, the Kansas Chiefs, who had never had any contact with him, selected him with the tenth pick in the first round.
Here, it's time for Vicky to appear.
Veach has been paying attention to Mahomes, and even read the scouting report before the rookie training camp. He also agreed with the scout's judgment; but there is a slight difference. He thinks Mahomes is reckless and impulsive. , determination, with the right guidance, can be a game-changing force.
After all, at the critical moment of a life-or-death battle, all you need is a little courage.
Just as Reid admired Levi's calmness in talking and laughing during decisive moments, Vicky admired Mahomes' courage to be bold no matter what the situation.
However, last year was Vic's first year as the team manager, and he always believes that reaching a consensus between the team manager and the head coach is the correct way to build a team.
Also, avoid taking risks as soon as you take office, causing fans and owners to break out in a cold sweat.
Therefore, after making a bold move and trading with the San Francisco 49ers, Veach's first reaction was to be more cautious, taking into account the market and public opinion——
Trubisky or Watson?
However, after a sudden turn of events, the team selected Levi with the third overall pick, which meant that they had poked a hornet's nest. Since they had already taken the risk, it was better to carry it through to the end, and Veach's idea was ready to take action.
Veach imagined a pairing of Levi and Mahomes.
So Veach boldly recommended Mahomes to Reid.
Everyone knows the story behind it.
From the beginning, Vicky had already made a plan——
Mahomes is the future of the team. Smith will lead Mahomes for one season, and the team will be handed over to Mahomes next season.
What if Mahomes can't keep up?
It doesn’t matter, Vicky still has a backup plan.
In the 2018 season, perhaps Smith can be the main player in the first half and Mahomes can take over in the second half. Smith can also lead the rookies.
In fact, Mahomes' progress has been very smooth since joining the Kansas City Chiefs.
Smith has no grudges and no reservations, and fully teaches Mahomes. If this development continues, the Kansas Chiefs' quarterback position can complete the replacement of the old and the new in a harmonious atmosphere.
Perfect!
But unexpectedly, an accident occurred.
Smith had the best season of his career and the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl.
On the opposite side, the Philadelphia Eagles are facing a problem. They continue to use Foles or believe in Wentz; here, the Kansas City Chiefs are also in a dilemma of choice.
In particular, the media does not take it too seriously to watch the excitement, and one or two people fan the flames.
"Don't forget that Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers also played as a backup behind Favre for three years, and there is no problem for Mahomes to continue to play as a backup behind Smith for one year."
"The Kansas City Chiefs should keep Smith."
Vicky: The baby is feeling miserable, but he can't express it, and all plans are messed up.
(End of chapter)