Chapter 707 The time has not come yet
Professional alliances are not monolithic to begin with. There are gaps between opinions and opportunities between interests.
Hunter believes that Bell's strike has indeed leveraged the league's interest alliances, giving room for development of different viewpoints around running backs and causing a lot of controversy.
At the same time, the running backs performed really well this year, and can even be said to have exploded. The Los Angeles Rams' Gurley, the Dallas Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliot, the New York Giants' Barkley, Carole McCaffrey of the Panthers, Henry of the Tennessee Titans, and so on, all have their own shining moments.
Obviously, the running backs are aware of the hidden potential meaning of Bell's strike, one by one, seizing the opportunity to prove the important value of running backs to football.
Of course, there are also the two running backs of the Kansas Chiefs, Levi and Hunter. The performance of running backs in the entire league shows a hundred flowers blooming and a hundred schools of thought contending.
Thanks to this, Hunter believes that the opportunity has come——
Opportunity to negotiate a restructured contract.
Hunter also knows the objective facts. First of all, he is the team's second running back. Currently, Levi should be the one who really has the right to speak in the league.
Secondly, they are all second-year students. When they joined the team, they signed four-year contracts. Even if they discuss contract renewal or restructuring of salary contracts, the fastest it should be is the offseason after the end of the third-year season, that is, In February 2020, it is still too early to start a discussion.
However, Hunter also has his own plans.
First of all, if they plan to restructure their contract after the end of the third-year season, considering Bell's past mistakes, they should not be led by the team, but start laying the groundwork now and prepare for their future to avoid making the same mistakes again.
Secondly, Hunter also knows his position as the No. 2 running back, so he does not expect his annual salary to set a new record. He is ready to fight for the salary contract of the No. 2 running back. Compared with a figure on the forefront like Levi, the second-in-command is not greedy. If so, negotiation will be easier.
In the end, if they want to accomplish this, they need to build momentum and make full use of the current situation in the alliance, so he cannot leave Levi alone.
So, during the bye week, Hunter approached Levi to formally discuss the matter.
In Hunter's view, Levi is now very successful. Not only has he not encountered the "rookie wall", but he has also delivered high-intensity output for the second consecutive season. He is undoubtedly the most popular player in the league at present; when he brought up the restructuring of his contract and Bell In times of crisis, Levi would definitely not refuse.
However.
Levi refused.
In Levi's opinion, the time has not yet come.
If it is a veteran running back, or a third-year player like Elliott of the Dallas Cowboys or Henry of the Tennessee Titans, who happens to be at the juncture of contract renewal or restructuring, then fully seize the opportunity in front of you to clear the name of the running back, If you also strive for your own interests, then there will be no problem——
Levi agrees 100%.
However, it is not shrewdness but greed for Levi and Hunter to start calculating carefully for their third-year restructured contracts now that they are only second-year players.
The reason is very simple, not only for running backs, but also for other positions including quarterbacks.
The NFL is a highly competitive game, and injuries and accidents abound. Players need to prove their stability and continuity in more games over a longer period of time. This is the key to winning big contracts.
Just look at the situation of quarterbacks such as Cousins and Keenum this offseason.
Sophomores, the second season has not yet ended, and they can’t wait to jump out and play. This is really too early, too early.
Levi believes that Hunter’s idea is that he has confidence in himself. He believes that he has lost his talent in the Kansas City Chiefs. He believes that he can be fully qualified to be the starting running back if he goes to other teams. He believes that if Levi does not pressure him The carp has long since transformed into a dragon and soared into the sky.
It is precisely because of this that Hunter is confident.
If the negotiations with the Kansas Chiefs go well, that would be great; if not, Hunter wouldn't mind transferring to another team in his third year.
On the surface, Hunter pulled Levi into a posture of "making progress and retreat together."
In fact, Hunter was actually planning to use Levi as a cover for himself.
Therefore, when Levi refused, Hunter was very angry, very, very angry. To be precise, he should be angry and put on a condescending attitude of "I am doing it for your own good and for the welfare of the league's running backs, but you don't know what is good for you." , in Levi's clear eyes that could see through people's hearts, Hunter turned and left angrily. Parted on bad terms.
In the next few weeks, there was no movement within the team. Levi thought Hunter had given up, at least for now, and might wait for the offseason to start again.
However, things took a turn for the worse——
Until today. Surprise or not, unexpected or not?
Instead of giving up, Hunter went underground.
If Levi guessed correctly, Hunter's agent should be communicating with team manager Vicky.
Judging from Clark's reaction, Veach may be really shaken and is seriously considering the running back's position in this team's tactical system.
The problem now is that Levi has no way of knowing what Hunter or Hunter's agent said to Levi in front of Vicky on their own initiative.
So, what’s next?
Will Vicki or Reed come to talk to Levi to confirm?
On the training ground, Reid and the coaching staff were already in place. Looking from a distance, Reid still looked attentive, and there was no abnormality at all.
Then, a figure quickly approached, and Levi immediately retracted his attention and became alert.
As soon as he turned around, Levi saw Hunter.
Hunter showed a smile and pointed to his head, "Be smart. I have already paved the way."
After saying that, without waiting for Levi to respond, Hunter rushed out on his own, with light steps and full of laughter. Anyone with a discerning eye could see his good mood.
Could it be that...Hunter has really reached an agreement?
Involuntarily, Levi looked at the coaching staff again.
Reid was no different from usual, and other members of the coaching staff headed by Childress did not smile——
On the surface, it looks like he is concentrating on his work as usual; but if you think about it seriously, today is just a recovery training, and there is really no need to be so tense and focused.
Unless... Agent Hunter convinces the coaching staff that Levi is not satisfied with the status quo and is preparing to make a move.
Unlike Hunter, Levi is the team's starting running back, captain of the offensive team, and spiritual leader of the team - at least he is growing into such a role step by step.
If Levi comes up with other different ideas in the middle of the season and when the playoffs are about to come, and even starts to test the team's intentions, then the chain effect may be more than that.
A small ripple can turn into a stormy sea if you are not careful.
In the Kansas City Chiefs, Levi has begun to have the ability to shake the locker room and even the team, from the inside out, from the outside in, without exception.
The matter is naturally no small matter.
It is precisely because of the unknown, and precisely because it is full of countless possibilities, that all kinds of random thoughts begin to waver, and there is a faint trace of uneasiness.
Li Wei: When people sit at home, pots come from the sky.
(End of chapter)