Chapter 1294: Sharpening Their Blades Together
Again, and again, and once more, endlessly.
The entire League knows how outstanding the Kansas City Chiefs are, everyone knows how powerful Li Wei is, everyone knows the determination of the two-time defending champions, these damned media truly have no need to repeatedly mention it over and over, like a maddening chant in the brain.
As if he, Lamar Jackson, were some sort of caveman.
Damn it!
Yet, the media continues aggressively fanning the flames, visibly watching as Jackson's dark face gradually loses its smile, starting to twitch, and finally stiffening.
"Lamar, do you remember the '19:41' tragedy in the third week of the regular season? At that time, you also believed you could beat Li Wei, but the outcome was different. Next, you'll be facing the 'Playoff Chief', are you sure your determination isn't blind confidence?"
Incessant, never-ending.
Jackson kept telling himself, the reporters are trying to provoke him, he can't fall for it, but ultimately he couldn't control it. Just like that, unexpectedly, without any warning, the string of reason taut in his mind snapped directly, and fury erupted fully.
Like a tsunami, it surged forth.
"I will defeat him. Did you hear that?"
"I, Lamar Jackson, will beat Li Wei, I will defeat Li Wei fair and square, proving that I am a better player than him, proving that the next ten years of the NFL belong to me, he is just a summer thunderstorm, seeming grand but fleeting, his time is coming to an end."
"I will defeat him."
"I will step over his corpse to march to Miami and win the championship. I will prove with real action that everything that happened before was just coincidence, he's not worth mentioning, just wait and see, I will prove it all."
"Be it the regular season MVP, the Super Bowl, or the American League Championship meeting, I will win. All of them. Every single one. I will be the last one smiling."
"As for Li Wei, don't be afraid, absolutely don't lose before the American League Championship, only I in the whole league can defeat him, they better not break their promise."
"I've said my piece. I. Will. Win."
"Please bear witness!"
Furious, with an imposing manner, the entire media shrank back in fear at Jackson's fierce and wild demeanor, as the other Baltimore Ravens players kept trying to pull Jackson away, but no one could move him, leaving them trembling under Jackson's wrath.
After finishing what he had to say, Jackson glared around the room, glaring intensely at everyone, those eyes seemingly confirming one by one:
Do you still have an objection?
The room was silent, no one dared to give another response.
It wasn't until Jackson turned to leave that the reporters exchanged glances:
Ah, it seems that Li Wei is Jackson's heart demon.
Jackson: ...Damn it, Li Wei is your heart demon, your whole family's heart demon. Get lost!
Meanwhile, in San Francisco.
Garoppolo: Phew...
Exhaling a long breath, he couldn't help but feel relieved.
Fortunately, Jackson diverted all the hatred away, otherwise, the media would have endlessly pestered him with questions about Li Wei. At the moment, if he became the meme widely circulated on social media, there would be no peace for weeks.
Garoppolo clenched his fist silently, hehe, Li Wei and Jackson fighting each other like dogs, he could profit like a fisherman and seamlessly climb to the Super Bowl champion, reaping the benefits effortlessly, everything was perfect, oh yeah!
What "The Chosen One", what "League's First Man", what "The waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves in front of it, and the waves in front of it die on the beach", the one truly able to pull out the Sword in the Stone and inherit the throne of the New England Patriots and Brady Dynasty should be him, Jimmy Garoppolo, those media are all idiots.
With the League's focus all on the epic showdown of "Li Wei VS Brady VS Jackson", the National Conference was a land full of suspense, even teams like the San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, and New Orleans Saints had no guaranteed victory, making the focus spread out more.
However, Garoppolo had always been sharpening his sword.
He had been waiting arduously for this day for such a long time, serving as a backup with the New England Patriots for a full four years without receiving any attention, always hidden under Brady's halo; it wasn't till he transferred to San Francisco that the spotlight rightfully belonged to him, yet media and netizens mocked him as the "Pretty Boy"—
A label, a nickname, treating him like a vase, easily erasing all his efforts and sweat, as if he were just a Barbie doll.
Silently, Garoppolo kept persisting and fighting. Firmly believing his season would come.
And the result?
In the 2019 season, Garoppolo and the San Francisco 49ers finally shone, yet the criticism and questioning surrounding the "Pretty Boy" never ceased in the bustling media and social networks, densely packed, overwhelming, even now, the brilliance of Li Wei and Jackson still overshadowed him.
Hehe.
But this, just right, everything was perfect.
Nobody cared about him, everyone underestimated him, people all thought the "Pretty Boy" would stand there obediently posing, but his counterattack and rise could bring a shock.
"Surprise, take the stage!"
When he stands atop the Super Bowl, all glory and honor would return to him. Completely.
By then, he would stand at the top of the League and watch Li Wei and Jackson and their ilk hanging their heads in disappointment, he would stand at the center of the world and watch those haters and jealous ones with twisted expressions, he would hold the championship trophy smiling at all those who ignored, despised, and mocked him.
He, absolutely, one hundred percent, will stand on top!
The Super Bowl belongs to him.
...
Topics, topics, still topics—
Regardless of whether one admits or likes it, now Li Wei is indeed the League's First Man, with positive and negative, favorable and unfavorable topics revolving around Li Wei, which reached a new peak after the Kansas City Chiefs completed an undefeated season, everyone in the League craved to defeat Li Wei.
Defeating Li Wei this season would not only end the Kansas City Chiefs' dream of a three-peat but also serve as a wake-up call to Li Wei, igniting heated discussions, demonstrating that Li Wei is not invincible, and a running back shouldn't and can't represent the future of the NFL, making a name by stepping over Li Wei.
Lamar Jackson?
He's just a target, a topic machine.
Meanwhile, the New England Patriots' Brady, the Green Bay Packers' Rodgers, the San Francisco 49ers' Garoppolo, the Houston Texans' Watt, the Tennessee Titans' Henry, the Minnesota Vikings' Cousins, the Philadelphia Eagles' Wentz, and many others are eyeing fiercely.
One after another sharpening their swords.
In some way, like Brady and Garoppolo, they're relieved to be out of the media's radar, as Jackson absorbs all the firepower and focus, allowing them to prepare for the playoffs at their own pace and rhythm—
Everyone wants to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs, and everyone hopes to be the one who defeats the Kansas City Chiefs.
Like a Dragon Slayer.
This also means that Li Wei is in the open, while others are in the dark, and Jackson's aura even covers these contenders, which indeed is good news.
Amidst the roaring sounds, every corner resonates with the name Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei, so where is the protagonist at the center of this storm?