Dominate the Super Bowl

Donald was still the same Donald, showing no particular expression, even appearing slightly introverted and shy, yet confidence seemed to radiate from within.

Li Wei's lips slightly curled up, his head tilting, "Do I sense a 'boarding a bandit ship' feeling right now? Is that normal?"

With a calm demeanor, Donald nodded his head, his response steady, "It's normal. It shows that you also realize you're making a major life decision."

A smile crept across his lips as Li Wei held up the A4 paper in his hand, "Free?"

The training plan included a professional trainer, a nutritionist, and a masseuse — essentially a small training team —

Clearly, they were not volunteers. So, where would the funds to hire them come from?

Donald shook his head, "In this world, what is often free turns out to be the most expensive. I will advance these costs, and we'll settle after the draft is over."

Li Wei: Great, the "debt" from the University of Alabama had just been cleared not long ago, and here I am, taking on new debt and heading into battle light.

However, Donald was right. Compared to freebies, relationships where both parties lend and borrow, and brothers tally clear accounts prove to be more enduring.

After confirming the partnership, their first "negotiation" reached a consensus, marking a positive beginning.

After everything was explained, Donald left.

In the upcoming period, both Li Wei and Donald would be busy, with one final battle awaiting them on their path to the NFL.

Perhaps there were no gunsmoke, no flashing blades, nor confrontations, but the importance of this battle was no less significant than any championship contest.

...

"Knock knock!"

Li Wei patiently waited for a while, but when no response came from inside, he did not expect that the next second, the office door would open and Saban would appear before him.

Li Wei was somewhat surprised, "Coach."

Saban flashed a smile, peering outside left and right, "Aren't your fervent followers coming along?"

He cracked a rare joke.

Li Wei also relaxed a bit, "They stopped at the entrance to the stadium, thank God. They haven't yet managed to conquer our locker room."

A hint of amusement glinted in Saban's eyes as he gestured for Li Wei to come in, "Need a drink? I've only got Gatorade and mineral water here."

"Mineral water will do just fine," Li Wei said, taking his usual seat across Saban's desk.

Saban could instantly tell that Li Wei's hair was slightly damp, along with the sweat on the back of his jersey, suggesting that Li Wei must have just returned from training.

Though consistent throughout the season, seeing Li Wei like this again still made Saban involuntary marvel that real top players often had both talent and hard work, neither of which could be lacking, even leaning more towards the importance of hard work.

Because—

Those exceptionally talented players who dominated and ruled the college fields found themselves, upon entering the professional stage, surrounded by everyone at the top 1% - talents more fierce and freakish than the next, where their once-prideful gifts were nothing spectacular here.

At one time, they all believed that competitive sports were a game of competing innate gifts, but only upon reaching the top tier did they realize that talent was just the threshold. Inside the threshold, a bizarre world where one competes against 0.01% talent and 99.99% hard work existed.

Li Wei, exceptionally talented, was nonetheless just as hardworking.

Even though the nationwide championship had just ended, he remained vigilant.

Saban admitted he had been shortsighted, initially thinking Burns was just finding a reliable alternate substitute; but now realized Li Wei might amount to much more.

Yet he wondered, when entering the NFL, between Li Wei and another one of his disciples, Derrick Henry, who would climb to a higher position?

Saban was somewhat expectant.

Saban sat down as well, "So, coming to see me today, it means you and your parents have made a decision?"

Li Wei nodded, "Yeah, I want to try going professional."

Saban's countenance relaxed, revealing a rare smile of approval as he nodded slightly, "If you enter the draft, I guess everyone will be watching you this year."

"Firstly, because you've only switched to football for a year and are still an uncut gem. Even if teams have no interest in a running back, your progress to this position would pique their curiosity, whether they are critiquing or observing, the attention on you will be significant."

"Secondly, being of Chinese descent, there's currently no Chinese player starting in the NFL. It's like people coming to the circus for an oddity, no one wants to miss that."

In fact, the NCAA doesn't have one either.

However, NCAA teams are large, possibly consisting of eighty people; plus, the NCAA doesn't have salaries, so people aren't as closely watched.

"You can imagine, before Rookie Training Camp, the number of mini-training camps inviting you should be countless. In fact, I already have a stack here."

"Just now, someone called asking if you would enter the draft."

"But my opinion is, there's no need."

"Not a single one."

"Your popularity is already sufficient, joining more mini-training camps would be just monkey business; rather than wasting time and effort traveling around to camps, better to focus on training and then show your true capabilities at Rookie Training Camp."

Sincere, down-to-earth, friendly.

One could tell, Saban truly cared for Li Wei's well-being.

Li Wei felt warmed inside, "Alright, coach, actually, my agent just gave me the same advice."

Donald and Saban's opinions coincided.

Saban nodded slightly, but his expression showed a hint of concern, "Agent?"

Li Wei thought Saban was worried about breaking rules, "I haven't officially signed yet, I've accepted no bribes, it's just verbal for now."

Saban waved it off, "I trust you, I mean, who is the agent? Those agents are vampires, be careful not to be fooled easily."

His tone was earnest, like that of an elder.

Li Wei showed a smile, "Donald Yee. If coach has time, maybe you could find out more for me."

Saban made no pleasantries, "I'll make a few calls to check up on it."

Li Wei then handed Saban the training list Donald had just given him, "He suggested I start training on my own before Rookie Training Camp."

Saban took the sheet, glanced over it, his eyes revealing a hint of a smile, "It's Nash, I'll call him in a bit."

Seeing Li Wei's puzzled look, Saban remembered Li Wei knew almost nothing about football and explained, "Harold Nash, not much of a player, but top-notch in training."

"Since 2005, he's been the trainer for the New England Patriots, a full ten years now. He was supposed to take a break this off-season, hasn't yet, and already at least four teams have offered him opportunities, why would he agree to train a rookie?"

Those names on the sheet meant little to Li Wei, but now it seemed he was dealing with a big shot.

Li Wei could tell, Saban was very pleased with the list, "Oh, Donald is Tom Brady's agent."

Saban was taken aback, unable to hide his surprise, and then burst into laughter.