Dominate the Super Bowl-Chapter 550

Chapter 550: 549 Business Capability Chapter 550: 549 Business Capability On March 14, the NFL 2018 free agency market officially opened, undoubtedly becoming the busiest and most bustling day across the entire league.

According to official league statistics, there were over five hundred and fifty transactions that day, with all thirty-two teams involved without exception, vigorously marking the beginning of the new season.

Among them, the whereabouts of the Super Bowl Champions Kansas City Chiefs’ main quarterback, Smith, attracted significant attention and sparked intense discussions.

Logically and emotionally, the Kansas City Chiefs’ decision not to retain Smith was a minor shock and surprise, something the league hadn’t anticipated.

Over the past half-month, Chiefs fans had protested loudly, demanding that the Super Bowl champions keep their key player to victory.

However, insider information soon revealed.

The core reason the Chiefs and Smith couldn’t reach an agreement was down to salary demands that the Chiefs’ salary cap couldn’t accommodate, and letting him go was a reluctant move.

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Viewed from another angle, from the Chiefs’ decision to pick Mahomes in the first round of last season, Smith should have realized that his time at Arrowhead Stadium was counting down, but the Super Bowl was a surprise, and seizing the opportunity to leave Kansas City to seek a big contract—

That was truly the wise decision.

With these analyses surfacing, the Kansas City fans gradually quieted down.

A small portion of fans hurled insults at Smith, viewing his greed as revealing his true nature.

They felt he betrayed the Chiefs’ recognition, failed the city’s trust, and prioritized money above all, and he should be ousted from Kansas City.

But, it was futile.

The deed was already done.

The question then was, which team would Smith join?

Countless eyes focused on this, sparking widespread heated discussions.

Reality, however, brought more surprises.

Unexpectedly, on the opening day of the free market, a dark horse completely stole the spotlight and attention fiercely surged towards Minneapolis.

This time, not because of the Super Bowl.

The Minnesota Vikings, after a disappointing National Conference finals run last season, reflected deeply and initiated a series of aggressive moves during this offseason.

After failing in the pursuit of Smith, the team quickly shifted strategies.

And, on the opening day of the free market, they stole the entire league’s attention.

First, last season’s starting quarterback and former number one pick Sam Bradford was traded to the Arizona Cardinals.

Second, Case Keenum, who had a sensational performance as a backup last season becoming a talking point for the latter half of the season, was traded to the Denver Broncos.

In a breath, not one quarterback, but two quarterbacks were cleared out, and the Minnesota Vikings, like holding a massive clearance sale, transferred both quarterbacks out, clearing the spots and cap space, all while making way for a new target—

Cousins.

Eventually, the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Redskins completed a trade acquisition for Cousins, who had been tagged with franchise tags for the past two seasons.

All these aggressive moves, just for Cousins?

Of course, if that was all, it would be sensational but wouldn’t have shaken the entire league, even though Cousins proved himself as a top-tier quarterback over two seasons, enough for the Vikings who faced a bitter defeat in the National Conference final to make a dramatic move.

The real sensation lay in the contract.

Cousins signed a three-year, eighty-four million US Dollar contract with the Vikings, with an annual salary of twenty-eight million US Dollars making Cousins the league’s highest-paid player, easily surpassing other top-tier quarterbacks—

He had never even won two consecutive playoff games.

While everyone knew quarterback contracts were heavily overvalued, could it really be to this extent?

Absurd.

More absurd was what followed: full guarantee.

This was the first fully guaranteed contract in NFL history.

Full guarantee means no injury clauses, no performance or victory conditions, nothing at all, everything covered.

To explain in the most exaggerated and extreme way, even if Cousins joined the Vikings and suffered an injury during training camp that ruled him out for the season, never taking the field even in the preseason, his salary for the first season of twenty-eight million US Dollars would still be fully paid.

This is full guarantee.

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Leaving aside the annual salary figures, the core issue that players and teams have been incessantly negotiating is the part about full guarantees.

Teams couldn’t easily concede because once they did, under the constraints of the hard salary cap, it would be akin to cutting off their own retreat.

Moreover, it’s crucial to realize that this could set off a chain reaction.

Once the first full-guarantee contract emerged, other players might follow suit, and teams would inevitably face tremendous pressure; hence, there exists an unspoken agreement among team owners that full-guarantee contracts are practically impossible.

Even key players like Manning, Brady, Rodgers, and Brees needed thorough consideration.

So,

it wasn’t until now that the first full-guarantee contract in league history appeared.

But can you believe it’s Cousins?

Did the uniform team of the Minnesota Vikings lose their minds?

Washington Redskins: We told you so.

In the past, there were rumors that Cousins’s negotiation skills far surpassed his on-field abilities, but the league was still skeptical; now, it seems the Washington Redskins weren’t lying.

This has now caused a sensation throughout the league.

Firstly, by setting a record for the highest salary.

Secondly, full guarantee.

Not just the players, but the entire teams were also stunned.

Top to bottom, nearly everyone’s minds were engulfed by a storm—

At the forefront, Le’Veon Bell.

This star running back from the Pittsburgh Steelers had been striving diligently for a huge contract over the past two seasons, believing his performance deserved recognition.

Moreover, since the Pittsburgh Steelers were no longer the traditional strong defensive team, often relying on offense to clinch victories, Bell’s value had also substantially increased.

However, in the third year of Bell’s rookie contract, the Pittsburgh Steelers had refused his request for an extension, which had already caused him slight dissatisfaction.

Despite this, Bell diligently completed his third and fourth rookie years, becoming the league’s top running back; but what did Bell get?

An exclusive franchise tag.

Again, in the 2017 season, Bell delivered a top-three running back performance in the league, proving himself for three consecutive years.

Then, coming to the offseason, Bell hoped he could get corresponding recognition, but the Pittsburgh Steelers kept stalling, especially on the part of the guarantees, and no consensus was ever reached.

Now, seeing Cousins’ ordeal, who also had franchise tags in two consecutive seasons and still proved his capability in the previous season, Bell’s mind suddenly grew active.

The first thing he did was call his agent, only to receive explanations and deflections, and more persuasions to be patient, patient, patient.

Jesus Christ, he had been patient for two years, how much longer was he supposed to wait?

“Cousins?”

“Cousins!”

“Damn Cousins got a full guarantee, what’s his level, what’s mine?

Can’t I even secure a contract with a twenty million US Dollar annual salary?”

“Don’t tell me running back and quarterback aren’t the same.”

“Don’t!”

“If you can’t do it, I can contact Cousins’s agent.

I believe he wouldn’t mind trying to secure a history-making contract for the top running back of the past four seasons, striving for more honor for him.”

“Damn!”

“Screw you.”

“Damn!”

After a furious diatribe, Bell violently threw his phone onto the ground.