Chapter 551: 550 reluctant to part Chapter 551: 550 reluctant to part Highest annual salary, fully guaranteed.
When those two key phrases combined, they created an unbelievable energy, and overnight, all eyes turned towards the Minnesota Vikings.
This fourth-round draft pick quarterback boldly entered the first highlight of his life.
The heated discussions just couldn’t stop.
It was precisely because of Cousins’ historic move that other news in the free agent market suddenly faded, including that of Smith.
On March 15th, a day after Cousins, the Washington Redskins and the Kansas City Chiefs jointly announced official news:
Smith had officially joined the Washington Redskins.
The trade cost them a 2018 second-round pick, a third-round pick, and third-year cornerback Kendall Fuller.
According to rumors, the Kansas City Chiefs initially tried to get a first-round pick because of their series of moves in last year’s draft, leaving this year’s first-round pick in the hands of the Buffalo Bills; Veach tried to make amends.
However, the Washington Redskins, also planning to rebuild the team around their new starting quarterback, refused; in the end, considering the salary cap issue of a first-round pick, Veach settled for a cornerback instead.
The Kansas City Chiefs received the draft picks and the desperately needed cornerback, while the Washington Redskins got a cornerstone quarterback, gaining valuable space for their overhaul.
Subsequently, the Washington Redskins announced that they had signed Smith to a four-year, $116 million contract with an annual salary of $29 million, breaking the record set by Cousins just a day earlier to become the league’s new salary cap ceiling.
Cousins’ deal was fully guaranteed, while Smith’s guarantee was only $65 million, plus a $27 million signing bonus.
Once compared, the difference was clear.
Opinions on this matter varied widely.
Some admired Cousins’ shrewdness, others lamented Smith’s missed opportunity, some marveled at the Minnesota Vikings overpaying, some were curious about Smith’s prospects with the Washington Redskins, some felt Smith wasn’t worth the salary, and yet others believed Smith had made the right choice.
With Cousins paving the way and Smith following suit, this off-season’s free market was exceptionally lively with the 2018 season barely underway and already filled with smoke from the battles.
On one hand, he knew this was the goal he was pursuing, an annual salary of $29 million which made him one of the league’s top earners.
Though this record was not likely to last long, awaiting the Green Bay Packers and Rodgers to renew their contract, the threshold of $30 million a year would be easily surpassed; but at least he had his moment, however brief.
Following being a Super Bowl Champion, he had achieved another goal.
On the other hand, he felt lost and reluctant to let go.
Once he had truly believed he could play in Kansas City until retirement, he had given his all to this city that had welcomed him with open arms in his time of need, and then, undoubtedly, he would have turned around and left football.
But things are unpredictable, and plans can’t keep up with changes; he still had to leave.
And, he would leave as a villain.
If he appeared now on the streets of Kansas City, he would probably not be met with praise and cheers but rather a barrage of curses and middle fingers, and even people spitting at him.
A voice came from behind, it was his wife Elizabeth.
Smith quickly collected himself, squeezing out a smile, pretending nothing was wrong.
But Elizabeth hugged her husband tightly.
“Actually, you didn’t have to come back, you could have just left everything to the moving company.”
Smith nodded, “I know, but I wanted to say goodbye in person.”
Elizabeth let out a long sigh, “But nobody wants to say goodbye to you.”
Smith showed a bitter smile, “This was my own choice, remember?”
Elizabeth shook her head, “But nobody knows that.”
Smith, “It’s okay, rookie knows.
The rookie will bear the captain’s responsibility and continue to lead the team forward.
Choosing Washington Redskins, one small reason was that they belonged to the National Conference and would only meet teams from the American League every four years.
Next season, the Washington Redskins and the Kansas City Chiefs wouldn’t encounter each other.
Smith didn’t want to face the Chiefs so soon.
Elizabeth sighed softly, “You understand all that…”
Smith gave a bitter smile, “Yeah, I understand, but I still can’t let go.”
Even though it was his own choice, leaving Kansas City as a traitor, sneaking away like a dog without a home, still made Smith heartbroken.
Elizabeth felt a surge of displeasure and mercilessly teased him with a “serves you right,” but her words were harsher than her feelings, and she hugged Smith again.
Smith finally found a bit of a smile, “I thought you’d be happy.”
Elizabeth had once been a cheerleader for the Oakland Raiders, and they were mortal enemies with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Elizabeth murmured, “Yeah, yeah, I’m thrilled, finally about to leave this damn place.”
Despite her words, Elizabeth secretly rubbed her eyes to hide her disarray.
No one knew better than Elizabeth how Smith felt when he left San Francisco for Kansas City—utterly despondent and without love for life.
It was Reed, the Chiefs, this city, that had brought back his smile and his confidence.
The thought of leaving amidst a torrent of jeers, even if it was Smith’s choice, made Elizabeth feel so upset that it was almost suffocating.
The children hadn’t come along; they’d gone ahead to Washington with their grandparents.
The couple quickly packed up their possessions, leaving the bulky furniture for the moving company, and they left the house dragging their suitcases.
Smith drove to Arrowhead Stadium, wanting to say one last goodbye.
From afar, Smith saw an endless sea of red.
He was stunned, his mind unable to process what was happening:
Could it be that other players joining the Kansas City Chiefs had arrived at the stadium?
The next second, Smith saw his own portrait being waved high.
Caught off-guard, Smith hit the brakes hard, stopping the car and burying his head in the steering wheel, his tears uncontrollable.
The wind outside the window brought calls.
“Hey, we agreed, once a Chief, always a Chief, don’t forget that.”
“This has been an extraordinary journey, thank you.”
“The next time we meet it’ll be as enemies, but today you are still our captain.”
In the bustling and noisy scene, tens of thousands of voices combined into a continuous chant.
Elizabeth couldn’t hold back either, looking at the dazzling sea of red before her, sobbing uncontrollably, her memory instantly returning to that spring five years ago.
She remembered, it was a gloomy day with bad weather, but the city had opened its warm embrace to welcome them.
In the blink of an eye, time had flown, Arrowhead Stadium was still the same Arrowhead Stadium, and the fans were still the same fans; it seemed as if everything was completely different, yet nothing had changed at all.
The spring breeze blew briskly, the sunlight tore through the clouds and poured down, illuminating the sea of red before them.