Chapter 563: 562 The Dream Returns Chapter 563: 562 The Dream Returns “Rookie, what should I do?
Which direction should I run?”
“Champion, ah, we are the champions!”
“After next season ends, I will officially say goodbye to the football field.”
“No, I don’t know either, maybe I’ll become a real estate agent or a plumber.”
“I still believe in dreams, but…
about football dreams, I’ve persevered long enough, fought hard enough, achieved what should have been achieved, and as for those that haven’t been realized, I’ll leave them as a memory.”
“Even if I change tracks, I can still keep moving forward.”
I’m also a member of the Crimson Tide Storm.”
“Roar, Crimson Tide.”
The memories are still vivid.
Back then, standing at the crossroads of life, graduating from college to entering society, they needed to grow up, face life, and make choices, stepping forward into an unknown tomorrow with confusion and bewilderment.
No one knew where time would sweep them off to.
They did not know if they would meet again, nor what they would look like or what situation they would be in when they did meet, so they scattered to the ends of the earth.
When he saw Clark again, Li Wei was completely taken by surprise, even more excited and moved than when he saw Coach Burns.
Clark had never left football, never gave up believing in dreams, never set aside his dignity and pride to blandly blend into the mediocrity and apathy, ultimately returning to the embrace of his dreams in his own way, at his own pace.
Clark’s voice trembled slightly, but he still mustered the courage to stand tall, proudly showing his smile, and waved to Li Wei.
When he saw Li Wei fighting with all his might on the TV screen, when he saw the combative spirit and menacing aura in Li Wei’s eyes, when he saw Li Wei standing in a desperate situation still refusing to give up.
He knew, the dream of football still burned fiercely in his chest.
Maybe, he couldn’t step onto the field as a player to continue the fight; but that didn’t mean the dream couldn’t be realized, he could become a coach, continuing his football dream in another way.
He became Burns’s assistant, starting from zero, learning the transformation from football player to football coach, and opening the door to a whole new world—
Dreams make life bearable.
But neither Clark nor Burns had anticipated such a reunion, once again gathering together with Li Wei in the NFL.
Things seem to have changed, yet they also seem never to have changed at all.
So, what should be said.
From the moment Clark learned that he was going to Kansas with Burns, he couldn’t contain his excitement, even telling Jacobs and the others to all chip in ideas, secretly planning a surprise for Li Wei, imagining Li Wei’s reaction and couldn’t help feeling happy.
But when he actually stood in front of Li Wei, his mind went blank.
Should he thank Li Wei?
For making him believe in dreams, for making him refuse to surrender and give up, for making him refuse to compromise and admit defeat, for making him believe that life could hold more possibilities.
A simple thank you was on the tip of his tongue, he wanted to say, “I didn’t give up on football”; but suddenly, he realized how insignificant the power of words was, barely able to describe the emotions he had felt over the past two years.
After the greeting, the words just disappeared at the throat.
In the end, it was Li Wei who spoke up.
“Hey, master, do you have time today?
I need to train my footwork.”
Rustling, all eyes looked over—
What important figure could make Li Wei call him master?
Adding a new, unfamiliar Burns, the training ground was slightly noisy.
Clark felt somewhat embarrassed; it had indeed been a long time since he had heard that nickname, but his memory immediately took him back to Bryant Denny Stadium.
Clark nodded, everything was just like when he first met Li Wei, “Alright.”
The smile on Li Wei’s lips fully blossomed, and his mood soared to the skies.
Indeed, this year’s off-season had its difficulties and farewells; the Professional League had shown its ruthless side to them, everything was business, everything was numbers, and if you invested too much emotion, you would definitely be the one who got hurt in the end.
It was the same for players, coaches, and even team managers—
They were all workers.
But at the same time, this off-season also brought reunions and gains, new friendships, new teammates, new challenges; stepping into a brand-new season was yet another fresh start, life once again became interesting.
“Rookie, who is that?”
“What exactly is going on?
Do you know the new coach?”
Chattering incessantly, not just the running backs, other players also pricked up their ears.
Before Li Wei could answer, Kelsey, already well-informed, had ferreted out the truth, “Coach Burns, former running backs coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm.”
Kelsey, “Hey, guys, this is the master who pulled the rookie from mixed martial arts to football.”
“So, this gentleman is the mastermind behind all the tough times we’ve been through.”
A playful remark made everyone around burst into laughter.
Until the crowd dispersed and everyone began warming up, Hunter couldn’t hold back and stealthily approached Li Wei, whispering a comment.
“Rookie, what do you think?”
Hunter, visibly irritable, “Bell.
He didn’t go to the training camp today.
Le’Veon Bell, his contract renewal negotiations with the Pittsburgh Steelers had reached a stalemate.
Among the numerous quarterback headlines this off-season, the conflict between Bell and the Pittsburgh Steelers hadn’t attracted much attention since both parties were still at the negotiating table.
Sometimes the Steelers claimed progress was going well, other times there were leaks that Bell was dissatisfied with the conditions; the rumors, both true and false, flew all over the place, continuously tugging at the heartstrings of Steelers fans.
Running backs were also paying attention.
Just like the quarterbacks, once a quarterback managed to break the ceiling of the highest annual salary, it meant other quarterbacks could follow suit.
So when Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings signed a fully guaranteed contract, all the quarterbacks in the league were watching.
The same logic applied to running backs now.
If Bell could break the heavy prejudice weighing on running backs’ heads and secure a major contract, other running backs would inevitably be able to quickly follow suit, completely changing the passive situation of running backs in the salary market.
Hunter was no exception.
Today, the voluntary training camp opened, every Kansas City Chiefs player attended, not a single one was missing, indirectly proving that Veach’s off-season work was going smoothly; but the Pittsburgh Steelers could no longer keep the news under wraps.
Because Bell’s absence from the training camp declared his stance in such a manner.
The conflict, out in the open.
Although all sorts of reports had been flying around before and endless speculations were heard, it was only now that it really came to light.
Now, the stalemate between the Steelers and their star running back was laid bare under the broad daylight, the entire league watching, constantly observing the movements.
No wonder, from the start of the training camp today, Hunter’s expression had been quite strange.
Clearly, Hunter too was restless and ready to move.