Chapter 946: 945 go their separate ways

Full-speed sprint, emergency brake–Mahomes hurriedly rearranged his expression, forcibly suppressing his excitement and joy, and politely greeted them.

He had thought Li Wei was watching game footage alone, but unexpectedly, Houston and Berry were also there. He quickly swallowed the words at the tip of his tongue.

Taking a deep breath, “Are you guys planning to join the rookie training camp too? Be prepared mentally because this year’s rookies are ready to strike big.”

At this moment, they were not in Kansas City but gathered in the scenic Miami, where the boundless orange-red sunset painted the blue ocean into a stunning shade of gold. Even the breeze tasted sweet.

Houston noticed Mahomes’ abrupt halt but didn’t mind or expose it. Instead, he followed Mahomes’ topic seamlessly.

“I’ve heard about it–this year JJ and Aron are both planning to attend your training camp? Our rookies are no joke; they go big from the start.”

Li Wei spread his hands, his expression full of helplessness. “I’ve already turned them down. If both show up, the training camp will immediately turn into a living hell. Yet, they came uninvited and insisted on crashing here regardless.”

“Sigh, I’ve got a headache now.”

This offseason, Li Wei was planning on going self-sufficient by organizing his own training camp, conducting targeted training to prepare for the new season.

But unexpectedly, rumors spread, and they came flocking–

The Watt brothers, all three, heard that TJ Watt was already sharpening his skills at home in preparation for a head-to-head match with Li Wei on the training grounds.

Bell also volunteered himself. After a year off the field, he was desperate for high-intensity training to raise his game because he knew the entire league was watching him.

Donald even went straight to Li Wei’s villa with his luggage, skipping any accommodations and occupying the guest room without hesitation.

Additionally, within the Kansas City Chiefs, a group of sophomores and juniors led by Chris Jones flooded Li Wei with inquiries about participating.

Something seemed slightly off.

Originally, Li Wei had planned a small-scale training camp for seven to ten participants, focusing less on intensity or strength training and more on resilience and endurance. He wanted to make full use of Miami’s geographical setting with projects on the beach, in the sea, and through forests to enhance adaptability to environmental challenges.

Reason one: The extreme weather during the American League Finals. Clearly, they were unprepared, as everyone was utterly drained by the time overtime hit.

Reason two: Li Wei himself had reached a bottleneck in his training. Further speed or strength progress showed no apparent effects, so he aimed to unlock his physical potential, stimulate growth, and find a breakthrough.

From outsiders’ perspectives, Li Wei had topped the championship podium for three consecutive seasons, from NCAA to NFL. He was already someone the league had to look up to, seemingly able to step down from his relentless growth.

But Li Wei thought differently.

If Li Wei had to bear Annie’s dreams and keep moving forward to fight; if he had to face challenges like Berry and Smith and seek breakthroughs, he had no choice but to relentlessly challenge himself.

After an intimate discussion with Coach Burns, Li Wei consulted his private training coach, Tony Villani, for an in-depth analysis of his physical condition, eventually crafting a detailed and unique training plan.

The result?

Now, Li Wei’s small-scale training camp had grown to include twenty participants. Watt and Donald outright abandoned their own camp plans and crowded into Li Wei’s, leaving Li Wei feeling both exasperated and amused.

News spread from one to ten, then to a hundred.

Half the league probably knew by now.

Once, people joked that Li Wei was Goodell’s lost illegitimate child as the league supported him, though no genuine pro players liked him.

And now?

Things clearly took off in an entirely different direction.

Berry chuckled heartily, “It’s just these young guys have too much energy and nowhere to spend it. Start charging fees–clear-cut charges–and see how they react.”

Houston added, “JJ and Aron would be the first to obediently pay up, and Patrick too. Rope in Travis, and the problem solves itself. The rest would all fall in line.”

Imagining the scenario, everyone burst into laughter.

But Houston and Berry didn’t linger for long. After some idle chatter, they both left one after the other.

Mahomes, bewildered, muttered, “Weren’t they coming here for the training camp?”

Li Wei smiled. “Their offseason training is focused on recovery and conditioning. Ours focuses on strengthening and improving–it’s naturally different.”

“They came to say goodbye.”

One sentence stunned Mahomes, causing him to exclaim in surprise.

“The earliest could be the day after tomorrow; the latest by next Monday, the official announcement will be out.”

“Justin wanted us to hear it directly before learning it through the media or official press release. Eric felt the same way.”

In just two short sentences, so much emotion was packed within.

Mahomes stood there in disappointment, speechless. “But why? I thought…”

His words were abruptly cut off.

Then, Mahomes’ shoulders slumped slightly.

“I know, nothing is eternal in the professional league. Transfers are as normal as anything else. Ultimately, it’s just a job. But I thought at least some things were special–they’re our captains, aren’t they?”

Li Wei remained silent.

Mahomes raised his gaze toward Li Wei only to find him gripping his teacup in contemplation. “Rookies?”

Li Wei snapped out of it. “Oh, sorry, got lost in thought.”

“Last season, we bid farewell to Alex. I thought I was beginning to adapt to the rhythm of professional leagues–we tried our best to stay objective. After all, separations aren’t always forever. When we meet again on the field next time, it’s still a reunion.”

“But evidently…”

Li Wei exhaled deeply. It was still hard.

And moreover, the Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive group’s two captains faced very different outcomes.

Houston’s contract expired this offseason, and he intended to sit down with the Kansas City Chiefs to negotiate an extension. He was even willing to restructure his salary, hoping to remain part of the team and their bid for a three-peat championship.

However, team manager Veach didn’t see things the same way. In the past season, Houston’s performance had significantly declined, leaving him in the playoffs running on fumes. The Kansas City Chiefs had no plans to renew his contract–they were ready to move forward.

The negotiations were anything but smooth, even ugly.

Houston didn’t deny it; he felt humiliated and underestimated. He was eager to continue fighting and prove Veach’s judgment wrong.

In some ways, Houston was right. His search for a new team went exceptionally well, as he had already finalized negotiations with the Indianapolis Colts.

What’s left is simply the medical checks and signing. The official news should be coming soon–Houston was ready to continue proving himself.

If Houston still had opportunities to speak up, then Berry’s situation was drastically different–a completely opposite one.

Berry was about to be released by the team.