Ron Rivera urgently needed a running back.
At the beginning of this year, during the 50th Super Bowl, the Black Panthers’ offensive group was brutally dominated by the Broncos’ defensive group, getting thrashed to the point of helplessness.
The general criticism outside was that the Black Panthers’ offensive line provided poor pocket protection, and quarterback Newton’s tactical choices at critical moments were also questionable.
But as the head coach, Rivera’s thinking was very clear; he knew that they couldn’t always rely on Newton’s legs—not only because Griffin’s predicament was a warning from the past but also because the team’s offensive strategy relied too heavily on Newton’s read option. Once it was figured out, they would be doomed.
They needed an excellent running back to share the pressure, shift the focus, and enrich the tactics.
Li Wei was just right.
The reason was very direct; those unfavorable factors on Li Wei, in Rivera’s eyes, were advantages—what being Asian, what only getting in touch with football in April, what lacking in match experience.
These factors that might affect the draft position were actually advantages that Rivera could use to convince Gettleman to pick a running back through the draft—perhaps in the sixth or seventh round, they could select a running back with an exceptionally high cost-performance ratio.
They needed to seize such an opportunity.
The only thing to consider was whether this running back truly possessed potential?
Rivera trusted Saban’s ability; what was more important was his trust in Burns’s judgment. Li Wei’s emergence and his mysterious aura were backed by the trust of these two fine judges of talent. If they didn’t believe in Li Wei’s ability, he wouldn’t have been able to become the main running back of the Crimson Tide Storm.
Immediately, Rivera felt a surge of excitement and picked up the phone.
"Connect me to the scouting office."
Meanwhile.
In the Jacksonville Jaguars’ general manager’s office, David Caldwell couldn’t contain his excitement and agitation as he examined the document more closely, feeling more and more satisfied with it.
Knock knock.
Right at that moment, someone knocked on the door. Upon Caldwell’s permission, a figure pushed the door open—it was none other than the head coach, Gus Bradley.
"David?" Bradley’s expression was somewhat serious, and seeing Caldwell’s excited face upon entering, an ominous premonition arose within him.
Caldwell slid the document toward him, "What do you think about us selecting a running back next year?"
"How did you find him?" Bradley looked up and asked.
Caldwell revealed a smile, "It appears you haven’t read today’s newspaper. NCAA opening game, also today’s hot topic in football, this kid is the running back for Crimson Tide Storm."
Bradley’s eyes lit up, "Saban!"
Caldwell nodded, "More importantly, this is a Hua Xia native."
Bradley was stunned: So what?
Caldwell expressed regret and frustration at Bradley’s lack of comprehension, "The Hua Xia market."
Bradley: ...Can he curse?
The Jacksonville Jaguars had been performing terribly for several seasons in a row now, the team never showed improvement, the roster was a complete mess, filled with either veterans past their prime or young troublemakers. Those players who truly had ambition and aspiration did not want to stay here any longer, it was simply a disaster.
As a result, the team manager didn’t contemplate how to build a competitive roster, instead considering how to market the team, trying to get a piece of the big pie—
No wonder!
No wonder the League pushed for the expansion of the overseas market, holding regular-season games in cities like London, Munich, Mexico City, Tottenham, and the Jacksonville Jaguars were the first to respond enthusiastically, signing a series of participation contracts with the League!
Now, Caldwell had set his sights on the world’s largest market.
Bradley was so choked up he almost passed out.
But Bradley still controlled himself—
Maybe his calculations differed from Caldwell’s, but as long as the final effect was the same, there was no problem.
Bradley decided to ignore Caldwell, as long as the running back could satisfy.
"Haha, a smart move." Bradley said with a plastic smile, then quickly shifted the subject, "But if we can think of it, so can others. We need to move quickly."
Caldwell smiled mysteriously, not at all hiding his smugness, "Of course. I’ve already made the calls. Scouts nearby are on their way; we must seize the opportunity."
When Joshua Brand stood at the entrance of Bryant Denny Stadium, he looked around and let out a long sigh:
Weren’t they saying running backs didn’t get much attention? So what was with this spectacle before him?