Staring at the sincere look on Lance's face, Smith knew he hadn't misjudged him.
After going through this season, especially the ups and downs of the playoffs, they had indeed built a bond of brotherhood—something more precious than victory and championships.
"Rookie, thank you."
Lance: ??? Where did that come from? How did the topic suddenly jump here? "I wasn't planning on paying for this meal."
"Haha." Smith burst out laughing. "So many endorsement deals, and you can't even treat me to one meal?"
"Heh, says the Super Bowl quarterback who's gunning for a max contract." Lance wasn't one to back down.
Smith's mood brightened all at once. It wasn't just the smile; the heavy burden on his chest seemed to completely lift, and he appeared utterly relaxed.
"What I mean is, thank you for inspiring me."
"I never dared to dream because winning a Super Bowl seemed too grand, too distant. But we did it. We're Super Bowl champions now."
"I never thought that title could be associated with me."
"It's been an unbelievable, magnificent journey. To walk this path with you, shoulder to shoulder, all the way to the end—that's my honor. Looks like God hasn't completely given up on me."
"But now, it's time to say goodbye."
Smith looked at Lance, neither avoiding nor dodging his gaze. His eyes were clear and calm. For the first time, he was honestly facing himself, with no pretense.
"We both know that the team's transformation, the Super Bowl victory—it depended on you, not me."
Lance was just about to speak, but Smith preemptively stopped him.
"I know, I know, it was the strength of the team. Everyone played their role; that's why the play-action worked."
"But you were the soul."
"Not just because you threw the final pass, but because you made the team believe we could turn things around. You made me brave enough to step up and block. You made Hunt put aside past grievances and give his all. You made us believe in victory. Standing at the edge of the cliff, you held the whole team together."
"For that, I've always been grateful and felt lucky—lucky to have walked this journey with you."
"But next, I want to walk on my own."
Lance slightly opened his mouth, as if realizing something.
Smith gave him a firm nod: You are right.
"You gave me confidence. You made me believe I still have potential and possibilities. I want to prove to myself and to the league that without Lance, I can still be an excellent quarterback. I can be the key to a team's success. I can use my own power to change the temperament of a team."
"Hey, don't forget, quarterbacks are the real stars in football, right? You stole my spotlight. Now I want my own solo stage."
A bit of a joke, a bit of teasing.
But more than anything, it was genuine. Being honest about his weaknesses, honest about his desires, and honest about his ambitions.
That took courage—a kind of courage far greater than anyone could imagine.
In front of him, Smith had truly transformed, growing into a qualified leader—not just a quarterback, but the soul of a team.
"Captain," Lance called out sincerely. "I wish you good luck."
Then.
Lance raised his glass, glancing at the water inside. "I've got training this afternoon, so let's keep it simple."
"Haha." Smith laughed out loud, also raising his glass of water. "Thank you."
A toast.
They drank it all in one go.
Though it was just water, it tasted like alcohol.
Setting the glasses down, both Lance and Smith relaxed. Business was settled, and now it was time to enjoy a proper lunch.
Smith seemed to have fully entered a state of relaxation. "Rookie, what do you think of New York?"
Lance blinked. "You mean for living or vacationing?"
Smith gave Lance a meaningful look. This guy knew exactly what he was asking but was pretending not to. "The Giants."
Lance's eyes widened. "Wait, so you've already been contacted?"
Smith didn't deny it. "Right after the Super Bowl. So far, six teams."
More than one.
But thinking it over, it wasn't that surprising.
The whole league was suffering from a quarterback shortage—not just at every draft but also in the free-agent market, where experienced veteran quarterbacks were in high demand.
Last season, the Kansas City Chiefs chose Mahomes with the tenth overall pick. The whole league saw it, and Smith's future in Kansas City became a hot topic. After the Super Bowl, teams getting restless and reaching out to Smith behind the Chiefs' back was practically expected.
And it wasn't just one—it was six.
That alone spoke volumes about Smith's market value.
And this was before Smith made any public statement. Other teams had assumed that the Chiefs were negotiating a contract extension, and many were still watching from the sidelines. Once Smith's agent started moving, the competition would spring up like mushrooms after the rain.
What really piqued Lance's curiosity was just how desperate these six teams were for a quarterback. For them to approach Smith while he was still in negotiations with Kansas City meant their quarterback situations must be dire. But thinking it over, there were plenty of teams across the league with quarterback problems.
Smith noticed the curiosity flashing in Lance's eyes and chuckled. "You can ask. I don't mind."
Lance put on a mock-wounded expression. "Captain, do I really look that nosy to you? I thought I maintained a good image throughout last season."
"Haha." Smith laughed. "No, it's just that I want to brag a little. When I left San Francisco, I never imagined I'd have a day like this."
Lance, "So, who are the teams?"
Smith didn't hold back. "Denver."
Denver Broncos?
That made sense.
Since Manning's retirement, the Super Bowl 50 champions had fallen into a quarterback quagmire, and the team deeply regretted forcing Manning out. No matter how old, an experienced quarterback would still be miles ahead of their current situation. If Manning had stayed, Denver might not have fallen from Super Bowl champs to division bottom-feeders.
Elway, who had championed bringing Manning from the Colts to Denver, was now reaping the consequences of his own decisions. His days running the team were not easy.
Lance didn't hide his surprise. The Broncos and the Chiefs were divisional rivals. If Elway was personally reaching out to Smith's agent, things must have gotten really bad.
Smith nodded to confirm—he was just as surprised.
Then.
"Buffalo."
"Miami."
"Jacksonville."
A pause. "Oh, right. Jacksonville hasn't called you? They hinted at wanting me and the Super Bowl MVP to reunite in Jacksonville."
From the AFC Championship Game, it was clear that Jacksonville's passing game was a mess. Bortles was struggling, and even his own teammates were taking shots at him. But it was still a bit of a surprise that they would seek out Smith.
The real surprise, though, was in Smith's last sentence.
Lance caught the meaningful look Smith shot him, completely puzzled. "Why is it that the person involved doesn't know about this?"
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Powerstones?
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