Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks.
The PNWS staff voted on this year’s Top-10 sports people in the Pacific Northwest. After the votes were tallied, ex-Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson finished eighth. I had him at the top of my list because, in my opinion, RW3 was arguably the year’s biggest story.
So, where to start in this saga? With the information we have been given over the past few years, this started two years ago with Wilson (voted the NFL Man of the Year) sitting in the Commissioner’s Box at Super Bowl 55, watching Tom Brady win yet another ring.
But this time, it was different for the G.O.A.T. He was on a brand new team with new coaches and teammates. It was smack in the middle of Covid restrictions, so getting in that extra work to get timing down was non-existent. You could see it clearly on Russ’s face during the broadcast that he was fuming inside, wanting to return to the big game.
During the offseason, there were rumblings that Russ was not happy with the team and Pete Carroll and John Schneider specifically. At some point, his agent released a list of teams where Russ would accept a trade. He still maintains he did not ask to be traded. But, let’s be honest, Wilson did basically ask out of Seattle. He gave reasons like his offensive line play, play calling from the OC, and the total amount of sacks he has had to endure.
Most of us that have watched his career know that a decent size portion of his sacks has been self-inflicted. Due to holding onto the ball too long trying to make the big play. How often have we seen him pirouette into a big sack for a loss of ten or more yards?
Well, the Seattle Seahawks didn’t move Wilson that off-season and went into the 2021 season with high hopes. As they have most years since Wilson joined the team. But early on, Russ dislocated his middle finger on his throwing hand and had to have pins inserted. He rushed to get back, defying odds and only missing four games instead of the typical six to ten weeks.
The first two games back, though, it was clear that Russ was not himself. He was pressing and unable to make throws. So, the Seahawks finished the season with a thud and did not make the playoffs.
Now comes the off-season of 2022, and Carroll said all the right things about how the Seattle Seahawks do not want to move Russ. However, it’s hard to imagine if the coach believed what he was saying.
On the other hand, Russ was in a “him or me” mode. Once it was obvious to Russ that owner Jody Allen wasn’t going to ax the entire coaching staff and Schneider, it was time for Wilson to move on.
Here is where I take issue with RW3 and how things played out with the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson had a no-trade clause and definitely controlled where he could go. And many 12’s acted like this was Pete and John’s fault. Russ COULD have stayed in Seattle and honored his contract. Maybe even re-up and play his entire career here, BUT he didn’t.
Russ decided he had enough, which was his call. Usually, when a star wants to leave and has a decent standing with management, they work together to get the best deal for both player AND team.
After he was finally traded to Denver, it was reported that Philadelphia and Washington offered more for Russ’s services. Maybe Wilson didn’t want to go that far east. Or maybe he wasn’t impressed with the players those teams had, but those teams were not barren of talented players. Both teams have good to great defenses and excellent wide receivers for him to target.
But no, Russ held out for Denver. This put Schneider in a bad position. He had no leverage to get the best deal from Denver. So, the Seattle Seahawks end up with a pair of first-round picks instead of the three offered by the others. They also settled for Drew Lock, Noah Fant, and Shelby Harris. If he were a “team guy,” getting the best return he could for him would’ve been helpful and brought him closer to home.
Eventually, history will show that the Seahawks still won this trade. Unfortunately, we will not know for a good five years or more.
After all the picks have been made and a couple of years played by said players. So far, the Hawks have obtained a TE, DT, and QB plus a starting left tackle for the next decade and an edge rusher. That haul doesn’t even count the two picks Seattle acquired in next year’s draft, both a first and second-rounder. Who knows, those could be packaged to move up and take one of the prize QBs in next year’s draft. IF that happens, this trade will be very lopsided in Seattle’s favor.
Even though he isn’t on a local team anymore, his impact on the Pacific Northwest is undeniable.