Backing away so fast from the trade talk that he generated last winter, Russell Wilson left virtual skid marks.
But after a half-hour video conference Thursday otherwise filled with the schmaltzy platitudes we have come to expect — conveying affection for all things Seahawks and Seattle — Wilson, in his first interview since The Disturbance, finally let slip something that genuinely explained his dour mood.
Sitting in the commissioner’s suite at the Super Bowl in Tampa — he was being honored as the NFL’s Man of the Year for his charity works — watching 43-year-old Tom Brady cut up the Kansas City Chiefs, Wilson was miserable.
“Listen, when I’m sitting at the Super Bowl and watching the Super Bowl, I should be pissed off, right?’’ he said, offering up the first mild public profanity of his pro career. “At the end of the day you shouldn’t be wanting to sit there and watch the game. You should be wanting to play, especially when you played it twice.”
Yes. Exactly.
If he had been that blunt and honest in his public remarks thereafter, he may not have needed to resort to the not-saying-I-want-a-trade-but-here’s-four-teams manipulation that set Seattle and NFL spinning.
But unlike his counterpart in Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers, Wilson is not comfortable with public confrontation. So he let his agent, Mark Rodgers (no relation) be the bad guy, which is what agents are paid to do.
Authorizing ESPN’s Adam Schefter to use his name in a tweet, enhancing its credibility, Rodgers said while Wilson, who has a no-trade clause, doesn’t want to be traded, here’s four teams that were acceptable.
Russell Wilson has told the Seahawks he wants to play in Seattle but, if a trade were considered, the only teams he would go to are the Cowboys, Saints, Raiders and Bears, his agent Mark Rodgers said to ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 25, 2021
Chicago fans, who haven’t beheld a great quarterback since Fred Flintstone hurled a real rock for the Bedrock Bears, were delirious. We know now, of course, they were suckered. That makes two Rodgers that best not walk alone on Rush Street.
In Seattle, fans were bewildered. It was as if the most well-regarded kid in class shouted profanities at the teacher, then went into a silent pout. Thursday Wilson tried hard to make us believe that, well, it really didn’t happen the way people were saying it did.
“There was a lot of confusion,” he said. “I think I was in Bahamas or somewhere, and everybody was saying that I requested a trade. That wasn’t true. So we made it clear that I did not request a trade. Then there’s teams being thrown around that I was gonna go to.
“It got blown out of proportion a little bit.”
No and no — everyone understood he didn’t ask for a trade, and the notion of Wilson’s wildly successful tenure in Seattle might be broken up was a big damn sports story because the on-the-record source was the agent, not just media speculation.
Although they won’t say so publicly, coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider were pissed off too. A public airing of grievances violated Carroll’s prime directive: Protect the team.
According to Carroll, conversations with Wilson were immediate and several.
“The subject matter teetered on that topic, for sure,” Carroll said at a pre-draft presser in March. “Because it looked like there was a problem. But, there really wasn’t a problem. I think that we’re very clear about it now.”
Now, yes. Then?
The Seahawks kept strictly to a regimen of media silence, correctly understanding that there was nothing to be gained, and much to be lost, in a public back-and-forth with Wilson’s side.
But they did fire a discreet shot.
In his annual letter to season-ticket holders seeking renewals, club president Chuck Arnold extolled all the virtues of the players they knew were returning. Wilson’s name was absent. While Carroll publicly claimed there was no chance they would trade Wilson, the silence in the letter seems a passive-aggressive threat to give Wilson what he wanted — as in, be careful what you wish for.
Asked about it Thursday, Wilson offered offered the session’s only small peek behind the curtain.
“Obviously that was a big thing during that time, and that made it a little bit interesting,” he said, smiling nervously. Then he dissembled.
“I think it was a typo, or it was done on accident,” he said, still smiling. “Chuck and I had a great conversation. Pete and I had great conversation, John too.”
Then he offered up a bit of insight into what really may have been a turning point in the tempest, perhaps inspired by the Seahawks calling his bluff.
“The thing about winning at the highest level,” he said, “is the reality that your mind’s got to be stronger than your feelings. You can’t get emotional, or have feelings about little things.”
It seems that Wilson realized the season-ending loss to the Rams was a trigger that unleashed resentments about being sacked, as well as disagreements about playcalling and personnel. In other words, he was thinking like every Seahawks fan who wants another Super Bowl.
Sure, he may have wanted to go to another market to “grow his brand” and his contacts list for post-career ambitions. But the world knows how to find him, wherever he is. Geography has become irrelevant.
The fact was, that even as another year passed without a Super Bowl despite a 12-4 record, there was not necessarily a quicker route back with any of the teams.
If I were Carroll, I’m saying you’ll never get it as good as you have it here, and I’m turning over the keys to the offense to new coordinator Shane Waldon, whom you approved.
But that’s me. Whatever Carroll did choose to say seemed to have ended the tense chapter, according to Wilson.
“In my heart of hearts I love the city; I love this place,” he said. “I love everything about it. . . . we have a lot going on in this place.
“I love the fans. I love my teammates. I love this coaching staff. I love this building . . . Every morning I wake up, I wake up to win another Super Bowl for the Seattle Seahawks, and that’s my mission.”
He was working hard to persuade the public that whatever that was in February, it was over: “I got what I wished for,” he said.
Feel free to forgive yourself if you are cautious in your re-embrace, thinking his enthusiasm might be a typo, or blown out of proportion.
35 Comments
My cynic gene is acting up. Right now, I believe RW as much as I believed Clay Bennett in 2006. Let’s see what happens after February 2022.
Whoa. Wilson and Bennett in the same sentence. A breakthrough moment in Seattle sports. A +1 to you.
Russell Wilson definitely has a future in politics. When he isn’t lying he is a master at speaking for 30 minutes and saying absolutely nothing of note.
He’s more elusive behind a podium than a center.
He’s happy. He has a good supporting cast.
Rw will never be the GOAT, however to continue winning and possible SB games he will need to stay a Seahawk. If he moves on there will be other considerations. The Hawks and RW are in a symbolic relationship.
So you’re denying him GOATness as well as winning in another uniform. Two more logs for his fire.
Good!
Damage control is necessary to kill any negative vibes. Can’t fault him for that. RW has been a been a great Seahawk, a model citizen, has spoken out directly to the pressing issues facing people of color, and has demonstrated uncommon grace and class when losing as well as winning. His commitment to maintaining excellence is beyond reproach, and he is just one hell of an incredible quarterback destined for the Hall of Fame. He also had legitimate grievances and while he may not have gone about airing them in the best way, he got everybody’s attention. Thought it’s doubtful, I’m hopeful he’ll be here for the duration of his career.
Nobody I know doubts his contributions to football and his social/philanthropic conscience. He just had an off-season having to walk back an awkward public campaign, and is doing so in a clumsy way that tries to avoid responsibility.
I’m not of the opinion that athletes should just shut up and play, but, I’m wondering what happened to the version of RW that just kept his head down and did the work? THAT’S what led to the best team results. He just often seems so distracted and misguided now.
I’d say his distraction came during the off-season. No games were being played. He bragged about his “gift” to compartmentalize. I’ve seen enough of it to believe that whatever tensions played out won’t impact his season.
As a fan who is detrimentally loyal, it’s frustrating, but athletes being as cold blooded toward the franchise that employs them, as the franchise is toward them, should be accepted. If Wilson wasn’t holding up his end of the bargain and they could get out, there would be no hesitation in cutting him. Ultimately I think you’re right, everyone is making nice because this is Wilson’s best football situation, and he’s the team’s best chance at another Lombardi. It’s probably good that Wilson doesn’t seem to hold grudges and is borderline robot like. Rogers seems to want out just out of spite since GB is probably the best situation he could be in. There’s not another Tampa Bay out there, like there was for Brady, that’s perfectly set up, with the cap space for him without neutering the team.
We tend to forget that that the window at the athletic pinnacle is open a short time and is vulnerable to a sudden close. I’ve never begrudged an athlete maximizing the opportunity. I’d prefer they be honest about it, but the PR game is the easiest way, even if they come off sounding foolish or mendacious.
(Chevy Chase): Miss Litella, it’s violence on television, not violins. (Gilda Radner): “Oh, that’s different. Never mind.”
Seems to me the people of this town want really badly for Russell Wilson to pull a mask off and reveal that he was actually Alex Rodriguez the whole time! lol. . How bout facing the fact that though the guy isn’t perfect, and doesn’t give you a juicy controversial quote while managing his image, He may very well be the born winner and all around good guy he appears to be?. .In the words of Russell Wilson “Go Hawks!”
I haven’t seen anything close to public dismay with Wilson until, of his own plan and volition, he went public with his grievances. He added a degree of uncertainty to always difficult off-season under a shrunken cap. He deserves some criticism, but now that he’s had his say and is plainly committed to 2021, I doubt if many think much less of of him.
Good summation. He’s to blame for the off-season dust-up (not “the media”), and his Mr. Positive persona can seem disingenuous, but he’s shown himself to be a stand-up guy, does good in the community, and is nice to people. Some may think that’s trite, but I’m not gonna take it for granted. Go Russ! Go Hawks!
Someone put on the brakes last year. Will it be de ja vu this year? This team like s the accelerator..put it to the floor and they are unstoppable.
After 10 turnovers in three games, Carroll put on the brakes. But the outcome was bad, and he fired the OC replaced him with a guy Wilson respects. And he uses tempo.
What else, under the cap, do you want?
Do they need more or do they have enough to win it all? Is their enough talent among the new receivers to do the role many envisioned for Julio Jones?
If so, who might stop them?
Fire the Bum! (of course, I’m talking about Art Thiel, and his distorted memories of reality)
Please, kind sir, present charges before the firing.
Problem is today’s media is more concerned with making a buck than reporting the truth . An interesting lie will be reported over a boring truth every single time .
Where was the lie?
Wilson and his agent, on the record, set the table. They were pressuring the Seahawks, which they figured was wise strategy.
There was no lie. But there was an unfounded sweeping generality — yours.
Where was the lie ? We can start with having to hear for three years that our President was a Russian agent . The fact IS the mainstream media has destroyed their own credibility . That’s just a fact . If you are not bright enough to see that that’s your problem . Go watch some more CNN .
No one said that Trump was a Russian agent. For you to say that is (what you termed) a lie. Many reported that Trump was in contact with Russian operatives through Paul Manafort and Don Junior (and others), who hosted Russian operatives in Trump Tower. At the meeting, the Russians said they could provide dirt on Trump’s opponent, and Junior later lied (your word again) saying the meeting was about adoptions. Manafort had 10 encrypted identities so that he could communicate with Russians during the 2016 election. In Helsinki, Trump took Putin’s side (Trump said he “trusted” Putin) against 17 US intelligence agencies who said that there was indisputable evidence that Russia hacked and interfered in the 2016 election. Trump gave up military positions in Syria to Russian troops. Trump said ZERO when Putin put bounties on the heads of US soldiers. In your words, “If you are not bright enough to see that, that’s your problem.”
An astute chronicle. My preference is to stay on sports when it’s sports. But it’s not a rule.
It’s so great to have a “bright” person remind us that the media are all liars and the former guy is innocent. But that nightmare is over and we have the luxury of once again arguing about sports.
We were talking about Wilson’s playing the media card. A small-time bit of gaslighting.
Let’s keep the talk away from the big gaslighter.
If the Hawks start 0-2 – which is absolutely conceivable at Colts (10am) and vs. Titans – then we’ll see how this drama “goes away.” If they start 5-3 or better, this all gets forgotten. If both happen, it’ll be interesting. FYI: My guess is that they won’t redo his contract unless something completely out of the blue happens, such as a Duane Brown retirement/injury replacement or something like that. Keeps options open for getting a kerjillion draft picks (that they’ll blow) in the draft-rich year of 2022 and only losing one year’s salary in an inflated cap.
RW is a chameleon, changing into whoever he needs to be. Devoted student of Pete Carol, cheer leader to team and fans, Superbowl winner and loser, husband to Ciara, cliché master, shill for magic Recovery Water, NFL man of the year – his best person. I do not believe we (the public) have ever seen the ‘real’ Russell Wilson.
Wilson does seem to want to be everything to everyone.
But how often are we certain with any public figure, or people in our circle, that we’ve seen the “real” person? How many times have we said, “I didn’t see that coming.”