Wilson trade speculation beginning to get serious
Series of reports since Super Bowl Sunday have painted QB as frustrated in Seattle
Who'd have predicted a month ago that Russell Wilson might really want out of Seattle and, furthermore, that the Seahawks might go ahead and trade him?
As of Thursday afternoon, neither fire seemed a certainty or even likely but, boy, there's a lot of smoke.
Particularly, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders and Chicago Bears smoke.
On first glance, it's difficult to let sink in the idea of Russell Wilson not in Seattle. In today's NFL, however, that's not far-fetched at all. Nothing is. Not after Tom Brady relocated a year ago to Tampa Bay after 20 seasons in New England, or after Philip Rivers jumped to the Indianapolis Colts after 17 years with the L.A. Chargers, or with Deshaun Watson desperately wanting out of Houston this off-season.
In that light, none of us should be surprised if Seattle ships out Wilson. Even after nine success-soaked seasons that have included eight playoff appearances, nine playoff wins, two Super Bowl berths and one Super Bowl championship.
Fact is, enough deliberately created and cured buzz has been put out there — significantly, without public denials of any kind from either party — as to make a trade a real possibility.
How'd we get here?
A series of reports since Super Bowl Sunday have painted Wilson as a frustrated young man in Seattle — sure of his place as an elite NFL passer on a hall of fame trajectory, but feeling he's doing so without a front office that protects him with much more than a spare-parts offensive line, and without a coaching staff willing to bend enough to construct a pass-centric offence around his unique, top-shelf abilities.
News stories late this week from Theathletic.com and ESPN constitute the largest globs of grease yet thrown onto the bearings of these ever faster spinning wheels.
Theathletic.com cited sources in recounting an incident in November in which Wilson allegedly “stormed out” of a team meeting, after his suggestions for fixing the Seahawks' offence were “dismissed.”
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll believes in a run-based attack, and several times over the final two months of the season, he underscored his overriding mantra in discussions with reporters.
Carroll did fire offensive co-ordinator Brian Schottenheimer following Seattle's elimination from the playoffs last month in the wild card round. But the smoke has only intensified.
One former Wilson teammate, Brandon Marshall, told Theathletic.com that Wilson is “beyond frustrated” with the Seahawks and “is trying to figure out how to move on in a classy way.”
Others quoted in the article said, conversely, that the 32-yearold is merely engaging in a PR campaign after his production and effectiveness began cratering at midseason.
“He's finally catching heat,” an unnamed source said. “He's trying to protect himself.” Another source said Wilson is merely trying to “save face.” If that's true, then why did Wilson's agent tell ESPN in a story posted Thursday that although the QB wants to remain in Seattle, he'd lift his no-trade clause to be dealt to Dallas, New Orleans, Las Vegas or Chicago?
There would be no need for Wilson's camp to stoke the embers like that if his sole intention was merely to retroactively create an excuse narrative for his late-season swoon.
NFL Network reported Thursday that more than 10 teams have inquired with the Seahawks about Wilson.
It sounds like — feels like — both sides are accelerating this story. Perhaps that's just temporary and calmer minds will prevail.
Would it still constitute the shock of the 2021 off-season if the Seahawks were to proceed and trade Wilson? A month ago, yes.
Now? No.