Wilson ready for Seattle

SEATTLE — A WNBA game would not usually be considered a venue where animosity toward an NFL quarterback would be on display and an indication of what might be coming.

But there it was a month ago during a tribute video to Sue Bird before the final regular-season home game of her career. When Russell Wilson’s face was shown on the video board, the fans of Seattle responded with some unexpected — and rather noticeable — boos.

That was just a small sampling of what Wilson may hear tonight when he makes his highly anticipated debut in Denver and returns to Seattle with the Broncos and Seahawks meeting to open the NFL season in a madefor-prime time showcase.

The moment Wilson was traded to Denver in March, ending his decade as the leader under center in Seattle, this game was circled. And then the NFL did it the honor of placing it as the conclusion to the first week of the regular season.

A big spotlight. With an even bigger story line.

“I was fortunate to play there for 10 years. I know they’ll be rowdy. I know they will be excited. I know that. It’s ‘Monday Night Football,’ so it’ll be a special environment,” Wilson said. “And listen, I think that I gave my heart and soul every day. I know nothing less. And hopefully it’ll be positive, but at the same time I know we’ve got a game to play.”

The reception Wilson will receive has become a debated topic because his departure from Seattle wasn’t clean. It was shrouded in a bit of unknown — how much did Wilson forced his way out and how much were the Seahawks ready to move on?

The answer is that it was a mix of both. Wilson was ready for a new environment and a new challenge. Seattle was ready to begin a rebuild where the quarterback wasn’t the center of the offense, but rather a piece that makes it function.

Wilson’s legacy in Seattle is unmatched. He is the quarterback of Seattle’s first and only Super Bowl championship team. But that likely won’t stop the noise of disapproval that will come his way today.

“You’re either competing or you’re not. I’m leaving it up to the 12s,” Seattle Coach Pete Carroll. “It’s game time and we’re going for it, so however they take it, I’ll follow their lead on that. I’m not going to be involved with that kind of opportunity to react, so I don’t have to make that decision. We’ll see what happens. But I’m going to leave it up to the 12s. I think they’ll know exactly what to do.”