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The evolution of the NFL toward the NBA is becoming a revolution. Once the transformation is complete, we will look back on Tuesday 9 February as one of the most important moments in the process.
Sea Wilson’s fullback Russell Wilson’s appearance on The Dan Patrick Show offered scarce and raw openness. Franchise quarterbacks, overcome by the atmosphere of the company man and the basic fear of alienating the fan base, usually say all the right things at the right times, and never show anything but complete and total loyalty to the team, towards the case, towards the case not. the fans.
Texan quarterback Deshaun Watson has claimed the highest priority in the NFL news cycle by privately asking for a trade. He has not yet said publicly that he wants out, but his silence – and the changes to his social media pages – speak volumes.
No franchise quarter has yet made a calm, reasoned, public case for what Wilson wants: direct verdict on decisions made about building the team that will surround him.
Some will say (as Simms did today PFT Live) that any quarterback who wants such an influence should start grinding like any other scout. Wilson is certainly looking for something less involved, yet still impactful. Because of his legacy, Wilson wants to know that the other ten players on offense and the 11 members of the starting defense will complement and not complicate his desire to win more Super Bowls.
With Tom Brady hitting seven of them since 2001, there are simply not enough championships to play for the other championship quarters. Ben Roethlisberger won two. Eli Manning won two. Peyton Manning won two. Since 1999, these have been otherwise one-time winners: Kurt Warner, Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Joe Flacco, Russell Wilson, Nick Foles, Patrick Mahomes.
Wilson must, of course, get to two before he can reach three or four or more. Rodgers is less than two in all. Mahomes had two amazing seasons thanks to Brady winning without the Super Bowl.
Honestly, Rodgers has a lot more reason to talk than Wilson. The Packers have chronically failed to put enough talent around him. However, Rodgers prefers to send messages with subtle and indirect phrasing. He’s indignant when members of the media notice and reinforce the messages, because he’s not willing to risk the years of failure that Brett Favre went through – and all he did was go out on a limb. when the Packers made it clear they did not want him anymore. (It did not help that Favre played for the Vikings.)
Wilson has the ability and credibility to talk about the fact that he wants to be involved in staff decisions. About being frustrated. About teams calling to inquire about a trade. About potentially available in a trade.
It’s probably no coincidence that Wilson’s decision to launch an extensive media strategy, including leaks to reporters and commentary on the record and messages to a former player with a platform in Brandon Marshall, came immediately after Brady left New England. after two decades of ‘do your job’ – and did the job in Tampa to help the team put together a championship franchise. Brady pulls Rob Gronkowski. Brady wanted and got Antonio Brown. (Wilson wanted to, but did not get, Brown.) Brady lured Leonard Fournette. Brady will attract even more veterans who want to chase a championship in 2021, including Adrian Peterson.
Wilson and Rodgers could too. Their teams still have to allow them. Wilson’s remarks are the most aggressive attempt by a franchise quarter to reject the image of the “company man” word the company, man.
It will work or not. If that is not the case, the expiration date on Wilson’s time in Seattle will be shorter than anyone realizes.