What is Going on with Russell Wilson?
3 March 2021
By: Paulina Vairo
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Russell Wilson was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 2012. Since then, he has become an icon to the city of Seattle. A seven-time Pro Bowler, Wilson has become the face of the Seahawks. He led the team to two Super Bowls in 2014 and 2015 while winning it all in 2014. He has played and started in every single game for the Seahawks since 2012, with 33,946 passing yards, 267 touchdown passes and a 65.1 percent completion rate.
It came to a shock to everyone when the Wilson trade rumors began to grow early last month. It all began when Wilson spoke up about his frustration with the team and how he has been getting sacked too often.
“I’m frustrated at getting hit too much,” said Wilson according to NBC Sports. “You never want to get hit. That’s just, that’s the reality of playing this position. I think that the reality is that I’ve definitely been hit, been sacked, I don’t know, almost 400 times. And so we’ve got to get better.”
Also when asked if he is available for a trade, he responded, “That’s a Seahawks question.”
It seems crazy for Wilson to want out of Seattle, a city where he has given so much to. Ever since moving to Seattle, he visits the Children’s Hospitals and created many foundations and organizations for children, including the Why Not You foundation, which helps fight for children poverty.
Wilson won the 2020 Walter Payton Man of the Year award for his charity work during the pandemic. Him, along with his wife Ciara, helped donate $1 million to Feeding America, he partnered up with Wheels Up to help the fight food shortage during the lockdown, and even partnered his Why Not You foundation with DoorDash, the Rockefeller Foundation, and other organizations to help deliver meals and other supplies to communities across the country, the NFL reports.
Wilson and Ciara have two kids together who were born and raised in Seattle (Photo Credit: Tweety Elitou/BET)
ESPN reported that Wilson has not formally demanded a trade, however if a trade was offered he would only agree to go to either the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders or the Chicago Bears.
Earlier last week there were heavy rumors of Wilson getting traded to the Dallas Cowboys. However, Todd Brock from Cowboys Wire confirmed that the deal will not go through, stating, “Not only do I not think this is happening. I did go ahead and check that with one of my team sources. They equally found the scenario laughable.”
The New Orleans Saints have expressed their interest in possibly signing Wilson, and the mayor of New Orleans is on board with it. Mayor LaToya Cantrell posted to Twitter a video stating her interest on Wilson playing for the Saints, with the song “Level Up” by Ciara in the background.
The Saints seem like the more reasonable team to land Wilson if the Seahawks decide to trade him. Long time Saints quarterback Drew Brees may retire this year and the Saints are already built to be a playoff team. Wilson can seriously bring some talent behind already dominating offensive line.
The Saints would have to give up a lot in order to land Wilson which includes giving up their first-round draft pick, quarterback Jameis Winston and wide receiver Michael Thomas, SB Nation reports.
Though the Raiders already have a quarterback, Derek Carr’s older brother David would love to see Wilson play for Las Vegas.
“If I’m one of those four teams, I’m picking up the phone yesterday,” said Carr to NBC Sports. “He is everything you want in a quarterback, with endless talent, arm strength, poise, and intelligence. He’ll cost a GREAT deal, but the on-field production and leadership you’d get in return would be worth it.” Derek Carr is still the starting quarterback for the Raiders, so the statement by David was like a stab in the back to his younger brother.
The Chicago Bears are another team in search of a new quarterback and just like the other teams, the Raiders and the Bears would have to give up a lot if they want to acquire Wilson. Ultimately, the Wilson rumors are a sign to Seattle head coach Pete Carroll to fix the protection team for him.
In Wilson’s career with the Seahawks he has been sacked 394 times. He led the league in sacks with 48 in 2019 and was sacked 47 times in 2020. Wilson wouldn’t mind staying with the Seahawks as long as he gets the protection he needs. Being a franchise quarterback and the face of the Seahawks, no one wants to see him leave a city where he has given so much too.
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(Article can also be seen at https://thegamehaus.com/nfl/what-is-going-on-with-russell-wilson/2021/03/03/ )