Brandon Marshall says Russell Wilson is ‘beyond frustration’ with Seahawks

Former Seahawks wide receiver Brandon Marshall poured some more gasoline on the fire that suddenly erupted to life involving the Seahawks and quarterback Russell Wilson.

Wilson’s behind-the-scenes cohorts, and Wilson himself, have made it clear in recent days that they are unhappy with certain aspects of the relationship with the team he has mentored over the past nine seasons. Wilson said he was tired of being hit and fired. He wants to be more involved in staff decisions and also wanted to participate in the selection of the new offensive coordinator of the team. And Wilson has left the door open to the possibility that if he’s not happy with the way things are going, he might end up somewhere else.

Marshall, meanwhile, has indicated that the rift between the two sides could be even bigger than Wilson suggests. In an appearance on First Things First on FOX Sports, Marshall said Wilson was not happy and, he said, was trying to find a way out of Seattle.

“Russell Wilson is beyond frustration. I think Russell Wilson is trying to figure out how to move on in a stylish way. This is what I really believe. Marshall said. “… He’s trying to leave the legacy that he’s done it the right way so other guys can follow the same plan.” So I think he’s struggling to move on in a stylish way, in a way where people can look at him and say you know what, he’s always done it the right way. Because it’s important to Russ.

Marshall spent seven games with Seattle in 2018. He caught 11 passes for 136 yards and one touchdown on the final leg of his 13-year career. Although his time with the Seahawks was short, Marshall built a relationship with Wilson that makes his comments stand out. Marshall said there are several issues involved.

“The problem, and everybody’s talking about it, Jason La Canfora talked about ‘Oh they have to protect it,’” Marshall said. “Well, they drafted a guy, an offensive lineman since they got Russell Wilson. They’re always trying to figure out who’s still out there in free will or who’s the guy who, you know, should have a rebound year, and they never really go out there and solidify that offensive line. Now a lot of people are like Russell Wilson, you hold on to the ball for a bit long. Well, Pete Carroll, the offense you put in place is we’re going to run first, we’re going to run second, and if it’s third and manageable, we’re probably going to run third, and then we’re going to take pictures. I was there. We didn’t have any quick matches. There was no set game outside of Doug Baldwin and then you had Tyler Lockett where it’s like you have an optional route. Either enter or escape. That was it. So Russell Wilson, if the deep ball isn’t there of course he’s going to hang onto the ball, certainly when you have that type of offensive line in front of you. So that’s the problem. “

Marshall’s comments aren’t entirely accurate when it comes to the offensive line. In Wilson’s nine-year career, the Seahawks have drafted 15 offensive linemen. Five of those selections came in the first three rounds of the draft and a second-round pick was included as part of the trade that brought Duane Brown to Seattle from the Houston Texans. And the Seahawks were far from being a heavy team in 2020. They have played 1,022 offensive games this season. Wilson had 558 attempted passes, 47 sacks and 83 rushes. As Wilson doesn’t have a lot of designed tracks left, most of those plays were called pass scrambles. That leaves Seattle with an assists-to-points ratio of around 66-34 this season.

So while Marshall’s comments may not be perfectly about the money for what the situation has become in Seattle, if Wilson thinks these are real issues that are still important to the state of the relationship.

Marshall said he believes the team still don’t fully trust Wilson.

“But at the end of the day you have to decide if you believe in Russ to back down and throw him 30-40 times, and I don’t think they believe in Russ.” Well I actually know they don’t believe in Russ because I was there, ”Marshall said.

“And I think Russ wants to stay in there, but he knows Pete Carroll is going to keep giving him the ride.” You know, when it comes to the offensive coordinator, do I really have a seat at the table? When it comes to how we approach our attack, are you going to listen? As far as, you know, building around the best player on our team, me, are you going to draft an offensive lineman, a cross? Are you going to do these things? And I just think it gets to a point where Russ just doesn’t believe.

There certainly seems to be a fire when it comes to Wilson’s relationship with the Seahawks. And if this fire is big enough that it can’t be put out in 2021, it could end up destroying the relationship with the ground.

“I think that’s what he has to do here, is tell Pete Carroll exactly what he needs and wants. And if the two can’t come to an agreement, it’s time for Russ to move on, ”Marshall said.