Report: Russell Wilson ‘stormed’ after his ideas to fix Seattle breach were rejected

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Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has said publicly what he needs to say in the days following the Super Bowl. Someone has spoken privately since then, and it culminated in a lengthy article from TheAthletic.com that takes an even closer look and the fractures and cracks in a relationship that currently appears to have a much closer shelf life than bread than bricks.

The article takes a close look at the tension between Wilson and the coaching staff over Wilson’s desire to be essentially the offense, like Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City. This motivation drove the #LetRussCook phenomenon at the start of the season. But coach Pete Carroll panicked after a turnover party against the Bills (four from Wilson) and another poor performance against the Rams (three more turnovers from Wilson).

After those seven Wilson turnovers in two games, the Seahawks faced a short-lived challenge against a Cardinals team that had enjoyed a two-game winning streak against Seattle, and who were riding a wave of euphoria after Hail Murray’s victory over the Bills.

Here’s what happened next, via the story from TheAthletic.com: “Before Thursday night’s game against Arizona, Wilson met his coaches. For a time Wilson sought – even pushed – influence within the organization regarding the program and staff. During the meeting, he presented his own ideas on how to correct the infraction. His suggestions were rejected, according to several sources Athletic – another reminder to Wilson that the Seahawks didn’t see him the same way he saw himself, as a player who had gained more control over his situation, his future, his legacy. He stormed out of the room.

It doesn’t take a magnifying glass or other Sherlockian investigative tool to conclude that this nugget is from the Seahawks, who ultimately push back the idea that Wilson’s skills warrant more power and control.

Consider this quote in the story, from an anonymous source who is surely unrelated to Wilson: “He’s finally caught the heat. This is the main reason for it all. . . . People are talking and holding him accountable because he is one of the highest paid quarterbacks, he says he wants to be the best so now people are keeping him at that standard. . . . It’s a public relations game. He’s trying to protect himself.

It is not known if the unnamed source is a Seahawks source. If so, it suggests that the Seahawks should indeed try to come up with a major trade package from a team that sees Wilson as Wilson sees it. If so, it also suggests that the Seahawks should be more low-key about their true feelings, because if that’s how they view Wilson, then maybe a huge commercial offer isn’t warranted.

This is really what it comes down to. If the Seahawks see Wilson as an all-time great, they should treat him that way. If they don’t, they should trade it in for a team that does, as that team would draft a trade offer that the Seahawks would see as one they can’t refuse.

Wilson surely sees himself as someone who has the potential to make the top five in league history. And he has every right to think that. The current issue between the player and the squad appears to be that the Seahawks don’t share that assessment and / or aren’t ready to transform their overall strategy to let Wilson create the kind of numbers and results that will prove Wilson belongs to the pantheon of the best professional football quarterbacks in history. Given Wilson’s current goals for his career, it’s not a question of if but when the two sides go their separate ways.