Wiiiillllsssooooonn!
No doubt, you’ve seen the memes by now. Russell Wilson’s head is floating in the waves as Tom Hanks watches him slowly drift away – desperately calling out for him to not leave. Apologizing for whatever it was he had done that made him go. Also, by now, we’ve all had time to process it. Discuss it. Argue about it. Maybe even swear off of the NFL and burn your Seahawks’ gear.
Russ will no longer cook in Seattle.
With the NFL draft coming up and the Mariners playing games now, in what is likely the most-anticipated start to baseball in Seattle in a long time, the fever has died down and life can go on again.
The trade rumors started last year and after the year the Hawks – and Wilson, himself – had, it was no shock to hear them start up again. Sure, both sides did their best to put on a good face…but it’s like staying together for the sake of the children. The parents figure that as long as they don’t argue in front of the kids, that they can keep it together. The problem is that kids are smarter than that. They know. They can sense when mom and dad are really still in love or just faking it. Think of Pete Carroll and Russ Wilson as mom and dad (I don’t care which one is which – just play along!).
In the beginning, it was rainbows and unicorns.
With Wilson being picked up in a late-round pick by the Hawks – even after signing Matt Flynn from Green Bay to bring an experienced QB to the team after some pretty ugly seasons – I will admit to being the first one to say “WTF”? And, when Wilson started getting more playing time in pre-season, I figured it was just to see if he was going to be the backup. Then…when the season started and he was the starter? I thought they were crazy! He’s too short! He’s a rookie! Why the hell did you sign Flynn?!
Well, let’s fast-forward a few years, past the success…past the Super Bowl win…past the Super Bowl loss the following year…past the playoff appearances year after year and setting every QB record for Seattle. Let’s look past all he has meant to the city both on and off the field and his weekly appearances at Children’s Hospital. Let’s look at the nuts and bolts of the Hawks’ success.
After becoming “Russ” and forever earning a spot in our hearts and becoming a Seahawks legend, it was time to pay the piper. Wilson was paid a lot of money. I mean, a WHOLE LOT of money! His contract averaged out at over $30M per season and was going to be looking for more in 2 years. So, what happened? Why couldn’t the team re-create the success they had in his early days? He still had that arm and still throws one of the most accurate deep-balls that I can remember. What changed?
Let me ask this…
What did the team have in 2012-2015 that they didn’t have the last few years?
The “Legion of Boom”? Marshawn “The Beast” Lynch? Depth on the D-line like we’ve never seen? Yes to all 3. Russ was a master of escaping pressure and moving around in the pocket to find his open man. That was, when he wasn’t handing it off to a human wrecking ball who would make 260 lb. linebackers into roadkill as he ran right at them. Playing a close game? Don’t worry. The Hawks’ defense in those years wouldn’t let you score any points! That D was record-setting. Compare it to the Steel Curtain in Pittsburgh in the ‘70s or the ’85 Bears. It’s easy to look great when you only have to score about 17 points to win.
Yes, it was a time to remember – and you should never forget – because a team like that only comes along once in a while.
And they were all young.
Wilson on a rookie contract. Bobby Wagner on a rookie contract. Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas…rookies.
With the salary cap, NFL teams have a limit to how much they can spend. It takes a near-genius to figure it all out and how to defer salary, apply bonus, etc. but when you have a bunch of guys like that, you can spend more on…your center. Your receivers. Your linemen. You get to have depth.
After the Super Bowls, those contracts started coming due. Marshawn left the game (only to come back, leave again and come back…and leave) and Russ was expecting to get paid like a Super Bowl-winning, All-star QB! You can’t pay everyone, so…they paid Kam Chancellor first. He got injured and ended his career. They chose to pay Earl Thomas and let Sherman go. They have been searching for Marshawn’s replacement ever since. They gave KJ a good contract. They gave Russ a super-star contract. Earl Thomas got pissy and started complaining about wanting a raise after 2 years into his deal and started making it hard for the Hawks to ignore the fact he was becoming a distraction. He held out of summer camp, got injured, flipped everyone off and never played another down for the Hawks (but still got paid, mind you – that rant can be found in my archives!).
The Hawks still went to the playoffs, but they couldn’t duplicate the success. Russ still had to scramble – now, more than ever – and wasn’t getting faster as he got older. He got sacked an incredible number of times. They could never utilize any tight end, no matter how good they were. The O-Line was last on the payroll and it showed. The running game suffered. Wilson suffered, and…he is too short.
Yes, I said it again. What made him great was his ability to avoid the rush. His scrambling was an asset in the beginning, but as he (and all of us) gets older, it’s not an asset anymore. For him to be the “legendary” QB he wants to be – and to play until he’s in his 40’s – he needs to be able to stand in the pocket and pick apart the defense to keep them on their heels. He just can’t. He can’t see over the linemen if he’s not moving side-to-side and it’s a goddamn sin – A SIN, I TELL YOU! – that they were able to draft a human specimen like DK Metcalf and not have him catching 1300 yards and being targeted 10-15 times a game. I don’t think Russ can see him! It’s all timing with Russ if he’s not on the scramble drill and without the devastating run game to mix it up, it’s all on his shoulders – just like a $30 plus million QB should be and it…just…wasn’t…working. They fired the offensive coordinator. They fired another one. They just couldn’t figure out a game plan to make him successful again and Bobby was getting older…KJ was getting older…the running game constantly in flux…the secondary always struggling.
The thing is…when you win, you get lousy draft picks.
The Hawks had lousy draft picks for years.
It was time. Russ wanted to go and the Hawks weren’t interested in begging him to stay. He gets to go to a stadium that has mile-high air and a good running game and the Hawks got a windfall of players and draft picks. I just wish they could have kept Bobby until he retired, but I do understand the thinking there, too. Save the cap space. With the money they freed-up and the picks they have, it’s a chance to catch that lighting in a bottle again, before Pete retires.
With Paul Allen gone, the team has a lot of questions that will be answered in time. One thing that won’t be in question is the fact that all good things come to an end. Players move on, coaches move on and teams change. Fans are the only ones that don’t! Fans should be rooting for the team no matter who is coaching or playing! Do you think for one moment that any player loves you as much as you love them? You buy the jersey…you make yourself hoarse yelling and cheering and you love that player. When push comes to shove, though, it comes to money and there is no player (well, maybe one or two) who would volunteer to make less money just to be there with you. Don’t give your heart to a player – no matter how good they are. You can do everything else…appreciate, cheer, cry, and chant their name…just don’t get so attached that you dare quit on the team when that player leaves. It’s part of the deal. Your alliance should be with the team, no matter what.
I think of it almost like a pet. You know what you’re in for…you sign on the dotted line. You get some great years with them and get to enjoy them while they are here. You make great memories and you will never forget them. But, they move on and don’t get to stay forever (Well, maybe if you have a turtle, it will outlive you) and that’s the deal. We get these players for a short time – usually shorter than our pets – and just enjoy them and all the success they bring while they are here. Lord knows, there are too many players that don’t bring us joy and success so make damn sure you make the most of it!
Russ is gone. Bobby is gone. In fact, they were the last of the 2012 team that were left. The team is still here, though, and they deserve your support. We’ve seen bad football here in the past and we’ve seen bad ownership here in the past. What we’ve all been able to enjoy these last 10 years is a run of football success in Seattle we have never seen – and we should appreciate it for what it was and not hold it against them if they need to figure out a new way to make it happen again.
I know you’re feeling jilted right now and you aren’t interested in the NFL after having your heart ripped out, but…
You’ll be back.
Thanks for reading and…
GO HAWKS!!