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Brady HendersonESPN
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson said he was frustrated with the number of times he was hit during his career and expressed a desire to be more involved in the team’s personnel decisions.
“Like any player, you never want to be hit,” Wilson told reporters on Zoom on Tuesday. “This is the reality of playing this position. Ask any defender who wants to play this game. But at the same time, it’s part of the job and everything else. I think the reality is that I was definitely hit. I was fired. almost 400 times, so we need to improve. I also need to find ways to improve. “
Asked if he was frustrated with the Seahawks, Wilson said with a laugh, “I’m frustrated [about] hitting too much. I’m frustrated on this side. At the end of the day, you want to win. “
Wilson’s comments mark the first time he has publicly expressed dissatisfaction with his passing protection or any other aspect of the organization that drafted it in 2012. They follow an NFL report that several teams have called. to the Seahawks about a possible Pro Bowler deal eight times.
According to Jeremy Fowler, ESPN, these calls were nonstarter for the Seahawks, who made it clear to the suitors that Wilson would not be treated. He has three years left for the four-year, $ 140 million extension he signed in April 2019. Wilson Trading before June 1 this year would trigger $ 39 million in dead money taxes against Seattle’s 2021 salary cap.
Wilson has been fired 394 times in his career. According to ESPN Stats & Information, this is the highest of a player’s first nine seasons since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Randall Cunningham is next at 366.
Wilson’s 47 sacks in 2020 were ranked third in the NFL behind Carson Wentz (50) and Deshaun Watson (49). The Seahawks ranked ninth in the ESPN rankings (61.9%) last season and ranked eighth in 2017 (59.2%), indicating how some of Wilson’s bags are a depending on its tendency to prolong the games.
“I think about my career and what I want to be able to do, always start in front, offensively defensively, always do it,” Wilson said. “… I came to play this game to win championships, so if you ask me about everyone’s confidence factor, I always put my trust in the Seahawks trying to do whatever it takes to win and hopefully it will keep going. I think that is an essential part. I think part of it is how we go through its protection and discover those other things like that. “
The Seahawks have the Pro Bowl team on the left Duane Brown and on the right Brandon Shell each under contract for another season. Right guard Damien Lewis, a third-round pick in 2020, has been named to the Pro Football Writers Association’s All-Rookie team after each game began. Left guard Mike Iupati and center Ethan Pocic are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents.
Wilson said during his video conference that he wants to have a voice in the personnel decisions that other top defenders have or have had, naming Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. Wilson mentioned the same point earlier Tuesday in an interview with Dan Dan Show.
“I want to be able to get involved because at the end of the day, it’s your legacy, it’s your team’s legacy, it’s the guys you need to go with, and at the end of the day, those guys you have to trust,” Wilson told him. Patrick. ”When you think of one of the reasons Tom went to Tampa, it was because he felt he could trust those guys and [coach Bruce Arians] he would give her the opportunity. … You think of guys like LeBron [James], has managed to be close to some extraordinary players he can trust.
“I think for me, every time you bring in free agents or other players, you want the best players, guys who love the game, guys who want to be a part of it. And, as a player, you know that, you’ll be around Pro. Bowls, you’ll see these guys, you’ll be in close contact with the linemen or the receivers, or you’ll be around the defensive guys, so you build it over time and you get to see who can really play. As a player, you really know. I think the relationship is really key and that dialogue, especially being a veteran player, dialogue is really important. “
Asked if he was or was involved in those conversations, Wilson said “not as much.” He added: “I think it helps to be more involved. But I think the dialogue should take place more often, in my opinion.”
Among the teams calling the Seahawks about a potential trade, Wilson told Patrick: “Yeah, I definitely think they got calls, for sure. I think every time you’re a player who tries to produce every week and does it constantly, I think people will definitely call and it’s part of the process. “
Asked if he was available, Wilson said: “I’m not sure if I’m available or not. That’s a Seahawks question. But I think more than anything, I think at the end of the day you want to win … Play this game to be the best in the world. You know what I hate? I hate sitting there watching other guys play the game. There’s nothing worse. “