It’s time for Russell Wilson to make some concessions with the Broncos
Dec 15, 2022, 5:20 AM
It’s time for Russell Wilson to make amends. Whatever his plan was for this Broncos’ season, it did not work. In fact, it was an unmitigated disaster.
Yes, there were plenty of factors outside of Russ’ control that played a part in this trainwreck of a season. However, the Broncos offense was historically bad, and since Wilson is the quarterback, he gets the lion share of the blame.
What makes this season even more frustrating was Russell’s reluctance to publicly admit anything was really wrong. He has talked repeatedly about the “process” and “ebbs and flows,” all while acknowledging that he’s happy with how he’s approached things and confident everything will work out in the end.
Sorry, that won’t fly with me. And it won’t fly with the overwhelming majority of Broncos Country. Wilson needs to change.
Here is my four-step plan for Russ. By the way, Wilson can do these things voluntarily, or he must be ordered to do so.
1. Get in better shape. Russ looked painfully slow at times. He needs to drop weight and dedicate himself to a rigorous offseason conditioning program. A little less time in Monaco, and a lot more on the treadmill. Being able to move and run has to be a big part of his game, and as he moves into his mid-30s, he needs to make more of a commitment to fitness. He wants to be Drew Brees? Great. Brees was a workout maniac in the latter part of his career.
2. Wilson needs to agree to a weight clause added to his contract. The Broncos, in a sign of good (some would say mis-guided) faith, gave Russ a whopping new deal before he ever played a down in orange and blue. Wilson needs to show some good faith of his own by agreeing to this weight clause.
3. Wilson needs to give back some of the perks that came with the trade. That means his “team” needs to go. If he wants to hire people to help him on his own time, fine. But, when he’s at the Broncos facility or on the road with the team, his people need to be gone. No extra rooms on the road for his entourage. No special bathroom perks for his family during training camp. No more private office in the team’s headquarters. He hopefully does this willingly, otherwise the Broncos need to order it.
4. A full, 100% commitment to returning to his Seattle offensive roots. This might be the most painful of all because it would require Wilson humbling himself and admitting Pete Carroll was right all along. So be it. Suck it up. The Seahawks conservative approach on offense was the way to go. More under center. Way less shotgun. Abandon your Drew Brees fantasies, for now. Forget about “Let Russ Cook.”
Hopefully Wilson agrees to do all these things willingly. If not, the Broncos and new Broncos ownership must be prepared to be heavy handed if he doesn’t. That means barring members of Russ’ team if necessary. It means pushing for a weight clause in his contract. It means approaching Wilson’s agent with a plan to rework Wilson’s deal. It means bringing in a new head coach who will not be “all about Russ” and will demand Wilson do it the coach’s way, not his own. All of this happens with the crystal clear understanding that a competitor who says his goal is to be the winningest QB of all-time will instead be professional sports’ highest-paid benchwarmer.
I’m optimistic that deep down Wilson understands this season was awful and he needs to change. I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt. If he doesn’t want to change? Well, then the gloves need to come off.
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