Russell Wilson Comes to Denvoid!
Seattle is a depressing shithole," Russell Wilson told me in a personal interview conducted just now. "It's always gloomy, rainy, sad, utterly unfuckingbearable. The whole city is like a leper colony. I might as well be living in Cleveland."
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FNWT5V9XoAURI1c.jpg
It's HAWKTOBERFEST in Munich!
https://youtu.be/z0R0DrR8FoE
First time I've had to wake up at 6:30 AM on a Sunday since I stopped going to church. In fact, more recent than that would be the days when I'd just be getting to bed around that time from Saturday night. :gulp:
Meanwhile... back in Cascadia....
seahawks.com
Geno Smith Signs Three-Year Contract Extension With Seahawks
John Boyle
Three days after Geno Smith and the Seahawks agreed to terms on a contract extension, the Pro-Bowl quarterback made it official Thursday morning, signing a three-year deal.
Quote:
Our guy has written back. ✍️#GoHawks x @Toyota pic.twitter.com/ZYbrpTtYvS
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) March 9, 2023
Smith, who started all 17 games last season, helping the Seahawks to a 9-8 record and a playoff berth, won the AP Comeback Player of the Year award following a campaign that saw him lead the NFL in completion percentage (69.8), finish in the top five in touchdown passes (30) and passer rating (100.9), and set franchise record for completion percentage, completions (399), attempts (572) and passing yards (4,282).
It was Smith's first season as a starter since 2014, his second year with the Jets, and after seven seasons as a backup for the Jets, Giants, Chargers and Seahawks, he seized his opportunity and showed the rest of the NFL what it had been missing out on as he bided his time as a backup. And now, Smith has been rewarded for his standout season with the first lucrative multi-year deal of his career, while the Seahawks assured themselves stability at the game's most important position, locking up Smith before he could become a free agent when the new league year begins next week.
"This was really an incredible experience with a young guy that did some amazing things," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said last week at the NFL Scouting Combine. "It's such a good story and it's just a real story, it really happened right before our eyes, a guy that kind of got knocked around and kind of got lost in the shuffle after a while…. Then the way he handled it with such class, character, makeup and competitiveness and, you know, beautiful come-through and athleticism, all that stuff is all part of the story. I think my favorite part of it though is how he handled it, that he was able to take this moment and capture it and he opened up to the club in terms of his leadership opportunities, and it was almost impeccably handled, orchestrated right out of the book—exactly how you'd like it to be."
Broncos to bench Russell Wilson, will start Jarrett Stidham
The Denver Broncos, facing a looming decision about Russell Wilson's future with the organization, have benched the nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Broncos coach Sean Payton informed the team Wednesday morning that Jarrett Stidham will start Sunday with Wilson serving as the backup.
"I understand all the speculation and everything that surrounds a move like that," Payton said. "I can tell you -- look, we're desperately trying to win."
The quarterback change helps increase the Broncos' financial flexibility this upcoming offseason, as Wilson will make an additional $37 million in guaranteed money if he can't pass a physical by early March. An injury to Wilson in either of Denver's last two games of the season could trigger that guarantee.
Next season marks the first year of a five-year, $242.6 million extension signed in 2022 by Wilson, who already will make $39 million guaranteed in 2024.
"Sure, in our game today there are economics and all those other things," Payton said. "But the No. 1 push behind this -- and it's a decision I'm making -- is to get a spark offensively."
Wilson, 35, took to social media later to say he was "looking forward to what's next" in his career.
Quote:
God's got me.
Looking forward to what's next.
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) December 28, 2023
:jesuslol:
The move to Stidham also could provide a jump-start to a Denver offense that has been sluggish for much of the season. The Broncos (7-8) still have an outside chance at the postseason but have lost three of their past four games.
The Broncos dropped from 5-point favorites to 3-point favorites over the Chargers at ESPN BET after the news of Wilson's benching Wednesday afternoon.
The Broncos are 16th in the league in scoring (21.8 points per game), 20th on third down (36.7%), 31st in goal-to-go situations (53.6%) and 25th in passing (187.5 yards per game).
Wilson is tied for sixth in the league in touchdowns with 26, but is 18th in yards passing and has one 300-yard game this season -- in Denver's 70-20 loss to the Dolphins.
"Obviously it's difficult and all of us feel like, 'Man, we didn't do well enough,'" Payton said. "But one of the things we saw when we signed Stidham in the offseason is not only film from preseason games, but regular-season games. He's a guy that I'm anxious to see play."
What the Broncos do with Wilson moving forward will be the biggest roster decision they face in the offseason. The Broncos have just six draft picks in April, with no second-rounder, and would face unprecedented dead money charges of $85 million combined over the 2024 and 2025 seasons if they cut Wilson.
Wilson, when asked about his future after Sunday night's loss to the Patriots, said he was "just worried about next week and playing great football."