Wilson cleared to play on Sunday

[Hawktawk]

In a Wednesday interview Russ finally admitted the hand wasn’t right when he returned. He says it was not right at all for at least 2 games since he came back and didn’t feel really good for 5 or 6 weeks but now it’s great . “ I had played banged up before “
So to interpret he lied to Carroll and the medical staff and so did his physician . And once he was announced cleared PC was over a barrel. If Russ had been about the team he would have said coach this is my moneymaker , not an ankle sprain . I can’t throw the ball properly yet . But this was about Russels ego . Ultimately I blame Carroll . He’s supposed to be the boss. He sat and watched the season go down the drain in game after game of no offense , winnable games against backups who were playing far better than Russ while the line , skill position and defense were fighting their tail off.this is on PC . It’s why I want a clean sweep or one more tour with the band . I’ve had it with PC kissing Russes arse and I don’t think a little tyrant like Russ has been lately would allow a new coach to coach .

[tarlhawk]

Good words, Tarlhawk. I agree with your thoughts. My only input would be maybe Russ would be coping better with all this if he didn't try so hard to put on a positive face. It's like he's in denial about the impact these factors are having on him and until he acknowledges that he won't find emotional healing and health and be able to move on.

Good insight...he needs to get into the off-season and re-set his confidence sources and winning any "internal" battles he's in denial of...I only hope the hounding of media frenzy over trade rumors will afford him the necessary time...his agent and even Jake Heaps via his AM 710 sports media should work together and deflect away some of this "shark feed" publicity.

[tarlhawk]

In a Wednesday interview Russ finally admitted the hand wasn’t right when he returned. He says it was not right at all for at least 2 games since he came back and didn’t feel really good for 5 or 6 weeks but now it’s great . “ I had played banged up before “
So to interpret he lied to Carroll and the medical staff and so did his physician . And once he was announced cleared PC was over a barrel. If Russ had been about the team he would have said coach this is my moneymaker , not an ankle sprain . I can’t throw the ball properly yet . But this was about Russels ego . Ultimately I blame Carroll . He’s supposed to be the boss. He sat and watched the season go down the drain in game after game of no offense , winnable games against backups who were playing far better than Russ while the line , skill position and defense were fighting their tail off.this is on PC . It’s why I want a clean sweep or one more tour with the band . I’ve had it with PC kissing Russes arse and I don’t think a little tyrant like Russ has been lately would allow a new coach to coach .

Your scathing rhetoric of Russell Wilsons character seems more than bitterness over Geno Smith's untimely shelving. Watching the Super Bowl at the commissioners bequest put Russell in a dark mood as the game progressed ...and say words out of character afterwards...and the media pounces on such opportunities whenever blame appears...because blame is one of the most divisive events in a team sport...

[Hawktawk]

I’m very upset Russ started for the team vs Green Bay . Shotgun formation all night, zero points. Handing off left handed for several game . In 3 of his last 6 starts he’s not had a touchdown pass . Vs the Rams he was 1-11 on balls over 10 yards . He’s still lying about the hand . In general Russ has great character , incredibly beneficent with charity . but he’s extremely ego driven , narcissistic. This whole finger thing was a docudrama on social media chronicling his amazing recovery faster than anyone ever did . I never root against Russ, don’t want to be right about any of it . Doesn’t mean I’m wrong about any of it . We have 1 playoff win in the last 5 years . We are 3 and 5 in the postseason since the dynasty killer throw . In 4 of our last 5 playoff defeats we have not held a second half lead and in 3 of those losses we have never had the lead . I love what Russ has done here but I’m a fan of the team , not any player who is no longer useful to winning . It might get worse before it gets better but it’s bad . And he was a complete Jackass when honored by the commissioner . Probably the least socially aware thing he’s done .

[trents]

I struggle with labels like "narcissistic". While it is probably true that Russell sitting out a couple of more games would have been better for the team, we need to realize that his determination and self-confidence also took us to a super bowl a few years ago. It's hard to just turn that off like you would a water faucet. This will hopefully be a life lesson learned for him. I think the bigger part of the blame should be on Pete's shoulders for not pulling him early on in that first game back when it was apparent he was not physically ready to play. Pete should have pulled him by the end of the first quarter and had a conversation something like this, "Russ, I admire your drive and determination. No one can criticize your motivation. But I'm pulling you out for Geno because until your finger heals more completely, Geno gives us the best chance to win."

[RiverDog]

I struggle with labels like "narcissistic". While it is probably true that Russell sitting out a couple of more games would have been better for the team, we need to realize that his determination and self-confidence also took us to a super bowl a few years ago. It's hard to just turn that off like you would a water faucet. This will hopefully be a life lesson learned for him. I think the bigger part of the blame should be on Pete's shoulders for not pulling him early on in that first game back when it was apparent he was not physically ready to play. Pete should have pulled him by the end of the first quarter and had a conversation something like this, "Russ, I admire your drive an determination. No one can criticize your motivation. But I'm pulling you out for Geno because until your finger heels more completely, Geno gives us the best chance to win."

I agree with trents. Labeling Russell as a narcissist is way over the top. He obviously has a healthy ego, but in a sport as intense and mentally challenging as professional football, it's almost a prerequisite to have some pretty solid confidence in your abilities, and sometimes that has its disadvantages, as we saw when the better option for our team would have been for Russell to sit another couple of games.

The problem is with the way the game is structured. Coaches do not have as much power and influence as the franchise quarterback. Had this been the 1960's with Vince Lombardi as our coach, Russell would have been riding the pine. Russell is our 500 lb gorilla.

[Hawktawk]

I think he’s a narcissist . I think I am too though . We’re self promoters .start too many sentences with I. It’s understandable in Russes case as he’s a very marketable person with a vast array of interests . But he’s look at me . The whole video documentary , “no more pin time to win “3 weeks after surgery when he had to be hurting like hell. My own surgeon who is a fan said it’s 6 weeks with pin then therapy for that injury . So why did he do it ? Imo same reason he was running around doing pregame warmups with his hand casted . Not to stay sharp . To say look at me . All stars in any profession have some of it and I can relate. It’s part of their dna, their juice . It isn’t all bad . But Russ really hurt the team and still is and Pete let it continue . The game plan for Green Bay showed everyone including Russ knew he wasn’t ready . But it was tough for Pete because the D balled out so hard it was 3-0 in the 4th quarter . Not pulling him after the goose egg, 50% completion , picks was the second biggest crime . My guess is had he rested a couple more weeks at least he’d be playing better now . Maybe the results would be the same . We know Green Bay could not have been worse .

[trents]

The problem is with the way the game is structured. Coaches do not have as much power and influence as the franchise quarterback. Had this been the 1960's with Vince Lombardi as our coach, Russell would have been riding the pine. Russell is our 500 lb gorilla.

Please elaborate. Why do the coaches have less power now than back then? Does it have something to do with the fact that the franchise QB gets paid two to three times as much as the head coach now days?

[NorthHawk]

Not only is it the money they make, but with Social Media, there is a lot more pressure on the coach to play fan favorites.
It's probably even truer with a QB that has been a perennial Pro Bowl pick and has won a SB. There aren't many franchise
type QBs out there, so the ones that are usually command more influence than they might have 50 years or more ago.

Regarding Russ's ego? In the early days, Pete went out to get ultra competitive players who would compete at everything.
Russ is one of those with a burning desire to win, so he's going to want to play because he thinks he gives them the best
chance and that he's the best QB on the field. So when he says he's ready to go, the coach is in a bit of a quandry. Add to
it Pete's trust in players and we see Wilson not performing to the standards we think he should (and probably his own, too).

[RiverDog]

The problem is with the way the game is structured. Coaches do not have as much power and influence as the franchise quarterback. Had this been the 1960's with Vince Lombardi as our coach, Russell would have been riding the pine. Russell is our 500 lb gorilla.

Please elaborate. Why do the coaches have less power now than back then? Does it have something to do with the fact that the franchise QB gets paid two to three times as much as the head coach now days?

Part of it is pay, part of it is public exposure (commercials, endorsements, et al), part of it is that the game is more quarterback centric, part of it is the high turnover rate of head coaches, part of it is social media...lots of reasons.

Out of the 32 current NFL head coaches, there's only 7 that have been with their teams for more than 5 years. IMO that rate of turnover contributes heavily to a coach's insecurity that manifests itself into being intimidated by the star quarterback. Why else would Matt LeFleur, who is in just his 3rd season as HC, not tell Aaron Rodgers to put on his mask or that he can't fly on the team plane? Do you think that a back up guard could get away with what Rodgers did? Or do you think that LeFleur, flush with his 3 years as a head coach, thinks he can flaunt NFL mandates?

[RiverDog]

Not only is it the money they make, but with Social Media, there is a lot more pressure on the coach to play fan favorites.
It's probably even truer with a QB that has been a perennial Pro Bowl pick and has won a SB. There aren't many franchise
type QBs out there, so the ones that are usually command more influence than they might have 50 years or more ago.

Very true. I grew up in the 60's, and the star quarterbacks back then were Johnny Unitas, Bart Starr, John Brodie, et al. I never saw them on TV outside of football games and rarely even saw them with their helmets off. They didn't have the sideline interviews with them, no post game press conferences. Occasionally you might see one of them interviewed after a big win, but not nearly as often as they are today.

Russell is one of a very few high profile, franchise type QB's that would include Brady, Rodgers, and Worthlessburger, that could be called a 500 lb gorilla. Worthlessburger might not be able to intimidate Mike Tomlin as much as Rodgers could LeFleur because of Tomlin's tenure and Pittsburgh's well known philosophy of not turning over head coaches. But especially since Pete is on a bit of a hot seat, Russell can damn sure intimidate him.

[NorthHawk]

As well, Pete said recently that he probably wouldn't be here if Russell wasn't here, so there is a large dollop of trust in Russ by Pete.
When it gets to that point, how can the HC not trust his player? With all of the pressures it would be hard to overrule Wilson after
all he's done in the past. But sometimes that would mean some mistakes will be made. If Russ went to another team, I think the
leash would be much shorter. I think the same leash would be extended to Payton and Brees, Tomlin and Rothlesberger, or Brady
and Belichick and others where the team has had extended success.

[Hawktawk]

As well, Pete said recently that he probably wouldn't be here if Russell wasn't here, so there is a large dollop of trust in Russ by Pete.
When it gets to that point, how can the HC not trust his player? With all of the pressures it would be hard to overrule Wilson after
all he's done in the past. But sometimes that would mean some mistakes will be made. If Russ went to another team, I think the
leash would be much shorter. I think the same leash would be extended to Payton and Brees, Tomlin and Rothlesberger, or Brady
and Belichick and others where the team has had extended success.

My problem with Russ coming back is multi point. 1 point was lying to primarily the press and his fans . Because 2 PC knew he was not close , the trainers knew , Russ knew . The game plan proved they knew. It should not have been hard for PC to say Russ you are taking a cork gun to a sniper fight and sit him . We talk about other coaches and star qbs being gorillas . Tomlin pulls Ben if he’s hurt too bad . Ben pulled himself in Seattle on a potential game winning drive with a concussion. Rodgers is a ten thousand pound gorilla . But he produces . He can do that . Greg Jennings was discussing Russell’s off season. He said he though his off season comments were bad , more so since he’s played badly this season . Also read this morning per Jason Lacanfora of CBS that Seattle’s FO is not discussing a contract extension” little or no interest “ and that the chance of a trade is real. The magic carpet ride is over . The chariot turned to a pumpkin .