Russ fesses up about finger

[trents]

https://seahawkswire.usatoday.com/2021/ ... ce=twitter

[Hawktawk]

Yes this hit the press Wednesday . Looking at it with my eyes it still isn’t right . With 58 seconds left in the game we had 26 passing yards in the second half vs the 4-10 bears . I’m pist. We have sacrificed our season for Russels tough guy docudrama.

[RiverDog]

I'm not that pissed. The season was an abortion anyway. As a matter of fact, if it results in Pete getting fired, then it might actually be a good thing, like the Vinny Testaverde helmet touchdown that got Erickson fired.

[Hawktawk]

I'm not that pissed. The season was an abortion anyway. As a matter of fact, if it results in Pete getting fired, then it might actually be a good thing, like the Vinny Testaverde helmet touchdown that got Erickson fired.

I’m all over that . It’s time regardless of the reason . The Holmgren era was great but it had an expiration date and it was 4 years to regain relevance . We have had an incredible run but it’s over . I hope I live long enough to get another Lombardi

[tarlhawk]

...

[I-5]

This is crazy to even think about, but what are the chances that Russ isn’t super bothered about losing (close) games in the chance that it helps seal his fate in Seattle - assuming he would really like to be somewhere else this time next year? I told you it was a crazy thought.

[Aseahawkfan]

This is crazy to even think about, but what are the chances that Russ isn’t super bothered about losing (close) games in the chance that it helps seal his fate in Seattle - assuming he would really like to be somewhere else this time next year? I told you it was a crazy thought.

I don't think Russ even thinks that way. I think they play the best they can every week and this is just a season that has been coming for a while now due to horrible roster management.

Coaching has been the same. Russ was injured, but is still a great QB. The rest of the roster is mostly bad. Run game inconsistent. Defense inconsistent. Pass rush bad. Turnovers bad. Russ had been holding up this leaking ship for years. Eventually a leaky ship sinks no matter how good the captain of it is because the builder and architect didn't do the job right.

[RiverDog]

This is crazy to even think about, but what are the chances that Russ isn’t super bothered about losing (close) games in the chance that it helps seal his fate in Seattle - assuming he would really like to be somewhere else this time next year? I told you it was a crazy thought.

It would be very out of character, and I find it extremely hard to believe.

But I do think that something isn't right with Russell, and that the problem goes beyond his finger. He's making too many bad decisions that has nothing to do with his health or his coaching. He's making bad decisions, like run/pass, target selection, and although some errant throws might be attributed to his finger, his accuracy.

[Hawktawk]

It would be very out of character, and I find it extremely hard to believe.

But I do think that something isn't right with Russell, and that the problem goes beyond his finger. He's making too many bad decisions that has nothing to do with his health or his coaching. He's making bad decisions, like run/pass, target selection, and although some errant throws might be attributed to his finger, his accuracy.

Yeah I agree . Russ would never intentionally tank a game or a season . But somethings wrong and really has been progressively getting more problematic . This finger episode is only the latest manifestation of it . Russ wants attention, wants to be the center of attention. I’m pretty sure he pulled the pin 3 weeks early within a day of the Jacksonville game . Then all the Russell Superman look at me coming back in half the time . But really since the loss to Carolina in the divisional in 2015 it’s seemed he doesn’t get as upset about losing .

After a dreadful pick 6 and a 31 -0 deficit at the half they put up
24 in the second and Russ bragged about how he told the team at halftime it would be the greatest comeback in history and hey we almost got it . Not “ i suck “ . Atlanta in the divisional was even worse . A bad hold on a 90 yard Hester return changed momentum but in the second half Russ was just careless throwing into triple coverage for a pick ending any chance of a comeback . The postgame presser actually irritated me as Russ was kind of like oh well we will get them next time , did some good things just fell short . He ended the press conference with some slogan from his stadium project . Russ wants to win but he doesn’t care as much if he loses, doesn’t have the same intensity and focus . He’s commercialized , hip, power couple . I read a quote from a GM who said Russ would want to go to a high profile situation because he “craves celebrity “

Russ has always been a little wonky , a little goofy but he always produced . Now as has been said he’s become a 500 pound gorilla as his play is slipping . The finger charade is like a last straw for me especially how he’s played and yet he and Pete continue to defend the decision.

[I-5]

Yeah, I don’t for a moment think he would ever tank a game. That’s why I phrased it as ‘not bothered’, as in take your shot but don’t be too upset with making mistakes. Like you guys pointed out, there’s something that feels off. To me, it’s most evident when I hear him talk after yet another excruciating loss - you expect to see more disappointment. Now, I know he does preach not getting too high or too low, so maybe that’s all it is. But it still bothers me.

[RiverDog]

Yeah, I don’t for a moment think he would ever tank a game. That’s why I phrased it as ‘not bothered’, as in take your shot but don’t be too upset with making mistakes. Like you guys pointed out, there’s something that feels off. To me, it’s most evident when I hear him talk after yet another excruciating loss - you expect to see more disappointment. Now, I know he does preach not getting too high or too low, so maybe that’s all it is. But it still bothers me.

I mentioned this earlier, but Russell has never really experienced this kind of adversity before, certainly not at this level. He's not used to losing and finding the right words to rationalize the losses, his poor play, and the reality of playing on one of the worst teams in the league may not come easy for him. It's gotta be a pretty humbling experience.

[obiken]

The question River, is would we have been better off with Russ and a bad Finger, vs no Russ and the backup. I dont think it would have made any difference.

[Hawktawk]

The question River, is would we have been better off with Russ and a bad Finger, vs no Russ and the backup. I dont think it would have made any difference.

It’s not known whether it would have made a difference . What we know is Russ was shut out then scored 13 then 14 first 3 games back losing to Arod , Colt McCoy and Taylor Heinike . 27 points in 3 games for a 9 ppg average with the D balling out in all those games . Even with the Saints 10 point output Geno averaged 20 points a game . So
Maybe we have a little bit of an idea it wouldn’t have been worse . It’s laughable to say it would have been worse with the pack with the backup in . And here come the Geno love catcalls . It’s you that have a RW love for a guy that’s not there anymore , at least not right now .

[tarlhawk]

The question River, is would we have been better off with Russ and a bad Finger, vs no Russ and the backup. I dont think it would have made any difference.

2nd guesses serve no real purpose but to allow doubts to creep in. Green Bay at home in that cold and under the restrictions he played under...that type of game needs strong running play...which means being under center and handing off to a runner already in stride...with an established run you at least keep the defensive line from teeing off on their aggressive rush.

Gino would have had trouble with G. Bay just as most teams do...especially when they at home with wintry conditions...but he wouldn't have the handicaps RW played under and that would give our running game a bit more of a chance. I personally feel the 49er home game would be the right place to start Russel.

I don't see Russell as "starved" for attention...his own motivations is a strong belief that he's a difference maker...and his own confidence feeds off of clutch plays. When he can't deliver for whatever reasons...his confidence begins to waver and his "bailing out of the pocket" becomes more frequent. His lack of focus and timing suffers as he now feels an urgent need to overcome his failings/mistakes. A QB is one of the easiest positions to "makeup for mistakes" if you can regain your composure. I think in the past RW has resisted this temptation to perform recklessly to get control restored ...but this year his mental toughness is suffering for whatever reasons.

[NorthHawk]

I think he's just emotionally tuned out after last year.

[Hawktawk]

I just heard a portion of an interview between Brock and Salk and Jake Heaps who is Russell’s personal coach . The subject was Russell’s play . Heaps defended the sack , pointed out Carroll had said he needed coaches to tell him to throw it away . He pointed out Meyers missed the kick . He stated the RW line that he had made the play many times and PC had trusted him and lived with the results .

After that he was surprisingly critical. Asked about Russell’s lack of success and innacuracy he said it was tough getting back from injury but in his mind the biggest problem is being hesitant and indecisive and throwing late and inaccurate .

He referenced the quick out to DK that sailed saying he had clearly won and Russ hesitated and then threw high . Asked about the lack of productivity running he had no idea . He said Russ isn’t out of shape , maybe better than last year . Maybe didn’t want to hurt the hand again . So his own personal guru is seeing what a lot of us are . Some of his comments make me wonder if he’s still the coach .

[I-5]

The question River, is would we have been better off with Russ and a bad Finger, vs no Russ and the backup. I dont think it would have made any difference.

Considering Russ couldn't put the ball where he wanted to, I'd say the backup.

[Hawktawk]

Considering Russ couldn't put the ball where he wanted to, I'd say the backup.

He also couldn’t take snaps under center or hand off with his right hand for all of the first game . Against Arod in Green Bay PC put a guy who never won in the stadium and played horrible when he was there healthy who could not throw , take a snap or hand off at an NFL level . PC bowed at the altar of Russel Wilson and hoped for the impossible . And all the fans and other guys in that team paid for it .

[I-5]

He also couldn’t take snaps under center or hand off with his right hand for all of the first game . Against Arod in Green Bay PC put a guy who never won in the stadium and played horrible when he was there healthy who could not throw , take a snap or hand off at an NFL level . PC bowed at the altar of Russel Wilson and hoped for the impossible . And all the fans and other guys in that team paid for it .

To be fair, once Russ pronounced himself 'healed', it didn't leave Pete much choice. Even though he is the HC, Russ being the annointed once, if he says he's ready to go, no one is going to be able to stop him from playing. As someone else said (was it you HT?), Pete could have pulled him once it because obvious Russ wasn't able to get it done, but that's tricky, too. Bottom line, Russ' competitive spirit, hubris, ego - whatever we want to call it - took the team down a pretty impossible road, knowing he couldn't make the throws and that we had to cater the offense to his injury.

[RiverDog]

He also couldn’t take snaps under center or hand off with his right hand for all of the first game . Against Arod in Green Bay PC put a guy who never won in the stadium and played horrible when he was there healthy who could not throw , take a snap or hand off at an NFL level . PC bowed at the altar of Russel Wilson and hoped for the impossible . And all the fans and other guys in that team paid for it .

To be fair, once Russ pronounced himself 'healed', it didn't leave Pete much choice. Even though he is the HC, Russ being the annointed once, if he says he's ready to go, no one is going to be able to stop him from playing. As someone else said (was it you HT?), Pete could have pulled him once it because obvious Russ wasn't able to get it done, but that's tricky, too. Bottom line, Russ' competitive spirit, hubris, ego - whatever we want to call it - took the team down a pretty impossible road, knowing he couldn't make the throws and that we had to cater the offense to his injury.

As I said in another thread, we...and I mean us as fans that have elevated players to the status of some sort of God by wearing their names and numbers on our backs...have created a 500 pound gorilla that eats, sleeps, and chits where ever the hell he wants. Once Russell decides he wants something, Pete is going to be extremely hard pressed to say no. It's the same reason why Matt LeFleur didn't tell Aaron Rodgers that he couldn't fly on the team plane. Because of the fact that they are paid more and are idolized by the fans, coaches are afraid to challenge them.

This season wasn't going anywhere as this team has too many other problems for us to be a serious SB competitor, but if it had, we very well could have sacrificed a shot at another Lombardi so that Russell could play.

[Hawktawk]

The game plan at least the first 2 games made obvious Pete was WELL AWARE Russ wasn’t Nearly ready and was in significant pain . It was bringing a cork gun to a gun fight. Russ wanted to be regarded as a physically superior fast healer . He also inherited a team that was 3-5 coming off a big win and a qb performance as good as weve seen from any QB not named Wilson since probably 2010. 2 games under 500 in a 17 game season when he returned and is currently 10 and 5 with Russ at 2-5 and terrible in every loss . Meanwhile Miami who started 1-7 is 8-7 and controls their destiny . The colts were 2-5 and are now considered dark horse contenders . The Titans lost their back and receivers and are one of the top teams .
I give PC most of the blame for betraying his team to appease Russels very public docudrama . I blame Russ quite a bit for being a me first dishonest narcissist who knew he wasn’t himself but played anyway . I like team players and coaches with a spine .

[tarlhawk]

I give PC most of the blame for betraying his team to appease Russels very public docudrama . I blame Russ quite a bit for being a me first dishonest narcissist who knew he wasn’t himself but played anyway . I like team players and coaches with a spine .

Only my opinion but your written rhetoric comes down a bit over the top for claiming you're not infatuated with a healthy Gino being sent back to the bench too early...even if Pete (betrayal?) was hoping against hope to get RW back. A healthy (mentally and physically) Russell does give us a game changer. Gino played admirably well and will hopefully translate those efforts into a starting job...somewhere else.

Russell gave no real ammo for thinking his recovery was orchestrated for ulterior purposes. I think his mindset has always been to keep himself in shape and to not let an injury keep him from the team he hopes to help. Others (outsiders) have always marveled at his maintaining his own personal conditioning regimen with much of that reputation based on his shrugging off injury (ankle and MCL injuries in 2016).

More recently a couple years ago (not really sure) he faced concussion protocol and was sent to the "tent"...Gino came in for one snap...since RW went into the tent and came right back out putting his helmet back on and went back on field. Outside media might make it a drama like coverage but unless you think RW controls the media...there is nothing but speculation of him being me-first. I know of at least once offering/okaying the restructure of his contract to bring in someone...too lazy to find out who it was for ...but I remember Doug Baldwin also offered.

[Hawktawk]

Only my opinion but your written rhetoric comes down a bit over the top for claiming you're not infatuated with a healthy Gino being sent back to the bench too early...even if Pete (betrayal?) was hoping against hope to get RW back. A healthy (mentally and physically) Russell does give us a game changer. Gino played admirably well and will hopefully translate those efforts into a starting job...somewhere else.

Russell gave no real ammo for thinking his recovery was orchestrated for ulterior purposes. I think his mindset has always been to keep himself in shape and to not let an injury keep him from the team he hopes to help. Others (outsiders) have always marveled at his maintaining his own personal conditioning regimen with much of that reputation based on his shrugging off injury (ankle and MCL injuries in 2016).

More recently a couple years ago (not really sure) he faced concussion protocol and was sent to the "tent"...Gino came in for one snap...since RW went into the tent and came right back out putting his helmet back on and went back on field. Outside media might make it a drama like coverage but unless you think RW controls the media...there is nothing but speculation of him being me-first. I know of at least once offering/okaying the restructure of his contract to bring in someone...too lazy to find out who it was for ...but I remember Doug Baldwin also offered.

Genos 3 vs Russ 3 back
98 yard drive and then a FG drive cold off the bench vs LA, scored more on them in a quarter than healthy Russ in 3 quarters. He scored as much on them in a quarter as Russ did in 4 quarters last game. Russ led offense has 17 points, 1 pass TD and 2 picks vs the Rams in 7 quarters.
Against Pittsburgh 99.2 QBR he completed passes to 10 players despite being sacked 5 times, stripped, tipped mostly by TJ watt who stripped him in overtime to end the drive. But that was his first start in 5 years. At one point he directed 3 straight scoring drives in the 3rd and 4th quarter despite getting the crap knocked out of him.
His worst QBR was 94.3 vs NO with their starter Winston playing and stout defense in a driving rainstorm. He still managed to throw a TD pass, to DK. Meyer missed 2 FG
Jacksonville was near perfect
Geno in 3 starts and a quarter of play 702 yards, 5 TDs and added a rush TD. 1 int when Locket tripped on a timing route when he came in to the Rams game, none in 3 starts.
4 of his 5 TD passes went to DK Metcalf. His final game he completed 80% of his passes for 200 yards and 2 TDs TO DK METCALF with a QBR of 128.3 and rushed for another in the biggest rout of the year . Granted the results till the last week were the same but the offense was more consistent.

Russ first 3 back shut out at GB, 2 picks 39.7 QBR balls sailing all over the park. Said he was fine, PC said he was fine, defended going pistol all night, got annoyed when asked if Russ was in pain, said it was just common sense, a precaution .
AZ 207 yards no TDs 80.1 rating in a 23-13 loss to Colt McCoy like healthy Russ last year. Different team, same amazing feat. better accuracy but still not good.
WFT best statistical game,110 rating I see a trend here but only 15 points. And I watched the game like we all did. He recovers from a horrendous time wasting sack to launch a missile off the scramble drill and get a TD in the finale seconds.
But on the 2 point Dangerruss was nowhere to be found, freezing in the pocket with routes open and then throwing late after staring down Swain getting it picked
first 3 back Russ 600 yards, 2 TDs, 2 picks and a picked off 2 point. 0-3 RECORD. now 2-5 since returning.29 pass attempts over the middle all season. Rushing the ball 1 of every 50 plays. To be fair the kicker was bad but he missed 3 while Geno was starting that would have won 2 of the 3 games. DK finally caught his first TD since Russ came back in the 7th game after catching one in almost every game Geno played in . Geno threw a TD pass in every appearance, Russ did not in 2 of his first 3 starts.
Did anyone enjoy watching these games? Rams? Bears? I watched that game over a couple times. Yea it was cold but the last throw of the game to Lockette....... He sailed a wide open Tyler Lockette by 4 feet and we would have easily been in FG range had he hooked up. I dont want this to be true but if its not still injured it must be damaged or weak or something , Russ didn't miss than bad in Minnesota in that WC game at 50 below.

Here's the deal. I'm infatuated with winning. We really dont have any idea what would have happened had he been held out another week or 2 , but we know Russ didn't play winning RW football for 3 weeks and still isn't consistently. Had Geno merely hit his average we would have won every game except AZ .This wasn't concussed Russ in 2014 vs GB and maybe it knocked some sense into him because he was chasing a guy after his 3rd pick when it happened. He threw another after than to make 4 but the GB player slid down or it would have been over. D held again and then Russ finally showed up. I think maybe Matt Flynn was the backup then.
But that was then and this is now. This finger drama was all about Russ, pulling the pin i believe the day of the Jacksonville game, at least 3 weeks early according to medical experts. "No more pin time to win". He and even his surgeon bragging about how rapid a recovery "good as new" Well not exactly. Then 6 weeks later oh it was rough , really hard from both he and PC, No excuses guy's.
Russ, like any starting QB in the league doesn't want anyone else taking his snaps no matter who they are. Beyond that as one GM said recently, he "craves celebrity" This finger was all about his narrative. Its what it is.

And I have never heard of him offering to give up a single dime of his dough. Hes no Brady in that regard. Then making a deal and announcing it in bed with Ciara. And you say hes not a narcissist.
I dont care as long as hes winning. When hes not ?
I saw enough out of Geno to keep him on the team if Russ is gone. He clearly had improved himself from the Jets days. Unless they bring in a star they may have to have a competition. The worst he could do is fail.