Luckily for the Seattle Seahawks, trade rumors surrounding their franchise quarterback Russell Wilson dissipated almost as quickly as they emerged.
While the Green Bay Packers try to navigate a firestorm that seemingly has no end in sight involving Aaron Rodgers, the Seahawks are gearing up for the upcoming season knowing their leader will be locked in.
It’s hard to believe, but this will be Wilson’s 10th season with Seattle.
The decade has largely been an enjoyable one for the franchise, as the team has been in the playoffs in eight of the past nine years.
Shocking Rumors Of Dissatisfaction
The rumblings of Wilson’s dissatisfaction earlier this year were a little out of the blue.
Wilson is known as being one of the most polished, team-first players in the NFL, and comments addressing a lack of adequate protection from his offensive line last season came as a bit of a surprise.
Despite the unusual sound bites coming from the normally calm and collected quarterback, his feelings on the team’s pass protection aren’t unfounded.
Last season, Seattle was fifth-worst in the NFL with regards to sacks allowed, as their leader was brought down an alarming 48 times.
Including last season, the Seahawks have actually finished in the bottom 10 of that category in each of the last three campaigns.
Considering that the lack of pass protection is not an anomaly, it does make sense that Wilson, or any quarterback under consistent siege, would feel frustrated.
Summer Camp is BACK.
The separation is in the preparation… 3 days of running routes, lifting and bonding with my teammates as we head into the 2021 season 🙏🏾
WATCH HERE: https://t.co/911Od6tZDm
🎥 @West2EastEmpire pic.twitter.com/sgbWmAL6Gg
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) July 25, 2021
However, Wilson and the only franchise he’s ever known are still a tremendous fit for the foreseeable future.
Despite the “Let Russ Cook” narrative, which always seems to resurrect itself around this time each year, Seattle has taken strides to cater their team around their special signal-caller.
Head coach Pete Carroll and the franchise brought Wilson along slowly during his first few years in the league.
They had the benefit of featuring one of the best defensive units in the last 15 years or so, and had an imposing running game spearheaded by Marshawn Lynch.
Seattle played to their strengths in those seasons, and it worked out very well for them, and for Wilson’s development.
While the “Legion Of Boom” still felt like they were the cream of the crop, and Lynch was still making defenders pay during the middle of the last decade, Seattle decided to slowly give Wilson more responsibility.
My first TD Pass ever in college! 🤣 this was fun! The No Look! 👀
ECU vs @PackFootball https://t.co/ucPb4b4TDC— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) July 22, 2021
There were rumblings that the established veterans on the team weren’t a fan of this power shift, and rumors spread that the team wanted Wilson to get the credit for a Super Bowl victory against the New England Patriots.
Of course, Wilson threw an interception at the goal line, which incensed many players in the locker room.
At the end of the day, the Seahawks aren’t in a great position to move on from Wilson, having invested so much in him for the last six or seven years.
Wilson also isn’t in the best position to move on from Seattle, considering that learning a new offense at this stage of the offseason would be a lot to ask.
Even though there has been a lot of movement in the NFL in recent years at the quarterback position, there’s still something to be said for camaraderie at the two most important spots on the team.
Carroll and Wilson have been together for a decade, and that level of trust and understanding can still serve as an advantage when high pressure situations arise throughout the course of the season.
NEXT: Russell Wilson Will Win Another Super Bowl With Seahawks