No matter faults one could discover with Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson, it’s inarguable that the person has been each a constant winner (with a profession profitable proportion of .614) and a whole skilled throughout his NFL profession.
Wilson has typically averted controversy, all whereas being the consummate teammate and enjoying one of the demanding positions in sports activities.
Given all that, and the truth that Denver overcame a sluggish begin this yr to get again into playoff rivalry, there was some gentle shock when it was announced this week that the Broncos could be benching their very expensive sign caller.
Wilson had been enjoying completely tremendous this yr, even outperforming various his extra lauded friends, and really a lot appeared like a beginning NFL quarterback.
One dangerous loss hardly felt like cause sufficient to bench him, and but that’s precisely what appeared to occur after the lowly New England Patriots beat the playoff-seeking Broncos 26-23 on Christmas Eve.
Solely, it turned on the market was way more to the scenario than meets the attention, as laid out by The Athletic’s senior NFL insider, Dianna Russini.
On Wednesday, Russini famous a number of the weirder particulars about how the Broncos had been treating Wilson — who, by the best way, signed a mammoth five-year, $245 million contract extension with Denver final yr that doesn’t even go into impact till 2025.
“Russell Wilson is expecting to be cut by the Denver Broncos in March, per league sources. For almost two months, the quarterback has been starting knowing the organization was most likely going to move on him from after this season,” Russini posted to X.
“The Broncos reached out to Wilson’s representatives in late October and explained that Wilson would lose the starting job and be made inactive for the rest of the season if he did not defer the injury guarantee trigger date that he has for 2025.”
The Broncos reached out to Wilson’s representatives in late October and defined that Wilson would lose the beginning job and be made inactive for the remainder of the season if he didn’t defer the harm assure set off date that he has for 2025, per a number of league sources.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) December 28, 2023
Russini continued, “Wilson has $37 million in injury guarantees for 2025 that will become guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2024 league year in March. Lawyers, including some with the [NFL Players Association], were involved, and no changes were made to the contract.”
The NFL insider concluded with one final word about how Denver levied this threatening non-threat on the veteran QB.
“The Broncos never told Wilson if or when they would bench him this season, he just played until he was told this morning he was no longer starting,” Russini mentioned.
It was defined, the Broncos by no means advised Wilson if or once they would bench him this season, he simply performed till he was advised this morning he was not beginning.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) December 28, 2023
So, to recap: Russell Wilson (who’s high 10 in nearly each significant quarterbacking statistic this yr) helped the Broncos win six of 9 video games after a 1-5 begin, thrusting the group again into playoff rivalry.
As a reward, the group allegedly threatened Wilson over a clause within the lavish contract they supplied him. In the meantime, Wilson was reportedly working his tail off for the Broncos with the sword of Damocles hanging over him.
It might be actual straightforward to be bitter about all this, and there’s a non-zero likelihood Wilson is apoplectic behind the scenes.
However publicly? The star quarterback shared a strong message about why he’s not apprehensive.
“God’s got me,” Wilson mentioned in an X submit. “Looking forward to what’s next.”
God’s acquired me.
Trying ahead to what’s subsequent.— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) December 28, 2023
It’s the right response that additionally highlights one other essential side of this story — Wilson’s unwavering faith, one thing he’s by no means, ever been shy about.
If Wilson had been some malcontent thug who allegedly broke a bit boy’s arm (see: supremely gifted however supremely troubled Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill), any such remedy from the entrance workplace would in all probability be seen as harsh, however essential.
However Wilson has solely ever performed himself as a category act and a person of religion.
It’s not clear what — if something — he has carried out to necessitate a benching in favor of Jarrett Stidham, a profession backup who couldn’t carry Wilson’s baggage on his finest day.
Hopefully Stidham doesn’t get harm when he fits up in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers or Las Vegas Raiders, as a result of this author can’t even start to fathom the awkwardness of the Broncos having to return to Wilson with their tail tucked between their legs, asking him to play once more.
One remaining word and proof that God has a splendidly ironic humorousness:
A number of oddsmakers have pegged the Patriots — you recognize, the group that type of sparked all this drama by beating Wilson and the Broncos on Sunday — because the favorites to amass Wilson if/when he’s launched by Denver.
This text appeared initially on The Western Journal.
