Former Seahawks Defender Speaks Out on Russell Wilson Criticism

Not all of Russell Wilson's former teammates in Seattle are so quick to throw him under the bus.

The world of professional sports has a habit of quickly turning on an athlete and soiling their good name, especially when success turns to failure. Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson is in the eye of yet another media storm that's in danger of boiling over. 

Thanks to the national media's relentless push to paint Wilson as a selfish and egotistical quarterback who purportedly plotted to get his former general manager and head coach in Seattle fired, he's under fire once again. Wilson has understandably defended himself against the unsubstantiated reports directed towards him. 

Up to this point, the reports can realistically be filed under the 'pure hearsay' section. Fictitious or not, these accusations will have irked Wilson because of careful he's been to cultivate and manage his public image.

However, some of Wilson’s old teammates have closed ranks around the only QB to lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl title. Retired defensive end Cliff Avril shared a locker room with Wilson in Seattle from 2013-17, and he felt aggrieved enough with the slandering of his old teammate to passionately defend him via Twitter.

“I usually stay out (of) the way and stay in my own lane, but it’s tough watching people go in on someone every year, and he never defends himself, so things keep stacking up,” Avril tweeted. “It’s unreal! Personally, as a teammate and a man have never had any issues with how he’s moved. Always been a stand-up guy towards my family and I! Sometimes people just don’t like things they don’t understand. Something’s ain’t meant to be understood.”

I usually stay out the way and stay in my own lane but it’s tough watching people go in on someone (@DangeRussWilson) every year and he never defends himself so things keep stacking up. It’s unreal! Personally, as a teammate and a man have never had any issues with how he’s moved

— Cliff Avril (@cliffavril) February 25, 2023

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Wilson was in the public eye for so long, he should be well-schooled in dealing with toxic criticism from the media. That being said, since orchestrating his way out of Seattle, this is perhaps the first time he’s faced real adversity both on and off the field, and the fact that most of the claims have no factual basis, Wilson could feel like this a more personal attack.

If we were more inclined to follow the breadcrumbs, the rumor that Wilson was putting forth Sean Payton to replace Pete Carroll might be deemed slightly suspicious and particularly timely. Broncos running back Latavius Murray’s text exchange with Payton, imploring him to come and coach in Denver, was sent with the blessing of Wilson.

It’s often said that the past is the best predictor of the future, so if Wilson wanted Payton in Seattle, all he had to do was bide his time to see his wish granted in the Mile High City. Assuming for the sake of conversation that this rumor is true. 

The media storm will blow over soon enough, but if Wilson is looking for added motivation to make his critics eat some crow, it has arrived on a heaping platter.

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