Denver Broncos QB Russell Wilson Confirms Seattle Seahawks Tried To Trade Him Before This Year, Says His Skills Aren’t Declining
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – With his return to Seattle in his first regular game against Dancer broncos Just a few more days, midfielder Russell Wilson confirmed on Thursday Seahawks has actually tried to trade him before – in 2018 – and says he doesn’t believe his skills have diminished as he enters his 11th season.
The Broncos’ blockbuster deal to buy Wilson in March – for five draft picks, including two in the first round and two in the second, as well as three players – was one of the league-changing moves biggest of the season.
But Wilson confirmed Thursday, shortly before he stepped onto the training ground, that this isn’t the first time the Seahawks have tried to trade him in during his time with the team that includes nine Pro Bowl picks, two Super Bowl matches and one Super Bowl victory. . In an ESPN story announced this week about the Wilson-Seahawks football divorce, Seattle’s attempt to trade Wilson before the 2018 draft was detailed.
“They certainly tried, a few times, trying to see what was out there,” Wilson said. , I feel like one of the best in the world. ”
According to a source, Wilson heard while attending Super Bowl LV in February 2021 that Seattle had previously had other conversations about trading him in addition to their 2018 call for Cleveland Browns. A Seahawks source said that the 2018 call with the Browns was the only time they actively tried to trade Wilson other than when they did so with Denver in March.
Wilson, 33, also defied criticism, some of whom spoke on condition of anonymity, that his skills had dwindled. He hasn’t played a game in the Broncos’ three pre-season games so Monday night at Lumen Field will be the first time anyone has seen Wilson commit Denver’s offense in a game.
“I don’t worry about all that, people can have opinions and thoughts and ideas, everybody has the right to think what they want to think,” Wilson said. , just the whole situation.
“I think every year you have to prove that [you’re one of the best] … You want your career to reflect being one of the best in the world, so I think the first 10 years is a positive reflection, but there’s more work to be done, more work to be done. ”
Wilson was asked what reception he would get from Seahawks fans in the stadium and said he doesn’t play the game with a chip on his shoulder.
“Seattle is forever the world for me, like I said, I love it, I’ve played 10 years there, it’s been a great experience, I love every second of it,” Wilson said. ”
He told Seattle-area media on Thursday that he expected a “noisy” crowd at Lumen Field on Monday night.
“I knew they were going to be loud. I knew they were going to be excited. It’s Monday Night Football so it’s going to be a special environment. Listen, I think I’ve given my heart and soul to you. every day. I know nothing less. Hopefully it will be positive, but at the same time, at the end of the day, I know we have a game to play and everything else,” he said.
He also told reporters in Seattle that he and Seahawks coach Pete Carroll spoke “various times” between the end of last season and when he was traded.
“I was hoping that it would go well and we could figure out all the details. We couldn’t… so that’s one of those things. You have to be able to move on with confidence. having fun and just saying that I can still play this game and now I’m involved with the Denver Broncos, another great organization,” he said.
“To say I can play for the Seattle Seahawks for 10 years and hopefully the Denver Broncos for the rest of my career, we’ll see. That’s a great thing to say. So I just know. Thank you. I’m grateful for the whole experience of it all.”
Brady Henderson of ESPN contributed to this report.
