Russell Wilson trade talk, Asante Samuel’s value, Big Ben and more
Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks are reportedly struggling to co-exist, but both parties must know they’re better together.
We all know that couple.
They’re the best-looking duo in the room. They walk in confident, smiling, and then split up to chat with old friends. Once apart, the sniping begins. It’s an occasional comment at first, and nobody can understand it.
Then, after awhile, it makes sense. They don’t see what everyone else is the room does.
They should be happy together, but all they can do is identify the flaws in one another.
This is the Seattle Seahawks and Russell Wilson.
Wilson, 32, has grown frustrated with the Seahawks. He aired his grievances on The Dan Patrick Show, stating his desire for input and a better offensive line. Nobody has been sacked more over the past five seasons, so the complaint is valid, even if the method is questionable.
On Thursday, the story took another turn. The Athletic released a fantastically-reported piece on the growing divide between the sides, while ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted out Wilson, who both hasn’t demanded a trade and holds a full no-trade clause, would accept a deal to the Las Vegas Raiders, New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys or Chicago Bears.
Looking at the aforementioned quartet, only New Orleans makes sense. The Cowboys, Raiders and Bears are all significantly further away from winning a title than Seattle, and the receiving duo of D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett is a better combination than can be found in either of the other three cities.
Finally, the Seahawks have a better defense than Dallas or Las Vegas can offer. Seattle also provides familiarity and culture of winning. The Raiders haven’t won a playoff game since 2002, and the Cowboys haven’t seen an NFC Championship Game since 1995. Chicago is also without a playoff win since 2010.
If Wilson could get to New Orleans, it would be an understandable upgrade. The Saints are perennial contenders in head coach Sean Payton’s imaginative offense. He’d be surrounded by receiver Michael Thomas, running back Alvin Kamara and a top-notch offensive line with an excellent defense on the other side.
However, the Saints are projected to be a whopping $69.5 million over the cap, and Wilson counts for a $32 million cap charge. New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis would essentially have to clear $100 million of cap simply to afford Wilson. Good luck.
As for Seattle, making things work with Wilson should be of paramount importance.
In today’s NFL, it may become the norm for quarterbacks to play until and perhaps beyond their 40th birthday. Wilson could have a decade left in him. In our current era, having an elite quarterback is the biggest advantage the game offers. Trading Wilson, regardless of the return, is a net loss.
Ownership must sit with Wilson and work through the issue. If appeasing him means a seismic change such as moving on from head coach Pete Carroll, that’s the unfortunate price of business. Replacing Carroll is tough, but it’s more realistic than adequately finding the next Hall of Fame signal-caller.
Between now and the beginning of training camp — the likely in-person start of the ’21 season — lays five months. Wilson and the Seahawks have time, have a chance to make things right.
Of course, we all know that couple.
Eventually, the couple splits. The animosity has grown too much.
And usually, down the line, both regret the split. But it’s too late. The damage is done.
Power rankings
Top 10 coaches to only win one Super Bowl
1. Andy Reid – Kansas City Chiefs/Philadelphia Eagles – (206 wins – sixth all time, three SB trips)
2. Weeb Ewbank – Baltimore Colts/New York Jets (two NFL titles, Hall of Fame)
3. John Madden – Oakland Raiders (103-32-7, seven conf. title games in nine years, Hall of Fame)
4. Hank Stram – Kansas City Chiefs (three AFL titles, 2 SB trips, Hall of Fame)
5. Mike Holmgren – Green Bay Packers/Seattle Seahawks (three SB trips, 161 wins – 16th)
6. Bill Cowher – Pittsburgh Steelers (two SB trips, 149 wins – 20th all time, Hall of Fame)
7. Mike Tomlin – Pittsburgh Steelers (two SB trips, 145 wins – T21st all time)
8. Pete Carroll – Seattle Seahawks (two SB trips, 145 wins – T21st all time)
9. Dick Vermeil – St. Louis Rams/Philadelphia Eagles (two SB trips, 120 wins – 35th all time)
10. Sean Payton – New Orleans Saints (143 wins – 23rd all time)
Quotable
"“Hell no! I can’t go out like that. I hear all of that talk. My pride won’t allow me to do it. There aren’t 32 guys better than me.”"
– New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton on being a starter in 2021
Newton is right. There aren’t 32 quarterbacks more deserving of a starting role this season. However, he’s going to be hard-pressed to find a gig outside of New England.
Look around the league, and you see a litany of quarterbacks who are better than Newton. The guys who may not be are young and worth investing another year in. After throwing eight measly touchdowns in 2020 for the Patriots, it’ll be tough for the former MVP to find the right spot.
Podcast
Random stat
With 2.5 more sacks, Indianapolis Colts edge rusher — and pending free agent — Justin Houston will notch 100 sacks. Only 35 players have ever done so.
Incredibly, one of them is already a free agent in former Houston Texans great J.J. Watt, while another, Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller, could soon join him on the market.
Info learned this week
1. Watson maintaining stance of wanting out from Texans
Deshaun Watson is digging in. So are the Texans. A high-stakes game of chicken.
Last week, reports surfaced of Watson telling new head coach David Culley he is maintaining his stance of wanting to be traded elsewhere. For their part, the Texans front office has remained resolute in refuting trade offers, to the point of other general managers leaving voicemails with trade proposals. Lunacy, to be sure.
So what’s the deadline to create action? If the Texans are going to trade Watson and get anything approaching good value, it has to happen before April 29. Why? That’s the first round of the NFL Draft. Houston doesn’t have a pick until the third round, and moving Watson would give the Texans ample ability to restock a barren roster.
Watson, 25, is signed for the next five seasons, with his four-year extension yet to kick in. He enjoys a full no-trade clause but would reportedly waive it for a few reported destinations including the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers.
For Houston, Miami and New York would be the best fits in terms of draft capital. Both have a pair of first-round choices, including the Dolphins having Houston’s original choice at No. 3 overall. The Dolphins could also send second-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
However, at least for now, Houston isn’t engaging in trade talks. Don’t expect that to change soon.
2. Patriots get great news heading into free agency
After two decades of dominance, the Patriots had a rough 2020.
New England went 7-9 and missed the playoffs for only the third time since Bill Belichick’s arrival.
Yet going into the offseason, the Patriots are buoyed by good news. They have the third-most cap space in football, projected at $62 million. Additionally, they’re reportedly set to welcome back a trio of star veterans off the COVID-19 opt-out list with linebacker Dont’a Hightower, All-Pro right tackle Marcus Cannon and safety Patrick Chung expected back for 2021.
Does this fix the Patriots and make them a contender again? No, but it cures three trouble spots. Cannon’s return gives New England an excellent tackle combination with Isaiah Wynn on the left side, while Hightower immediately upgrades a slow, unathletic front seven.
With a few quality signings — particularly on offense — and potential a rookie quarterback, the Patriots become interesting again.
3. Roethlisberger’s return is about Steelers’ lack of options
Ben Roethlisberger appears to be heading back to Pittsburgh for an 18th season. Makes sense.
While Roethlisberger struggled throwing deep last season (he averaged 6.3 YPA, T29th) and was part of Pittsburgh’s late-season collapse, reports have both parties interested in a reunion for 2021. While Big Ben will have to lower his cap hit, that probably comes without much of a pay cut, as it’s probable Pittsburgh takes on voidable years and some dead money in the future.
But why does another year together make sense beyond sentimentality? Options.
For Roethlisberger, where else would he go? The Steelers are providing a starting job on a good team with a familiar coach in Mike Tomlin. Furthermore, the 39-year-old has known nothing but black and gold as a pro. Pittsburgh is comfort.
For the Steelers, it’s either Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph or a rookie. With the roster set to lose a litany of free agents, one could make the case for a rebuilding year. However, Pittsburgh wanting to make one more run before Roethlisberger retires is also understandable, perhaps even while a first- or second-round pick is groomed behind him.
Regardless, this season is almost certainly it for Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh.
4. Salary cap likelier to see jolt after NFL and Disney agreed to terms
Last week, we talked about the potential impact TV deals could have on the 2021 salary cap. Now, there’s an update.
The NFL and Disney have reportedly agreed on a 10-year extension of the Monday Night Football package on ESPN while also cutting ABC in to the Super Bowl rotation. This is a significant development, as many believed this was the deal furthest from happening. It’s been widely speculated the league will come to terms without much issue with CBS, FOX and NBC regarding Sunday games.
If that’s the case, and Thursday night ends up with Amazon soon, do the NFL and NFLPA agree to borrow from future years to keep the ’21 cap flat? It remains unknown, but it makes sense for both sides.
There’s much work to be done, but the latest details are good news for everyone.
5. Irv Cross’ passing a moment to reflect on enormous legacy
How many of us really have an impact on an institution in our lives? Irv Cross is one such rarity.
Cross, 81, died on Sunday. He was a seventh-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1961 and played nine seasons, making two Pro Bowls. Yet his football life was only beginning. Cross became an analyst for CBS in 1971 before joining The NFL Today, a groundbreaking pregame show which hired Cross to join host Brent Musberger and reporter Phyllis George, in 1975.
There, Cross became a trailblazer and icon, becoming the first black man to have such a chair. The show became a cultural touchstone, leading into the current era of pregame shows but with far more substance than today’s editions.
Cross is largely unknown by today’s younger football fans, it’s a shame. He paved the way for so many minorities and former players. He did his job with class and flair, talent and insight.
Cross is gone, but his impact is anything but.
Two cents
How many teams could use an interior pass-rusher? More than a few. Enter Denico Autry.
Should he hit the market, the Colts defensive tackle is going to get play. Per one source, the 30-year-old is drawing significant interest from Indianapolis in hopes of retaining his services. However, if he gets to free agency, FanSided’s Matt Lombardo and myself have learned he’ll have a bevy of suitors.
In three seasons with the Colts, Autry played along the defensive line and racked up 20 sacks while showcasing versatility. A former undrafted free agent, the seven-year veteran could be one of the steals of free agency.
Last week, an AFC Scouting Director said this of Autry’s value to Lombardo:
"“He lines up and fits in any defensive scheme. You can rush him inside or off the edge. He’s been productive and even though he is 31, you watch him on film and he’s just starting to hit his stride.”"
Autry has long been one of the league’s most underrated defenders. Now he gets a chance to be paid handsomely.
Inside the league
Asante Samuel Jr. isn’t going to back down from anybody. Just ask Antonio Brown.
Samuel is entering the NFL Draft as a junior out of Florida State, but he’s already seen elite NFL competition. Last winter, right before COVID ravaged the world, Samuel found himself matched up against Brown in a workout. Things quickly became intense.
“I was going out there and I didn’t care if he was an NFL receiver at the time, I wanted to show I could stick with elite receivers,” Samuel told FanSided. “And me and Antonio Brown got into it, but it was all love. I always have that dog mentality. You can be the best receiver in the world or second-string on a high school team, I don’t care. I want to show you I’m the best.”
This mentality is one of the reasons the 5-foot-11, 185-pound corner and son of four-time Pro Bowler Asante Samuel Sr. is seen by many teams as a top-50 prospect. Samuel has already spoken to 20 NFL teams, including the Ravens, Saints, Falcons, Eagles, Packers and Dolphins.
In a deep cornerback draft with projected starters to be found three round deep, Samuel stands out. According to a league source, multiple NFL teams have Samuel in the top two on their draft boards at corner alongside Alabama’s Patrick Surtain, another son of a former NFL star.
Taking a sampling of opinions around the league, Samuel is seen as a starter with upside. The main concern is one of size, something Samuel hears consistently. However, teams have told Samuel they see him playing as bigger than his frame, something he’ll need to do at the next level against big-bodied targets.
Conversely, Samuel has one trait that he believes is a separator from the rest of the rookie corners: scheme versatility.
“This is why I feel I’m the best cornerback, because I can play literally everything,” Samuel said. “Press-man as a freshman, then played off-man and then zone. I can fit in any scheme very well. I have no limitations in any scheme I’m in.”
Getting ready for his pro day on March 22, Samuel has been working extensively at EXOS in Dallas. A typical day means six hours of training, starting with speed training at 8 a.m. before corrective rehabs. At 11, it’s position work with Clay Mack before weight-lifting at 1 p.m. to finish the session.
After starring at St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Fort Lauderdale) on the same field that produced San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa and cornerback Damon Arnette of the Las Vegas Raiders, Samuel started and thrived for three years in Tallahassee with the Seminoles.
Now, Samuel has two months of training and interviews before finding his NFL home, something he’s attacking.
Don’t expect him to back down. Just ask Antonio Brown.
History lesson
Should the Jacksonville Jaguars use the No. 1 overall pick to select a player, only three current franchises will have never picked atop the NFL Draft.
Jacksonville is currently one, but would leave the Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks as the others.
Parting shot
Isaiah Wilson has been an unmitigated disaster for the Tennessee Titans. Now, it appears he’s finished in Nashville.
Wilson, last year’s 29th overall pick, played four snaps for the Titans as a rookie. The season was marred by a litany of mistakes, including being arrested for DUI last September along with a Week 13 suspension for violating team rules.
On Thursday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted about the two sides likely parting ways with Tennessee attempting to trade him. This comes as little surprise considering Titans general manager Jon Robinson said this two weeks ago about Wilson at a press conference:
"“He is going to have to make a determination on if he wants to do everything necessary to play pro football. And that is going to be on him. I know what the expectation level is here, and it’s no different than any other player on the football team. We have a certain standard that we want players to prepare and perform at professionally, and as people, and there’s a lot of work to be done there.”"
Frankly, it’s incredible how badly Tennessee whiffed. Robinson is a good GM, and yet Wilson appears to be one of the biggest busts in history based on contributions. Four snaps? Tough to be worse.
For a trade, keep an eye on cash-strapped Kansas City.
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has a long history of acquiring first-round picks who washed out elsewhere, including offensive tackle Cam Erving, cornerback DeAndre Baker and linebacker Darron Lee. Additionally, the AFC champs need help on the offensive line, particularly with left tackle Eric Fisher recovering from a torn Achilles tendon suffered in January.
When Wilson gets another chance — and he will — the 22-year-old has much to prove. He won’t be the first-round pick of his new team. He’ll be a lotto ticket with little investment in him. Wilson must provide immediate value or be forgotten, much like most NFL players on an annual basis.