J.J. Watt to Seattle

[trents]

Haven't heard any rumors to the effect but it's no secret that the Hawks are looking for more pass rush. Watt is 31 years old and seems, to me anyway, to have declined in his skill set. And then there were all those injuries. And I'm not sure about the financial workability of such a deal but do you think there is any interest on the part of Seattle to pursue signing him? Or for that matter, any interest on his part with regard to playing in Seattle? He states he wants the opportunity to play for a legit SB contender and I'm not sure we are in that category.

[obiken]

No, we are not that lucky. He ends up in GB, bank it.

[RiverDog]

He's also been injured a lot over the past few years. This isn't the same JJ Watt that was DPOY. Unless we get a pretty hefty discount, which seems very unlikely, I don't think he's worth the risk.

[NorthHawk]

I can see them doing it because they like to make big splashes, but it would be real hard to do with our Cap situation and it doesn't fit with their success of finding "bottom feeders and castoffs" and turn them into
a very good Defensive Line. So, like RD said too much of a risk at this point in his career. Besides, why would he want to come here with the possible QB turmoil unfolding.

[TriCitySam]

JS has resisted jumping after higher priced free agents, not sure where JJ is in that regard. With his age, unless he's a bargain, I would doubt we'd go after him. The bigger issue for Seattle is how do they deal with the massive number of UFA's: K.J.; Irvin; Mayowa; Carson; Hyde; Shaquill; Pocic; Ogbuehi; David Moore; . 28 in all, and then there's Jamal and Poona to deal with.

[RiverDog]

Besides, why would he (Watt) want to come here with the possible QB turmoil unfolding.

Which is exactly why I said in the other thread that if the rumors surrounding our quarterback situation aren't true, that Pete and Russell need to put them to rest. A free agent good enough to have multiple options and looking to get to his first SB isn't going to put a team at the top of their list that has a potential controversy developing surrounding their franchise player.

[NorthHawk]

Nobody from the team including Wilson has made any statements denying he wants out. I would think that if it was untrue
there would be comments from him denying it. He’s left it out there to fester so we can only assume there’s some truth to it.

[c_hawkbob]

Nobody from the team including Wilson has made any statements denying he wants out. I would think that if it was untrue
there would be comments from him denying it. He’s left it out there to fester so we can only assume there’s some truth to it.

Nobody from the team including Wilson has made any statements saying that he does want out either. There's nothing for him to deny until the next question is asked him.

[RiverDog]

Nobody from the team including Wilson has made any statements denying he wants out. I would think that if it was untrue
there would be comments from him denying it. He’s left it out there to fester so we can only assume there’s some truth to it.

Nobody from the team including Wilson has made any statements saying that he does want out either. There's nothing for him to deny until the next question is asked him.

The question has already been asked. It doesn't need to be verbalized. Russell reads the news just like we do, and if he sees something that he knows is untrue and knowing that a false rumor could hurt the team in their pursuit of free agents you would think that he'd come out and say something to re-affirm his status as the Hawks quarterback for the 2021 season. But all we've heard out of him has been crickets, so it's only natural to assume that at the very least he is uncomfortable with his current status.

[Aseahawkfan]

No. JJ Watt gave everything in his first 5 years breaking his body in the process. Now he's a guy who can't hold his body together. He was a blazing star out of the gate, but he's a broken meteor now.

[c_hawkbob]

The question has already been asked. It doesn't need to be verbalized. Russell reads the news just like we do, and if he sees something that he knows is untrue and knowing that a false rumor could hurt the team in their pursuit of free agents you would think that he'd come out and say something to re-affirm his status as the Hawks quarterback for the 2021 season. But all we've heard out of him has been crickets, so it's only natural to assume that at the very least he is uncomfortable with his current status.

Nonsense. He's under no obligation whatsoever to address every stupid internet rumor that comes up. If anyone is it would be the team, but they are not obliged to either.

[RiverDog]

Nonsense. He's under no obligation whatsoever to address every stupid internet rumor that comes up. If anyone is it would be the team, but they are not obliged to either.

I disagree. Russell is the leader of our team, and as such, should be doing everything in his power to help our team succeed, and that includes helping our FO attract free agents, and that means not creating a cloud of controversy, or if one does take shape, to dismiss it. It isn't that hard. All he has to do is make one of his patented, politically correct statements, blow a little smoke up Pete and John's arse, finish it with "Go Hawks!" and he's done. It wouldn't take him 30 seconds. If his comments were taken out of context, then it's up to him to correct them.

Secondly, no one is asking him to dispel "every" internet rumor, just this one, that he's unhappy and is considering his options.

I'm with North Hawk. There must be some truth to this rumor or else Russell would have said something by now. I doubt that it results in a trade but at the very least things are not all Capricorns and rainbows between our management and franchise QB.

[c_hawkbob]

Capricorns?

We just disagree. No big deal.

[NorthHawk]

If a person says something and it's taken out of context or if they said it in such a manner that it implied something that wasn't meant, that person would probably try to correct it or at least comment about it.
To me that Russell, who has been very particular about how he's perceived, saying nothing says something.
I think it would be difficult to trade him with his current contract, but if he has gone as far as telling the FO he wants to move on, then there are ways to manage the Cap hit upon his leaving.
This has been building for a couple of years, though with last year stating he wanted more superstars on the team and blatantly showing he wanted Antonio Brown.
I think this also ties into the other thread and really took hold of Russell when after winning the first 5 or 6 games strictly by Offense he had a bad game and Pete pulled back the reins. It seems that that's when
his attitude and productivity changed. We all saw something in him had changed and I thought maybe it was physical, and others like Sis thought it might be emotional. But it was clear that his play changed and
he had lost something after that game. Maybe at that point he realized he had to get out and like Brandon Marshall has said he's looking for a graceful way to move on.

[RiverDog]

If a person says something and it's taken out of context or if they said it in such a manner that it implied something that wasn't meant, that person would probably try to correct it or at least comment about it. To me that Russell, who has been very particular about how he's perceived, saying nothing says something.

Russell is the quintessential poster boy, respectful of everyone's opinion, avoids taking controversial positions, trying his damnedest not to offend anyone, tries to please all the people all the time, a genuine nice guy. This is the guy that was so conscious about his image that he once borrowed a shirt from a teammate because he didn't want to do an interview in a sweaty tee shirt. He's also not shy around the camera and microphone. If he felt that there was a rumor circulating that was painting him in a light that wasn't accurate or complimentary, I have to believe that he'd be out there correcting it pronto.

I think it would be difficult to trade him with his current contract, but if he has gone as far as telling the FO he wants to move on, then there are ways to manage the Cap hit upon his leaving. This has been building for a couple of years, though with last year stating he wanted more superstars on the team and blatantly showing he wanted Antonio Brown.

I think this also ties into the other thread and really took hold of Russell when after winning the first 5 or 6 games strictly by Offense he had a bad game and Pete pulled back the reins. It seems that that's when his attitude and productivity changed. We all saw something in him had changed and I thought maybe it was physical, and others like Sis thought it might be emotional. But it was clear that his play changed and he had lost something after that game. Maybe at that point he realized he had to get out and like Brandon Marshall has said he's looking for a graceful way to move on.

That's a very plausible take. Personally I think that a possible trade is so complex that it won't happen. There's only one or two QB's currently available that could represent a 'push', let alone an upgrade at the position. We're still in the win now mode, and trading your starting QB without a significant upgrade is a move that a rebuilding team like the Jets or Lions would pursue, not a team that went 12-4 and won their division.

IMO both the Hawks and Russell are looking into their options and testing the water. That's the only thing I can conclude from this silence.

[NorthHawk]

Russell is 32 or 33 now isn't he? He's approaching the back half of his career and he always mentions his legacy. I think it's possible he feels he's being held back from breaking records or putting up the numbers
he's capable of. That might be hugely frustrating for him and there has reportedly been a lot of interest in his availability should it come to pass. As far a contracts go, they can re-sign him to a lower Cap number
or have him pay the Seahawks back some of his Dead Cap number then have the new team pay him back as part of his new contract. The difficult part is for the Seahawks to get a functional QB to replace him.
That's why maybe a team like the Raiders makes some sense. Carr isn't Russell Wilson, but he might be a possible "point guard" as he knows the NFL and has proven to play reasonably well at times. When he
gets into trouble is carrying the team but he can make some good throws.
Who knows what's going to happen at this point, but I think it's clear Wilson isn't content at the moment.

[obiken]

Russell is 32 or 33 now isn't he? He's approaching the back half of his career and he always mentions his legacy. I think it's possible he feels he's being held back from breaking records or putting up the numbers
he's capable of. That might be hugely frustrating for him and there has reportedly been a lot of interest in his availability should it come to pass. As far a contracts go, they can re-sign him to a lower Cap number
or have him pay the Seahawks back some of his Dead Cap number then have the new team pay him back as part of his new contract. The difficult part is for the Seahawks to get a functional QB to replace him.
That's why maybe a team like the Raiders makes some sense. Carr isn't Russell Wilson, but he might be a possible "point guard" as he knows the NFL and has proven to play reasonably well at times. When he
gets into trouble is carrying the team but he can make some good throws.
Who knows what's going to happen at this point, but I think it's clear Wilson isn't content at the moment.

As always agreed on your analysis HT but not your solution. Yes Russ will be 33 in Nov, but swapping RW for DC, is a bad idea.

[RiverDog]

As always agreed on your analysis HT but not your solution. Yes Russ will be 33 in Nov, but swapping RW for DC, is a bad idea.

If it were to happen, it almost certainly wouldn't be a straight up trade. The Rams gave up their starting QB, a 2 time Pro Bowler that just two years ago had led them to a Super Bowl, for 2 #1's and a #3 in return for a quarterback that has never won a playoff game in his 12 year career. A Wilson-Carr trade would be similar in comparative values.

It all depends on how significant this rift between Russell and the Hawks really is. If it's serious, then the Hawks would be more willing to deal Russell now rather than risk getting stuck in a deteriorating relationship.

[NorthHawk]

I would expect a haul of draft choices as well (should have added that part), but if all Pete wants is a QB who doesn’t need to
carry the team and can make most of the throws, Carr could fit - at least until they draft the “next” one. There aren’t many
options out there that would be as good as Wilson and be available or on a team he would want to go to.

[Aseahawkfan]

You all are crazed with this Russell Wilson talk. I don't think it's clear anything. I've heard all types of rumors about Russell's unhappiness. You all seem to forget that during his contract negotiation he was supposedly unhappy and Ciara didn't want him to re-sign with Seattle, but he did.

Until I hear this out of Russell or Pete's mouth, then this is just a bunch of a internet rumor mongering and Seattle fans looking at every flavor of the month team that wins the Super Bowl and coming up with reasons why we didn't other than winning the Super Bowl is extremely rare.

Pete and John need to focus on rebuilding the defense, period. Pete's needs to admit his style of play doesn't work without a strong defense. We need a much better D-line with another quality pass coverage safety or CB to get to a top 10 or top 5 defense.

[RiverDog]

Pete and John need to focus on rebuilding the defense, period. Pete's needs to admit his style of play doesn't work without a strong defense. We need a much better D-line with another quality pass coverage safety or CB to get to a top 10 or top 5 defense.

And while I might agree with that, it's likely not the message that Russell wants to hear.

[trents]

How did this post about J. J. Watt get derailed into a discussion about RW possibly moving on. There is another thread about that.

[RiverDog]

How did this post about J. J. Watt get derailed into a discussion about RW possibly moving on. There is another thread about that.

I think North Hawk mentioned that JJ might not want to sign with a team that has an unsettled situation with their franchise QB.

It's not unusual for these threads to get diverted off topic. It's sort of like the grade school classroom exercise of whispering a story to the person sitting next to you and they are instructed to repeat the same story to the person sitting next to them and so on to see how different the end story is from the original.

[NorthHawk]

I just asked a simple question of why Watt would want to come here with a possible QB problem unfolding and it took off from there.