Seattle Seahawks Roster Rumors: Russell Wilson Vows To Play Hard Amid Contract Uncertainty
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson won't let the uncertainty of his contract negotiations with the team affect how he plays the game.
The 2012 Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year, who led Seattle with back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, including the first championship for the franchise in the 2013 NFL season, will just receive $1.54 million this year, Spotrac noted.
The 26-year-old QB started in 2012 with Seattle as he agreed to a four-year contract worth $2,996,702, which translates to a yearly average salary of $749,176.
The $1.54 million salary is already low for a quarterback who delivered quite well for the Seahawks. ESPN noted that Wilson posted the most number of "fourth-quarter/overtime comebacks" in NFL since 2012. His 36 wins with Seattle in his initial three years are already record-breaking for a quarterback rookie.
NFL Hall of Famer and legendary quarterback Warren Moon assessed how Wilson's leadership has evolved.
"He was always a leader as far as leading by example on the field, but now he's starting to assert himself vocally on and off the field... He pats guys on the back as well as tells them what needs to be corrected," Moon wrote about Wilson on The Players' Tribune.
Moon added that Wilson, who ran 900 yards and posted six touchdowns just last season, is a major force as a quarterback because "he can hurt you with his legs, he can hurt you with his arm, he can hurt you with his mind."
With all his accomplishments considered, does Wilson deserve a higher pay? That was the question Marty Smith of ESPN asked the quarterback.
''I don't know. How much would you pay me, Marty?" the Seahawks quarterback said.
"Ultimately, it comes down to the play. I let my play speak for itself and let the rest take care of itself. I continue to love the game for what it is and continue to fight and continue to play no matter how much I'm getting paid, no matter if it's $25 million or if it's $1.5 million. I'll be ready to go," Wilson then told Smith.
ESPN noted that the third-round draft choice three years ago could be seeking a "five-year contract worth more than $110 million, with at least $50 million fully guaranteed," which will make him the league's highest-paid player.
Fox Sports insider Mike Garafalo even posted via Twitter that Wilson received an offer from Seattle in Cam Newton's contract range but apparently, it was "not good enough."
However, ProFootballTalk stated that the ultimate catch in the negotiation is the very high "guaranteed money" that comes with it because it has to be "paid into escrow upon signing" per league's rule. Sources told the site that Seahawks team owner Paul Allen "doesn't want to" pay for it in advance, despite having the money for it.
The cost of money may be just too high to just be put on escrow, and a businessman like Allen surely wants his money to work for him.
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