Mile High Monday: Russell Wilson has a relatability problem in Denver

Oct 17, 2022, 6:40 AM

Denver Sports Analyst

The Denver Broncos are playing on “Monday Night Football” in Week 6 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Hopefully, the Broncos come out on top but at the very least I want to see better offense, so they don’t get embarrassed – again – in front of the nation.

I like when the Broncos play up to their expectations. They are not doing that so far this season, and I’m not sure they can turn it around before the end of the year.

I also like contemplating life and sports when driving around with the top down on my old Jeep TJ! The following is a result of those trips during the week.

Buckle up, let’s take a ride through my thoughts.

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Must Be Relatable

Russell Wilson is not fitting in as much as he should. I will get into the fit problem on the field later in this article, but I’m talking about the fit with his teammates. I believe Wilson needs to do a better job of being relatable to the players on the Broncos roster. It’s a little thing that means a lot.

Wilson is a superstar quarterback, and he could be bound for the Pro Football Hall of Fame when his playing days are done. He’s married to an international pop star in Ciara, but he needs to be able to connect with the practice squad guy who is barely hanging on in the league. Currently, Wilson doesn’t seem to be doing that.

You’ll hear rumblings here and there about Wilson not meshing with the guys in the locker room as much as he could. You’ll also see him on “KJack TV” when interviewed by safety Kareem Jackson on the Broncos social networking platform where Wilson doesn’t seem relatable by talking about having two chefs.

Then, you’ll hear former teammates talk about how they didn’t mesh with Wilson. Some former teammates, like Richard Sherman, seem to go out of the way to bash Wilson on the air. Other former teammates, like Marshawn Lynch, are more concerned about Wilson’s mental state during these down days for the star quarterback. I’m sure both Sherman and Lynch have had their issues with Wilson in the past, but in a recent interview on Sherman’s podcast it was revealed by Lynch that he doesn’t even have Wilson’s current phone number.

This moment on the Richard Sherman podcast perfectly encapsulates why Russell Wilson's personality rubs people the wrong way. Apparently even ex-teammates have to go through his manager to get a hold of him because they don't have his personal phone number. pic.twitter.com/zVx9lxGpXN

— Seahawk Nerd (@SeahawkNerd) October 14, 2022

It’s pretty bad when a former teammate, and one you had championship success with, has to go through your representation to get in touch with you. That’s the former teammates and Wilson. Now, imagine what current players are thinking about Wilson. The play on the field has not been good, and if things are a little awkward with Wilson you know why. You need your quarterback to be relatable in the NFL. If Wilson can be more relatable, I’m sure his Broncos teammates would appreciate that. If Wilson can play better, I’m sure that’s what most of his teammates are primarily interested in.

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Proper Perspectives

I’m going to support Wilson, and that means telling the truth about all things involving the veteran quarterback. On the field, things need to be much better for Wilson. Somehow while injured, Wilson needs to start leading the Broncos to wins. He’s quite capable of doing that, even while injured, but he could use some help to do that.

However, I think we all need proper perspective when it comes to the veteran quarterback. Wilson has always been good in the community, and at the end of the day that’s the stuff that matters most. Spending time at Children’s Hospital, with those who are going through real troubles, shows the human side of Wilson that many forget when they’re taking issue with his play on the field. The Broncos and Wilson will get this thing turned around eventually, but during these trying times for the team, Wilson is spending time with those who matter most.

There are a lot of bad guys in the NFL. There are a lot of quarterbacks who make headlines for all the wrong reasons. There are a lot of players you don’t want your children to emulate off the field. Wilson is the type of man you want to root for. Yes, he’s got an on-camera persona that some take issue with. However, it’s this time that he’s at Children’s Hospital where you get to see the real Wilson. Yes, there are cameras there, but Wilson would do this because he wants to spread positive vibes and not just for a photoshoot or positve press. That other stuff doesn’t really mean much in the big picture. Helping those smile during truly trying times shows the true spirit of a person. I commend Wilson for the man that he is and for what he does in the community.

Adversity doesn’t last forever. Keep Believing! Keep Elevating! #WhyNotYou pic.twitter.com/zQ7DHdb0ok

— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) October 13, 2022

It’s become popular to take shots at Wilson in the media, on the air, and no social networking. I think that’s low-hanging fruit and quite misguided when it becomes personal – as most of those commenting on Wilson tend to get. We can all criticize his play on the field – that’s fair. We also can comment on how he could better fit in with his teammates (see above), but anything beyond that is just kicking a guy who is down. While tough times don’t last, tough people do, and Wilson is going to outlast these bad times. The Walton-Penner group has already shown him the money, so now it’s time for the on-field investment to pay off. When it comes to off the field stuff, Wilson has always been the gold standard.

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It’s All About Fit

The New York Giants are playing good football in 2022. After six weeks, the Giants are 5-1 and sit atop the NFC East. It’s a shock to most who cover the NFL as the Giants don’t have a ton of talent on either side of the ball, and they have a first-time head coach in Brian Daboll. I liked the hiring of Daboll, mainly because of how well he worked with Josh Allen in Buffalo, but I felt it would take time – and a new quarterback – for Daboll to see coaching success.

Instead, Daboll has taken former first-round pick Daniel Jones and made it work. The Giants did not pick up Jones’s fifth-year option, so he’s in the final year of his contract in 2022. Many who cover the league thought Jones would be on his way out, and the Giants would be in the market for an upgrade in 2023 – likely in the draft. Instead, Daboll has made Jones into a solid starter by making his offense fit what Jones does best.

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it 1,000 times – the dirty secret in the NFL is it’s all about fit. When something is made to fit between coach and quarterback, great things can happen. When the fit is not right, the play of the team is off the mark. Take for example what you’re seeing (or not seeing) when it comes to the fit between Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett and his quarterback Russell Wilson. You can tell by the Broncos’ play that things have not clicked between the two, and there’s real concern about that ever happening.

PUT SOME RESPECT ON THE 5-1 NEW YORK GIANTS pic.twitter.com/azW9FRvvUX

— PFF (@PFF) October 16, 2022

I see what the Giants are doing with a lesser quarterback, and I wonder why the Broncos are not doing more. That comes down to the fit that Hackett has not made with Wilson. I’m shocked at what the Giants are doing with Jones, but I understand why it’s working. The Giants are building momentum for the rest of the 2022 season, while the Broncos are building “nomentum” because they can’t find the right fit. If Hackett doesn’t turn things around quickly, I’m sure the Broncos ownership will find someone else who fits better with Wilson.

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(Re) Introducing the X-Men

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is about to get bigger than ever before. Soon, the MCU is going to introduce the popular mutant team known as the X-Men to their movies and TV shows. Since Disney bought Fox Studios, comic book fans have been waiting for the X-Men to make their debut with the Avengers and other favorite Marvel characters.
As someone who does long-term comic book speculation (get X-Men Gold No.1 as that will be the MCU team introduced), I’ve known the X-Men were coming for some time – and I’ve heard plenty of buzz of how Disney will introduce this cavalcade of characters. For some time, there has been buzz in the entertainment industry that the X-Men could be sprinkled into Disney+ shows before they are largely introduced in an MCU movie.

Once Avengers: Secret Wars gets here in 2026 (or whenever it releases), the X-Men will be fully introduced. Before then, we’ll wait with anxious anticipation about when some of our favorite mutants will make their MCU debut. We know that Wolverine will be in Deadpool 3, but what about the rest of the X-Men? It seems like Disney has an answer, and more rumors are circulating about what I’ve heard all along. If true, I can’t wait to see these projects come to fruition.