Russell Wilson: “The Chiefs were defeated.” They approached me on Monday or Tuesday of the bye week and threatened to bench me for the remainder of the season if I didn’t alter my contract, which included an injury guarantee.It hurt, for sure. For a while, that was a low blow.”
Russell Wilson, the quarterback for the Denver Broncos, was benched this week. Wilson says the decision to restructure his contract has been simmering for the past two months.
Despite rumors that the organization has seriously considered benching Wilson for the final two games of the season in order to prevent injury given his contract predicament, Broncos head coach Sean Payton has stated that the choice to replace Wilson at quarterback is only a football one.
Wilson stated on Friday that he received an ultimatum from team executives soon after the Broncos’ October 29 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs, 24-9.
The Chiefs were defeated, Wilson declared. “They approached me on Monday or Tuesday of the bye week, threatening to bench me for the remainder of the season unless I changed my contract, which included an injury guarantee.
“I was really let down by that… We had recently defeated the Chiefs, and I was eager for us to start winning and contending for the postseason.
“Winning more championships is the reason I came here. I still have that as my main emphasis.
I have a contract. I’m going to practice properly and do things the right way because I want to do whatever it takes.”
Whether he plays for the Broncos or not, Wilson will get $39 million next season. If he fails a physical examination in March of next year, he will also be promised $37 million in compensation in 2025.
“I wasn’t going to remove, or push, or take away my injury guarantee,” Wilson stated. This is a really tactile game.
“I played for twelve years. That is important to me. I never act cowardly. I never pretend to be afraid.
George Paton, general manager of the Broncos, and owner/chief executive Greg Penner took questions on Wilson’s deal from the media on Friday.
“I am not aware of any of those conversations,” Payton declared. “I am in charge of the football.
“For me, taking ownership and succeeding was the main motivation for accepting this position. Being in a location where tradition matters was undoubtedly essential, but that’s something George and the front office handle; I have no say in the issue.
“I’ve been concentrating on winning, and I’m going to return to my initial statement from this week. Although I am aware of how this has been stated, I think that this choice alone provides us with a
In order to break out of their current losing streak of three straight games, the Broncos (7-8) will turn to quarterback Jarrett Stidham on Sunday against the visiting Los Angeles Chargers.
Payton stated, “He’s had a good week,” regarding Stidham. “I think he was sharp this week.”
