Many people, including former Green Bay Packers quarterback Kurt Benkert, have voiced their suspicions about why Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson was benched for the rest of the year. While the debate is around how much his on-field performance played a factor, most agree that it was a business decision to some degree.
Former Green Bay Packers Quarterback Stance
Benkert took to social media to make it plain that he felt behind-the-scenes dynamics were involved in this decision with Wilson. Two things can be true. Coach Sean Payton and Wilson weren’t ever going to be a match, and the Broncos were looking for every avenue possible to get out of the contract situation.
According to the former Green Bay Packers quarterback, they went a step further, which he elaborated on in a lengthy Twitter (X) thread. The first of many points he raised concerned the intention to play with Jarrett Stidham for the rest of the year.
How is it legally okay to deliberately tank by pulling a healthy player for future outcomes unrelated to this season while still in contention for the playoffs?
He raises a valid point. Just as he says later on in his thread, with the amount of marketing and sponsorship the NFL is receiving from gambling deals, why is a roster move allowed to be made that is about for than football?
100% this is a marriage that was not going anywhere, but in most circumstances, the quarterback would serve as a lame duck, especially considering they are still playing with a possibility of making the playoffs.
Depending on how the NFLPA or Wilson’s camp elects to go about this, this could be unprecedented territory for possible legal ramifications.
Former Green Bay Packers QB On The Play Calling
Any defense and justification from the Broncos would be rooted in the play on the field. The former Green Bay Packers quarterback continued:
Now think about it-the human nature of it…we’ve been b*tching about Sean Peyton’s super passive play calling the past few months, running the ball more than normal, throwing more screens, etc. All things that in hindsight can be attributed to not trying to win games, but to instead keep a player safe because it would save the owners millions of dollars.
The argument from the Broncos will be that they were making the play calls that they felt put the team in the best position to win. And that Wilson is at this stage in his career a more limited quarterback.
Unfortunately for Wilson, during his last seasons as a Seahawk, and last year with the Broncos, he is proving Coach Payton right. Even when we see him extend plays, or drop back to pass, it has not looked good all season.
While the injury/money component of course plays a factor, heading into the season the incentive was to make it work with Wilson and this offense. After months of trying to bring back the player that led some to want to “Let Russ Cook”, it became clear that this was not going to be possible.
While some are lamenting the current cap situation, going with Jarrett Stidham next year, may be their saving grace. With his current salary, even with Wilson’s dead cap hit, the total allocated toward the QB room would be closer to the league average. If Stidham can show that he can be a functional game manager, expect the Broncos to be more than happy with their decision to move on from Wilson.
