ESPN is one of those liberal infested news institutions where bloviating is common practice.
It’s just like most of the 24-hour “news” networks, which were solely designed to gear towards around the clock coverage of disasters. Most of the airwaves are filled with unwanted and unwarranted hot takes to fill the allotted time.
And after Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson landed his new contract extension, it proved you should never take ESPN talking heads at their word or “insider info.”
Quarterbacks are so wildly overpaid in the NFL, but unfortunately the reality is it’s one of the most important and necessary positions in all of sports.
You can win Super Bowls with an average quarterback like in the case of Trent Dilfer with the 2000 Ravens or in the case of Brad Johnson with the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It happens but it’s also rare. Despite the “defense wins championships” philosophy, which is true, it’s impossible in most cases if the offense can’t score.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson certainly falls into the bottom of the first tier or top of the second tier quarterbacks.
The first tier would be Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, the newly discovered Patrick Mahomes, and Drew Brees. And if Russell doesn’t fall in line with that group then he’s certainly at the top of the second tier; Ben Roethlisberger, Andrew Luck and maybe Philip Rivers.
April 15th at midnight was looming and finally Wilson posted a video on social media announcing they made a contract extension deal.
SEATTLE. Let’s get it. @Seahawks #GoHawks pic.twitter.com/xeWnEnUzmR
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) April 16, 2019
What an incredibly bizarre way to announce the news in bed.
But all sorts of nonsense was spewed by ESPN personalities in the days leading up to the deadline.
ESPN’s Field Yates joined Mike Greenberg on “Get Up” and exuded extreme confidence that Wilson wanted to be a New York Giant – and whether the Giants would trade for him to make it happen.
Many ESPN analysts thought that was a viable option for the Super Bowl-winning quarterback – who they also thought the Seahawks could potentially acquire “three first-round picks,” by trading him.
Then it was all about the contract details and the aforementioned wasn’t true at all.
Pablo Torre of ESPN’s “High Noon” claimed earlier that day “I have read that Russell Wilson is asking for a precedent setting contract. He wants not just a raise; he wants percentages increases on the salary cap on new revenue streams like gambling or fantasy football or the TV deals that may or may not be coming.”
There is absolutely no way front office executives would agree to something like that. Trade him then.
Also, “I have read that?”
Read what and where?
It’s unclear where Torre even read that tidbit so it begs the question of the credibility these ESPN personalities are afforded sometimes. They can just say, “I heard that” and they’re just concocting it out of thin air to make for a better argument.