The Broncos ‘have some best options’ to resolve the uncertainty around Russell Wilson’s future after benching their star quarterback, with the one-time Super Bowl winner staying the least likely, as the 35-year-old believes his time in Denver is ending soon.
Earlier this week, Wilson told reporters of the threat the Broncos had made back to him in October if he did not alter his contract after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs on October 29.
On Friday, he publicly stated that he would like to remain with the franchise, but also admitted that he has considered the possibility to extend his career elsewhere.
‘I hope that it’s here,’ Wilson said. ‘I hope that it’s here for a long time. … If it’s not here, I’ll be prepared to do that somewhere else, but I hope that it’s here. I genuinely mean that.’
Players-turned-analysts, including Robert Griffin III and Ryan Clark, have called out Broncos head coach Sean Payton for his treatment of the vastly experienced Wilson, who is in his 12th NFL season but has yet to reach the playoffs with Denver since he was traded there from the Seattle Seahawks last year. What’s more is, that Wilson agreed to a five-year, $245million contract extension with the Broncos before even calling a snap for his new team.
Now, both parties are at a tipping point, with the Broncos benching their nine-time Pro Bowler for the last two games of the season to preserve ‘financial flexibility’, with Payton opting to start backup QB Jarrett Stidham, instead of Wilson, against the L.A. Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders.
But, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Broncos have four avenues they could possibly explore, as means of moving on from the saga concerning Wilson’s future in Denver beyond this season.
Wilson believes his demotion was brewing for two months due to his refusal to restructure his contract even though Payton insisted that his change of signal-caller was strictly a football decision in hopes of getting Denver’s offense clicking.
‘I’m not privy to any of those (discussions),’ the coach said. ‘I’m handling the football. I know this. The No. 1 reason for taking this job for me was ownership and winning. Certainly, the tradition here mattered, relative to being at a place where it’s important, but that’s something for [Broncos general manager] George [Patron] and the front office — I’m not involved in any of that. …
‘My focus has been on winning, and I am going to go back to what I said at the beginning of the week. I know how this has been written, but this decision strictly is what I believe gives us a chance to win.’
Wilson has completed 66.4 percent of his passes for 3,070 yards and 26 touchdowns against eight interceptions in 15 starts this season. The Broncos are 7-8 entering into the final two contests of the season with an outside possibility of making the playoffs.
While it seems unlikely Wilson will return to the Broncos next season, he said he wanted to stay.
‘I came here to play here, to win, I knew it was going to be a process,’ he said. ‘I signed a seven-year deal for us to go and to play hard. That’s my goal every time that I step in between the white lines is to give everything I have.
