Dating back to their time together with the Seattle Seahawks, quarterback Russell Wilson and wide receiver DK Metcalf have always had a great relationship, both on and off the field.
Even after Wilson was dealt to the Denver Broncos in a surprise move after a failed reported attempt at a power grab, that relationship between Wilson and Metcalf remained strong. Then, last summer, the two worked out together again ahead of Wilson’s first season in Pittsburgh, which of course sent the speculation train into overdrive, especially with the Steelers needing a receiver.
Ultimately, the Steelers landed Metcalf, trading a 2025 second-round pick for him Sunday and agreeing with him on a five-year, $150 million extension, locking up the star receiver, even with Wilson’s future in doubt in Pittsburgh. That move for Metcalf came after he requested a trade from Seattle.
For one Seattle radio host, he believes that Wilson played a significant role in Metcalf wanting out.
“I think Russ is the reason (Metcalf) wanted out. I think Russ whispered in his ears. Russ has been a cancer for the Seahawk organization,” Ian Furness of KJR Radio told the Tribune-Review’s Tim Benz on the Breakfast With Benz podcast. “Russ keeps in contact with him and Tyler (Lockett).
“I know — from what I understand inside the building — they’re pretty confident that Russ is the guy who was whispering in DK’s ears. Kind of poisoning the well, so to speak.”
That’s certainly quite the comment there from Furness regarding a player who hasn’t been in the Seahawks’ facility for going on four seasons now. Would Russell Wilson really have that much influence over Metcalf after all these years?
That seems very unlikely. But in situations where a star player is lost in a bit of an ugly fashion — like a trade request and agreeing to a new extension with his new team before even playing a snap — there has to be a fall guy, a guy who is easy for many to direct their anger toward.
In Seattle, that’s still seemingly Wilson. That seems unfair, but that’s what Wilson has done to himself in Seattle after reportedly trying to get GM John Schneider and former head coach Pete Carroll fired before ultimately getting traded.
That’s also a discredit to Metcalf and the type of person he was in Seattle to assume that an ultra competitor, one who fought tooth and nail to play through injuries and be on the field every chance he could, would let an outside influence play a part in what he wanted to do with his career at 27 years old and in line for a massive payday.
Regardless of how played out, Metcalf requested the trade, the Seahawks obliged him, and now he’s in Pittsburgh with a hefty new contract and a fresh start in the eastern part of the country, albeit with the Steelers still having questions at quarterback that need to be answered.
