NFL history DOES repeat

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gounion
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Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2021 4:59 pm

NFL history DOES repeat

Post by gounion »

Anyone else remember Dallas trading Hershel Walker to the Vikings for a boatload of draft picks that Dallas used to build a dynasty, while Walker was a bust for the Vikings?

Well, I think it’s been topped by Seattle unloading Russell Wilson to the Broncos. They are cutting bait and taking quite the salary cap hit.

https://www.nfl.com/news/broncos-inform ... re_article
As a result of parting ways with the highly paid signal-caller, Denver will eat $39 million but avoid a $37 million guaranteed trigger for the 2025 season that would have taken effect this month. Still, the Broncos will take on $85 million in total dead salary cap over the next two years by releasing Wilson, which will be the largest dead cap hit in NFL history.
The writing was on the wall for Wilson despite his recent protestations; just last week, he said on the I Am Athlete podcast that he hoped his future was in Denver.
With two weeks to go in the 2023 season and the Broncos not yet eliminated from playoff contention, Wilson was benched for Jarrett Stidham. The reasoning at the time was blatantly financial. Sitting Wilson with little to play for ensured that the QB didn't suffer a significant injury and provided Denver financial flexibility to move on from Wilson and avoid paying out the massive '25 guarantee.
As recently as last week, Payton was not publicly committed to moving on from Wilson. Finally, on Monday, the plan to excise Wilson from Denver's future and rid the franchise of a doomed union came to fruition.
Wilson arrived in Denver via a blockbuster trade from Seattle in the 2022 offseason. The Broncos sent five draft picks, including two first-rounders, and three players to the Seahawks for the Super Bowl champion's services and then inked him to a five-year, $242.6 million contract, minting him as the face of the franchise under Paton and new head coach Nathaniel Hackett.
The results were a disaster. Wilson had his worst season as a pro under Hackett, who was fired after a 4-11 start to his first season in Denver. When the veteran Payton was brought in to right the ship, Wilson improved but only marginally, leading to his benching and imminent departure.
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