Russell Wilson got a game ball for doing nothing Sunday. Nice to know that some things never change.
“Obviously, it’s huge to get a second win and everything else,” Wilson told me as we shook hands at his stall inside the visiting locker room at Empower Field early Sunday night. “That was big. Great team win.”
Nice guy. That hasn’t changed either. While Wilson, the Broncos’ QB1 from 2022-23, was inactive for the second straight week with a calf issue, the team paying him $1.2 million (the Steelers) held off the team paying him $37.8 million (the Broncos), 13-6.
Showdown? More like letdown. What was supposed to be a clash of Sean Payton vs Big Russ, Old Coach vs. Alleged Old Coach’s Nemesis, turned into Brncs-vs.-Justin Fields — there’s no ‘o’ in the ‘Broncos’ anymore.
“And it was good to be able to see some of my closest friends, closest teammates,” Wilson continued. “Guys like Courtland Sutton, Jaleel (McLaughlin), Javonte (Williams). Guys like Garett Bolles and Ray Jackson, who’s an unsung hero, in my opinion.
“So (I’m) just grateful. But huge win. 2-0.”
With that, Big Russ gathered his things and left the building. But not without leaving an old, familiar taste in the mouths of Broncos Country first.
“I was really hoping (Wilson) was going to be playing today,” Jon Bey told me as we met on the main concourse during the first half Sunday. “Yeah, so it’s rough. Look, Russell’s OK. The contract was insane. He’s a little bit of a prima donna. I think that’s why he gets such a hard time when he comes back here.”
Bey turned up at Empower wearing an orange “WILSON 3” Broncos jersey that he brought all the way from Vancouver. He’d actually first snatched it up on a junket to our fair town two years ago, before the Front Range’s hopes were crushed like a power station in a Godzilla movie.
“Did folks give you a hard time?” I asked.
“People have been pretty good,” the Canadian said, “but there’s been a number of hecklers giving me a hard time.”
“WILSON (STINKS!),” they shouted at him. “WILSON (STINKS!)”
“Did you have second thoughts about wearing this today?” I wondered.
“I did,” Bey laughed. “I totally did. But I’m like, ‘I’m not buying another Broncos jersey. I’ve got one, so I’ll wear it.’”
Meanwhile, Jackie Godinez of Denver had warned her guy Leo not to wear his to the game. Before he left for Mile High in an orange Russ jersey, she was like, ‘Are you sure?’
“Why are you going to wear one (with his name), when we’re going against him?” she asked.
“I don’t have another (jersey),” Leo replied.
So Russ it was.
“But I regret it now,” Leo chuckled as he recalled his choice. “They were giving me (expletive) for five minutes straight, dude. It was hilarious.
“I want to burn this (jersey) to the ground. That’s what I’m doing next.”
He’d planned to put tape over Wilson’s name, just to get the stank out of his soul, but didn’t have time.
Another Denverite who brought …read more
Source:: The Denver Post – Sports
