Where are things at right now with the former great Seahawks defensive players and Russell Wilson because I saw that you guys uh had that event for Coach Carol when he basically got fired as the head coach of the team even though they’re moving his position however they
Want to word it and it seemed like getting everyone in the same room is create a little momentum of restoring this friendship is that fair to say let’s let’s just say Tom heels all wounds let let’s just say that it was so unfortunate during our time in Seattle
That we compared who’s the best is it the defense that’s doing it is it marshan is it Russell Wilson like who who gets the credit and I truly believe that just got in our way of having the dynasty that we had a lot of egos all those Alpha personalities but you saw
When Russell Wilson spoke on brand Marshall’s podcast he saw Sher Sher smiled at him they was out there talking hugging and kissing and so um it’s really cool to see as as we progress throughout our careers as we progress into adulthood let’s just let by be by
Gones we did some great stuff in Seattle and it’s definitely going to be legendary and Unforgettable and so um I like where we at the decision to not hand the football to Marshon Lynch is what ruins you guys as a team and we’ve been through this before you could never
Fracture what happened after that but do you at all ever regret like how if you didn’t let ego get in the way you guys were such a special team and such a good team what it could have continued to have been I’m telling you we we we should
Have three Super Bowls we should have three to four Super Bowls if you just make the right decision you just hand the ball off and when you didn’t do that a lot of fingers got pointed it’s your fault it’s your fault you should have did this you should have did that and
When I when I said last time we had like a dark gray cloud hovering over us for about five to six years and it didn’t quite leave until guys start leaving the building so um hard hard lesson to learn if anybody’s ever in that position again in their careers of their coaching or
Being a gym make sure you run the dang football and like will be good KJ right here with us uh what was your impressions I know you wanted DQ Dan Quinn to be the next head coach that’s not the way that it did go down with them winding up with the commanders what
About Mike McDonald with the Seahawks your initial reaction was what that’s another good option no really no that’s a great option that the Seattle Seahawks did you got a guy that’s young a guy that’s really creating a new trend with with this dominating multiple defense
That he has and I had a chance to meet him last week I stopped by the vmac last week got a chance to meet him and I like his energy I like his swag I like his energy I love this culture that he’s trying to build obviously what Pete
Carol did for 14 years that’s going to be obviously hard to match so he wants to build on top of what coach Carol has already done keep everything vibrant keep everything fun but bring in your own style bring in your own personality and I’m telling you Zach he has this
This serious demeanor to him which which the Seattle Seahawks need they need that guy that’s going to be disciplined that’s guy that’s going to be straight straight to the point that guy’s going to hold hold people accountable and so I’m really excited to see what he brings
To the table he’s built a phenomenal staff on defense on offense and so I believe the sky is the limit because when we hit face the ners twice a year when we got the Rams twice a year they’ve been kicking our taals for the past three four years let’s really
Switch stuff up get a defensive minded guy in there that can really slow those offenses down talking to KJ right right now on the Zack Gelb show on cbls sports radio the future of Russell Wilson uh we all know eventually he’ll never get released by the Denver Broncos and he
Could sign on somewhere cheap what do you think the best option is for a landing spot for us for this upcoming season he has got to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers you have got to go to the Pittsburgh Steelers it is bizarre to me Zach what Mike Tomlin has done
With to be respectful you know tier three tier four quarterbacks right it’s been phenomenal that you get 10 wins with those quarterbacks nine wins get you someone that’s been to multiple Pro Bowls been to Super Bowls has all proo under his belt and really get this thing going over there in
Pittsburgh this team is perfectly built for him Nai Harris you got the running game you got Jaylen Warren pickings dominating defense get you a quarterback that could find a way to get you guys over the hump and so it’s unfortunate that his time in in Denver went like
That two years in a row just just it was a decline a really steep decline that we saw with Russell and and with all sha Peyton and the hack it so get back on track it obviously be a contract friendly type of deal and life will be
Good for Russell W I’m really excited to see where he ends up yeah what do you think he could continue to be though as a quarterback because the last two years I know he played fine this year but I just don’t know if he could be a great
Quarterback again like is the ceiling for Russ moving forward just potentially being a good quarterback again in the NFL let Russ Russ can give you 10 plus wins I’ll say that Russell wood can give you 10 plus wins Russell wood can get you in the playoffs with the Joe burrow
Going to be tough with a Lamar Jackson wining div like it’s obviously going to be tough but he can get you in a position to compete he can have you in a position to be um in the playoffs he can give teams Run for the money when it
Comes to winning the division and so I love what he brings to the table you saw Zack when he started using his legs when he started running do that get outside the pocket bomb that football downfield and his offensive coordinate has got to find a way to maximize his skill set
Maximize Russell wlson Talent at age 35 I believe and so I know he can still play some big time ball you see that he has this chip on his shoulder he has a little bit adversity and that’s good for all ball players when you get benched
When you get cut it it it really channels that inner dog in you to like I want to get back on track I want to prove to the whole world who I can be and so I think this is good for Russell this next destination I think he’s gonna
Make a lot of noise yeah I also think Russ needs to focus more just getting back to football I I think Russ got into the whole brand and okay you’re an icon and all the off the- field stuff I I just I truly don’t believe I said this
Before you came on KJ right I don’t think playing at his best was number one on the priority list the last few years that’s I think that’s fair to say that’s that’s fair to say you see the endorsements you see um obviously married Sierra who’s a superstar in our
Own in our own right and so get back to the basics eliminate the distractions put the colog away uh put put all the stuff away what’s what’s the brand the good man brand I love all this stuff he Russell Wilson is a businessman I’m telling you dial in to the details Focus
Up nuro in I believe this moment telling when teams tell you you’re not good enough when teams tell you we’re g to sit you on the bench that stings that hurts and I thought I know he’s gonna be laser focused dot into the details I’m telling you Zach if anybody can bounce
Back Russ Woodson is gu that can do that talking to KJ Wright make sure you check out the KJ Wright show in Seattle’s ESPN 710 a.m. also make sure you check out KJ all day with his podcast how do you think Russ could be though in the locker
Room because it did feel like in year one he had a tough time relating to the locker room and he isolated himself for the locker room and even though it felt like the relationships the players were proved in Denver this past year yes uh it wasn’t necessarily the case with him
And Shawn Peyton being able to get on the same page listen listen to me closely I’m seeing a new Russ we’re seeing a new Russ right before eyes that he’s letay his hair down he’s speaking up he’s defending himself you saw what he said about marshan Lynch when he
Defended himself with uh on Brandon Marshall show like I don’t know what that guy’s talking about he probably had a little too much Hennessy perfect that’s J like go know defend yourself talk your stuff talk your mess that is what I love to see from Russell and so you’re talking about being authentic
Being true to himself saying how you truly feel versus saying what you think sounds right that’s what your guys want that’s what your teammates want to hear they some they want someone they can connect with someone they can relate with and I believe that I’m seeing in
The last ever since he’s gotten benched since he started speaking up for himself we’re really seeing a new Russell Wilson so I can’t wait to see him migrate into a new locker room because they gonna love him I also wonder why Shawn took the job I know he got paid a fortune uh
Shawn Peyton that is but why would you leave the Saints when you didn’t have a quarterback at the end and that’s why you retired and then you take a job where you didn’t love the quarterback at first like how they went about this and how early they tried to change the
Contract it just showed that sea never really wanted to try to make this work or Salvage this uh with Russell Wilson no horrendous leadership horrendous leadership from the owner from the GM um from the head coach it was just badad it’s just a bad Dynamic since day one
You knew what you were getting you saw him the year before what you saw the contract that he had right you saw all of these things and before you took the job you should have been like no this is not the right situation or the scenario
For me but instead you chose to go in your press conference so you your starting quarterback stop kissing babies yeah stop worrying about your image you you come to a player in the middle of the Season Zach in the middle of the Season saying adjust your contract or
I’m benching you you handle business before the season start and you handle business after the season you don’t handle that kind of business right in the middle of the season when you’re trying to focus on your opponents and so just horrendous leadership from the top
All the way down and so best of luck to Shawn Payne going forward with whoever he chooses to be a starting quarterback and and you know this if a team offers you money even if you don’t like necessarily the culture they’re willing to pay you something you’re going to go
Sign there if it’s the most guaranteed money I wonder how many guys though are going to get kind of turned off by Denver just seeing what happened to Russ this past year we talk as players if I’m about to go to a team I’m making a phone
Call hey bro how was your experience with the Las Vegas Raiders hey bro how was your experience with the commanders we talk all the time how’s this coach how’s that coach and so it is a real Brotherhood it is a real fraternity if it comes down to $10 million here $8
Million there for my happiness I’ll take a little bit less in the right situation I promise you I’ll take a little bit less to be in the right situation the right scenario because you don’t want to play for some guy that you don’t feel cares about your well-being someone that
Talks to you any kind of way I promise you guys we want to make the right decision for our happiness first let’s just say Russ and the Steelers can’t find a way to get something done uh what else who else jumps out to you is it the
Raiders is it Atlanta is it maybe Minnesota if they move on from Kirk Cousins who’s the next team if it’s not Pittsburgh well Atlanta Falcons clearly need a quarterback I personally think that’s Justin Fields destination Justin fields in the Atlanta Falcons makes all the sense in the world they need a
Quarterback um who I can’t even think of their quarterback now who’s Atlanta Falcons starting qu Desmond Ritter or or was that Taylor Ham heiki as well both of those guys ain’t it exactly so Justin fields or Russell Wilson go to the Atlanta Falcons that is my next destination bejon Robinson is
Going to be a superstar in this league he’s going to be a superstar KY pittz we haven’t figured him out he has all the physical traits just need a quarterback to bring him alive and obviously Drake London is going to be a stud as well so this offense is ready this offense is
Prepared to really make some noise and take over that division get them a real quarterback in the building the sky’s limit for those guys now I would have said maybe there was a chance of this happening if Pete was still the coach but we are past right now the potential
Reunion of Russ going back to Seattle correct no the owner still there the GM still there equipment manager no it’s not happening in Seattle no that that ship has long sale yeah he’s gonna be in the Ring of Honor but he he won’t play there so let me use your defensive mind
Here for a second we’re all trying to figure out how to slow down the Chiefs you you played on a great defense that lb let’s say was going up against momes how would you guys approach him first we would have started inside out we would have worked we would have
Started inside out and when I say inside we would have focused all on number 87 defensive lineman when he’s at when he’s right there number three you chip him you hit him you get him off his track when we go manto man KJ you play outside cam Chancellor you play inside and over
The top you cannot let him take over game you cannot let those guys just pitch and catch and have a field day so we would have started there but with our pass rush Zack with that pass rush guys cage Rush Patrick Mahomes cage Rush him
By that I mean don’t let him step up in those B gaps let him step up in those a gaps like we saw in the Super Bowl to where he was able to win the ball game so you got to be disciplined with this guy because when he takes off running he
Could run throw it or he can just simply run it and pick up the first down and so it starts right there in the middle it starts up front stay in disciplined with these guys hey vald scant Ley okay whatever K Hardman whatever Sherman Maxwell you handle those guys right here
In the in the heart of this defense is how you got to slow those guys down to give yourself a chance and and you guys know it too the offense has to help him out too because San Francisco in that first half they should have been up by a
Whole lot more and when you leave someone like Mahomes or Brady in a game and they’re in Striking Distance I don’t care how great your defense is eventually they’re going to find a way uh to get that game tied up and then that comes back to the whole conversation game manager
Or Game Changer and you need you need a quarterback to manage the game you need a quarterback to do the little things right to pick up this first down here there but when it’s nut cutting time when it’s time to hoist that Lombardi trophy I need a game changer on this
Fourth and one I need to put the ball in your hands and you’re G to find a way to execute and and lead us to the promised land and so when cam new was saying all of that stuff I was like bro you need to have game manager type of personality
You need a game manager type of but obvious but obviously when when it’s really time to get it done to really execute you need that game changer person on your football team and you know what’s crazy you look back at that Super Bowl I don’t think Brock py played
Great but he wasn’t horrible like he gave a good performance it was amazing how many of The Playmakers didn’t show up but I know Debo was dealing with something KD basically did nothing auk they didn’t Target him enough and as great as mcaffry is I love mcaffry
Fumbled the football on the first drive of the game that’s what was stunning to me about the ners was how we all talked about the quarterback the quarterback and the quarterback but really the pieces around him did nothing in the big game let’s not forget about the play
Caller either yeah once again once again Shannahan you’re up choked up a Le didn’t run it you you choke you choked up you choke you got it got a little tight for him this the moment got too big once again for Kyle Shanahan and so when it’s talking about being in those
Situations doing the little things right hey let’s actually run the football in this situation um let’s not call a timeout when our defensive coordinator is in his in his Zone and trying to make a he blew it once again and so he has to
Take a a deep look in the mirror and say hey I didn’t quite maximize the talent I have on this on this roster obviously the guys need to show up more but he definitely was another piece of that puzzle that didn’t show up when they needed him the most all right last thing
Uh that I’ll ask you before I let you go back to enjoying home is KJ Wright is here with us how far away are the Seahawks made the playoffs a year ago missed it this p last year we look inside that division we know the ners aren’t going anywhere the Rams are only
Going to be better uh the Cardinals are going to continue to roll with Kyler Murray how far is Seattle from getting back to potentially being a championship Contender again three years three so are they going through a rebuild now you’re saying no they’re going to be they’re
Gonna win nine they’re GNA win eight nine games they GNA be competitive when we talking about winning your division we talking about getting that first round by were you talking about making a deep playoff run yeah three years they have a lot of good pieces they do a lot
Of good pieces but get your franchise guy who’s going to be your franchise quarterback keep adding pieces on that secondary keep adding pieces at linebacker both Jordan Brooks Bobby Wagner are free agents so they got a lot of decisions to make but um find who’s going to be your quarterback let
McDonald continue to build out this roster implement this culture and I believe in coach Carrol’s fourth year if I’m not mistaken that’s when he came in there he changed everything around made the most transactions in NFL history like over a hundred he built the team
That he wanted to build and um in three or four years coach car got his Super Bowl so I’m saying they gonna strike go once again with McDonald
source
