Pete Carroll’s Seahawks have been one of the best (and most surprising?) teams in the NFL this year. At 6-3 around the halfway mark, Seattle — led by new starting quarterback Geno Smith — is the current No. 3 seed in the NFC and isn’t showing any real signs of slowing down.
Part of the apparent reason the Seahawks and Smith, in particular, have been so good is that the quarterback wears a wristband with play calls on it. At least according to Carroll. Yes, that’s right. In a recent radio appearance with Seattle Sports 710 AM, Carroll credited the flourishing of Seattle’s No. 11 offense to Smith being willing to stick to the script.
In other words, the coach took the least subtle shot of all time at the now-departed Russell Wilson.
More from Seattle Sports 710 AM:
“If you notice, Geno’s [Smith] going off the wristband, and that’s a big help,” Carroll said. “It’s smoothed things out, sped things up, cleaned things up. And that’s part of it, too. We never did that before. There was resistance to that, so we didn’t do that before.”
Oof. Carroll just had to note that “there was resistance” to the idea of a play sheet and the wristband, didn’t he? Of course, this is partly in reference to the now infamous “Let Russ Cook” mantra, mostly centered around Wilson being free to throw the ball more.
But it would be reductive to say it’s only about letting Wilson throw more passes. After all, the now-Broncos quarterback built a reputation for being one of the NFL’s best escape artists and improvisers during his time in Seattle. In fact, the nine-time Pro Bowler was actually often at his best when specifically off script. It seems Carroll didn’t always appreciate that facet of Wilson’s game, either.
As the Broncos prepare for the Titans this Sunday, this was something Wilson — who won 104 games and Super Bowl 48 amidst a decade with Seattle — made sure to note when told about Carroll’s passive-aggressive dig.
Russell Wilson on not wearing a wristband in Seattle: “Won a lot of games without one on the wrist”
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) November 9, 2022
Russell Wilson on play-call sheet on wrist band: “Won a lot of games. Didn’t know winning or losing mattered whether you wore a wrist band.” #9sports pic.twitter.com/XZ7IqlK7gK
— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) November 9, 2022
Fellas, please. You’re both in two different time zones now on a full-time basis. Can’t we just let bygones be bygones and move on instead of arguing endlessly about proper offensive philosophy? Something tells me this isn’t the last of Wilson and Carroll (mostly Carroll here) taking random shots at one another.
NFL fans had lots of thoughts about Wilson and Carroll's passive aggressive war of words
I’m with Russ on this one. Haters. https://t.co/x7TH5u4Hvm
— Danny O'Neil (@dannyoneil) November 9, 2022
This wristband thing being a talking point is so silly man lol https://t.co/A9MJwWNXVl
— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) November 9, 2022
Pete Carroll and Russ Wilson taking potshots at each other and I'm so here for it. https://t.co/RlHM79kjNs
— Justin (@Oldenburg_58) November 9, 2022
I didn’t think we’d spend Wednesday talking about wristbands but here we are. https://t.co/RsNpnEltWF
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) November 9, 2022
That had nothing to do with having one of the best defenses of all time right, @DangeRussWilson? https://t.co/pR3vA6711K
— William Jackson (@Will_Jack_DEN) November 9, 2022
Russell Wilson firing back at Pete Carroll… pic.twitter.com/AxnLk3EmJ9
— Will Petersen (@PetersenWill) November 9, 2022
Talk that talk Russ. https://t.co/5knmtZfolG
— 𝘾𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙣 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙧 (@CameronParkerPO) November 9, 2022
What we're really making this a story. Okay it's off to the editor… https://t.co/nq39rzDY8K
— Mookie Alexander, Unofficially (@mookiealexander) November 9, 2022
Give me THIS version of Russ 24/7/365. No cue cards, no clichés, just honesty with a little bit of fire.
I’ve applauded Russ for taking the high road while his former coach/teammates take pot shots, but enough is enough.
Pete should remember that pride comes before the fall. https://t.co/FVB6YTuq8t
— Richie Carni (@RichieCarni) November 9, 2022
