Russell Wilson on whether 'load management' would work in the NFL

[CGI_Ram]

Russell Wilson weighs in on whether 'load management' would work in the NFL

The MVP candidate says each game matters too much for players to sit one out

www.cbssports.com

Russell Wilson weighs in on whether 'load management' would work in the NFL

The topic of load management, players taking games off here and there to rest during the season, has been a major conversation in the NBA and reigning Finals MVP and now Los Angeles Clipper Kawhi Leonard is at the forefront of the discussion. Many have given their opinions on the matter, including basketball icon and current Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan who does not agree with it and says the players are "paid to play 82 games" and therefore they should play 82 games. Others disagree and believe the players need some time off just like everyone else.

People have brought up the fact that franchises often sell tickets based on their star playing and when that player sits out for a game, they hear it from the fans and the entertainment experience suffers.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson weighed in on this concept on the Dan Patrick Show, and spoke on whether he believes it would work in the NFL.

Wilson, who has not missed one game in his career, commented that the NBA and NFL are very different beasts and therefore the conversation around load management is drastically different between the two. He said because a football season is substantially shorter, it would not make as much sense.

The weight each NFL game holds is very different from the weight each NBA regular season game holds, and for that reason alone, Wilson does not believe load management is something that would creep into the NFL.

He said on the show:

"I think the reality is, for players, every week matters. In the NFL, every game matters. There's no bad teams, really. There's a lot of great players, every team has great players. Every team has people who can really make a lot of plays. So you'll see games where 'how did that team win that game?' And 'how did that team do that?' That's just because it's a battle every week."

He also brought up the idea of a longer NFL season with this conversation, something he also does not agree with.

"I think with football there definitely are some tough injuries and everything else, but the reality is we only get 16 chances to do it. I know there's talk about having a 17-game season and possibly having every player sit out one game, which I think is a terrible idea," he said. "I think that has nothing do to with really player health or safety or anything like that."

What he does believe it has everything to do with is money. "I think that more has to do with, you know, trying to get more games in. At the end of the day, the NFL's a business, but to make people sit out a game makes no sense when there's not enough games in the first place if you do that," he said.

Wilson is in MVP conversation this year and has helped lead the Seahawks to their 7-2 record and the second spot in the NFC West, behind the undefeated San Francisco 49ers.

 

[Varg6]

I know it’s sacrilegious to say this as a Rams fan, but I am a RW fan. Say what you want but he’s a class act and one hell of a QB. I was really hoping he was going to NYG in the off-season so I could root for him. It sucks that we’re in a division that’s always loaded with talent.

 

[Ramlock]

As a former D lineman, I can’t stand Russell Wilson, who reminds me of QB’s I used to chase.
Cannot stand the slippery midget.

 

[BigRamFan]

Freak Russell Wilson!

Beat you to it @Selassie I .

And, I don't buy his "good guy" image. He comes across as smug and disingenuous to me.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Teams practice load management where and when they can. Defensive line rotation is where they do it most but you see it all through the defense. If teams were allowed to expand rosters they could possibly do it more, depending on the weekly matchups.

Defense is more difficult to play, because defenders don’t know the play being run and need to have quicker reactions. The offense is coming at them most of the time. So resting players during games can save them throughout a long a season. It’s pretty much a necessity.


But on offense I don’t see how it is possible. A team is lucky to have one good QB, two good receivers and one good TE. The offensive line needs cohesion and subbing guys for one game wouldn’t work.

Where it could help is at Runningback. Running backs have the shortest careers and really take a beating. Plus teams seem to find good RBs throughout the draft. So if a guy has to sit and take a break for a week it could be done. But like Wilson said, nobody wants to.

 

[Selassie I]

Freak Russell Wilson!

Beat you to it @Selassie I .

And, I don't buy his "good guy" image. He comes across as smug and disingenuous to me.

Not to mention he's an Umpa Lumpa.

 

[Varg6]

Freak Russell Wilson!

Beat you to it @Selassie I .

And, I don't buy his "good guy" image. He comes across as smug and disingenuous to me.

I do. I don’t buy it from Brady.

 

[RamsInfiniti]

I do. I don’t buy it from Brady.

I don't like Tom Brady - but he stays pretty close to the vest. I want to punch RW in the face, although I don't particularly dislike him either.

 

[Ellard80]

I agree with Russell. The way he talks annoys me, but he has developed into one hell of a quarterback.

 

[1maGoh]

I do. I don’t buy it from Brady.

You've been bamboozled.

 

[hotanez]

I hate that freaking umpa lumpa but can't deny he's a great QB.

 

[wolfdogg]

Im pretty sure we're load managing gurley. He's played 3 games less in touches at this point from last year.

Which is fine because were 5 and 3 but after this steeler game we need to ride our big horse into the platoffs and out the other side with the Lombardi.