Your arguing something I'm not. Sure. He led the huddle. Not the point. His inability to take criticism in practice from teammates necessitated the coddling from his coach and the need for him to be handled lightly. That created animosity and the division that led to the demise of the competitive spirit and fire that looks to be back.
I dont know why this is an issue. It's been written about and quoted from a few articles. It's been referenced here in this forum several times.
When you create an exception for a player who is a leader, that sets him outside of the fire of competition - and actually mandates a standard that the fire and intensity that boils out of competition should be tempered because said leader can't take it, well then you've effectively thrown water on that flame and what unfolded here on this team is the result.
That condition no longer exists. The qbs we have on the roster now might not have Russ 's resume, but they also don't come with the protected, 'fragile' label that he had. Competition, fire and the criticism that SHOULD come when you aren't on your game are back.