RW was a top shelf QB in his prime on a HOF trajectory. He was one of the most elusive/backyard/broken play (though he himself often broke the plays) QB's I've ever seen, in the select company of guys like Lamar Jackson, Michael Vick, and Steve Young in that way. How many opposing head coaches, defensive coordinators, defenders, and fans did he drive out of their minds scrambling for first downs or hitting receivers down field on extended plays like he was pulling rabbits out of a hat. He had this combination of maddening elusiveness, ability to spot receivers on the run, and the arm to deliver it which at times I thought was the best I'd ever seen in that particular way, a magician.
But the day was going to come when he physically just couldn't effectively play that style of football anymore. He needed to change or evolve his style of play and become more of a system QB, but he either couldn't, or refused to do so, and it became increasingly apparent to coaches, teammates, and fans alike.
I think RW was always generally perceived to possess a corny, overly manicured, emotionally inauthentic personality on some level by many of his teammates and fans of the team. It seemed like everything that came out of his mouth was well rehearsed, some sunny cliche, religious platitude, or motivational phrase from a self help book. It was enough to make you wonder if this person was real, or if he was just a robotic amalgamation of how he wanted to be perceived.
I think all this weird personality stuff was fine or tolerated as long as he was able to perform and deliver at a high level on the field. But it certainly became clear in Denver and then Pittsburgh that his schtick was falling on collective deaf ears. The act had grown tiringly annoying, like some bad song playing on an endless loop in your head.
There definitely was a shift that started taking place in RW's mind, where hubris started superseding whatever innocence and well meaningness he had brought to his public life. The marriage to Ciarra and wanting to become a power couple like Jay-Z and Beyonce, the let-Russ-cook thing, the behind the scenes machinations to get rid of coaches and management, the private offices and other things in Denver that cloistered him in an air of entitlement, the wanting to be seen at chic events amongst high profile celebrities, etc, etc...
I think the reason people/Seahawk fans pay him more attention than he probably deserves is because he's such a strange guy with an equally strange and transparent story arc. It's kind of funny that the probable end of the road for him as an NFL QB is going to take place in the bright lights of NYC. It could be harsh.
