Russ finally fires Mark Rodgers, his agent

[RiverDog]

Like many others, I believe that Mark Rodgers had a negative effect on Russ and his career. This is purely speculation, but it seems to me that Rodgers didn't give Russ good advice about how to handle his relationships with teams he played on.

From pretty early on, Russ presented himself as being antagonistic during contract negotiations, setting tight deadlines and leaking information (or misinformation) about teams he wanted to be traded to. Who is to blame? The common wisdom is that the client sets the tone, and the agent just carries out his client's wishes, but I find it hard to believe that Russ, who tried so hard to develop a "good guy" persona wanted that.

We'll never know what their relationship was, but by all accounts, they were very close. Maybe too close. Of course, that can only happen when you have just one NFL client. (By contrast, Wilson's new agent, David Mulugheta, represents 70 current NFL players.)

All we know is that through Rodgers' representation of Wilson from 2022 to 2024, he managed to alienate two fan bases and piss off several different coaching staffs and front offices. Maybe a better agent could have given Russ better advice about how to handle himself?

Before the trade to Denver in 2022, Matt Calkins of the Seattle Times wrote an article in which he opined that there was no way that Russ would force his way out of Seattle:

https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/speculation-has-started-but-heres-why-it-doesnt-make-sense-for-seahawks-and-russell-wilson-to-split/

Calkiins can't believe that Russ really would turn his back on the Seattle fanbase and take the step that would turn him into a bad guy, lol. He concludes that Russ wouldn't force his way out of Seattle because no one is that crazy. Well, it turns out Russ was that crazy. Or was it his agent?

That's a very good breakdown.

As the article in the OP stated, Mark Rogers was able to aggressively pursue the best possible deal for Russell because with just the one NFL client, he didn't have to worry about pissing off a GM like agents who represent multiple clients do. So what if John Schneider won't talk to him? It's no sweat off Rogers' ass, because he doesn't have to do business with him again.

But that was when Russell's market value was much higher, when teams actually wanted him. Now, the conditions have changed. Russell needs an agent who can beat the bushes and find a job for him, perhaps call in a few owed favors, etc, because his value is such that he and his agent can't afford to use the aggressive tactics that Rogers once did.

I'm as puzzled about this as everyone else appears to be. Why now? Russell doesn't have to worry where his next meal is going to come from. He has a potential career in broadcasting that he could be pursuing rather than chasing this snowball's chance in hell of being a starting NFL quarterback. Is he that delusional? Wait! Don't answer that.

 

[NoGain]

If I had to guess, I'd say he's on no roster at the start of next season. It'll be God's plan, of course, wanting him to move onto a new more important chapter in his life. Maybe, like Flacco or Rivers, he gets a call to return to the league from some QB desperate team as a result of injuries. It would be a head scratcher to me that a team would make such a choice given his steep decline as a QB and the tired act he's become as an NFLer. But I suppose it's possible.

 

[strohmin]

You seem to have missed the part where Wilson was his ONLY client. There's no chance the "agent" (fake agent from what I can tell, probably just a friend who promised Wilson he could do it well on the cheap) fired Wilson in this case.

Even if he was his only client, he made alot of money off Wilson's reputation without putting too much effort in his first 11 seasons. He probably decided to dip once he realized how much effort he has to put in now to get Russell another NFL gig from his last 2 seasons only to be paid peanuts compared to what he once got paid.

 

[toffee]

Russell Wilson thread ain't quite the same without his #1 "fan": SantaClaraHawk. Luckily, we still have @keasley45, @Maelstrom787, me, @Ozzy, and company.

 

[IndyHawk]

My guess is Mark told him "As your friend, I'm telling you football is over".
Me3 "I'm ready to rock n roll!" and "Mark, you're fired!".

 

[Ozzy]

Russell Wilson thread ain't quite the same without his #1 "fan": SantaClaraHawk. Luckily, we still have @keasley45, @Maelstrom787, me, @Ozzy, and company.

I needed this today lol

 

[keasley45]

Like many others, I believe that Mark Rodgers had a negative effect on Russ and his career. This is purely speculation, but it seems to me that Rodgers didn't give Russ good advice about how to handle his relationships with teams he played on.

From pretty early on, Russ presented himself as being antagonistic during contract negotiations, setting tight deadlines and leaking information (or misinformation) about teams he wanted to be traded to. Who is to blame? The common wisdom is that the client sets the tone, and the agent just carries out his client's wishes, but I find it hard to believe that Russ, who tried so hard to develop a "good guy" persona wanted that.

We'll never know what their relationship was, but by all accounts, they were very close. Maybe too close. Of course, that can only happen when you have just one NFL client. (By contrast, Wilson's new agent, David Mulugheta, represents 70 current NFL players.)

All we know is that through Rodgers' representation of Wilson from 2022 to 2024, he managed to alienate two fan bases and piss off several different coaching staffs and front offices. Maybe a better agent could have given Russ better advice about how to handle himself?

Before the trade to Denver in 2022, Matt Calkins of the Seattle Times wrote an article in which he opined that there was no way that Russ would force his way out of Seattle:

https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/speculation-has-started-but-heres-why-it-doesnt-make-sense-for-seahawks-and-russell-wilson-to-split/

Calkiins can't believe that Russ really would turn his back on the Seattle fanbase and take the step that would turn him into a bad guy, lol. He concludes that Russ wouldn't force his way out of Seattle because no one is that crazy. Well, it turns out Russ was that crazy. Or was it his agent?

I agree that Rogers probably aided Russ in his downward spiral, but Russ hired him in the first place. Im sure he saw in Rogers exactly the kind of agent he wanted to pitch his brand.

And the negative character traits that we came to see after he became 'the guy' seem now like they were always there, dating back to his time at NC state. They were just suppressed on a team where his LOB teammates kept the BS in check. When the LOB went away, the real Russ came out to play.

Rogers was just working on behalf of Russ. If I had to guess, I would say Rogers gave up on Russ before Russ made the move to dump him.

 

[JPatera76]

Russell Wilson thread ain't quite the same without his #1 "fan": SantaClaraHawk. Luckily, we still have @keasley45, @Maelstrom787, me, @Ozzy, and company.

how tf could you leave out @john63 the audacity lol ... (still think that was russell himself or an assistant)

 

[toffee]

how tf could you leave out @john63 the audacity lol ... (still think that was russell himself or an assistant)

You are right! My bad for not includjng John63.

 

[RiverDog]

Russell Wilson thread ain't quite the same without his #1 "fan": SantaClaraHawk. Luckily, we still have @keasley45, @Maelstrom787, me, @Ozzy, and company.

Actually, you can halfway include me in that group as well. I'll always appreciate the good he's done this franchise, that he's largely responsible for the best period of Seahawk football in franchise history. And there's worse people on this planet than Russell. You don't see him getting arrested for domestic abuse or driving down I-405 at 90+mph.

But I completely understand and for the most part sympathize with the sentiment that a lot of people have about him. There's good reason not to like him. He'd be one of the last former Seahawks I'd ever want to sit down and have beer with.

 

[Sperrydogg]

Why now?

Optics. Russ could not allow his agent to fire him first

 

[keasley45]

how tf could you leave out @john63 the audacity lol ... (still think that was russell himself or an assistant)

the more time that passes, the more i think thats who he was.

 

[IndyHawk]

the more time that passes, the more i think thats who he was.

He was DeanDC on the Bronco's forum, a poster found his YouTube channel
which we never posted on here because of Doxxing concerns, I don't think
it was Me3, however there has been two other posters on here, I thought
they could be and again unless they are banned, I don't think I will post
them and it wouldn't be a 100% fact if I did.

 

[toffee]

He was DeanDC on the Bronco's forum, a poster found his YouTube channel
which we never posted on here because of Doxxing concerns, I don't think
it was Me3, however there has been two other posters on here, I thought
they could be and again unless they are banned, I don't think I will post
them and it wouldn't be a 100% fact if I did.

You are leaving all self-proclaimed Wilsoncologists hanging by not releasing the names

 

[Cyrus12]

He was DeanDC on the Bronco's forum, a poster found his YouTube channel
which we never posted on here because of Doxxing concerns, I don't think
it was Me3, however there has been two other posters on here, I thought
they could be and again unless they are banned, I don't think I will post
them and it wouldn't be a 100% fact if I did.

I think he was a serial killer and is now incarcerated....his obsession got outta control...

 

[chris98251]

Speaking of ME3, did you know, according to him, he was playing with the hamstring tear most of the season??



I'm sure the Giants are not happy about this. Seriously, who would touch this guy at this point, even as a backup?!

Russell Wilson: Giants "didn't know" about Week 2 hamstring tear

On Monday, Giants quarterback Russell Wilson said he suffered a previously-undisclosed Grade 2 hamstring tear on the last play of Friday's practice before a Week 2 overtime loss to the Cowboys.

www.nbcsports.com

So the bad finger that was healed but he looked like shit passing has come up again, now a Hammy Grade 2 tear that he didn't tell the Giants about and worked out in the Mavericks facility? So, he flew back and forth from New York to Texas to get treatment? Nobody noticed he was gone or could not run in New York?

Aside form being selfish, not putting the team ahead of himself once again this now makes the Giants an NFL league target for either lying or being inept to not see that one of their most visible players was injured and could not run at full speed.

 

[chris98251]

Second when you are hoping for a chance and your Agent has the reputation of being inflexible and just a nasty person to deal with, you need to change the menu. Russell is a needy bitch now, Hamstrung himself, now he has a medical issue to get clearance for if he had it. He needs agent that has connections and can get him in peoples doors, Pete's gone, that chance is probably gone with Geno under contract and two other guys there. Need a Agent that knows how to get in backdoors.

 

[IndyHawk]

You are leaving all self-proclaimed Wilsoncologists hanging by not releasing the names

It sucks, but I don't make the rules.

 

[Floridahawk79]

the more time that passes, the more i think thats who he was.

I always thought it was Jake Heaps (part of his job)

 

[keasley45]

I always thought it was Jake Heaps (part of his job)

Could also be. It had to be somebody in his circle. Hard to believe that a regular fan could be so obsessed with a player and defending everything they do.