NFL star quarterback Russell Wilson has been criticised after his bizarre aeroplane workout as he hopes be fit enough to start for the Denver Broncos in London on Sunday.
The Broncos have a must-win game at Wembley Stadium this weekend when they play the Jacksonville Jaguars after a horrific start to the season. After giving away a haul of draft picks to the Seattle Seahawks to acquire Wilson, the Broncos have been the worst offensive unit in the NFL - with the least amount of points through week seven.
With a Broncos having a 2-4 record, a win is much-needed if they are to keep up with teams around them in the hunt for a playoff spot in the loaded AFC.
Wilson has not been best received in Denver since his arrival from Seattle. After an incredible 10 years in the Pacific North West, he asked to leave the Seahawks as he wanted to be in a new offensive, pass-heavy system. He was granted that wish when Denver offered four high draft picks along with three starting calibre players for his services - joining new head coach Nathaniel Hackett - Aaron Rodgers' former offensive coordinator in Green Bay.
But Wilson has not looked himself in the new system, struggling mightily throwing the football and getting on the right page with his receivers.
Wilson missed last weekend's loss to the New York Jets, after struggling with a hamstring tear which could even keep him out of this weekend's game against the Jags, but the 33-year-old has stated that he's doing all he can to be fit to play, even telling reporters that he worked out on the aeroplane journey in order to put himself in the best position to play.
Those comments didn't go down well though. Former Broncos player Shannon Sharpe declared Wilson was behaving like a celebrity rather than a member of the team. He said: "He's turned into a celebrity. It ain't about being a football player anymore."
And NFL analyst Kyle Brandt has not held back in his recent criticism of Wilson, wondering why he would mention working out on the aeroplane. Speaking on his podcast, Brandt said: "If I’m on that team I’m trying to put myself in his teammate’s shoes… I’m flying across the Atlantic and I’m all tucked. I got my headphones, I got my sleep mask, and I got my blanket and I’m getting my rest and I just keep hearing… somebody running on a plane is concerning usually.
"If I sit up and I just peel back my sleep mask and pull off one ear of my headphone and the thing that woken me and alarmed me is Russ, not running up and down the aisle, he’s high-kneeing up and down the aisle… I don’t know what I’m thinking.
"Are you thinking, A, that is my quarterback and he wants to get back with us so badly and fix this thing and right this ship and man I’ll go to battle with that guy — or are you thinking like, ‘dude sit down, we’re trying to sleep. Are you out of your mind? Sit down.'
"Let’s be honest, let’s go further with this. You and I both know that if Russ is up on the plane, 30,000 feet and he’s doing high-knees up and down the aisle, it’s not just that. He is saying something, he is doing either motivational phrases or song lyrics, maybe, but there is a vocal component to it.
“It’s truly performative. I wasn’t on the plane and I don’t know his exact medical status. Maybe the team doctor said, ‘Russ we need to get you moving around the plane. I know it’s weird and awkward and I know your teammates are trying to sleep but I really recommend you do it,’ then fine. God bless you Russ and I mean that.
“But I doubt that the offensive coordinator last year when he was at Seattle told him, ‘Russ I really recommend you go out there on the field by yourself and be in a make believe huddle and run a fake two-minute drill while the cameras are on, I really think you should do that.”
