Salk: Whether Seahawks or Wilson initiated the deal, someone needs to ‘own it’

The Seahawks are entering a new era of football as star quarterback Russell Wilson was reportedly traded to the Denver Broncos in exchange for five draft picks and three players.

Reports: Seahawks trading QB Russell Wilson to Denver Broncos

After having a full day to look at the trade and take in the news, Mike Salk hit the Seattle Sports airwaves Wednesday morning to share his thoughts on the big news that broke Tuesday morning.

Unlike many who are down and upset about the trade, Salk feels otherwise.

“I think this is fantastic news. I’m excited about the dawn of the next era. I’m excited about the future of the Seattle Seahawks,” Salk said during his opening segment of Wednesday’s Mike Salk Show. “I know that may sound counterintuitive to a lot of people out there. I understand a lot of grieving is being done in Seattle today. I’m not. I’m not grieving”

Salk said he loved Wilson and everything he did during his 10-year run as the starting quarterback of the Seahawks, but he’s ready for the next chapter of pro football in Seattle.

Salk also said that while the deal itself was surprising, it isn’t as shocking as some are trying to make it out to be.

“Are you surprised that Russell was traded? Probably because it’s hard for those things to come together” he said. “But you shouldn’t be shocked. It shouldn’t have knocked you over …. It’s surprising. Of course it is. It’s a gigantic move. I was absolutely surprised yesterday.”

Salk brought up Wilson’s goal-line interception in Super Bowl 49 seven years ago to show how long Seattle fans and media embers will be unpacking this trade.

“Quite frankly we’re going to be unpacking this for the next four years,” he said. “This moment is the biggest moment in Seattle sports since Russell Wilson threw the interception on the goal line. Let’s be very clear … We’re gonna be unpacking this for years to come.”

Salk shared what he called his “very, very basic thought” on the trade, and it centered around who initiated the deal.

“I hope that this was the Seahawks’ decision because they wanted to deal Russell, that they made the call that it was time,” he said. “Either because they didn’t feel like they could win in the next two years with him, because they knew he wasn’t going to sign another contract and this was the best way to maximize their future, or because they felt like his skills are eroding and he’s no longer the player he once was and that they weren’t going to pay him $50 million (per year) like Aaron Rodgers has got coming up here in another year, and now was the time to maximize their future. I hope that’s the case.”

Most people, Salk said, seem to believe that this trade stemmed from Wilson wanting to leave the Seahawks.

Whether that’s the case or whether Salk’s desire for it to be Seahawks-driven is correct, he wants whoever spurred this deal to own it.

“Nobody wants to own the fact that they wanted this relationship to end. I don’t like the ‘he said, she said,'” he said. “… If you traded Russell Wilson, stand up and say, ‘We thought this was the right thing to do.’ And Russ, if you wanted out, quit hiding behind your agent, quit hiding behind everybody else and say, ‘I want to go play somewhere else. I don’t like it there anymore. It’s time to move on.’ Oh, you’re afraid because the fans are going to get mad? Deal with it. If you wanted out, you wanted out. Own it. Don’t blindside your buddy. Don’t lie about it. If you wanted out, you wanted out. Fine.”

Listen to the full first hour of Wednesday’s Mike Salk Show at this link or in the player below.

More Russell Wilson trade reaction from Seattle Sports:

• ‘This trade stinks’: Wyman & Bob react to Seahawks trading Wilson
• Huard: Seahawks trading Wilson ‘biggest sports story’ in Seattle history
• Clayton: Won’t be easy for Seahawks to replace Wilson after surprising trade
• Heaps: What’s OK and not OK about Seahawks trading Wilson

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