Seahawks’ Russell Wilson shrugs off comments about his place among NFL’s top quarterbacks

RENTON – Here’s one thing you can’t debate about Russell Wilson: Seattle’s quarterback is as proficient at avoiding potentially controversial remarks as he is at avoiding oncoming pass-rushers.

It was no surprise, then, how Wilson shrugged off – at least publicly – some recent comments from Browns coach Mike Pettine that could have been construed as at least a minor slight, even if they weren’t intended to be. Wilson’s response was exactly what you’d expect it to be: one of indifference.

“Yeah, I heard about it,” Wilson said Thursday. “It’s not my focus. It never has been and never will be. I always tell you guys I ignore the noise. I think ultimately it comes down to winning. That’s all my focus is on and ever will be on.”

Pettine had caused a stir a day earlier with comments about Wilson’s place in the hierarchy of NFL quarterbacks, telling Browns beat writers that he doesn’t consider Wilson to be one of the top four. Pettine said he wouldn’t put Wilson in the group of quarterbacks who “can transcend their supporting cast” – naming Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger – but that “he’s certainly played himself into that next tier.”

The reaction that Pettine’s comments elicited were indicative of the hyper-focus on quarterbacks. Wilson was asked about the disparity in attention and scrutiny that is placed on that position compared to every other position in football. He said quarterback is “definitely one of the toughest jobs there is in sports.”

He added: “Playing the quarterback position, there’s going to be ups and downs. It’s not an easy position to play because of the mental part of it and the emotional part of it all. But I think ultimately you have to be tough, you have to be mentally focused. That’s why I always say, ‘Ignore the noise,’ because they’ll love you one day and hate you the next.”