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SPORTS Wednesday 17 april 2019
Wilson sticks with Seahawks, becomes highest paid player

By TIM BOOTH attle to budget for the fu- in the opening round of the
AP Sports Writer ture knowing how to work playoffs. It was supposed to
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Rus- with Wilson’s hefty pay- be a rebuilding year, but
sell Wilson is sticking around check in the years ahead the Seahawks were ahead
with the Seattle Seahawks and build a contender of schedule thanks to their
as the highest paid player around the former third- return to a run-first offense
in the NFL. round pick that has devel- and Wilson’s exceptional
Wilson posted a video on oped into a franchise QB. performance when tasked
social media early Tuesday Wilson’s new deal was go- to throw. The 5-foot-11
saying, “Seattle, we got a ing to have to top the ex- Wilson threw for a career-
deal,” shortly after agree- tension signed by Rodg- high 35 touchdowns and
ing to a $140 million, four- ers before the start of last matched his career low
year extension with the season. Wilson was the with seven interceptions.
Seahawks, his agent Mark second-highest paid player He attempted only 427
Rodgers told The Associ- in football behind Rodgers passes — his lowest total
ated Press. Wilson’s new when his deal was signed in since his second season
deal runs through the 2023 2015, but had fallen to the when Seattle won the Su-
season and includes a $65 12th highest-paid QB in the per Bowl — but his efficien-
million signing bonus, a no- In this Jan. 27, 2019, file photo, NFC quarterback Russell Wilson league, according to Over- cy was a career best with a
trade clause and $107 mil- of the Seattle Seahawks runs onto the field during player thecap.com. 110.9 passer rating. He also
lion in guaranteed money. introductions before the NFL Pro Bowl football game against the The five-time Pro Bowl se- ran only 67 times, a career
Wilson’s per year average AFC in Orlando, Fla. lection is coming off argu- low, as the improved run
of $35 million tops Aaron Associated Press ably his best season as Se- game and offensive line
Rodgers’ average annual franchise tag if needed to reasonable price by quar- attle went a surprising 10-6 play allowed Wilson to stay
salary of $33.5 million as keep him under contract terback standards. and earned an NFC wild in the pocket more and
part of the $134 million ex- through 2020 and 2021 at a But the extension allows Se- card before losing to Dallas scramble for his life less.q
tension he signed last year
with the Green Bay Pack-
ers. Wilson’s current $87.6
million, four-year deal was
signed at the beginning of
training camp in 2015 and
was set to expire after next
season.
“Russell’s goal and his
hope was that he would
continue his career with
the Seahawks and contin-
ue to bring championships
to this town,” Rodgers said.
“He believes there is still un-
finished business and he is
looking forward to pursu-
ing that without having to
worry about contracts and
his future.”
The 30-year-old Wilson had
set a midnight deadline for
a new deal with Seattle. He
wanted certainty about his
contract before the start
of the team’s offseason
workout program, which
began on Monday. Wil-
son showed up for the first
day and by the end of the
night was posting a video
with wife Ciara announc-
ing the agreement.
The deal ends the debate
about Wilson’s future with
the Seahawks, although
there seemed to be little
doubt he would remain
in Seattle for a while. The
team held leverage know-
ing it likely had at least
three more seasons with
Wilson under center. Even
if he played out 2019 un-
der his current deal, Se-
attle could have used the