Russell Wilson and Assigning Credit and Blame for the Big Interception
By Jason Lisk
An incomplete list of persons and circumstances perceived as responsible for the decisive play in last night’s Super Bowl.
1. Darrell Bevell–how did this man ever get a job earning actual money? As the weather person on my local news asks–my go-to source for sports knowledge, FWIW–“will he be fired?”
2. God–who would normally have been #1, but then again it’s sports and Aaron Rodgers surmised that God doesn’t care about the outcome of football games–but there had to have been a divine purpose for that play. He at least permitted it to happen.
3. Ricardo Lockette–should have broken up the play and been stronger to the ball, according to the guy who is #1 on this list. (Not sure #2 sees it the same way).
4. Pete Carroll–he’s taking all the blame, which makes people say, “look at Carroll, being a standup guy, taking all the blame.” Sometimes the answer is right under your nose. He’s distracting us from really blaming him too much.
5. The Seahawks’ Front Office–they don’t want to pay Lynch. They are responsible for a receiving group where the best player on Sunday was helping size shoes at Foot Locker (which is one step above the CFL).
6. Malcolm Butler–Yeah, yeah, the guy who actually made a play on the ball, practiced all his life to get to this moment, and worked on this specific play in practice. The guy who joins Mike Jones in making one of the biggest defensive plays to win a Super Bowl. He gets a little credit.
7. Bill Belichick— insanely overly prepared about everything except air pressure.
8. Football as a Team Sport— If football wasn’t such a team sport, Lynch would have gotten all the glory. Also, isn’t it interesting that Lynch talked, and a quote was provided, when actually necessary as part of a big moment? It’s almost like Tuesday was worthless.
9. Katy Perry’s Shark— He totally forgot the play call! Also, symbolic, since this list has now jumped it.
10. Russell Wilson– Wilson did take the blame, and did say he didn’t question the call. The way he handled that crushing moment after the game was admirable. This ranking isn’t about him and how the team will move on, as much as the reaction and public responses when various things happen in a NFL game.
Selling of sports coverage calls for bombast and strong opinions and “pushing the narrative.” Actual analysis calls for nuance. There is no “worst call ever”/”best call ever” until after the result comes in. The Seahawks took a major risk at the end of the first half, in throwing with 6 seconds left, and scored a touchdown. When that same mentality fails, though, it becomes the worst.
It’s okay to question various things. Let’s be freaking consistent. There is a nuance to interceptions, bad bounces, great plays by a defender, a mis-play by a receiver, or a bad call. Also, bad execution by the quarterback. But imagine if Peyton Manning had thrown that interception. Or Tony Romo, if a few plays went differently in the last month and he was the one in the Super Bowl. Do you really think we’d be talking about Darrell Bevell and whether Ricardo Lockette was strong enough?
No, Russell Wilson was clutch. Did you not see him overcome that dreadful performance in the NFC Championship Game with some of the clutchiest clutchness that ever clutched? Once you are clutch, you are clutch. Any evidence to the contrary be damned.