Here we go again: Former Wisconsin Badger Russell Wilson is facing down the doubters. He's about to enter another quarterback controversy, which has seemingly been his story everywhere he goes. He's thought to be undersized, doesn't fit the system, is too old, or for some other reason. And once again, like he does each time he enters the quarterback fire, he responds with much the same language, demeanor, and desire to prove everyone wrong.
Russell Wilson is in the midst of another QB Competition this time with Jaxson Dart
On Thursday, Wilson was asked about how he's approaching the fact that the New York Giants drafted Jaxson Dart in the first round. Dart's arrival signals to the fans and the media that Wilson may be a backup or at least have a short shelf-life. Wilson, via a prepared statement, said:
"“I just think about having success today. It’s always been my approach. Every day is like I’m trying to be the best in the world. I think that for me, mentally, you have confidence in yourself. You have confidence in what you do, your process. I constantly stay the course and understand that if I’m the best me, I know how great that is. And so, for me, I always just stay within. I don’t really think about outside. "Russell Wilson
This quote could almost be stamped and repeated each time he has to face this noise. In a 2016 Sports Illustrated article, offensive lineman Rob Havenstein was quoted as saying this about Wilson coming to Wisconsin and having to have some level of competition for the starting job: "One thing he said to us was, 'I'm here, but I'm not expecting anything. Anything I get, I want to be able to say I earned.' That might not be an exact quote, but that was the gist of it."
One quote he did say on record when he came to Wisconsin was, "You have to be a leader on and off the field, and you have to make sure you put the hard work in every single day. You got to make sure you’re doing the right thing all the time. I’m blessed to just be here at Wisconsin."
The similarities in these approaches and these quotes are absolutely impressive, even though they are 14 years apart. That's Wilson, though, always the same. The other thing that Wilson is known to do is win these competitions, even if it's assumed he won't.
At Wisconsin, it was assumed he would win the competition, but Wisconsin's head coach at the time, Bret Bielema, was very clear it was a competition. At the Seattle Seahawks, he was expected to lose the competition to Matt Flynn. Denver didn't have any competition. Pittsburgh was expected to beat Justin Fields, and he did. Now he's facing the competition again with the Giants and Jaxson Dart. Don't be surprised if he wins it again. He always does.