Rumors have surfaced alleging that there are simmering tensions between players stemming from strained relationships with Wilson. Now it’s being reported that tensions are due to Wilson’s race. Hit the jump for details.
Via The Big Lead:
Players said Harvin was an accelerant in a locker room that was quickly dividing between Wilson and anti-Wilson. … There is also an element of race that needs to be discussed. My feeling on this—and it’s backed up by several interviews with Seahawks players—is that some of the black players think Wilson isn’t black enough.
This, again, was similar to the situation with McNabb [versus Terrell Owens]. And this, again, will be denied by Seattle people. But there is an element of this. This is an issue that extends outside of football, into African-American society—though it’s gotten better recently. Well-spoken blacks are seen by some other blacks as not completely black. Some of this is at play.
Freeman notes that he doesn’t agree with some of the Seattle players’ sentiment, and cites a tweet from the NYDN’s Manish Mehta that Marshawn Lynch was irate and almost didn’t board the team bus as evidence that there were other teammates who liked Harvin.
This discussion is a minefield that I’ll admit I’m hesitant to jump into, but I’m going to try to do it without inciting Internet mob backlash. On the surface, it seems crazy that we’re even talking about this now. The Seahawks are six games removed from a Super Bowl. Three weeks ago, it was a genuine debate as to whether Wilson would be the first overall pick if you were starting a team from scratch tomorrow. But success is so fleeting in the NFL and there have been some cracks in Seattle’s facade this year.
Click above gallery for pictures.
