How do we reconcile the expectation that Russell Wilson is set to become the NFL's highest-paid quarterback with coach Pete Carroll's recent optimism that the Seattle Seahawks' Super Bowl-caliber roster won't be compromised going forward?
In separate radio interviews over the past two days, general manager John Schneider has emphasized an "outside the box" approach to Wilson's contract.
"I think Russell Wilson wants to win championships. We talk about being a consistent championship-caliber football team, and that means thinking outside the box a lot of times," Schneider said Tuesday on KIRO-FM. "We will do that with Russell. Russell knows there are certain dominoes that have to fall in line or fall in place.
"He knows it. He gets it. He wants to win. He wants to win for a long time."
Schneider reiterated that sentiment Wednesday on KJR-AM in Seattle.
Even if Wilson's next contract averages close to $25 million annually with $65 million in guarantees, Schneider can structure the deal so it won't count more than $7 million against the 2015 salary cap, per former sports agent Joel Corry.
Under that scenario, the cap implications won't become severe until 2016. In other words, it still allows for Marshawn Lynch to collect a significant raise in the coming months.
It's no surprise that Seattle is thinking outside the box. This has been a bold, unconventionaloperation ever since Carroll and Schneider assumed control in 2010.
"You do not just do exactly what everyone else has done around the league," Schneider said. "I think that we've proven that we do things (differently)."
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