When covering a Russell Wilson press conference, remember to sharpen your pencil and maybe bring an extra pen. It’s going to be a long one with lots of wisdom. His glass is always half-full and overflowing with positivity.
The first-year New York Giants quarterback is ready to start the season under center when Big Blue lines up against the Washington Commanders on September 7. He couldn’t be happier to be in New York.
“Coming to work here is a blessing every day. I don’t even consider it work; it’s just getting to do what we love to do. To be a New York Giant is an honor,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
Now it’s a waiting game.
“Yeah, this is the great part about the season,” he said about the calm before the storm. “Obviously, to be able to get through training camp, OTAs, all that, and all the work that we’ve done as a team, a collective effort, and the growth. We’ve had a lot of great days, a lot of great moments, obviously, in the preseason, OTAs, all the camaraderie, all that part, that’s been great. I think what’s exciting is we get to do what we love to do here in 13 days, or however many days it is. It’s exciting, and we just stay focused on the task.”
Wilson, a 10-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champion, is coming into a situation where he is expected to be the guy who turns this franchise from miserable losers into respectable contenders. He was asked if he felt he had put his stamp on this team yet.
“No, I think it’s a daily process. You’re always doing that. You’re never done leading,” he said. “Leadership is a daily goal, task, thought, language, championship mentality; all that is a daily process. It’s a daily thought, how you go about your business, how you think about it, how you communicate it.
“I think you’re constantly putting your stamp on it. You’re constantly putting the growth of it all together as one. I’m excited to be able to lead this football team and do it with a bunch of great other guys. We have a lot of great leaders in this locker room, on the defensive side, offensive side, and that’s the exciting part of our team.”
Wilson remains confident and upbeat, even with rookie Jaxson Dart waiting in the wings to take his job. He’s totally focused on the task at hand. If Dart is called upon to relieve him, he’ll be ready, but for right now, he’s in charge.
And what can fans expect?
“I think the biggest thing we’ll bring is tough-nose football, physical, offense, defense, special teams, a team that believes in each other, ultimately,” said Wilson. “And that’s really all that matters, that we believe in each other.
“No matter how much praise we get, how much criticism people try to say beforehand or whatever it may be, it’s just we’re in the midst of it right now, and we have unbelievable belief in our locker room, what we’re capable of. Now we have to go do it, and just play one game at a time. It’s a long season in a great way, and these weeks will go by, and you’ll realize that, ‘Hey, let them add up, just let them add up, let them add up.’ Just let the moments add up, and don’t look too far ahead, just build one building block at a time, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
All that’s left now is to play the games. Wilson’s positivity has rubbed off in the locker room and on the field. Let’s see if it can make a difference in the standings.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Russell Wilson delivers message to New York Giants fans ahead of regular season
Reporting by John Fennelly, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
