'One yard' haunts Russell Wilson
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, speaking on a video for the Players' Tribune website, said he takes full responsibility for what happened in Super Bowl XLIX, believes he will get to the Super Bowl again and hopes to be remembered for something different.
Wilson posted a four-minute, 20-second video about his feelings, but he also wrote these words as a lead-in:
"One yard. I'd be lying if I said I haven't been thinking about that one yard for the past 17 days," Wilson wrote. "Everyone wants to know how I feel. Well, it's complicated. Walking off that field in Arizona and seeing disappointed Seahawks fans in the stands was anguish. How could I not feel like I let them down? I tried to be positive, but I'm not perfect.
"I have been away from the game for almost three weeks, trying to escape football and clear my mind. But the funny thing is, I've never felt hungrier to get in the weight room and the film room and keep pushing until we get to Super Bowl 50.
"How do I feel? I don't know if I can fit it into a sound bite. I definitely couldn't fit it into a 30-second Instagram video. So, after the Players' Tribune roundtable event on Saturday, I had the camera crew stick around so I could talk it out. Sorry if it's not perfect. There was no script here. I just wanted to talk directly to the 12s. This is for you."
In the video, Wilson admits the pain he has felt over the interception he threw on the New England 1-yard line in the final seconds of the game, sealing the Patriots' 28-24 victory.
"It hits me," Wilson said. "It's tough to deal with. It's a tough feeling of losing. If anybody hates losing, I hate losing. ... Me feeling like I didn't make a play and knowing it's over.
"I want to let you know my thought process. I know I threw that pass and I know I will throw another one. Hopefully I will be remembered for something different."
Many fans have blamed the Seattle coaches for calling a pass play on second down at the 1, but Wilson takes the blame.
"The most important thing at quarterback, and a leader in general, is accountability," he said. "So what happened in Super Bowl 49, I take full responsibility for it."
Wilson went on to say he looks forward to his next opportunity and continues to try to improve.
"The belief that I'm going to get there again and we're going to do it better than it's ever been done is never going to change for me," Wilson said. "I'm going to be the last guy to ever give up. I'm going to be the last guy to not take a risk.
"Through all the ups and downs and wondering what happened, I'm prepared for the next moment. In my mind, I believe I have a killer instinct and will keep doing everything I can to be successful.
"And there's a difference between just being successful and being significant. My goal is to be significant. My goal is to make a difference, to do it better than anybody's ever done it. Call me crazy. Call me insane. I don't know, but I believe I'll get there again."
