DORI MONSON

Why do we blame Ciara when Russell Wilson plays poorly?

Nov 16, 2015, 3:16 PM | Updated: 4:14 pm

Russell Wilson completed less than half of his passes in Seattle’s loss to Arizona, but it&#8...

Russell Wilson completed less than half of his passes in Seattle's loss to Arizona, but it's his exploits off the field that get the attention. (AP)

(AP)

Russell Wilson had the worst statistical game of his career on Sunday against Arizona. And, thanks in part to a luxuriously photographed bye-week he spent in Mexico, his girlfriend is shouldering the blame.

Wilson completed less than half of his passes and threw an interception in Seattle’s loss to the Cardinals. 710 ESPN Seattle’s Brock Huard said Wilson played poorly, but statistics don’t tell the whole story, with multiple throw-aways necessitated by a porous offensive line and a handful of drops by his receivers.

“I’d hate to just lean totally on the statistics because literally there were eight to nine throws that you just wash out of there,” Huard told KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson. “What was more disappointing to me was just, once again, in crunch time.”

Related: Another spotty performance adds to questions of Russell Wilson’s ceiling

Huard’s primary beef came after Wilson tried to improvise late in the game and was called for a crucial intentional-grounding penalty.

And while Huard’s concerns are affixed entirely to the quarterback’s performance on the field, he said Wilson’s antics outside the stadium are fair game for criticism.

“When you’re out there with your photog in Mexico, and you’re doing your thing, well guess what the other side of it is? You’re going to be held to a higher standard, and if you fall short, you’re going to get ripped that much more,” said Huard, a former NFL QB. “This is a humbling, brutal business.”

One of Dori’s listeners, Melody, wrote in to get just that type of criticism off her chest. She wrote that the Seahawks, as a whole, seem to be different, and that she and all of the guests at her Seahawks-watching party placed the blame on Ciara.

“Now, as a woman, I know it’s bordering on sacrilege to suggest Russell’s failing be blamed on her,” she wrote. “But also, as a woman who’s been married happily for over 20 years, I know what a positive impact I can have on my husband and even his career. Trust me, when he has a bad day at work, I make it better. Maybe putting all the blame on Ciara is totally unfair, but after seeing their vacation photos in Mexico, I do think she at least deserves some of the blame. I saw their vacation shots splashed all over the internet and I can’t imagine that vacationing with a stylist and a photographer staging all your beach shots is very conducive to getting your head right on a much-needed bye week.”

Related: Three Things from the Seahawks’ loss to Arizona

Even KIRO Radio news anchor Ursula Reutin couldn’t help but join in on the theory.

“I think he is distracted by Ciara and those pictures did not help during that bye week,” she said. “As long as there’s this perception that maybe he is distracted, whoever’s in charge needs to tell him bring it down a little bit… We’re starting to hear more about Russell and Ciara than we are the Kardashians.”

Wilson is not the only quarterback with a famous significant other, with arguably the NFL’s two best, Tom Brady (married to supermodel Gisele Bundchen) and Aaron Rodgers (dating actress Olivia Munn) in the same boat. Both of those stars struggled on Sunday, too. For the year, Wilson is currently on pace to record his highest completion-percentage and number of yards passing of his career.

Huard said being a quarterback is hard enough and it’s a slippery slope when you start to publicize your personal life.

“You’re going to get hit doubly hard because people don’t want to see it, don’t want to hear it, and don’t want to read it,” Huard said.

Dori, for his part, doesn’t blame the pop-singer for Wilson or the Seahawks’ struggles, saying the defense and others are culprits of bad play. Though, he also noted that he doesn’t know any of Ciara’s music.

“I only know of Ciara because of Russell Wilson,” he said. “That’s the only thing I know of her.”

To which his producer, Jake Skorheim quipped, “Exactly.”

Dori Monson Show

Dori Monson

Dori Monson stage show...

MyNorthwest Staff

Watch: Dori Monson’s ‘What are the Odds?’ stage show

In 2019, Dori Monson hosted a stage show - 'What are the Odds?' - which introduced you to the people who helped shape his improbable career.

1 year ago

Dori Monson welcomes the Moose back to KIRO. Follow @http://twitter.com/Mynorthwest...

MyNorthwest Staff

A collection of the all-time best Dori Monson stories

With the passing of Dori Monson, a collection of some of his top stories to remember all the hard work Dori brought to Seattle.

1 year ago

Alaska, fishing...

KIRO Newsradio staff

Listen: Friends, colleagues offer tribute to KIRO Newsradio’s Dori Monson

All day Monday, KIRO Newsradio's John Curley talked to friends, news makers, and more in tribute to Dori Monson.

1 year ago

Dori Monson Shorecrest...

Dori Monson Show

How to support charities reflecting Dori Monson’s values, passions

In tribute to Dori Monson, learn more about how you can support these three charities which best reflect his values, passions, and advocacy.

1 year ago

From left, Producer Nicole Thompson and KIRO host Dori Monson. (Courtesy of the Monson family)...

MyNorthwest Staff

Broadcasters, politicians, coworkers and friends remember Dori Monson

Dori Monson, a longtime KIRO Newsradio host, passed away Saturday. He is remembered by public figures, broadcasters, coworkers, and listeners.

1 year ago

Dori Monson...

MyNorthwest Staff

Longtime KIRO Newsradio host Dori Monson dies at age 61

We are deeply saddened to announce Dori Monson's sudden passing on Saturday, December 31, 2022, at a Seattle hospital.

1 year ago

Why do we blame Ciara when Russell Wilson plays poorly?