Russell Westbrook: The Retirement Question and His Next (and Maybe Final) Contract
So now we’re supposed to believe the secret to sacking an NFL quarterback is… watching Russell Westbrook play basketball?
Give me a break.
I saw the quote from Will McDonald IV, the Jets’ new golden boy defensive end. "I get most of my pass rush moves from like basketball footwork... I used to always watch Russell Westbrook a lot in basketball. Kinda like model my game after him, in like being explosive."
I had to read it twice. Not because it was profound, but because I was sure it was a typo. Maybe he meant Michael Jordan? Hakeem Olajuwon and his "Dream Shake" is a classic go-to for defensive linemen looking for footwork inspiration. That makes sense. That’s a narrative I can digest without my brain short-circuiting.
But Russell Westbrook?
Let's be clear. We're talking about the guy who became a walking `russell westbrook meme`. The king of the chaotic, full-speed-ahead drive that might end in a spectacular dunk or a ball launched into the third row. The guy whose `russell westbrook mvp` season was a statistical marvel of individual achievement that also felt… hollow. A one-man show.
And this is the blueprint for a defensive end on a team that, for the first time in forever, actually looks like it has a plan?
Explosive Talent or Just Explosive Inefficiency?
Translating the PR-Speak
When an athlete says they model their game after someone’s "explosiveness," it’s usually code for "I’m fast and I play hard." Fine. We know McDonald is a freak. The guy was making viral videos of himself jumping over actual cars before he was drafted. He’s got a motor. Last season, he put up 10.5 sacks. That’s not nothing. And just last week he single-handedly wrecked the Bucs with that blocked field goal he scooped and scored for 50 yards. The athleticism is offcourse not in question.
But "modeling" your game implies a deeper study. A strategic choice. And choosing Westbrook is a choice that says a lot.
Are we talking about the `russell westbrook okc` era, when he was a force of nature next to `kevin durant`? Or the `russell westbrook rockets` era, a science experiment that blew up on the launchpad? Or his tours with LeBron James and a half-dozen other teams? His career has been a masterclass in raw talent colliding with questionable decision-making. Explosive? Yes. Efficient? God, no.
So when McDonald says he’s modeling his pass rush on that, what is he actually saying? That he’s going to bull-rush the tackle on every single play, regardless of the down, distance, or protection scheme? That he’s just going to see red and go, hoping his raw athletic talent makes up for a lack of a plan B?
It’s a bizarre comparison. No, ‘bizarre’ is too nice—it's certifiably insane. It’s like a chef saying he learned his knife skills by watching a lumberjack wield a chainsaw. Sure, both involve cutting, but the application is just a little different.
"Innovation" or Just Desperate for a Headline?
This Ain't About Football
Here’s the thing that really gets me. This isn't about football or basketball. It's about content. It's about building a brand.
McDonald is a rising star. The Jets need personalities. So you get a quote like this, something weird and memorable, and the content machine revs up. ESPN writes the headline. The talking heads on TV spend a segment debating the merits of a crossover-to-bull-rush move. It’s perfect fodder for the endless churn. It’s a story.
And we, the audience, are just supposed to nod along. "Wow, how innovative! He’s a real student of the game, any game!"
I’m so tired of it. It’s like every time I have to update my phone’s operating system and they try to sell me on a dozen new features I’ll never use. Just let the thing work. Just let the guy play football. Why does there have to be this… this layer of manufactured narrative slathered on top of everything?
We don’t need the weird origin story. McDonald was the 15th overall pick for a reason. He’s 6’3”, 240 pounds, and can move like a damn leopard. That’s the story. He’s a physical specimen who is starting to figure out how to use his gifts at the highest level. The end.
But that’s not sexy enough. That doesn’t generate clicks. You need an angle. You need synergy. You need a hook. And so now, Will McDonald’s pass rush is sponsored by the ghost of Russell Westbrook’s inefficient triple-doubles.
Then again, maybe I'm the crazy one here. The kid is jumping over sedans and returning blocked kicks for touchdowns. He is, by any definition, explosive. Maybe channeling a guy who played every second like his hair was on fire is exactly what it takes. Maybe the chaos is the point. Maybe I’m just a jaded blogger who’s seen too many of these media cycles to believe any of it means anything.
But I doubt it. The simplest explanation is usually the right one. And the simplest explanation here is that a 20-something athlete said something that sounded cool in the moment, and the sports media machine, desperate for anything that isn't another injury report, ran with it. They expect us to believe this is some 4D chess move of athletic development, and honestly…
It’s just noise.
Just Shut Up and Sack the Quarterback
Look, I don't care if he models his game after Steph Curry, a badger, or a malfunctioning toaster. As long as he’s putting the opposing quarterback on his back, it doesn't matter. The results are what count. All this other stuff, these cute little soundbites for the morning sports shows, it’s all just static. It’s fluff designed to fill airtime. The kid is a great player. Let that be the story.
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