Dianna Russini

You have, we'll call it...

our hope jar that this works itself out.

But when you reflect back when they had to make this call, they obviously did not know that this would be the case.

I don't think they thought Sam Darnold would leave Minnesota and actually be better in this offense, right?

And he's using all the tutelage and everything he learned

With Kevin O'Connell and just applying it in Seattle.

Same.

I think most did.

I think Seattle assumed he would be good.

I don't think that they thought it would be like this.

And if John Schneider, the general manager there, had this ability to see this, credit to him.

But I remember covering this during free agency.

And I remember talking to all the different parties, all the different teams.

And it wasn't like they were knocking down the door of Sam Darner like, you're the guy, we believe in you.

They had confidence in him.

And Minnesota really, they were ready to move on from Sam.

There were guys in that building that really wanted to bring Sam back.

But when it came down to it, it was Kevin O'Connell's decision.

And in his mind, he could win with J.J.

McCarthy.