Veteran defensive lineman Shelby Harris was a well-liked participant with the Denver Broncos. He was additionally one of many three gamers Denver despatched to the Seattle Seahawks as a part of the blockbuster Russell Wilson commerce again in 2022.
In a latest interview with the Dumb Jocks podcast, Harris revealed that he was excited when he first came upon that the Broncos acquired Wilson, an comprehensible response given Denver’s futile seek for a franchise quarterback since Peyton Manning’s retirement. Then the information trickled via that he was a part of the commerce, and his mindset shortly modified.
“We’re all ‘Yeah! Yeah we obtained a quarterback, yeah! After which I look down on my cellphone, after which [Broncos GM] George Paton is asking me.
“I’m like bro, it’s no approach… there’s no f—king approach. I’m about to get traded. Immediately my coronary heart sank,” Harris continued.
Harris admits he was emotional when Paton confirmed that not solely was he going to be traded, though he “discovered some solace” in Paton telling him the commerce wouldn’t occur with out his inclusion.
“I simply bear in mind this one feeling like everyone seems to be observing me,” Harris continued. “Man, like once I say I cried like a child—as a result of I used to be like ‘man, is that this going to love mess up every part with my household? Like we now have it so good right here.’
“Additionally, I’m pondering like ‘Sh-t, I’m getting traded to the purgatory. We’re about to be trash in Seattle.”
With the nice expectations that Wilson would assist make the Broncos a playoff workforce once more, Harris expressed how upset he was that it seemed like he was going to be on a non-playoff squad.
“I simply bear in mind bawling like a child as a result of my life is about to get flipped the other way up.
“They’re lastly going to be good, I labored my ass off right here 5 years, they’re going to be good, and they usually ship me someplace and, like I mentioned, I’m going to be in purgatory,” Harris thought.
Harris mentioned that he spent the entire offseason “depressed,” however added “I attempted to placed on a smile for his household, making an attempt to make it higher for them, as a result of I’m not excited in any respect. Not one little bit of me in any respect was excited to go to Seattle.”
There’s an entire lot else occurring in that interview however I’ll go away it there. Harris didn’t criticize the Seahawks group, gamers, or teaching employees (led by Pete Carroll), so it was extra targeted on his emotions on the time of the commerce. He did say “Seattle’s a really miserable metropolis” but in addition mentioned that wherever besides a spot like Los Angeles or Miami “would’ve been depressing” on the time.
Because it turned out, the Broncos have been the workforce in purgatory, whereas the Seahawks defied expectations to achieve the playoffs at 9-8. It marked the primary time Harris had ever reached the postseason in his eight-year profession. Harris admitted that he hoped the Broncos would go winless, and that he felt higher as Denver crashed to 4-13.
Whereas he was one of many few positives on a foul Seahawks protection, his keep in Seattle could be short-lived (maybe to his delight, as a result of it appears he’s not a fan of the climate). Harris was launched as a wage cap casualty within the 2023 offseason, however the silver lining was enjoying on the elite Cleveland Browns defensive entrance. He added that he’s happier in Cleveland than Seattle simply due to the place he’s mentally.
Harris has since signed a one-year extension with the Browns, as he appears to be like for a 3rd straight playoff look however a primary ever postseason victory.
