Analyst Clarifies Comment on Steelers QB Russell Wilson's 'Toxic Positivity'

The Russell Wilson-Justin Fields controversy is heating up, and we're not even to Pittsburgh Steelers training camp yet.

Just days ago, former NFL offensive lineman and current analyst Mark Schlereth criticized Wilson for having "toxic positivity."

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Schlereth thinks Wilson's time in Denver is just filled with excuses and he's "delusional."

"I think when you're delusional, you think you can point the finger at eight million different places that say 'This is why this happened,'" Schlereth said. "That toxic positivity and surrounding yourself with people that basically tell you, 'It's not your fault, man'" he continued.

Now, in the interest of either clarifying his statement or possibly doubling down (we're not actually sure), Schlereth spoke via his Stinkin' Truth podcast.

"I honestly think that Russ had been sold a bill of goods by the people he surrounds himself with, that the teams he's on have limited him," Schlereth said. "I think you need to come to grips - all players need to come to grips - with what they're good at and what they're not good at. Probably more importantly what you're not good at."

Schlereth pointed directly at Wilson's pocket presence as one of the things he's "not good at."

In 12 seasons as an NFL quarterback, Wilson has taken 527 sacks. That's 8.5 percent of his dropbacks. But it was even worse with the Broncos the past two seasons, where his sack rate climbed to 9.7 percent.

Schlereth continued, "Historically you look at just the amount of sacks he takes. Probably on average, he's taking 45 sacks a year. Think of how that limits you as an offense. This is a big issue for Russ and the Steelers."

It's a make-or-break time for the Cincinnati, Ohio native who hopes to resurrect his career with the Steelers. But the pressure is on because just weeks after signing Wilson to a free agent deal after he was unceremoniously cut from the Broncos, Pittsburgh facilitated a trade for former first-rounder Justin Fields.

This might be Wilson's last chance at success outside of Seattle and he needs to take every advantage he can.