Seahawks QB Russell Wilson: 'I Used To Be A Bully, Then I Found Faith'
Seattle Seahawks Quarterback Russell Wilson, known for his altruistic behavior off the field, recently admitted that he was a "bully" growing up.
Wilson wrote in a recent essay entitled "Let's Talk About It" that he struggled with aggressive behavior as a child that included physically abusing other children, even biting some of his classmates. Wilson compared his child experiences with the current issue of domestic violence plaguing the NFL, saying that despite NFL athletes' different upbringings, they have the resources and publicity to make a change in American culture and its tolerance of domestic abuse.
The NFL quarterback begins his open letter by admitting "I was a bully growing up. In elementary and middle school, I threw kids against the wall. I rubbed their heads in the dirt at recess. I bit them. I even knocked teeth out."
"I had a lot of anger that I didn't know what to do with. Thankfully, I was saved by my faith when I was 14 years old, and was able to start living for others instead of just myself," Wilson continued, adding "As NFL players, we do not play a gentle game. But our hits, our anger, our aggressive behaviors need to be regulated and confined to the field. Recent incidents of domestic violence have forced The League, its fans and the players to take a hard look into our collective conscience."
The NFL has recently been plagued with several domestic abuse incidences that include former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice knocking his wife unconscious in an elevator and Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson being accused of child abuse after he beat his son with a switch.
