Cam Newton says Russell Wilson is “fighting a monster” and trying to win without Legion Of Boom

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 6-2 and are in a good position to make the playoffs despite a difficult second half of their schedule. The offense has taken a step forward in the last two games with Russell Wilson under center, and former NFL quarterback Cam Newton believes Wilson wants to prove he can do it without Seattle’s famed “Legion of Boom” defense can win.

“It’s almost like Russell Wilson is fighting a monster that not many people mention. He’s on that Kobe [Bryant] Victory without Shaq [O’Neal] “He’s in the best path of his career,” Newton said today on ESPN’s “First Take.” “Russell wants to win without being told, ‘I didn’t need the Legion of Boom.’ I didn’t need Pete Carroll. I can do anything.’ Admittedly, there are many similarities between the Legion of Boom and what Pittsburgh has created throughout the team’s structure. But for Russ it’s more like, ‘I have to prove I can do this on my own.'”

The good news in this analogy is that Bryant won two titles without O’Neal, but Newton is right that the Steelers’ current structure is similar to what Seattle had during the Legion of Boom days. The Seattle team was built on a strong defense that included players like Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner. Although Wilson bolsters the offense, Pittsburgh’s calling card is defense. With TJ Watt, Cameron Heyward and Minkah Fitzpatrick, the Steelers have stars throughout the defense.

While Wilson got the credit he deserved for the Super Bowl he won with Seattle, when people think of that era, they predominantly think of the Legion of Boom and the Seahawks’ defense. At this point in his career, Wilson had already been written off due to his time with the Denver Broncos, and not many people believed he had much of a future as an NFL starting quarterback. If he can win with the Steelers, the narrative about him as a player will change and he will become a surefire Hall of Famer instead of a borderline member.

It’s a tall order and Newton is right that Wilson, who turns 36 at the end of the month, doesn’t have much time left. His first two games in Pittsburgh helped change the narrative around him, and even his biggest critic, Mark Schlereth, praised Wilson for his play. If he can get the Steelers over the hump to make some noise in the playoffs and maybe even win a Super Bowl, people will see Wilson in a whole different light, and he will have proven that he actually is is capable of winning alone, with one ring against two different teams.