Geno Smith's comments paint dismal picture of relationship with DK Metcalf

The Seattle Seahawks might be in trouble. The team has lost three straight games to fall to 3-3 and is facing three more tough games on the road against the Atlanta Falcons and then at home versus the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams. Seattle could be 3-6 if the defense doesn't get better immediately.

There could be greater issues afoot, though. That is, the fabric of the team could be coming apart at the seams a bit. Leonard Williams stated after Seattle's Week 5 loss that he was tired of seeing players give up during games. This did not seem to be an issue with former head coach Pete Carroll. Maybe it was, and players simply did not speak about it so freely.

There could be a blooming problem between DK Metcalf and Geno Smith as well. Smith has been good since he took over as the Seahawks starter in 2022 to take the blame for any negative that happens with the passing game. This has been the case even when things are not always his fault. That could have been the case in Week 6 when he intended a pass for DK Metcalf that got intercepted.

After the game, Smith said he threw the pass, and it was a bad play by him. When pressed further about other plays, such as DK Metcalf's inability to land both feet in the end zone on a well-thrown Metcalf pass, Smith said, "Watch the film, man. Watch the film. You'll see it." That implies he thinks Metcalf could have done better.

Head coach Mike Macdonald said the fourth quarter interception intended for Metcalf was a team effort. What he meant was the fact that Metcalf rounded his route instead of cutting it sharp. Smith threw the ball to where he thought Metcalf would be and, likely, should have been. Metcalf has not given specifics on the play.

Smith was seen on the sidelines watching the play on an iPad and getting so frustrated that he threw the device down on the ground. During the game, and at other points during this season, Metcalf appeared to sulk about how the game was going and his own productivity. Smith did not seem to be trying to talk to Metcalf about the problems during the game, but backup quarterback Sam Howell did.

During Amazon's broadcast of the Seahawks loss to the San Francisco 49ers, sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung said Metcalf told the Seattle sideline that he did not need any positive words of encouragement and that he was over any "pep talks." He simply wanted to make plays.

Still, it's not like Smith and the Seahawks offense did not try to get Metcalf involved. He was targeted 11 times. He only caught three of them. On one, he could have easily drawn a pass interference call on the 49ers on a deep pass where Metcalf could have had the defender run into him. Tyler Lockett would have caused the penalty. Metcalf lacks that ability.

Metcalf also had a drop early in the game, too. His game might have looked different, though, had running back Kenneth Walker III not been called for a movement penalty on a play that would have ended with Metcalf catching a long touchdown pass. But this isn't about blaming Metcalf or Smith. This is about both players having contracts up at the end of 2025.

Seattle needs to extend at least one of the players, if not both. If Metcalf and Smith are having long-term communication problems, though, that could imply they are not going to work well together for the next several seasons. Both will be expensive, and Seattle might only be able to afford one of them. Do they go with a gifted receiver without elite hands or a 34-year-old quarterback?