USA Football to host player safety clinic for Seattle-area coaches
In an effort to enhance player safety and establish a better game experience for youth, high school and amateur-level programs, USA Football will host a Heads Up Football Player Safety Coaches clinic on Saturday, June 22, at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
More than 70 Player Safety Coaches representing leagues throughout the state will converge on the Seahawks’ training facility in Renton, Wash. to receive instruction from Heads Up Football master trainer Tom Bainter – the head football coach at Bothell High School. Bainter will offer tips on Heads Up tackling technique, concussion recognition and response, and proper use and fitting of football equipment.
The Player Safety Coaches in attendance will then pass on what they learn to their respective league coaches, players, and parents, and will monitor practices and games to ensure standards are met throughout the season.
Seahawks well represented in Top 100 Plays of 2012
NFL Network’s NFL AM has been unveiling the Top 100 Plays of 2012, and 66 plays into their countdown, the Seahawks are well represented on their list.
We take an updated look at eight of those plays that feature some of Seattle’s very own.
No. 34 – Golden Tate shows up for the fourth time on this list, this time when he hauls in an acrobatic 32-yard grab from quarterback Russell Wilson in the team’s Week 12 game against the Miami Dolphins.
No. 59 – Tate connects with fellow wide receiver Sidney Rice on a 23-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of a Week 10 game against the New York Jets at CenturyLink Field. Quarterback Russell Wilson fakes a hand-off to running back Robert Turbin and then pitches the ball back to Tate, who acts like a runner before winding up his left arm and delivering a strike to Rice in the back of the end zone.
No. 61 – Tight end Zach Miller makes the list for his tremendous one-handed touchdown grab in Week 8 against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Miller hauled in a 16-yard pass from quarterback Russell Wilson for his first touchdown as a Seahawk.
No. 69 – The Legion of Boom makes their presence known as free safety Earl Thomas snags a Ryan Fitzpatrick pass and returns it 57 yards for a touchdown to cap off a 50-17 win over the Buffalo Bills in Toronto. Aided by Thomas’ effort, the Seahawks became the third team in NFL history and first since 1950 to score 50 points or more in back-to-back games, after posting 58 in a shutout of the Arizona Cardinals the week prior.
No. 77 – Wilson checks in at No. 77 on the countdown, but not for one of the many plays he made with his arm last season. It’s Wilson’s feet that get the recognition here, as he practically out-maneuvers the entire New England Patriots defense on a 3rd-and-4 play to pick up nine yards and a first down. No offense to CBS Sports play-by-play man Ian Eagle, but this play gets much more entertaining (and equally more appropriate) when the slapstick comedy “Yakety Sax” tune is played over the top of Wilson’s scramble. Mute the video of the play below and queue up “Yakety Sax” on YouTube, try to start both videos at nearly the same time, and enjoy.
No. 88 - Eighty-eight goes to Tate, whose acrobatics are on display again in this one, as he takes a quick pass from Wilson and dodges defenders for 11 yards before diving into the end zone for a touchdown in Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings. The play gave the Seahawks a 20-17 lead they would not surrender, as they bested the Vikings 30-20 at CenturyLink Field.
No. 89 – It’s only appropriate that play No. 89 on the countdown goes to the Seahawks’ No. 89 – wide receiver Doug Baldwin. His 43-yard juggling catch against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16 made the cut on the countdown. Baldwin was the club’s leading receiver that day, hauling in four catches for 53 yards and two scores, as Seattle topped the division rival Niners, 42-13, on Sunday Night Football.
No. 96 - Tate’s 14-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown that gave the Seahawks a three-point lead with 32 seconds left in the game against the Chicago Bears in Week 13 makes the list at No. 96. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler would connect with wide receiver Brandon Marshall on the ensuing drive to set up a field goal that would tie the game at 17, but Wilson led an 80-yard touchdown drive in the opening possession of overtime to give Seattle a 23-17 victory with a play that we’re sure will show up later on this list.
On this date: Seahawks move into new Kirkland headquarters
A look at some memorable moments in Seahawks history that occurred on June 18:
1985: The Seahawks and Northwest University agree to a long-term lease for the team’s new practice facility and headquarters in Kirkland. The 36,000-square foot complex will be built on 12 acres adjacent to the school.
1986: The Seahawks move into their new headquarters in Kirkland, which was built on land being leased from Northwest University. The team had been headquartered on the shores of Lake Washington in Kirkland since its inaugural season in 1976.
Tuesday round-up: Who is Seattle’s best player?
Free safety Earl Thomas stops by the set of NFL Network to discuss how he and the club are gearing up for 2013
Good morning, and here’s what’s “out there” for today, Tuesday, June 18, about your Seattle Seahawks:
Danny O’Neil of 710 Sports.com called free safety Earl Thomas Seattle’s best player in his most recent column, which sparked a spirited roundtable-discussion between O’Neil, Brock Huard and ESPN’s John Clayton and Mike Sando on “Brock and Danny” – the audio of which can be found below:
Sando has a look around the rest of the NFC West.
ESPN.com’s Jeffri Chadiha says quarterback Russell Wilson faces new pressure in his second season, as he comes to find out what life is like as a “burgeoning superstar.”
Our Clare Farnsworth breaks down ProFootballTalk.com’s exercise in selecting the four heads to represent the club on a Seahawks-themed Mt. Rushmore. Wide receiver Steve Largent, defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy, left tackle Walter Jones, and running back Shaun Alexander are highlighted on their list.
Wide receiver Charly Martin is full-go at the NFL Broadcasting Boot Camp at NFL Films headquarters in Mt. Laurel, N.J.
And fourth-year Sea Gal Laura, a fellow graduate of Washington State University (Go Cougs), takes some time to introduce us to the 2013 Sea Gals squad.
A Giants step for Pete Carroll
Thanks to the @SFGiants for this sweet jersey!! #GoGiants http://t.co/yOkrpSWIMB—
Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) June 10, 2013
Pete Carroll has worked and lived in Southern California and now Seattle, not to mention Arkansas, Iowa, Ohio, North Carolina, Buffalo, Minnesota, New York and New England during a 30-something-year coaching career that has taken him from college to the NFL, back to college and back to the NFL.
But the Seahawks’ fourth-year coach will forever be a Bay Area boy.
Carroll was born in San Francisco. He grew up in Marin County and went to Redwood High School in Larkspur, Calif. He played football at the University of Pacific in Stockton.
The San Francisco Giants have honored Carroll by presenting him with a jersey. It not only has his name across the back, the number is 12 – for the Seahawks’ 12th Man fans.
Charly Martin goes from Seahawks minicamp to NFL Broadcast Boot Camp
Seahawks wide receivers Charly Martin (left), Sidney Rice (middle) and Chris Harper (right)
The Seahawks may be on a five-week, pre-training camp pseudo-vacation after wrapping up their official Offseason Program last week, but wide receiver Charly Martin isn’t taking a break from the regimented schedules just yet.
The Walla Walla, Wash. born Martin, who earned a degree in mass communications/broadcasting from West Texas A&M, is one of 24 current and former NFL players taking part in the seventh annual NFL Broadcast Boot Camp, set to run June 17-20 at NFL Films headquarters in Mt. Laurel, N.J.
“The NFL does a good job of putting on different programs where you can start looking to better yourself off the field and preparing yourself for life after football,” Martin said following last week’s minicamp. “I’m looking forward to going out there and gaining knowledge from some of the top professionals in that business, really networking and making connections, and seeing if it’s something I want to do when I’m done playing.”
Martin will get hands-on work in tape study, editing, television and radio production, control room operation, studio preparation, field reporting and game preparation. He’ll work alongside representatives from each of the League’s broadcast partners – CBS, ESPN, FOX, NBC, NFL Network, SiriusXM, and Dial Global Radio – who combined hold more than 400 years of broadcast experience, including CBS’ James Brown, FOX’s Kenny Albert, ESPN’s Ron Jaworski and former NFL coach Dick Vermeil. Martin will serve as a live guest host on NFL Radio and will have an opportunity to tape segments as a studio and game analyst, much like current teammate fullback Michael Robinson did at last year’s camp.
“He gave me some pointers,” Martin said of Robinson. “From what I understand we’re going to put in some work. They’re going to be some long days, but it’ll be beneficial and I’m just excited to delve into that area and see what it’s like.”
While Martin did pen some guest-columns for the Amarillo Globe-News during his playing days at West Texas A&M, he said he’s not yet quite sure which side of the business he wants to jump into after football. He’ll use this week’s camp to test the waters in all areas.
“I’ve always put 110 percent into football and living in this moment and handling my business here,” said Martin. “But obviously, I went to school for it and I enjoyed it. We’ll see where it takes me.”
On this date: New franchise becomes Seahawks
A look at some memorable moments in Seahawks history that occurred on June 17:
1975: The nickname “Seahawks” is selected for Seattle’s NFL team that will begin playing in the 1976 season. “Seahawks” was selected from 20,365 entries, which included 1,741 different names.
1997: Washington state voters pass Referendum 48 that approves funds for a new stadium for the Seahawks, a move necessary for Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen to complete his purchase of the franchise from Ken Behring. The Referendum got 51.1 percent of the votes (820,354) statewide, including 56.4 percent (275,358) in King County.
Monday round-up: Profiling John Nordstrom; Richard Sherman audio; Seahawks Mt. Rushmore
Seahawks insider Tony Ventrella talks with two of the newest members of the Seahawks, Luke Willson from Canada and Jesse Williams from Australia.
Good morning, and I hope everyone had a good Father’s Day weekend. Here’s what’s “out there” for today, Monday, June 17, about your Seattle Seahawks:
Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times has a position-by-position breakdown of where the Seahawks stand heading into training camp, offering his own comfort level (on a scale of one to 10) on how comfortable fans should feel with each group.
Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune profiles former Seahawks owner John Nordstrom, which provides some very interesting background on the start of the franchise.
Danny O’Neil of 710Sports.com has a look at three things we learned and three things we’re still trying to figure out now that the Seahawks have wrapped up Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and minicamp workouts. O’Neil also says free safety Earl Thomas might be “the best player” on the team.
Brent Stecker of 710Sports.com recaps cornerback Richard Sherman’s weekend appearance on The John Clayton Show. You can listen to the podcast of Sherman with Clayton here:
Curtis Crabtree, writing for the Associated Press, details how third-round draft pick Jordan Hill and fifth-round draft pick Jesse Williams are fitting in along Seattle’s defensive line.
NFC West blogger Mike Sando of ESPN.com has a closer look at what might happen if the Seahawks need to make a switch to their backup quarterback – Tarvaris Jackson or Brady Quinn. Sando also has his NFC West-chat transcript from Friday here.
You, the readers of Seahawks.com, voted former quarterback Matt Hasselbeck as the fourth head on a Seahawks-themed Mount Rushmore, as he joined consensus mountain-locks Steve Largent, Cortez Kennedy and Walter Jones. It was an exercise precluding one over at ProFootballTalk.com, where former running back Shaun Alexander recently beat out Hasselbeck, Mike Holmgren and the 12th Man as the mountain’s fourth face in their “Faces of the Franchise” feature.
On this date: First step toward securing Seahawks taken
A look at a memorable moment in Seahawks history that occurred on June 15:
1972: Seattle Professional Football, a group of business and community leaders, announces its intention to attempt to secure a National Football League franchise. Herman Sarkowsky served as the spokesman for the group, which also included eventual majority owner Lloyd Nordstrom. The NFL announced on June 4, 1974, that Seattle would have a franchise for the 1976 season.
Tarvaris Jackson officially signed
It’s official, Tarvaris Jackson is a member of the Seahawks. Again.
The team’s starting quarterback in 2011 agreed to contract terms late Thursday and the signing became official today. To clear a spot on the 90-man roster, quarterback Jerrod Johnson was released.
There was speculation about Jackson’s return as soon as the Bills released him on Tuesday. Jackson flew to Seattle on Thursday, was given a physical and then a contract.
Coach Pete Carroll is happy to have him back, and competing with Brady Quinn to be the backup to starting QB Russell Wilson.
“I think it’s a great boost for us in a competitive sense,” Carroll said Thursday. “We thought of Tarvaris as a tremendously tough football player and competitive kid that battled for us.”
That was in 2011, when Jackson was signed in free agency following the 136-day lockout and named the starter because of he had played under offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell in Minnesota when both were with the Vikings. Without an offseason, Jackson’s knowledge of, and comfort with, the system Bevell was installing with the Seahawks gave the team a competitive edge, as Carroll put it at the time.
Jackson started 14 games, but played the second half of the season with an injured pectoral in his passing shoulder. He passed for 3,091 yards and 14 touchdowns.
But after Matt Flynn was signed in free agency and Wilson added in the draft last year, Jackson became expendable and was traded to the Bills. Despite not playing a snap last season, the Bills re-signed Jackson this offseason, only to release him.
With Flynn being traded to the Raiders in April, and Quinn signed to fill his role as the backup, the chance to reacquire Jackson and spike the competition for the No. 2 spot was one Carroll and general manager John Schneider couldn’t pass up.
“We’re seizing the opportunity that one of our guys is out there and we can bring him back in,” Carroll said. “And he’ll be able to help us.”
