Tuesday cyber surfing: And still more Tez
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Feb. 7:
While answering questions from his ESPN.com mailbag, NFC West blogger Mike Sando shares his thoughts on Cortez Kennedy’s selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday: “The Mount Rushmore of Seahawks history would include Steve Largent, Kenny Easley, Kennedy and Walter Jones, in my view. Shaun Alexander deserves consideration as well, but I think those other guys were the elite of the elite in the pure ability to dominate their opponents. Easley, Kennedy and Jones played extremely physical positions, too, so their dominance was a cut above simply by the nature of their jobs. I tend to favor candidates who flat-out dominated even when two or three opponents at a time matched up against them. Kennedy fit that criteria. Kennedy’s candidacy suffered some from the Seahawks’ struggles during the 1990s. The team kept hiring offensive-minded head coaches in an effort to fix that side of the ball, going from Chuck Knox to Tom Flores to Dennis Erickson to Mike Holmgren during Kennedy’s tenure. Holmgren’s arrival in 1999 led to an 8-2 start and playoff appearance that season. Kennedy had 6.5 sacks and two interceptions that year, with three of those sacks during Holmgren’s return to Green Bay on the Monday night stage. Overall, Kennedy appeared in prime time only five times during his career. For that reason, many of the selectors rarely saw him play. One key to Kennedy’s enshrinement was making sure the selectors had the relevant facts and testimonials before them. Presenting Kennedy was straightforward. His credentials made it so.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we check in with Steve Largent, the Seahawks’ original Hall of Famer, for his thoughts on Cortez Kennedy joining him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame: “I think entering the Hall of Fame does change your life,” Largent said, before quickly adding, “Not in respect to priorities or anything like that. But just in terms of externally, you’re on a higher profile as a player. And also, you realize you’re joining a very limited and unique club of people and that there is a camaraderie you have with those men that really goes beyond anything I’ve ever been involved in before.”
We also take another look at the Seahawks’ Week 5 victory over the Giants in our “Monday metatarsal musings” after they won the Super Bowl on Sunday. Says veteran cornerback Marcus Trufant: “It was just one of those things that shows during the season it’s not about one game, you’ve got to put a whole season together. Sure, we beat them earlier in the season. But they put together a run and they just kept making it happen. So it’s not about one game during the season. It’s about putting all the games together and coming away with a good season.”
Had enough Super Bowl coverage? Hope not, because here’s Peter King’s “Monday Morning Quarterback” (Yes, it’s Tuesday, but this wasn’t posted when we went surfing Monday morning).
On this date: Easley’s first Pro Bowl
A look at the memorable moments in Seahawks history that occurred on Feb 6:
1983: In his first Pro Bowl, Kenny Easley has nine tackles as the Seahawks’ lone representative in a game won by the NFC 20-19 as Danny White throws a TD pass to John Jefferson with 35 seconds remaining.
1994: Eugene Robinson intercepts a pass and Chris Warren leads the AFC with 64 rushing yards, but the NFC wins the Pro Bowl 17-3. Cortez Kennedy also represents the Seahawks in the game and contributes two tackles.
1998: Pete Rodriguez agrees to become special teams coach on Dennis Erickson’s staff.
2000: Walter Jones, Cortez Kennedy (three tackles) and Chad Brown (two special teams tackles) represent the Seahawks in the Pro Bowl, but the NFC wins 51-31.
2008: It is announced that assistant head coach/defensive backs Jim Mora will become head coach after the season, which is the last of Mike Holmgren’s 10 seasons as head coach.
Monday cyber surfing: Still more Tez
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Feb. 6:
Scott Johnson at the Everett Herald takes a walk down memory lane in the wake of Cortez Kennedy being voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday: “And so when I first heard the news Saturday that Kennedy had finally been granted entrance to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, I put aside my journalist suit and broke into a short celebration. Anyone who got to know Kennedy over the years, even a little bit, had to be ecstatic when the Seahawks great was honored as one of the greatest to ever play the game.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we check in with Dave Wyman and Paul Moyer for their thoughts on Cortez Kennedy being voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday: “But while watching all of this unfold – and all the blocking schemes he collapsed – did those around him realize they were watching a player who would end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? ‘That’s a great question, because while you’re there you really don’t get that feeling much,’ Dave Wyman, who played middle linebacker during Kennedy’s first three seasons, said Saturday shortly after hearing that Kennedy had been elected to the Hall. ‘But I would say with Tez, he was one of the rare guys where you did know that he was something special. It’s the cream of the cream of the crop. I always tell the story that you’re the state shot put champion and player of the year and all these things in high school. Then you’re an All-American in college. Then when you get to the pros, you’re just kind of one of the guys because everybody is so good. But then every once in awhile there’s one guy that even in the pros is just special and ahead of everybody else. That was Tez. He was that kind of player.’ ”
Brady Henderson at mynorthwest.com passes along the audio from an interview Wyman did on 710 ESPN with John Clayton of ESPN.com and also a member of the Hall of Fame selection committee on Friday: “He wasn’t lining up in gaps. He wasn’t hiding. They were triple-teaming him,” Wyman said. “It was just amazing to watch.”
As for coverage of that game that was played on Sunday, there’s Clayton’s “Last Call” at ESPN.com; Clark Judge’s “Judgements” at CBSSports.com; and Art Thiel at sportspress northwest reminds us that the Seahawks beat the Super Bowl champion Giants in Week 5, offering: “Since the Giants are the best team in football today, and three months earlier were punched out at home by the Seahawks, it means either the Giants became really good really fast, or the difference between 6-10 and 10-6 in the NFL is the breaks on a handful of plays.”
Sunday cyber surfing: All about Tez
Good morning. Here’s a special Super Bowl Sunday edition for Feb. 5 to cover everything that was written about Cortez Kennedy after he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday:
Dave Boling at the News Tribune looks at the man behind the player who was the best defensive tackle of his generation, and among the best to ever play the game: “Those of us who have followed Kennedy since he arrived in 1990 have heard endlessly that ‘Tez,’ as they all called him, was a Hall of Fame teammate, a Hall of Fame guy, a Hall of Fame father, a Hall of Fame friend. He was considered larger than life as a player (which is saying a great deal given his ample girth), but at the same time may have been the most humble man on the team.”
Also at the News Tribune, Eric Williams looks at Kennedy the player – now a Hall of Fame player: “(Former center Robbie) Tobeck got a steady diet of Kennedy’s impressive athletic ability at practice during the week. ‘Even in practice, when the offensive line goes down and does one-on-one pass drills, you had to be quick to get to your set because he was so quick and explosive off the ball,’ Tobeck said. ‘He had great hands, too. I think that sometimes doesn’t get talked about a lot in line play – playing off blocks with your hands – but he certainly was good with his hands.’ ”
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times says the long-awaited honor left Kennedy almost speechless: “Kennedy was at his home in Orlando, Fla., when he learned of the news. He was elated. He was grateful. Mostly, he was overwhelmed. ‘I don’t know what to say,’ he said. That’s OK. His career spoke for itself. He was a defensive tackle, as thankless a job as there is in football, and he played that underappreciated position for a team that can often be overlooked in the NFL.”
Mike Sando at ESPN.com, who made Kennedy’s presentation to the selection committee, offers his thoughts on Tez and the rest of the Class of 2012: “Thirteen modern-era NFL players were finalists for enshrinement Saturday in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Only one was named offensive or defensive player of the year during his career. That was the Seattle Seahawks’ Cortez Kennedy. His eight Pro Bowls, all-1990s selection and overall dominance made my job as his presenter quite simple. State the facts and let Kennedy’s career do the talking. Picking the final five out of 15 modern-era finalists is always tough, however, because it usually requires leaving off worthy candidates.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we caught with Kennedy moments after the announcement was made and he was one happy Hall of Famer: “ ‘I thought I’d get a call,’ Kennedy said moments after taking his rightful place among the best to ever play in the National Football League. ‘I was just watching TV, like everyone else, and then they called my name. They called my name. Can you believe it? It’s unbelievable. Unbelievable. Can you believe it?’ Believe it, Tez. You are a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Kennedy was a finalist for the fourth consecutive season, and also advanced from that field of 15 to the group of 10 last year. But Saturday, when the 44-person selection committee gathered in Indianapolis, Kennedy took the final two steps. First, he emerged from the group of 10 to the final five, as did Pittsburgh Steelers center Dermontti Dawson; defensive end/linebacker Chris Doleman, who played for the Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers; New York Jets running back Curtis Martin; and offensive tackle Willie Roaf, who played for the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs. But even that does not insure a berth in the Hall, because the final five also must get 80 percent approval on the final ballot. Each did, and will be joined in the six-man class by Jack Butler, a senior committee nominee who played cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1951-59.”
We’ve also got a video tribute to Tez that will help those who never saw him play understand just how good he was, and those who did see him play remember just how much fun he was to watch.
Jim Trotter at SI.com writes that for most fans the Hall of Fame attention is usually on those who didn’t make it, but he also looks ahead to the Classes of 2014 and 2015, when the next former Seahawks will be eligible: “2014 – linebacker Derrick Brooks, wideout Marvin Harrison, coaches Tony Dungy and Mike Holmgren, running back Shaun Alexander, and safety Rodney Harrison. 2015 – left tackles Walter Jones and Orlando Pace, linebacker Junior Seau, quarterback Kurt Warner, cornerback Ty Law, , and running back Edgerrin James.”
On this date: A Super letdown
A look at the memorable moments in Seahawks history that occurred on Feb. 5:
1995: Chris Warren runs for 127 yards and a touchdown as the AFC rushes for 400 yards – and averages 10 yards per carry – to win the Pro Bowl 41-13. Rick Tuten averages 40.3 yards on four punts. Cortez Kennedy (one tackle) also starts for the AFC.
2003: Ray Rhodes is named defensive coordinator on Mike Holmgren’s staff.
2006: Matt Hasselbeck passes for 273 yards and Shaun Alexander runs for 95 yards, but the Seahawks can’t overcome their own mistakes and some dubious calls by the officials in dropping a 21-10 decision to the Steelers in Super Bowl XL – the franchise’s first appearance in the NFL title game.
Tez: Orlando over Indy
When the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2012 is announced Saturday, in or out (again), Cortez Kennedy will be far from the maddening crowd.
Rather than make the trip to Indianapolis, site of Sunday’s Super Bowl rematch between the Giants and Patriots as well as the day-before Hall of Fame selection process and news conference that will follow, Tez will be at home in Orlando.
“I’ll be here watching it with my daughter,” Kennedy said. “I think she is more excited than I am.”
That would be 16-year-old Courtney, who Kennedy is raising as a single parent.
“Being a single dad raising a daughter, that’s tough,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy had one of those proud-parent moments recently when Courtney brought something home from school that a teacher wanted autographed.
“When she was younger and we’d go to banquets, and even the Ring of Honor ceremony, she didn’t realize the magnitude of what was going on,” said Kennedy, who was added to the Seahawks’ Ring of Honor in 2006.
“But she came home the other day and said, ‘Daddy, can you sign this for my teacher? He’s a big Seahawks fan.’ So she realizes everything that’s going on now.”
If Kennedy is elected to the Hall, he’ll likely make a hurried trip to Indy so he can be introduced with the rest of the Class of 2012 during the game on Sunday.
Whether that is necessary will depend on what happens during the selection committee meeting Saturday morning. It helps to have friends “in the room,” and Kennedy does. Mike Sando of ESPN.com will make Kennedy’s presentation to the group as the Seattle representative. John Clayton of ESPN.com, like Sando a former Seahawks beat writer for the Tacoma News Tribune, is an at-large member of the committee after the being the Seattle rep for many years.
Alex Marvez of FoxSports.com, who also is a Kennedy supporter, was added to the committee this year, as was Jeff Duncan of the Times-Picayune in New Orleans – where the Saints also have been lobbying on Kennedy’s behalf. And when I made Kennedy’s presentation to the committee in 2009, during the discussion that followed Peter King of Sports Illustrated and SI.com said, “This might not be his year, but if you don’t think Cortez Kennedy belongs in the Hall of Fame than you’re just ignorant.” King is one of the more-respected, and most-outspoken, members of the group.
And what happens “in the room” definitely impacts who gets into the Hall. In 2006, when the Seahawks were in Detroit for their Super Bowl matchup against the Steelers, I did a story during the week on Warren Moon’s chances of being part of that year’s class. The selection committee members I spoke with said they didn’t expect it to happen. But of course it did.
What happened? John McClain of the Houston Chronicle made a presentation for Moon that was as convincing as it was impassioned, so even some of the selectors I had talked with changed their minds and voted for Moon.
Kennedy is a finalist for the fourth consecutive year. Whether his wait finally ends will be played out “in the room,” when the 44-person selection committee goes through the process Saturday morning.
We examined that process in a story this week, when we also profiled Kennedy and looked at his off-the-field contributions to the Seahawks.
Jeff Triplett of the Times-Picayune also did a story on Kennedy, and he was even profiled by The Associated Press.
But there’s also a story out there that lists Kennedy among the linebackers who are included in this year’s finalists and says part of his problem was that he played in the shadow of Kenny Easley. Arrgh. Kennedy was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and member of the NFL’s Team of the Decade for the 1990s as a defensive tackle, and Easley’s final season with the Seahawks was 1987 while Kennedy was a first-round draft choice in 1990.
Friday cyber surfing: Seahawks ‘much more physical’
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Feb. 3:
Mike Sando of ESPN.com caught up with Larry Fitzgerald at the Super Bowl and the Cardinals’ wide receiver had this to say about how the Seahawks have changed under coach Pete Carroll: “They are much more physical, much more physical. At the Pro Bowl last week, they had three guys from their secondary, Brandon Browner and Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. When you look at Chancellor, Chancellor is 6-foot-3, 230 pounds and a phenomenal athlete with good ball skills, good range. Earl Thomas is like a young Troy Polamalu, flying around and making plays. And Brandon Browner is the biggest cornerback I’ve ever seen in my life. He can play, too. He can cover. I really like the young rookie they have, (Richard) Sherman from Stanford. He is going to be a good player. Obviously, when they get Marcus Trufant back, that will only make them deeper. They challenge you at the point of attack. They want to pressure you and make things uncomfortable for you at the line of scrimmage, and their whole philosophy has changed. It’s fun to play against them.”
Fitzgerald also had this to say about the NFC West: “The division is getting better. Two years ago, people looked at the NFC West as the armpit of the league, so to speak. Now, teams are playing much better. The games are physical now. That is good because you want the competition; you want to have great division rivalries. That is a lot of fun, like the NFC East. I don’t care if Washington is playing at New York, you can get beat. We want to build it up that way, too.”
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times looks at the franchise tag as it applies to franchise backs, including Marshawn Lynch: “In the past five years, there have been a grand total of two running backs who received the franchise tag from their respective teams: Darren Sproles (San Diego, 2009) and Brandon Jacobs (New York Giants, 2009). That’s it. Teams can begin designating franchise players later this month, and there’s the distinct possibility that three running backs could receive the tag.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we look at the process that produces the annual selections for the Pro Football Hall of Fame – which also includes Sando, because he’s the Seattle rep on the selection committee: “(Cortez) Kennedy, the eight-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle for the Seahawks, is a finalist for the fourth consecutive year. But for the first time, he faces a field of fellow finalists that does not include a “shoo-in” candidate as the 44-person selection committee huddles in Indianapolis on Saturday morning to choose the Class of 2012 – which will be announced at 2:30 p.m. PST during a one-hour special on the NFL Network.”
Todd McShay at ESPN.com has his second mock draft. There’s no link because it’s for insiders and requires registration and a fee, but here’s who he has the Seahawks selecting: Alabama RB Trent Richardson. “Richardson is a top-five talent but will likely slip a bit because of positional value considerations. Falling this far would be a surprise, but none of the teams in the top 10 have a pressing need at running back. If none of them ignore need to take the best player available, the Seahawks will feel like they’ve won the lottery. Both Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett are free agents, and Richardson would bring with him an elite combination of size, speed, power, quickness and vision.”
Also at ESPN.com, but also in an insider’s feature, Mel Kiper ranks Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman as the 10th best rookie in the NFL last season: “He didn’t start immediately, but he did get 10 total, and played at what I consider a Pro Bowl level for the second half of the season, helping to galvanize a suddenly very impressive Seattle secondary. He’s long at 6-foot-3, and can battle against big wideouts.”
As for that game this Sunday, checkout John Clayton’s “First and Goal” at ESPN; Clark Judge’s comparison of Tom Brady and Joe Montana, Brady’s boyhood idol, at CBSSports.com; and Richard Deitsch’s look at what most of us will be watching at SI.com.
On this date: Behring’s relocation plan
A look at the memorable moments in Seahawks history that occurred on Feb. 2:
1986: Steve Largent catches a game-high eight passes for 82 yards, but the NFC wins the Pro Bowl 28-24. Kenny Easley (two tackles) and Fredd Young (one tackle) also are on the AFC squad.
1992: John L. Williams (four carries for 8 yards, one reception) and Cortez Kennedy represent the AFC in the Pro Bowl, but the NFC wins 21-15.
1996: Owner Ken Behring announces he is relocating the franchise to Southern California, a move that is later blocked by the NFL.
1997: Cortez Kennedy has six tackles to help the AFC take a 26-23 overtime victory in the Pro Bowl. Michael Sinclair (one tackle) also is on the AFC squad.
1998: Jim Zorn, the club’s original quarterback who had been an offensive assistant on Dennis Erickson’s staff, leaves to become the QB coach with the Lions. Zorn would return to be the Seahawks QB coach.
Thursday cyber surfing: Rocky’s redemption
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Feb. 2:
Mike Sando at ESPN.com takes a look at Rocky Bernard’s opportunity for Super Bowl redemption. The former Seahawks defensive tackle lost in Super Bowl XL, but gets another crack with the Giants on Sunday: “I don’t want to feel that pain again,” Bernard said. “It’s something you can’t get over. You work so hard to get to that point and we were so confident going into the game, felt like we could win.”
Speaking of Super Bowl losses, Sando also ranks the Top 10 Super Bowl losers. At No. 1 is the Patriots’ loss to the Giants four years ago: “The only 16-0 team in regular-season NFL history outscored opponents by 19.7 points per game, a record. Tom Brady’s 50 touchdown passes exceeded by one the record Peyton Manning set in 2004. New England scored at least 38 points in half its regular-season games. The Patriots drew fines for illicitly taping opponents’ signals and criticism after twice going for it on fourth down while leading Joe Gibbs’ Redskins by 38-plus points.”
Rob Rang at NFLDraftScout.com has a new mock draft and it includes a new selection for the Seahawks: Penn State DT Devon Still. Says Rang: “Many expect the Seahawks to consider a quarterback to compete with incumbent starter Tarvaris Jackson with this selection but in beating the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens last year, and matching up well with division champion San Francisco, the club may not be willing to reach to fill a perceived need. Don’t be surprised if Seattle instead turns its attention to a bounty of talented defensive linemen likely to be selected in the top 15. Still, a 6-4, 310-pound defensive tackle, showed his talent and despite all of the distractions in Happy Valley last year, was the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year. Still could help inside at defensive tackle as well as provide the Seahawks with some flexibility at the five technique defensive end position should incumbent starter Red Bryant be heavily pursued in free agency.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we take a look at a couple of off-field situations where Cortez Kennedy also stood out during his Hall of Fame-worthy career with the Seahawks: “Like in 1996, when then-owner Ken Behring was attempting to move the franchise to Southern California. Behring was determined to make it happen, and even started the team’s offseason conditioning program at the Rams’ old facility in Anaheim. But Kennedy’s resolve proved to be just as firm. He refused to participate; pointing out that the contract he had signed was with the Seattle Seahawks.”
Tuesday cyber surfing: The other side of Thomas
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Jan. 31:
Jared Ainsworth of the Beaumont Enterprise has a really nice story on how Earl Thomas’ success in the NFL has allowed his mother, Debbie, to retire: “Debbie Thomas’ final day as a receptionist for Little Cypress-Mauriceville school district was Jan 20. The family celebrated the end of Debbie’s 28-year career in education that evening at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen in Beaumont, with about 20 of her coworkers. ‘As soon as they called my name in the draft, I knew this day was going to come,’ said Earl, a 22-year-old second-year defensive back for the Seahawks. ‘We didn’t have much and my mom and dad made it work. They’ve been changing my diapers, taking care of me all my life.’ “
Former Seahawks and current Titans QB Matt Hasselbeck analyzes the Super Bowl matchup between the Patriots and Giants for the Tennessean. His pick: Patriots 24-21. Says Hasselbeck: “It is really hard to bet against Tom Brady for me. I have a lot of respect for his game. I think he is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. I have respect for Eli (Manning), and for guys on both sides, but to me, Brady is going to be really tough to stop unless he is on his back the whole game.”
Speaking of former Seahawks QBs, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram catches up with Jon Kitna, who last week was named football coach at Tacoma’s Lincoln High School, his alma mater: “ ‘It’s incredible. The right door opened,’ Kitna said between services Sunday morning at Fielder Road Baptist Church, where he preached and gave a personal testimony. It was his first public appearance since informing the Cowboys of his decision to retire two weeks ago. ‘I am beyond excited,’ Kitna said. ‘It was the perfect opportunity. The coach wanted to move into the athletic director’s role and called and asked me if I was interested.’ “
Here at Seahawks.com, the Tez in 2012 campaign continues as the clock is ticking toward the selection process on Saturday for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2012. Cortez Kennedy is a finalist for the fourth consecutive year and we weigh in with a weighty profile on the most-decorated defensive player in franchise history: “ ‘I wouldn’t trade places with anybody for anything,’ Kennedy said. ‘I played for the Seahawks, and played my heart out for them. I love the Seahawks. I love the organization. I love the people there, and especially the fans. If I ever get in the Hall of Fame, it’s for all of us.’ ”
Back to the Super Bowl, there is no shortage of coverage leading up to Sunday’s game. Here’s a sampling:
The Associated Press, via Heraldnet.com, looks at the overlooked Deion Branch, the wide receiver who played for the Patriots, then was traded to the Seahawks and now is back with the Patriots: “He’s been overlooked a bit this season, with Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez grabbing most of (Tom) Brady’s passes and the headlines. ‘That’s cool,’ said Branch, who has that MVP trophy stored safely in a glass case at his home. ‘I just do my job. I can’t worry about who’s controlling it and who’s saying A, B, C, D. I just do my job I’m not here to be the one that (says), ‘Hey I need all the attention.’ That’s not me.’ “
Don Banks’ Q&A with London Fletcher at SI.com. The Redskins’ linebacker who is no stranger to the Giants or the Patriots, having played both teams this season. Q: Having played both of these teams recently, how do they match up today, knowing that New York beat New England at Gillette Stadium in Week 9? A: “I think it’s going to be a great matchup, because you think about the Giants and their pass rush being healthy now, and then you know all about the offense of the Patriots and those tight ends and their passing game. It’s going to be a great matchup between those two teams, and the thing is, both defenses are playing great right now. I think New England’s defense is playing its best ball of the year right now, and so are the Giants.”
Les Carpenter’s story at YahooSports.com about BenJarvis Green-Ellis, the Patriots’ back whose name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue but who also never lets the ball roll from his grasp: “And now, with the world preparing to watch Super Bowl XLVI Sunday, (LSU running backs coach Frank) Wilson has an Exhibit A in the Patriots’ running back. Wilson’s former back at the University of Mississippi has never fumbled in four NFL seasons. That is a streak of 536 catches and carries, an NFL record for the start of a career, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.”
Michael Lombardi’s 46 things he loved about the NFL this season at NFL.com, where No. 39 is … Marshawn Lynch’s angry running style. Says Lombardi: “The Seahawks running back runs harder than any player in the league.”
