Wednesday cyber surfing: On Lynch, and the Combine
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Feb. 22:
Mike Sando at ESPN.com weighs in on Marshawn Lynch’s contract situation in his “Leading Questions” in the NFC West: “Yes, the Seahawks want to bring back Lynch. His physical running style gives them an edge Seattle cannot realistically get from another back in 2012. There have been no hard reasons to get a deal done quickly, however. Seattle can name Lynch its franchise player, an appealing alternative for teams wary of how long running backs will hold up physically. Lynch has until March 13 before becoming a free agent for the first time in his career. His next long-term deal could be his final one. He’ll want to get more than what Seattle would pay him in guaranteed money as a franchise player over the next couple seasons.”
Also at ESPN.com, Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. weighs in on the top three needs for each team in the NFC. It’s an “Insiders” feature, which requires registration and a fee. But here’s what he lists as No. 1 for the Seahawks and, no, it’s not a QB: “Defensive end: Chris Clemons had another solid season as a pass-rusher with 11 sacks, but the Seahawks will look to find a dynamic pass-rushing end to complement him. They have taken three defensive ends in the first five rounds over the past five seasons with mixed results.”
With all NFL roads leading to Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine, Bruce Feldman at CBSSports.com has a list of which players might put on the most-freakish shows for the assembled masses. At No. 1? RG3: “The 2011 Heisman Trophy winner (also known as Baylor QB Robert Griffin III) proved over the past year he’s a lot more than just a guy who happens to have World Class speed as a hurdler. RG3′s exploits as a college QB are now well-documented. Griffin not only blossomed as a quarterback, often doing his damage as a pocket passer but he also has filled out quite a bit since coming to Waco and is a solid 6-2, 220. However, he still has wheels like few others at any position. QBs, especially ones with arms like Griffin has, almost never run sub-4.6s in Indy, RG3 should blow that away. Earlier this week RG3 told Dan Patrick there’s a possibility he will go sub-4.4. Given his track credentials, it’ll be surprising if he doesn’t.”
The Combine also prompted another mock draft by NFLDraftScout.com’s Rob Rang at CBSSports.com, but he sticks with a familiar pick for the Seahawks – Penn State DT Devon Still: 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 Pete Carroll’s desire to get faster on defense and also improve the pass rush: “When you look at it, we really like our guys, but we need to get faster on defense,” Carroll said when asked about the unit that ranked No. 9 in the league last season. “As big as we are, we need to get faster. So I’d like to see us add more speed in the linebacker corps.”
Tuesday cyber surfing: Heading to the Combine
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Feb. 21, and was over the long weekend:
With the Seahawks scouts and coaches heading to Indianapolis this week for the Scouting Combine to examine draft-eligible players, Pat Kirwan at CBSSports.com has a mock draft that includes this pick for the Seahawks: “Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC: The Seahawks may be moving around in the first round if quarterback is still an issue. If they settle it in free agency with the likes of Matt Flynn they can stay put and take a versatile pass rusher like Perry. Pete Carroll knows him well and his measurable at the combine will shoot him up draft boards.”
Also at CBSSports.com, Pete Prisco has the Seahawks addressing the other side of the ball in his mock: “Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama: “Marshawn Lynch is a free agent, and this explosive back would be a nice replacement.”
Tom Pauline at SI.com provides his Top 50 players entering the combine, you-know-who is No. 1: “(Stanford QB Andrew) Luck has been the top NFL prospect in the nation for almost two years and nothing has changed. He’ll be the first player selected in the draft and the Indianapolis Colts will barely notice the bump in the road as they transition from the Peyton Manning era.”
Monday was the first day teams could designate franchise players, and Jason La Canfora at NFL.com looks the possible candidates around the league, including the Seahawks’ Marshawn Lynch: “The Seahawks are deep in talks with running back Marshawn Lynch on a long-term deal, which could well be completed before the March 5 deadline. If that somehow falls apart, the Seahawks are prepared to tag Lynch, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.”
Mike Sando at ESPN.com provides some notes on teams wanting/needing to use their franchise tag: “Teams have until July 16 to sign their franchise players to long-term contracts. The date is usually July 15, but it is the 16th this year because the 15th falls on a Sunday. Past that date, teams can sign their franchise players only to one-year deals. They cannot reach extensions until after their final regular-season games.”
Phillip Daniels, who led the Seahawks in sacks in 1999, has been named director of player development for the Washington Redskins. The team’s website has the story: “I’m really looking forward to helping our players and team win, on and off the field,” Daniels said.
Here at Seahawks.com, we check in with Walter Thurmond, the third-year cornerback who is rehabbing from his second surgery in a 25-month period: “To play cornerback in the NFL, it is necessary to have a short memory. Because dwelling on just being beaten on one play will only increase the chances that you also get beat on the next play. This indispensable trait has served Walter Thurmond well, off the field as well as on. ‘You hear the old adage about the DB with a short memory, Walter carries that consistently to other aspects of his life, obviously,’ said Kris Richard, the Seahawks’ former cornerback who now coaches the defensive backs on Pete Carroll’s staff. ‘He’s not going to allow a negative outlook to impede his rehabilitation, which is a really good sign. That’s kind of what makes him a special person and a special player.’ “
John Czarnecki at FoxSports.com has his 10 biggest offseason moves to this point, and checking in at No. 1 is the total makeover by the Rams: “St. Louis landed the most qualified free-agent head coach, Jeff Fisher, who didn’t want to wait another year to see if a job in Chicago or Washington would open. Fisher reached the playoffs six of his last 12 seasons with the Tennessee/Houston franchise. He also has major clout on the competition committee and league-wide respect among his peers. Fisher drew interest from the Colts and Chargers, but he believes quarterback Sam Bradford can be great. Fisher has assembled an all-star coaching staff that includes Dave McGinnis, Gregg Williams, Paul Boudreau and Brian Schottenheimer.”
Friday cyber surfing: Sky’s the limit for Robinson
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Feb. 17:
So, how did you celebrate your birthday? Michael Robinson went sky diving. You can check out the Seahawks’ Pro Bowl fullback, who turned 29 on Feb. 6, in this video from his website – RealRobReport.com.
A lot is being written and said about what the Seahawks should do to secure another quarterback. But general manager John Schneider tells Seahawks.com that there is one thing that definitely won’t happen as the team prepares for the NFL Scouting Combine next week and the start of free agency next month: “ ‘I just know if you panic at the position, it can set the organization back. So we’re not going to do that,’ he said. Regardless of the volume of those outside voices. ’That may disappoint fans, because they want to see an instant guy and have that instant success. But really, you’re better off continuing to build your team. Initially when I got here, I thought we were going to plug the quarterback in and we were going built around him. If we had done that, we would have panicked in a way. And I’m not sure we would have been able to host the Saints (in the 2010 wild-card playoff game) and had that great atmosphere and all that.’ ”
Chris Burke at SI.com has a “Free Agency Primer” for the NFC West, and has this to say about the Seahawks: “(Marshawn) Lynch and the linebackers (David Hawthorne and Leroy Hill), that’s where Seattle will land most of its attention. Bringing back “Beast Mode” is the key to the offseason, but the Seahawks could have upwards of $12 million to spend in free agency, so they’ll have to decide how much of that to throw at their defensive players (including Red Bryant).”
Since Cortez Kennedy was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame almost two weeks ago, there has been more talk – and more written – about those who did not enter the Hall than those who did. Jason Cole at YahooSports.com has had enough: “I’m officially sick of Cris Carter and the cries of injustice over his exclusion from the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the fourth consecutive year. I’m tired of people ripping the Hall of Fame selection process, as faulty as it might be, because some guy who happened to score 130 touchdowns didn’t get in. Likewise, I don’t want to hear about Charles Haley, Andre Reed, Eddie DeBartolo or Bill Parcells or anybody else who hasn’t made it yet. Ultimately, they’re all going to get in. I’ll bet anybody a 12-pack of cheap Mexican beer that every single one of those guys will make it – some day and some day probably very soon. That day just didn’t happen to be earlier this month. … Or maybe you want to argue about center Dermontti Dawson or left tackle Willie Roaf? They each happen to be considered among the top two or three players ever at their respective positions. How about Chris Doleman or Cortez Kennedy, two of the most disruptive defensive players in the history of the game? Should one of them step aside?”
As for the give-us-this-day-our-daily-Peyton-Manning item, Peter Schrager at FoxSports.com says it’s time for the Colts’ iconic QB to step aside: “I, obviously, can’t tell Peyton Manning what to do with his career. No one can. And as a fan, I know I’m supposed to want to see him on that field, suiting up as the starting quarterback for one of the league’s 32 NFL franchises next August. But I don’t. I want the NFL to stay on top, I want Manning to go down as one of the greatest to ever play the game with no asterisks or freakish ‘yeah, buts’ tagged to his post-career write-up, and I want to see him as one of the central figures on my Sunday afternoons for years to come. Nine out of 10 doctors and 99 out of 100 sports marketing experts may disagree, but I’m with Charles Barkley on this one. Hang it up, Peyton.”
Thursday cyber surfing: The draft, and QBs
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Feb. 16:
NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock addressed this year’s draft class in a lengthy conference call on Wednesday and here at Seahawks.com we focus on the passers that quarterback-needy teams will be focusing on at the NFL Scouting Combine next week: Mayock on Boise State’s Kellen Moore: “He looks like he’s 11-years old. He’s this baby-faced assassin. What I think he does better than any other quarterback in the entire draft is he anticipates throws to receivers who are open. And that’s something a lot of quarterbacks don’t get until their fourth or fifth year in the NFL. Part of it is because he doesn’t have a big arm. He’s had to adapt probably since grade school in learning how to throw people open. He won’t get drafted high. But he’s a winner and his anticipation skills at that position are tremendous.”
Eric Williams at the News Tribune also was on the call, and provides Mayock’s assessment of Tarvaris Jackson, the Seahawks’ incumbent starter, as well as Ryan Tannehill, Mayock’s No. 3-rated college QB behind Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. Mayock on Jackson: ““I like him. He’s developed to a certain point, but I think that position needs to be upgraded. And I don’t mind T-Jack competing for the position, but I think you either have to get a free agent in there or you have to draft somebody.” Mayock on Tannehill: “He’s got everything you want. He’s got size. He’s got arm strength. He’s a really good athlete. All you have to do is look at his tape as a wide receiver two years ago. He’s a big, strong fast kick with a really good arm. Now, what I don’t like about him is that he waits for routes to develop before he throws the football – in other words he lacks anticipation.”
Speaking of Tannehill, Rob Rang and Dane Brugler of NFLDraftScout.com debate his merits – and status – in this piece for CBSSports.com: Says Rang: “There are four primary physical characteristics NFL scouts are looking for when projecting college QBs to the next level: size, arm strength, accuracy and mobility. Tannehill could earn first-round grades from clubs in all four categories, making him the logical third quarterback to be selected. He may have a stronger arm than Luck, the presumed No. 1 overall pick, and at 6-feet-4, 222 pounds, he’s far closer to the prototype frame than the 6-2, 220-pound Griffin. It is a fifth trait in which Tannehill rates significantly below Luck and Griffin. This makes him a high-stakes gamble for the first round. That fifth skill is anticipation, the most underrated element to forecasting quarterback success in the NFL.”
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times explains that the Seahawks won’t have their fifth-round pick in this year’s draft as part of the trade for Marshawn Lynch in 2010: “The Seahawks gave up their fourth-round pick in 2011, and Buffalo will also receive Seattle’s fifth-round pick this year to complete the deal. It was a conditional choice that elevated from a sixth-round selection to a fifth-round selection based upon playing time, according to the Buffalo Bills’ official Web site.”
The New York Daily News has the word on former Seahawks draft choice Mike Teel becoming the QB coach at Wagner College, whose nickname also happens to be the Seahawks: “Teel, who led Rutgers to three bowl victories during his college career, served as the quarterbacks coach at Division III Kean University last season when the Cougars posted a 10-2 record and were ranked No. 10 in the country in D3Football.com’s final poll.”
Brian McIntyre at ESPN.com takes a look at the offseason needs for each of the teams in the NFC West. It’s an “Insiders” feature and requires registration and a fee to view the entire article, but he’s a snippet of what he has the say about the Seahawks: “Since taking over in 2010, Pete Carroll and John Schneider have done a good job of retooling the Seattle defense. The Seahawks’ defense ranked 29th with a DVOA of 15.0 percent in 2010, a figure that improved to minus-3.1 percent in 2011, good enough to rank in the Top 10. (Like points allowed or yards allowed, defensive DVOA is better when it is lower.) The secondary has been completely overhauled, and it placed three players in the 2011 Pro Bowl.”
Also at ESPN.com, Mel Kiper has his second mock draft. It’s also an “Insider” feature, but here’s who he has the Seahawks selecting: “Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina: Some see the Seahawks looking at a QB this high, but the value doesn’t make a lot of sense for me just yet. On the defensive side of the ball, the big need is help for the pass rush. Ingram has enough size to hold up in the 4-3, and will provide an upgrade. The Seattle defense is really fast, and could become dynamic if it can generate more pressure on opposing passers. If (Boston College LB Luke) Kuechly is still here, I can also see that pick, but the development of K.J. Wright makes Ingram a good target.” Kiper has Kuechly going to the Chiefs at the pick just before the Seahawks, but who picks 11th and who picks 12th will be determined by a coin flip at the NFL Scouting Combine next week.
As for the give-us-this-day-our-daily-Peyton-Manning item, Don Banks at SI.com reports that the Colts’ iconic QB had a fourth procedure on his troublesome neck: “In addition, league sources say Manning’s neck has potentially developed bone spurs just above the point where his latest fusion surgery took place in early September, and the Colts organization is under the belief that it is nearly inevitable Manning will at some point require further surgery, and possibly another fusion procedure, even if he does successfully return to the field in 2012. It’s unclear how any potential long-term neck issues will impact Manning’s decision to attempt a resumption of his NFL playing career later this year.”
Wednesday cyber surfing: Staff additions
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Feb. 15:
Remember Marquand Manuel? One of the unexpected stars of the Seahawks’ Super Bowl run in 2005 is back as the new assistant special teams coach on Pete Carroll’s staff and we’ve got the story at Seahawks.com: “In 2005, Marquand Manuel stepped in and helped the Seahawks reach the Super Bowl. Now, the former free safety is stepping in as the assistant special teams coach on Pete Carroll’s staff. Manuel replaces Jeff Ulbrich, who left to become the special teams/linebackers coach at UCLA. The club also announced four other moves Tuesday: Keith Carter has been added as an offensive quality control coach; Rocky Seto’s title has been changed to defensive passing game coordinator; John Glenn has been hired as a coaching assistant/special teams; and Kenechi Udeze will be a coaching intern/defensive line.”
Danny O’Neil at the Seattle Times and Eric Williams at the News Tribune also have the word on the additions to Carroll’s staff.
The Associated Press has the word on Jim Zorn remaining with the Chiefs as their quarterbacks coach, despite the Seahawks’ original QB being passed over for the offensive coordinator position in KC: “Brian Daboll was hired recently to run the offense, which led many to question whether Zorn would be back. He was retained along with assistant head coach Maurice Carthon, tight ends coach Bernie Parmalee, strength coach Mike Clark, wide receivers coach Nick Sirianni and virtually the entire defensive staff.”
Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com has updated his mock draft at CBSSports.com, but has the Seahawks making a familiar selection: “Devon Still, DT, Penn State: 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.”
Dane Brugler of NFLDraftScout.com also has a mock draft at CBSSports.com and sticks with a defensive lineman for the Seahawks. But not the same one as Rang: “Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina: The Seahawks will be looking for a pass-rushing defensive end this offseason and Coples falling would be the ideal scenario for Seattle. Coples has the ability to be as good as he wants, but questions about his passion and work ethic have raised flags, especially after a subpar senior season in Chapel Hill. Coples’ natural skills set and pro upside will force NFL teams to do their due diligence and homework before they invest a top-12 pick in him.”
As for the give-us-this-day-our-daily-Peyton-Manning item, Jim Corbett at USA Today looks at a half-dozen landing spots for the Colts’ iconic QB, including the Seahawks: “The situation: Inconsistent Tarvaris Jackson is the incumbent, with Charlie Whitehurst the backup. Why it would work: Manning could consider the NFC West the path of least resistance to the Super Bowl by comparison to the NFC East and AFC East. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell worked with Favre with Green Bay and the Minnesota Vikings and would tailor the offense to Manning. Why it wouldn’t work: Coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider have gone young, so much so that Manning might feel more like he’s reliving his past with the University of Tennessee than his NFL prime with the Super Bowl-winning 2006 Colts.”
Speaking of Manning, as well as Randy Moss, John McGrath at the News Tribune says the Seahawks need to just say no to aging stars: “Whatever the score, wherever they stood in the standings, the Hawks almost always exerted a 60-minute effort. Moss still is blessed with transcendent ability – even (Cris) Carter acknowledges as much – but the last thing the 2012 Seahawks need is key a player with a “quit mechanism” that’s huge. Furthermore, (Pete) Carroll and general manager John Schneider have displayed a vision in their retooling of a roster that’s been turned over from established veterans to younger guys with hungry hearts. It’s a vision that precludes the presence of Moss and another veteran guaranteed enshrinement in the Hall of Fame, Peyton Manning.”
Speaking of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Peter King at SI.com wades into the growing conversation about the selection committee that gathers annually on the Saturday before the Super Bowl to determine that year’s class for the Hall. King has been on the committee for 20 years, I was on it for only two – but can relate to his concerns. In the Tuesday edition of his “Monday Morning Quarterback,” King addresses one emailer who pooh-poohs the selection this year of former Seahawks defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy: “Does it matter to you that (Chris) Doleman has 39 more sacks/forced fumbles/recovered fumbles in his career than Michael Strahan, and had a 15-sack season at age 37? Or that Kennedy was the Defensive Player of the Year on a 2-14 team, and two noted coaches have told me he is the toughest linemen their interior line had to block, ever?” Atta boy, Peter. As Tom Petty would put it, “Well I won’t back down; no I won’t back down.”
Tuesday cyber surfing: Weighing options for Seahawks QB, Tatupu
Former Seahawks QB Brock Huard of 710 ESPN weighs in on the team’s quarterback options in this video report at mynorthwest.com: “The Seahawks are one of several NFL teams that figure to be looking to upgrade at quarterback via the draft or free agency this offseason. What if all their options land elsewhere? Brock Huard proposed that scenario in Monday’s Wrap Up video, saying that the possibility of losing out on Matt Flynn could leave Peyton Manning as the Seahawks’ best and most feasible option.”
Lofa Tatupu visited the Saints on Monday, Jason La Canfora of NFL.com is reporting. Tatupu sat out the 2011 season after being released by the Seahawks: “Tatupu was a Pro Bowl selection his first three seasons in the NFL, and he was first-team All-Pro in 2007 when he had 83 tackles, four interceptions and three forced fumbles.”
As for the give-us-this-day-our-daily-Peyton-Manning item, the boys at NFL.com have some fun by turning the question of where the Colts’ iconic QB will end up into a “Wheel of Peyton” game. And you’ll be surprised by what Brian Baldinger has to say if you-know-who ends up you-know-where.
Monday cyber surfing: Baldwin doesn’t want to be ‘slotted’
Good morning. Here’s what “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Feb. 13, and was over the weekend:
Eric Williams at the News Tribune checks in with Doug Baldwin, after the Seahawks’ leading receiver last season did a live chat on the paper’s website last week: “Baldwin’s production in 2011 secured his spot as Seattle’s slot receiver. But Baldwin wants to be considered a compete receiver. And in order to do that, Baldwin has to make plays from the perimeter of the offense as well. ‘They say that I’m the slot guy, but every year they’re bringing somebody in to try to take your job – that’s the upper management’s job,’ he said. ‘So my job is to make sure that whoever they bring in doesn’t have a chance. That’s why I’m here, to be honest with you. I want to be known as the greatest receiver who ever played the game, and it’s going to be hard to do that strictly out of the slot.’ ”
Elliott Harrison has made his way to the Seahawks in his “Exit Interview” series at NFL.com. As for “what went right,” Harrison offers: “More than you might think. Despite getting off to a horrid start, the Seahawks outscored their opponents 321-315. Not a huge margin, but certainly not bad for a football team that many fans feel is a lot worse than it really is. Pete Carroll’s group rallied from a 2-6 start to go 5-3 down the stretch. In fact, they were 7-7 and still alive in the playoff chase before losing to a talented 49ers team and a red hot Cardinals club (which won seven of its last nine). A significant cause for the turnaround was the motivated play of Marshawn Lynch, and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell’s increased willingness to feed him the rock. After only getting 97 carries in the first half of the season, Lynch toted the ball 188 times down the back half – 23.5 attempts per game.”
Also at NFL.com, in honor of the Grammy’s, Adam Rank gives his thoughts on the musical mascot for each NFL team. For the Seahawks, that’s Soundgarden: “This is another one where I’m not even sure the band even likes football. When you think of Seattle music, Soundgarden comes first for me.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we connect the past, the present and the future. The past? Cortez Kennedy and some surprising stats he put up during his Hall of Fame career: “If there was a statistic that stood out for Kennedy during that do-it-all (1992) season, it was his 14 sacks. But scratch a little deeper and there also were 14 other tackles for losses – giving him a franchise-record 28 when coupled with the sacks – as well as 13 other tackles for no gain. So on 41 of his career-high 93 tackles – or 44 percent of those plays – the ball carrier never cracked the line of scrimmage.”
As for the present and future, the team made another “good get” by re-signing tackle Breno Giacomini before he could become an unrestricted free agent: “One of the cornerstones to Carroll’s coaching philosophy is “Always compete,” and in re-signing Giacomini the Seahawks now have a competitive situation at right tackle – which was not case when they selected (James) Carpenter with the 25th pick overall in the NFL Draft last year. Retaining Giacomini also provides insurance in case Carpenter is not completely recovered from his knee injury when the OTA sessions start in May and the team holds its only mandatory minicamp in June.”
Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com has updated his “Big Board” at CBSSports.com. Not surprisingly, he still had Stanford QB Andrew Luck ranked No. 1: “Put simply, Luck is worth the hype. It isn’t just that he has all the physical traits to be the No. 1 overall pick. His intelligence, anticipation and poise are phenomenal. Say what you will about Robert Griffin III’s upside, Luck is as close to a sure thing as it gets in the NFL Draft.”
As for the give-us-this-day-our-daily-Peyton-Manning item, Ashley Fox at ESPN.com has an intriguing read on the Colts’ iconic QB and what his future might hold: “Peyton wants what he wants. This isn’t exactly breaking news. Manning doesn’t like surprises. He isn’t going to work around other people’s mistakes. He is inflexible and hard-headed and type triple-A. Those aren’t knocks on Peyton. He is who he is, and those qualities have made him the NFL’s MVP four times in his career. At age 35, Peyton Manning isn’t going to change. Not now. Not for anybody. He is used to running an offense he wants to run, to calling plays, to dictating practice. He has been in charge of the Colts for so long, he knows no other way.”
And for a look around the league, there’s Peter King’s “Monday Morning Quarterback” at SI.com.
Friday cyber surfing: On Baldwin and Bryant
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Feb. 10:
Doug Baldwin did a live chat with the News Tribune on Thursday, and had this to say about which teammate helped him the most during his rookie season: “Mike Williams. His knowledge of the game of football is impressive. And he has helped me to understand the key to reading defenses.”
Brock Huard at 710 ESPN explains in this video report why re-signing defensive end Red Bryant should be a priority in free agent: “The Seahawks, in theory, have options at defensive end beyond Bryant. But as Brock Huard explains in Thursday’s Wrap Up video, Bryant’s familiarity with the organization should make him more attractive to the Seahawks than defensive ends with similar ability.”
Here at Seahawks.com, we take a look at the team’s new offseason schedule, the third in as many years: “The offseason program will begin in April, a month later than in 2010; there will be fewer than half as many OTA sessions, and they also begin later (May); and the team will hold only one mandatory, full-squad minicamp (June). It’s a brave new world in the NFL, as well as at Virginia Mason Athletic Center, and only the well-prepared will thrive. ‘We’ve anticipated it, so we’re prepared for it,’ head strength and conditioning coach Chris Carlisle said on Thursday.”
Mike Sando dipped into his mailbag at ESPN.com to answer a question about whether Pro Football Hall of Famers were disproportionately early draft choices: “Yes, that is definitely the case. The Hall of Fame lists them by round. I also track this information. By my count, 143 of 188 drafted Hall of Famers were chosen in the first three rounds. That is 76.1 percent. That includes 94 first-round selections, 29 second-rounders and 20 third-rounders.”
Pete Prisco at CBSSports.com ranks his Top 50 free agents and sitting at No. 10 is Seahawks defensive end Red Bryant: “He had eight starts in his first three seasons, but started 16 in 2011 and was a force on the Seattle defense. He is a perfect 3-4 end, which is where he played last season. He is this year’s Ray McDonald. He turns 28 in April.” At No. 42 is running back Marshawn Lynch: “He has rejuvenated his career in Seattle after being a disappointment in Buffalo in his last two seasons. He ran for 1,204 yards last season for the Seahawks and he only turns 26 in March.”
As for the give-us-this-day-our-daily-Peyton-Manning item, Michael Lombardi at NFL.com douses all the talk about which team might sign the Colts’ iconic QB if/when he is released: “I think it’s unrealistic to assume (he can return). He can’t throw the ball. I’ve talked to people who’ve caught the ball for him. He can’t throw the ball to his left. He can’t throw the ball across his body, because he doesn’t feel it. People who catch the ball for him say he doesn’t really have velocity on the ball yet.”
But that doesn’t stop Ryan Fowler of WhatIfSports.com from playing the what-if game regarding Manning in this piece at FoxSports.com: “Peyton Manning’s last offensive drive included passes to Jacob Tamme and Blair White with a dash of Joseph Addai on the ground. That 2010 Wild Card game against the Jets seems like eons ago, not only for Colts fans, but your casual NFL fan, too. His last drive is a microcosm of what the elder Manning brought to the line every single down. He possesses the innate ability to raise the game of those around him. From Tamme to White to Austin Collie to Pierre Garcon, Manning has made an art out of creating chicken soup from chicken droppings. Up until now, all 13 professional seasons, this maestro’s magic hat featured a horseshoe emblazoned on the side.”
Thursday cyber surfing: Tez comes to town
Good morning. Here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks for today, Feb. 9:
Scott Johnson of the Everett Herald checks in with Cortez Kennedy, the Seahawks’ Hall of Fame defensive tackle who was in town on Wednesday: “Kennedy will become the first Hall of Famer, in any of the major team sports, to be drafted by a Seattle team and spend his entire career there. ‘I’m always a Seattle guy,’ he said Wednesday, four days after his name was announced among the members of the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2012. ‘I love Seattle, and I love the fans. And that will never change.’ “
Here at Seahawks.com, we’ve also got a closer look at Kennedy, including his response to the question about whether his Hall of Fame-worthy career would have been complete even without the recognition to match: “You know something? We don’t have to talk about that anymore,” he said, punctuating the statement with one of his rumbling laughs that were as much his trademark as the body-slam tackles he cranked out during his 11 seasons with the Seahawks. “I’m a Hall of Famer now. So we don’t ever have to talk about that again. It’s done. It’s over with. Like the ‘Big Show’ Holmgren says, ‘It’s done. It’s over with. Forget it.’ I don’t want to hear it no more.”
We also check in with leading receiver Doug Baldwin, who has become a fixture at Virginia Mason Athletic Center since his rookie season ended: “The Seahawks’ 2011 season ended the day after their overtime loss to the Cardinals in Arizona on New Year’s Day. The team’s 2012 offseason conditioning program doesn’t start until April 16, almost a month later than in previous years because of the new CBA that came into effect following the 136-day lockout that erased the offseason last year. But you would never know it by watching Baldwin go through his almost-daily routine at Virginia Mason Athletic Center. And everything must be done on his own, another stipulation in the new offseason rules governing teams and their players. ‘I have lots to improve on, lots that I can learn,’ Baldwin said. ‘I know I can do so much more, in terms of my assignments and catching every ball that’s thrown to me. So I have lots to do and I’m anxious to get it done.’ ”
Dave Boling at the News Tribune weighs in on the speculation about Peyton Manning and whether the Seahawks should pursue him if/when the Colts part ways with their iconic QB: “The Seahawks have the need for a quarterback and the available salary-cap room to make a serious run at Manning. But should they? His health is in question, and for a team in the process of rebuilding and apparently on the rise, the ideal situation would be to find a young talent who could grow with the team for the long haul. But this is Peyton Manning, and the chance to get him – if healthy – should trump other options being studied. Risk? Oh, heck yes. He might never get out of training camp. Hey, realistically, everybody who plays in the NFL is one bad hit from retirement. But a soon-to-be 36-year-old quarterback who has had three neck surgeries in 19 months?”
Joe Theismann has a completely opposite view on the situation, and Dan Hanzus at NFL.com passes along the thoughts of the former NFL QB with regards to the Redskins pursuing Manning: “It’s not a good idea, it’s not a bad idea – its’ a horrific idea,” Theismann, now an NFL Network analyst, told a radio station on in Washington last week. “It would be one of the poorest things that we could do as a franchise. Are we gonna go find another guy for just a couple of years again? Haven’t we done this before? Haven’t we seen this act before? And by the way, if you get Peyton Manning, don’t you have a concern about protecting him? Don’t you have a concern about who he throws the football to?”
Chris Burke at SI.com ranks the network broadcast crews, and his top pick might surprise you: “Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock, NFL Network: Because the NFL’s Thursday night slate didn’t start until Week 10, this pairing only worked together a handful of times. But man, were they good. Nessler is energetic without being overly excitable, saving his best calls for the moments that necessitate them. His demeanor turned out to be the perfect match for Mayock, who was so good that SI’s Richard Deitsch named him the “Person of the Year” in his annual Media Awards. Not only does Mayock sound extremely prepared each game, but he takes that knowledge and easily translates it to the viewer. Thanks to the duo’s talents and the relatively weak slate of Thursday games this year, by season’s end people were tuning into the NFL Network’s broadcasts as much for the announcing as the games.”
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).
