On this date: Hasselbeck passes for Pro Bowl TD
A look at a memorable moment in Seahawks history that occurred on Feb. 10:
2008: Matt Hasselbeck completes 7 of 9 passes for 78 yards and a touchdown to help the NFC win the Pro Bowl 42-30.
On this date: Alexander propels NFC
A look at a memorable moment in Seahawks history that occurred on Feb. 8:
2004: Shaun Alexander runs for 66 yards and two touchdowns and also scores on a 5-yard reception to help the NFC take a wild 55-52 victory in the Pro Bowl. Matt Hasselbeck (4 of 9 for 51 yards), Alex Bannister (one special teams tackle), Steve Hutchinson and Walter Jones also represent the Seahawks in the game.
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.
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.”
On this date: An NFC title
A look at the memorable moments in Seahawks history that occurred on Jan. 22:
1992: Bob Bratkowski is named quarterbacks coach on Tom Flores’ staff. Bratkowski had been the offensive coordinator at the University of Miami, a position he would later hold with the Seahawks on Dennis Erickson’s staff.
2006: The Seahawks not only play in their first NFC Championship Game, they host the game and win 34-14 over the Panthers as Shaun Alexander rushes for 132 yards and two touchdowns, Matt Hasselbeck throws for two scores and the defense intercepts three passes. The decisive victory sends the Seahawks to Super Bowl XL.
2007: Bruce DeHaven is named special teams coach on Mike Holmgren’s staff.
2009: Tim Lewis, the brother of Seahawks’ director of pro personnel Will Lewis, is named defensive backs coach on Jim Mora’s staff.
On this date: 2011 Seahawks vs. Bears
A look at a not-so-memorable moment in Seahawks history that occurred on Jan. 16:
2011: Matt Hasselbeck passes for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but it isn’t enough as the Bears take a 35-24 victory in a divisional playoff game at Soldier Field. Jay Cutler stakes Chicago to a 28-0 lead by running for two TDs and passing for a third.
On this date
A look at the memorable – and not-so-memorable – moments in Seahawks history that occurred on Jan. 14:
1999: New head coach Mike Holmgren hires eight assistants from his staff with the Packers to join him with Seahawks: Mike Sherman, offensive coordinator/tight ends; Fritz Shurmur, defensive coordinator; Tom Lovat, offensive line; Larry Brooks, defensive line; Nolan Cromwell, wide receivers; Jim Lind, linebackers; Ken Flajole, defensive backs; and Kent Johnson, strength and conditioning.
2005: Bob Whitsitt is relieved of his duties as president of football operations.
2006: The Seahawks win their first playoff game since 1984 with a 20-10 victory over the Redskins in a wild-card game in Seattle. Darrell Jackson catches nine passes for 143 yards and a touchdown, while Matt Hasselbeck runs for TD.
2007: Robbie Gould kicks a 41-yard field goal to tie the game with 4½ minutes remaining in regulation and then hits a 49-yarder in overtime to give the Bears a 27-24 victory over the Seahawks in a divisional playoff game at Soldier Field. Shaun Alexander runs for 108 yards and two touchdowns, but is stopped for a 2-yard loss on a fourth-and-1 play from the Bears’ 44-yard line with two minutes left in regulation.
On this date
A look at the memorable – and not-so-memorable – moments in Seahawks history that occurred on Jan. 12:
1995: Dennis Erickson, who grew up in Everett, is named head coach of the Seahawks. It is first NFL job, and Erickson comes to his hometown team after compiling a 63-9 record in six seasons at the University of Miami. Erickson also brings six members of the Hurricanes staff with him: Gregg Smith, assistant head coach/tight ends; Greg McMackin, defensive coordinator; Dave Arnold, special teams; Dana LeDuc, strength and condition coach; Rich Olson, quarterbacks; and Willy Robinson, defensive backs.
2000: Steve Sidwell is named defensive coordinator on Mike Holmgren’s staff – replacing Jim Lind, who stepped in for the 1999 season after longtime Holmgren assistant Fritz Shurmur died of cancer.
2008: The Seahawks jump to a 14-0 lead in their divisional playoff game against the Packers at Lambeau Field, as Ryan Grant fumbles twice in Green Bay’s first three plays to set up a touchdown run by Shaun Alexander and Matt Hasselbeck’s TD pass to Bobby Engram. But then the Packers, and the snow, bury the Seahawks in a 42-20 loss in what is Brett Favre’s final victory with Green Bay. Grant bounces back to run for 201 yards and three TDs, while Favre completes 18 of 23 passes and throws for three TDs.
2009: Gus Bradley is named defensive coordinator on Jim Mora’s staff.
On this date
A look at the memorable – and not-so-memorable – moments in Seahawks history that occurred on Jan. 8:
1984: The Seahawks take the field at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum for the AFC Championship Game against the Raiders to the Pointer Sisters singing the national anthem and a crowd of 88,734 shaking silver-and-black Mylar pom-poms. But this one is over before it’s over, as Dave Krieg (three) and Jim Zorn (two) combine to throw five interceptions and Marcus Allen carries 25 times for 154 yards and also catches seven passes for 62 yards in the Raiders’ 30-14 victory.
1992: Larry Kennan is named offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach on the staff of Tom Flores, who replaces Chuck Knox as head coach. Kennan had been selected coach of the year in the World League of American Football after guiding the London Monarchs to the league title and an 11-1 record.
1999: Mike Holmgren is named executive vice president of football operations/general manager and head coach. Holmgren, who had guided the Packers to two Super Bowls, replaces Dennis Erickson. The Seahawks give up a second-round draft choice to the Packers as compensation for signing Holmgren.
2005: Matt Hasselbeck’s pass on fourth-and-four from the 5-yard line with 27 seconds to play goes off the hands of Bobby Engram in the end zone and the Rams escape with a 27-20 victory in a wild-card playoff game in Seattle. Hasselbeck passes for 341 yards, joining Dan Fouts and the Rams’ Marc Bulger as the only quarterbacks to pass for 300-plus yards in his first two playoff games. Darrell Jackson catches 12 passes for 128 yards and a TD as the Seahawks roll up 413 yards.
2010: Jim Mora is relieved of his duties as head coach after just one season, and a 5-11 record.
2011: The Seahawks stun the defending Super Bowl Champion Saints 41-36 in a very-wild wild-card playoff game in Seattle, as Matt Hasselbeck passes for four touchdowns and Marshawn Lynch ices the victory with an electrifying 67-yard touchdown with 3½ remaining where he breaks eight tackles and the celebration of his effort triggers seismic activity near the stadium.
On this date
A look at the memorable moments in Seahawks history that occurred on Jan. 6:
1992: Tom Flores, who had been the team’s president and general manager, is named president and head coach to replace Chuck Knox.
2002: Trent Dilfer, starting for an injured Matt Hasselbeck, throws two touchdown passes to Darrell Jackson as the Seahawks close their 2001 season with a 21-18 victory over the Chiefs at Husky Stadium. Shaun Alexander also scores on a 44-yard run in the third quarter, as Dilfer runs his record as the starter in ’01 to 4-0 and extends his consecutive victory streak to 15 after quarterbacking the Ravens to a Super Bowl in the 2000 season.
2007: Jordan Babineaux turns in the play that readers of Seahawks.com would vote the play of the decade as he pulls down Tony Romo short of the goal line and a first down after the Cowboys’ holder/QB drops the snap on a game-winning field-goal attempt with 1:14 left in the Seahawks’ 21-20 victory in a wild-card playoff game in Seattle. Matt Hasselbeck’s second TD pass to Jerramy Stevens with 4½ minutes left in the game gives the Seahawks their one-point lead.
