Friday in Hawkville: To Moore, pink is more than just a color

A recap of the day’s activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Oct. 12:

FOCUS ON

Thinking pink. CenturyLink Field will be decked out in pink for the Seahawks’ game against the Patriots on Sunday. From the players’ shoes and gloves, to the Sea Gals’ pompoms, to the pink ribbons that will be distributed to the first 30,000 fans as they enter the stadium.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month in the NFL, and this will be the Seahawks only home game this month.

But to tight end Evan Moore, pink is more than just the color – especially the idea behind it. His grandmother and mother-in-law are breast cancer survivors, and his great aunt died from the disease.

“Breast cancer has hit my family and every year my wife and I decide to support it anyway we can – raise awareness and fund raise and be a part of it as much as possible,” Moore said. “And the NFL is doing the same thing.”

The league raises money by having the players autograph the pink gear they wear and donating it to auctions. But to Moore, there’s more to it than that.

“People forget that along with fund raising there’s also raising awareness,” Moore said. “Getting women to go get screened is just as important as raising money. There are probably exceptions, but it’s my understanding that if you get screened with enough regularity than you’ll probably be in the clear if something were to happen.”

Take it from someone who has seen it happen.

“I was old enough to remember my grandmother and great aunt going through it,” Moore said. “It’s a tough disease. But it’s a great thing the NFL is doing.”

PLAYER WATCH/OPPONENT WATCH

Max Unger, as well as Vince Wilfork and Kyle Love. This is a two-fer today, because Unger practiced for the first time this week and is ready to start at center on Sunday, coach Pete Carroll said; and also because the Patriots have built their defense around the tackle tandem of the 325-pound Wilfork and the 315-pound Love, in Carroll’s view.

First Unger. “Max, of all of our guys, he’s like an old vet for us,” Carroll said when asked if Unger was not only ready but prepared after sitting out Wednesday and Thursday to rest a sore hip. “He can handle it as well as anybody.”

Now Wilfork and Love, who will present a challenge for Unger and also guards James Carpenter and Paul McQuistan. “They’re huge. They’re much bigger than advertised,” Carroll said. “They’re really physical and they’ve built their defense around those two guys and count on them to absolutely dominate in the middle. It’s hard moving those guys. They kind of play where they want to. But we’ll put a couple hats on them and see if we can get them moving some.”

The good news is that one of those hats will belong to Unger.

INJURY REPORT

The official end-of-the-week report, as released by the team:

Out

OG John Moffitt (knee)

DL Jaye Howard (foot)

Doubtful

DT Clinton McDonald (groin)

Probable

RB Marshawn Lynch (back)

C Max Unger (hip)

With Howard out and McDonald doubtful after not practicing all week, rookie Greg Scruggs will be active for the first time in three games and only the third time this season. “I’m anxious to see him play,” Carroll said of Scruggs. “He hasn’t been out there for a while. So we’ll get him going a little bit.” Like Unger, Lynch participated in every phase of practice today.

For the Patriots:

Out

S Steve Gregory (hip)

LB Tracy White (foot)

Questionable

RB Brandon Bolden (knee)

DE Brandon Deadarick (ankle)

Julian Edelman (hand)

Justin Francis (ankle)

TE Rob Gronkowski (hip)

TE Aaron Hernandez (ankle)

LB Donta Hightower (hamstring)

TE Michael Hoomanawanui (concussion)

OG Logan Mankins (calf/hip)

C Nick McDonald (shoulder)

CB Sterling Moore (knee)

RB Shane Vereen (foot)

OT Sebastian Vollmer (back/knee)

WR Wes Welker (ankle)

Probable

DT Kyle Love (knee)

STAT DU JOUR

From 1988-1993, the Seahawks played the Patriots six times – winning five of those games. From 1980-86, they also played the Patriots six times – but won only twice. The two teams did not meet from 1994-2003, and have played only twice in the past eight seasons. Here’s a look at their on-again, off-again series:

Date                      Outcome                     Patriots QB

Oct. 9, 1977         Patriots, 31-0@          Steve Grogan

Sept. 21, 1980     Patriots, 37-31            Steve Grogan

Dec. 19, 1982       Patriots, 16-0             Steve Grogan

Dec. 18, 1983       Seahawks, 24-6         Tony Eason

Sept. 16, 1984      Patriots, 38-23@       Grogan/Eason

Nov. 17, 1985       Patriots, 20-13            Steve Grogan

Sept. 21, 1986      Seahawks, 38-31@     Tony Eason

Dec. 4, 1988          Patriots, 13-7@           Doug Flutie

Sept. 24, 1989      Seahawks, 24-3@       Tony Eason

Oct. 7, 1990          Seahawks, 33-20@     Marc Wilson

Sept. 20, 1992      Seahawks, 10-6@       Hugh Millen

Sept. 19, 1993      Seahawks, 17-14@     Drew Bledsoe

Oct. 24, 1993        Seahawks, 10-9           Scott Secules

Oct. 17, 2004        Patriots, 30-20@        Tom Brady

Dec. 7, 2008          Patriots, 24-21            Matt Cassel

@ — game played in Foxboro

UP NEXT

The players will have a walkthrough on Saturday morning.

Football 101, sponsored by the Seahawks Women’s Association, will be held at VMAC from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can register here to attend.

YOU DON’T SAY

“What a great recognition. He was an incredible football player. He played for so long and was so dominant for so long. He was a great attitude guy and really kind of the heart and soul of the history of this program when you talk about defensive linemen.” – Carroll on Hall of Fame defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy, who will have his No. 96 retired during a halftime ceremony on Sunday