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