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Seahawks Blog |
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February 2008
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September 2006As a Senior in High School Rex Grossman was named Mr. Football in the State of Indiana. At Florida he threw four touchdown passes against Auburn and became the first Freshman to ever be named MVP of the SEC Championship game. On Sunday, Rex Grossman will get a major wake-up call when the Seahawks defense pays him a visit. Fantasy football fans will point out that Grossman has had some big games this season, but that was also against two of the worst defenses in the NFL, the Packers and the Lions. I think the key for the Seahawks, keep Thomas Jones from having a break-out game. ...The Seahawks are set to release linebacker and high-octane special team stand out Isaiah Kacyvenski in order to sign practice-squad running back Marquis Weeks as a back up for Maurice Morris. Kacyvenski has been a special-teams stand, fan favorite, and all around well liked guy in the locker room since 2000. When cut, the veteran will be able to sign with another team. However, Kaz won't be able to join the practice squad. The move is in part because of Shaun Alexander's foot injury, and the team's depth at linebacker. ...Some news and notes for Seahawk fans to keep an eye on Sunday night: Seahawks safety Ken Hamlin was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Month today by the NFL. Hamlin is the first Seahawk to win the NFC award since Chad Brown way back in November 1998. "It's definitely a big honor," Hamlin told the AP. "I don't take anything for granted. Even practice, I don't take that for granted." It was only eleven months ago Hamlin was in an intensive care unit with life-threatening injuries sustained in a Seattle street fight. The Seahawks defense is currently ninth in the league. The NFC's offensive Player of the Month? One guess. Yup, the Bear's R... You’ve been watching right? Week 4 of KING5’s Mike Holmgren Show takes us in a bit different direction than the past three shows. This week we’re on the air live right after the big game, it’s all about planning for the unexpected… ...Here are some good articles about how the Chicago Bears are preparing to face the Seahawks come Sunday. The Chicago Tribune has a story about how the Bears plan to stand pat in their defensive scheme, even though the Giants were scorched doing the exact same thing. I don't know if I believe the Bears on this one, but as a Hawks fans I can sure hope (If the site tries to get you to register, you don't have to. You can access the story via the Sports Page). >> Continue reading: Breaking down Da Bears Seahawks DT Marcus Tubbs was added to the IR, has surgery scheduled, and is expected to be out two weeks. The Bears run offense has been so-so this season, so it's one area to watch with Tubbs out. DE Joe Tafoya will also likely not play. We all know about Shaun. No Bears player of interest will miss the game. As far as the postulating pundits, Hawks at Bears: ESPN is perpetually late so I wouldn't check them out until tomorrow. However, SportingNews is picking Seattle by 3. They're pretty much... The possibility that Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander would play this Sunday versus the Chicago Bears grew slimmer late this afternoon, after a second round of tests showed a cracked bone in the MVP's foot. "(He) came in today feeling very, very good," coach Mike Holmgren said. "Kinda frisky, matter of fact. Told me he could play in the game. And I said, wait a second, let's take a deep breath here." Looks like the power of prayer had Shaun feeling better, but probably not better enough to try any running. He will accompany the team to Chicago, but barring a miracle will not get any playing time. Whew. All those fantasy player... Terrell Owens faced the media this afternoon. "There was no suicide attempt," Owens said. "The rumor of me taking 35 pills, I think, is absurd. I don't think I would be here had I taken 35 pills." Full story and video here. My first thoughts after reading about the alleged suicide attempt by T.O. was I hope the guy's ok. Even before the Sharpie Incident, the talented WR used to drive me nuts. Now I hope the man gets help. If the accounts are true, there couldn't be a clearer attempt of someone crying out for help. My second thought was, don't spin this. But the twisting of events already seems to be happening. If it's true like the >> Continue reading: Talking about T.O. 12th Man? 12th largest market in the nation? To go along with that trend, the Seahawks are now the 12th most popular team in the USA, according to a recent Harris Poll. Last year? They were ranked 23rd. So where did those polled place the Hawks in their quest for Super Bowl dominance? Fourth. The Colts were numero uno, followed by the Steelers and Patriots. You can read more about the story in the Puget Sound Business Journal. ...Alas poor Yorick, there's much ado in the NFC West besides all the talk of Shaun Alexander falling under the Madden Curse and Super Bowl Jinx (insert creepy ghostlike sound here). Looks like Kurt Warner is already on his way to being benched for former USC star QB Matt Leinart. We all knew it was coming, I just didn't think Denny Green would pull the carpet out from under the former MVP so quickly. I mean as a Seahawks fan, am I supposed to be scared of Bears QB Rex Grossman? I'm going to hazard a guess (while giving him kudos for helping get the win against the Vikings) and say...no. The Hawks defense looked great against a better QB, better receivers, and a better tight-end in the Giants game. Without doubt, the Seahawks are a much better team with Shaun suited up. But who has Grossman beaten so far this year? The Packers, Lions and Vikes--oh my. I think it's possible the Vikings were playing out of their heads early this season, and finally ran into a brick wall ca... Coach Mike Holmgren announced this afternoon in his weekly press conference that last year's MVP, Shaun Alexander, is out several weeks with a cracked bone in his left foot. The team's star running back was on crutches today at team headquarters in Kirkland. The left foot, which had been sore since the Lions game, was worsened some time during yesterday's crushing of the NY Giants. Maurice Morris will start in next week's game in Chicago. Looks like NBC will have to fix all those advertisements setting up a showdown of Alexander versus Defensive Player of the Year, Brian Urlacher. ...Well, the headlines say it all. The NY Post: Shock Treatment, Jeremy Rips Into Coughlin After Giant Debacle in Seattle. "We got outplayed and outcoached. Write that down," he said. When asked what he meant, the Giants TE replied, "You saw the game." And it doesn't stop there. Check out the NY Times , or just head straight to ESPN to watch the rant of one pissed off tight-end turned blocker--in the face of a Hawks defense the Giants obviousl... Bring it on, 12th Man. Bring it on. Job well done, as the first quarter was arguably the loudest ever at Qwest Field. Now does anyone think the crowd noise is piped in? Really? And while the noise died off during the last quarter, so did the Seahawks--so all is forgiven. What, four false starts contributed to the fans? Talking football now, boy, the middle of the field was open against the Giants all day long. So open, even Matt missed a few wide-open receivers. The O-Line, even while shuffling many players, looked much better and the special teams--a concern early in the year--got the job done. Look for Nate's drops to happen le... The 12th Man was already pumped up with allegations of artificial crowd noise, but when the refs botched a call giving the Giants an interception on the first play of the game, the crowd exploded. The noise was deafening, confusing the Giants offense and leaving young Manning scratching his head and throwing three interceptions in the first half. Meanwhile the Hawks offense ran the field for 18 first downs in the first half, and Hasselbeck finished the game with 5 touchdowns. With the halftime score at 35-3 (oooh, Feely made a field goal!), the crowd quieted down in the second half and the Giants put a few points on the board. Alexande... Fox Sports reports New York Giants General Manager Ernie Accorsi filed the allegation with the NFL that the Seahawks piped crowd noise into the stadium. Hey, good job Accorsi for firing up the 12th Man for the big game. ...Despite the fact I'm still a little hoarse from UW's incredible come-from-behind win over the UCLA Bruins, I'm ready to unleash the noise at the Giants game. "The only person louder than a Seahawks fan is a Seahawks fan with a megaphone, hint, hint," writes Marilyn in comments yesterday. Which makes me wonder how many megaphones we'll see inside the stadium. Regardless, I imagine it will be the loudest game in Qwest Field's history. And if you're watching at home, scream at the TV. I'll be bringing my camera to capture the action from the stands, and I'll post some pictures in our blanket post-game coverage. It's official. The Seahawks have activated Deion Branch for Sunday's game against the Giants. He'll back up starter Nate Burleson. I'm sure Branch, Burleson and the rest of the Hawks receiving crew are salivating at the chance to play the Giants. New York's pass defense ranks 31st in the NFL. Watch for more 4-receiver sets on Sunday. Especially with the Hawks being thin at tight end. Itula Mili will play, but won't start. Seattle released DL Chris Cooper to make room for Branch. Too bad for Cooper. Apparently, he made a good impression on the coaches, but is stuck behind a talented and deep group on the D-line. ...Well, looks like it's official. The Seahawks will take on Tom Brady and the Patriots in China, next preseason. New England already has a website in Mandarin. It could be tough going for both teams, having to travel so far right in the middle of preseason preps. Yin and Yang, I guess. But it sure seems like the Seahawks travel too much as is. Maybe the league will give the team a break next year. ...As Justin mentioned, NFL on Fox will be broadcasting live from Qwest Field before Sunday's big game. (Gasp! We're plugging another network? Whatever.) Hosts Terry Bradshaw, Joe Buck, Howie Long and Jimmy Johnson will be in the north lot of Qwest Field, and the show runs 8:30-10 a.m. They'll have live entertainment and allegedly, FREE FOOD. Then after the game, they'll start it back up again. So drop on by or watch it live on Q13. Giants kicker Jay Feely is coming back to Qwest this Sunday, and he says he can't wait. "I've been looking forward to this since the schedule came out," he said. Of course, Feely botched three kicks the last time he was here, which even became a sketch on Saturday Night Live. So what's his secret this time? "You have to stay mentally disciplined, and you can't allow your mind to wander. You can't focus on the past." Or the noise, eh? Meanwhile, the New York Times >> Continue reading: Feely can't wait for rematch Before we get to the experts' picks (there seems to be too many experts these days), some things to think about before Sunday's raucous match-up. Not only has Shaun missed practiced, Plaxico Burress was held out yesterday with a bad back. Expect the WR to play. Do you think Walt can withstand Umenyiora's wicked bull rush? And how will the TE situation hinder the Hawks? Ok, enough of that. Your expert picks: MSNBC is picking the Hawks. ESPN is split down the middle. As is >> Continue reading: Pick 'em, Giants v Hawks So I keep thinking, who would make the allegation of sound being pumped into Qwest Field? From what I understand, the NFL is already at every game, monitoring and watching like Big Bro. So, why the sudden attention? To boost ratings? Ok, the game is on in NY. Big market. Maybe FOX, who is broadcasting their pregame/halftime stuff from Seattle this Sunday. The Giants organization certainly wouldn't do it to themselves. So...who? A different team? But who benefits? The Cowboys, Eagles, and Redskins would seem to benefit the most, as they are all in the same division as the Giants. The Rams? The Cardinals? What do you t... "I love the 12th Man," newly appointed NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told the Associated Press. "I love the fact that home fans can influence the game. I'm not trying to take that away." Sheesh. Well, it seems like most pundits are picking the Hawk to win. And while here's a nice preview of the game, Sportsline's experts are split down the middle: three for the Hawks, three picking the Giants. Finally, if you haven't seen ESPN's >> Continue reading: Commish hearts 12th Man
Today, Mike Holmgren entertained the media with stories of memories of this meticulously precise game we call football. Last Sunday many of you may vividly remember Josh Brown's third blocked field goal in two games (AHHH!!!). While I was screaming at the tv saying Josh kicked the ball too low, the replay s-l-o-w-l-y revealed what really happened. Punter Ryan Plackemeier, the new guy in place of the dismissed Tom Rouen, didn't get the hold right after the snap flared a little high. Now, of course, kickers make a big deal about the laces facing out (remember Ray Finkel in 'Ace Ventura'?). So Ryan was trying to quickly get ...
Shaun (that's S-H-A-U-N) Alexander did not practice with the team and is listed as probable for the Giants game. Alexander is having issues with soreness in his foot, part of which led to him being spelled by Maurice Morris in the Cardinals game. Also on the report, tight end Itula Mili was listed as questionable. Jerramy Stevens and Floyd Womack are out. WR Deion Branch will play, but probably won't start. ...
Well, bring on the noise. That's right Seahawks fans. Bring. It. On. And while you are oiling the larynx for Sunday's game, some things to think about: Last year, "Miracle Manning" threw for 344 yards and two touchdowns at the Qwest. What are the chances this year? Oddsmakers have the Seahawks by three and a half. If the boss isn't looking, NFL.com has an interview with Matt Hasslebeck and what he thinks about the matchup. Also, why Walter Jones wants to >> Continue reading: Previewing the Giants at Seahawks The NFL says it has received allegations that the Seahawks are cranking up the volumn in Qwest Field by piping crowd noise into the stadium. And as a result, the NFL says it will be monitoring this Sunday's game against the Giants. Hmmm. I wonder where the allegations came from? Sore losers, perhaps? Last year, the Giants suffered 11 false start penalties -- and three missed field goals -- in a single game against the Hawks because the 12th Man took it to them. That's right, the 12th Man, not a recording. What, you New Yorkers can't take a little cro... The match-up I am most looking forward to this Sunday when the Giants return to Qwest Field is "Miracle Manning" versus the Seahawks defense... most notably the linebackers. It was apparent weeks ago that the defense was going to have to carry the team the first four games. At times on Sunday, it felt like the Seahawks were poised to blow the Cardinals away. As long as the O-Line keeps it up (and Walter Jones isn't hurt worse than the team is letting us know), I'd give them two more games to--as K5 main anchor Dennis Bounds put it--start firing on all cylinders. And I know it's way too early to give this statistic, b... It could be six weeks or more before Floyd Womack returns to work for the already hard-pressed Seahawks offensive line. In today's press conference, coach Mike Holmgren said the guard's knee injury is worse than tight end Itula Mili's. No definitive time table was announced for either to return. Future center and first round selection Chris Spencer, who did a good job filling in against the Cardinals on Sunday, will move into the left guard position. The team will likely hold more try-outs for TE, given that Will Heller is the only healthy player in that position on the team. Jerramy Stevens will probably not return until after the by... We should know more on the extent of both injuries, to tight end Itula Mili (knee) and left guard Floyd Womack (knee) when Coach Mike Holmgren gives his press conference today at 2:15 p.m. You can listen to it live, here. ...Well, the Game of the Week was definitely the Giants and Eagles. Although part of me thinks Eli was awfully lucky to have Plaxico catch that 31-yard Hail--hope to gosh Burress catches this--Mary. But he did, and you have to give the Giants credit. They didn't give up, and Manning helped them win the game. In fact, I'm glad they won. Hopefully it'll take a little steam off their shoulders for next week's rematch at the Qwest. Here's a look a the Giant's injury report (nothing big... Well, way to go 12th Man (and 12th Woman). My ears are still ringing. It seemed like three or four false starts could be attributed to the rocking Seahawk Nation. It was also a great performance by the defensive, a great tribute to Ring of Honor inductee Cortez Kennedy. On a side note, last week the Seahawks sent out a letter to season ticket holders telling people to mind their manners. Seems they were serious. The alcohol monitor staff were out and out in force. I watched several über-imbibers get tossed. Seahawks CEO Tod Leiweke gives coach Mike Holmgren a pat on the back after the game... We've posted quite a bit of video from KING 5 interviews after the game... A terrific defensive display by the Seattle Seahawks in shutting down the Arizona Cardinals, 21-10 -- the 11th straight win at home. The Cardinals gave up 3 turnovers, and the Hawks sacked Kurt Warner 5 times. The Hawks secondary shined with the exception of a 40-yard touchdown pass in the 4th quarter. Offensively, the Seahawks came out swinging in the first half with two quick touchdowns, but backed off the pace and seemed to be out of sync for much of the game. Hasselbeck was 12-27 with 221 yards and 2 interceptions. Alexander, Jackson and Strong all came away with one touchdown each. The Hawks defense (especially the secondary) dominated the talented Cardinal offense in the first half, with 3 turnovers and 3 sacks. The Cards have just 84 total yards with one third-down conversion. Meanwhile, Seattle has 227 total yards, 156 in the air. Alexander has 12 carries for 43 yards with one touchdown. Hasselbeck is 8 of 17 with one interception, and he's been sacked twice. Darrell Jackson has that 49-yard touchdown pass and 121 total yards. And Josh Brown suffered yet another blocked field goal attempt -- his third in two games. Well, if Branch isn't going to play against the Cards today, then my attention will be riveted on the Hawks' offensive line. Last week after Hasselbeck was mauled by the Lions defense, Coach Holmgren said he wasn't worried about the line's performance. But then he made himself clear to the starters than he'll play the backups if the situation doesn't improve. "We definitely have to be better this week," right tackle Sean Locklear said. Let's hope so... According to ESPN's John Clayton, the Seahawks have decided not to play new wide receiver Deion Branch this Sunday against the Cardinals. They will, however, raise the NFC Championship banner (didn't they already do this in pre-season?) and give kudos to former Seahawk Cortez Kennedy, by having Kennedy raise the 12th Man flag and placing him in the Ring of Honor. Thanks Tez, for giving us something to look foward to other than bootin' Rick Tuten during one heck of a forgettable 2... The AP (courtesy of ESPN) is reporting that the decision to play Deion Branch on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals will be a last second call. Coach Holmgren said, "I think it's a little unrealistic for anybody to come in with a couple days of practice and play after he hasn't in a long time. But he's a special kid... we're going to make that decision [Sunday], at the last second." If you want to read more, including how Branch is already working hard with Matt to learn the playbook, read the rest of the story. Ok, it's Friday which means another round of expert picks (not the same experts who have anything to do with Koren Robinson playing this weekend). Do you agree? Let's take a look. You can vote at MSNBC.com. ESPN's picks are always a little bit behind. SI.Com's Peter King thinks Branch will watch the Seahawks demolish the Cards from the sidelines. Then there are always >> Continue reading: Expert Picks Well, the NFC's Offensive Player of the Week is coming to sling away at Qwest Field for the Hawks home opener. I think it'll be a good test for the Seahawks, taking on a division rival riding a new stadium, new running back wave. And while the oddsmakers have the Seahawks at six (three points less than the original opening line versus the Lions--which was dead on to begin with), the contest has all the feel of the NF... And the Seattle Times is reporting the Seahawks have already signed a new long-snapper, Derek Rackley, a tight end last with the Atlanta Falcons. Well, J.P. Darche's hurt hip may have been what led the Lions to blocking the two FG attempts. Here's to hoping the Canadian get better, eh. ...Well, if you've read today's papers you know the outlook on the Branch deal sways mightly in both directions: some local writers think he's a quality player and person, others have a funny feeling about the whole thing. Like I said before, I like the deal. You could argue the Seahawks now have the best receiving corps of any NFL team. And I still think it's too early to believe the OL is in trouble. If you want more about Deion, head to NFL.com and check out an interview in today's <... Deion Branch arrived in Seattle last night with his fiancee and 19-month-old daughter, and was introduced to local media today. "I'm happy it's over," he said of his battle with the Patriots that resulted in $600,000 in fines. "I'm ready for some football." As for fans' expectations, "I'm just a piece to the puzzle," he said. Branch has signed a six-year, $39 million contract with the Hawks, as well as a $13 bonus and other guarantees (that fine isn't so big anymore, is it?) No exact word on when Branch will start playing. Week one is rarely a predictor of how good, or bad, a NFL team will be. And while the new stadium Cardinals beat the 49ers to kick-start their season, the score was awfully close. So what can a Seahawk fan expect to see this Sunday at Qwest Field? Don Banks from SI.com thinks Edge is going to have a long, banged up year if he has to run as hard as he did last weekend. And if the boss isn't looking, here's a more comprehensive look at what to expect. ...Yeah, the headline is already tired. However, the spin on how good Branch makes the Seahawks is not. While some feel Tom Brady got the shaft, the TNT takes a look on what makes the Seahawks successful in ways the Sonics and Mariners are not. If you want to listen live to the Hawk's introductory press conference of Deion Branch, it happens at 1 p.m. And while we all knew some team would do it, I really hope the Packers help >> Continue reading: Branching out And we can, too. Whatever you think, you know who Branch is (see star wideout) and what he can do (see Super Bowl MVP). He's also known for being a great guy in the locker room. And a first round pick can always be a bust, as Seahawks President Tim Ruskell pointed out this afternoon. So what else is being said? >> Continue reading: Pundits postulate per Branch pact Big news for the Seahawks coming out of ESPN, who is reporting that Super Bowl MVP Patriots WR Deion Branch is coming to the Emerald City. The deal, which the Seattle Times says has been confirmed by the team, included a first round pick from the Hawks. Here's a nice look at the deal, and what it means to the Pats and the Hawks, from USA Today. It won't fix the OL issues... "It was a heckuva game," Coach Holmgren told Paul Silvi during the taping for tonight's Mike Holmgren Show (airs after Sunday Night Football on KING 5). "You have to give credit to the Detroit Lions." One of the concerns has to be the offensive line (especially Floyd Womack), which had a tough time today with five sacks, but Holmgren says he's not concerned. "They had their hands full today, I will be honest with you about that. But I'm not worried about that group. That group will be as solid as any group we have over the course of the season," Holmgren said. ...We've posted quite a bit of video from exclusive KING 5 interviews after the game... Josh Brown booted a 42-yard field goal with just three seconds left to beat the Lions, 9-6 in Detroit. It was a battle of defenses on both sides without a single touchdown scored. The Hawks' offensive line and special teams had a lackluster performance. Alexander had 51 yards on 18 carries. Hasselbeck was sacked 5 times, but managed to throw 25 of 30 for 210 yards. And the Lions blocked two field goal attempts. On the injury front, a few scares: Both Walter Jones and Itula Mili limped out with leg injuries, but both were back a few plays later. And Hasselbeck was seen gripping his ribs in the end of the fourth quarter. (Also know as weathering a Mike Martz offense) I thought this game would be tough, and the first half was. And once more, special teams haunt the Seahawks. While the return game looks much better, two blocked kicks, well, as my wife so eloquently put it -- inexcusable (she used a little harsher verbage). Yet to have the Hawks offense (Matt) look so sharp so early is, well...nice. But I still feel like I'm waiting for the team to wake up. On TV, they look like they're stuck in second gear. Ok, I admit it. I'm a Seahawks fan. Been one for many years. So other longtime fans will understand how I look at the pundits' weekly predictions: If the experts pick the other team, I think they're lowballing the Hawks. If they pick the Hawks, I worry. Here's what ESPN's brain trust believes, and here are the predictions from USA Today's think tank. Odds are slowly spreading to 6 1/2 ... Well, I'm as tired of people calling Shaun Alexander soft as I am of the constant quabble over the Alaskan Way Viaduct. Here's one nat'l reporter who finally gets it. Also, I spoke of Jon Kitna taking on his former team yesterday, if you haven't had a chance TNT's Tom Boling put together a nice piece on the Lion's starting QB and Lincoln High graduate. ...Detroit Lions defensive line coach, Joe Cullen, was arrested twice in as many weeks, once for allegedly driving nude and then another time for suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Here's the story. ...Ok, I didn't say that. But this guy on ESPN.com did. In fact, Mr. Simmons ends his diatribe on the Seahawks by saying... "Pencil them (the Seahawks) in for 7-9. Do it. Do it right now." He also picks the Rams as this year's sleeper team: "Throw in Seattle's inevitable collapse and the Rams absolutely REEK of sleeperdom. That's why I'm picking them." ...In: Jon Kitna, Mike Martz. Out: Charlie Rogers and Joey Harrington. A 10 a.m. game in a different time zone. One reporter's take has Kitna headed to the Superbowl. So, honestly, what's new for the Lions in '06? How about a scathing primer from the Sporting News. Hawks sign wide receiver/kick returner Willie Ponder. That's tough news for Maurice Mann. He's waived to make room for Ponder. Mann just made the cut to 53 on Saturday. If Mann signs to the practice squad, that's quite the paycut. Going from 200-plus grand to about 65, all in a matter of a couple of days. For more on the "new guy," check out the jump...it's from the Seahawks press release. ...Can you believe another team may give Koren Robinson a chance to play football? I'm all for giving someone a second chance. But just like the Seahawks and now the Minnesota Vikings, I think the NFL needs to stay away from Koren until he can help himself. I've heard Koren is a great guy. But even great guys can have problems. Here's hoping he can turn his life around. I truly hope K-Rob can figure it out. He has a lot to offer on and off the field. ...Ok, five reasons why I worry about the game in Detroit (and why did the NFL decide to send the Hawks back to Motown for the first game, anyway? It's like rubbing salt on a wound): Walter Jones. Jerramy Stevens. Darrell Jackson. Steve Hutchinson. The tight end situation. Like I said a couple of weeks ago, I can see the defense having to carry this team the first four games. Any takers? ...Ok, in case you cannot get enough Seahawks and massive home renovations, here's a TV show you should set the DVR to record. Why the ABC producers chose to send Matt, Shaun and Lofa to tape an episode of Extreme Flakeover in Alaska, I have no clue. Somehow, when all is said and done, the idea gives me the creeps. ...The Seahawks had a short practice today. The big news of the day comes via Darrell Jackson. D-Jack hit the field for the first time since February's Super Bowl. He was short and sweet in his after-practice interview. On the field, D-Jack looked all right. He ran his routes, stretched and so and so forth. Because it was a light practice Jackson didn't have to do much. So it was hard to tell if his knee looked solid. ...Maybe I'm putting the whammy on the Seahawks by saying this, but I think the Steelers will suffer from a Super Bowl Curse, NOT the Hawks. Here's why. Big Ben is out with an emergency appendectomy (his second emergency surgery in three months...the first from the motorcycle crash). WR Hines Ward could miss the season opener with a hamstring injury (that'll bother him all season long). The Bus retired. Thank you God (or whatever your high power is). I was sick of hearing about his final season and how Big Ben wanted him to comeback and blah, ... The AP is reporting the Steeler QB Ben Roethlisberger is having an emergency appendectomy and will miss the season opener. You got to believe he'll miss more than one game. Emergency surgery isn't like a sprained ankle or knee. To say Big Ben is having a tough time since winning (or stealing for Hawks fans) the Super Bowl, is a understatement. A motorcycle crash and now emergency surgery...Oy! ...Fresh from the Seahawks. They've announced who will be on their 8-man practice squad. Mercer Island's David Kirtman makes it. Plus, Marquis Weeks is on the squad. It's nice to see Weeks there after Thursday's performance. The free agent running back gained 104 all-purpose yards. He nearly scored on a 25-plus yard screen play Thursday. Then punched it in from the one. For the rest of the list, click on the jump. ...Fresh from the Seahawks. They've trimmed their roster to 53. The biggest surprise is WR Peter Warrick. Everyone talked about how Warrick was healthy and could be poised for a big year (big by Warrick's standards). But on Thursday, I thought something was up when Warrick didn't return punts. Jimmy Williams filled in. Check out the jump for the rest of the cuts. ...ESPN.com is reporting that the Deion Branch deal could still be consumated. Len Pasquarelli believes the Hawks may revive talks to deal for Branch. He brings a few interesting reasons for it. ...Well, lookey here. Once again, the Seahawks hit ESPN's power rankings at numero uno. Too bad they don't have the team winning the Super Bowl. ...SI.com has a pretty darn good article sizing up the Seahawks competition this season in the NFC, pointing out each team's weaknesses and strengths. Check out how the Seahawks section begins: "I don't like Shaun Alexander's toughness, and without Steve Hutchinson, I wouldn't be surprised to see his rushing total drop 500 yards." ...ESPN is reporting that Seattle is one of two NFL teams that have reached an agreement with disgruntled Patriots WR Deon Branch. Right now it looks like the deals are hinged on compensation, with the Pats wanting a first round pick and more. ... |
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