SEAHAWKS MUST RIDE WAVE OF WILSON'S SUPER BOWL VISION

The Seattle Seahawks are coming off their second defeat this season and unfortunately, it had to be at the hands of their division rival, the San Francisco 49ers.  For a Seahawk fan, losing to the 49ers is akin to losing a child or something similar.  Jim Harbaugh and Colin Kaepernick carry the honor of being the most disliked 49ers and they always seem to be the ones with their mouths flapping constantly anytime a microphone or camera is nearby. 

After the loss to the Niners, free safety Earl Thomas mentioned that perhaps some of his teammates got too caught up in the idea of winning the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs by earning the number one seed in the NFC.  The Seahawks took care of business, beating the New Orleans Saints, in Seattle the week prior, but their flight down to San Francisco didn't turn out the way they had hoped or expected.

First, and foremost, the Seahawks committed far too many penalties and what's worse, the flags occurred on plays that were critical to drives leading to field goals rather than touchdowns.  Reportedly, 49ers head Coach Jim Harbaugh and OC Greg Roman, had a pre-game on-field meeting with NFL referee, Clete Blakeman, and the rest of his officiating crew.  Harbaugh and Roman tipped them off that, in their words (paraphrased), "The Seahawks held our receivers on every single play up in Seattle, in our first meeting.  That's why our receivers were unable to get loose and make plays down field."  They went on to warn the officiating crew on practically every infraction Seattle has drawn since Pete Carroll took over in 2010.  I don't quite understand why it is that the referees tolerate coaches attempting to sway them into making penalty calls against their opponent.  The officiating crews should already be prepared for all rules and penalty situations as well as interpretation for all on-field infraction calls before the game starts without a pregame powwow with the coaches and other team personnel.  It’s preposterous and should be considered a giant insult to the NFL officiating crews, but somehow it’s allowed.  There were several ghost penalties on Seattle, though I also saw several penalties called on the 49ers that had no merit whatsoever.  This is by far the worst officiating performance on the year that I have seen in recent memory.  Clete Blakeman’s have been highly criticized for making errors in officiating and affecting the outcome of more games than any other crew currently officiating.  If the replacement officials were making these calls, they would be crucified by the; league, media, fans, the players and coaches alike.  I expect more from these professionals and it just might require that the National Football League pay the officials like full-time employees, rather than the job being seasonal, something like public school teachers deal with each summer.  The decisions and interpretations made during these pro-football games are integral to calling a clean game, and each individual game has more gravity and impact than perhaps any other team game in terms of the ramifications that lead to post game qualification.  Not to mention, the difference of hundreds of millions of dollars between successful organizations and perennial losers.  Last season, the Seahawks were denied a divisional championship by "one half game" because the 49ers tied with the Rams earlier in the season.  Because of that, Seattle became a wild-card team and did not get the first round bye in the playoffs or a home game in postseason play.  Instead, they had to fly across the country to Washington DC to play the "Washington Pro Football Team" in the wild-card matchup at FedEx Field, in Landover, Maryland.

Although Seattle did get some questionable officiating calls against them at Candlestick Park, it's important to point out that poor officiating wasn't the reason that Seattle lost to the 49ers last Sunday.  The Seahawks had their chances and simply didn't execute.  This was a very hard-fought contest that remained close for all four quarters of the game.  The only major difference in the game was that when the 49ers needed a big play, they got it.  Running back, Frank Gore, ripped off a 51 yard trap play, placing the 49ers well within their kicker's (Phil Dawson) field-goal range.  Many, including myself, sat in front of their televisions wondering why Coach Carroll didn't simply allow the 49ers to score, which would have left the Seahawks offense and Russell Wilson more than two minutes to put together a "possible" game-winning or tying drive.  Seattle had a one point lead 17-16, so even if the 49ers would have scored a touchdown, and tried for a two-point conversion, Seattle would have only trailed by six or seven points.  They could have figuratively driven down the field, scored a touchdown and tied the game with the PAT or could have tried for a two-point conversion, themselves, for a victory.  The two point conversion for Seattle would have been unlikely, though.  Carroll would likely have opted to play for the “tie” and an overtime period to live to fight on.  However, when the Seahawks coaching staff decided to play for a defensive stop or perhaps a turnover, (which made no sense whatsoever) they left so little time on the clock that any kind of heroic drive to score and tie the game was unlikely with just 26 seconds remaining in regulation.  The ensuing kick was short, giving Golden Tate a chance for the return.  Unfortunately, he was only able to manage a return to the 15 yard line.  Next, Russell Wilson found Jermaine Kearse on a deep "go route" down the middle of the field.  Kearse tripped on his own feet, and fell down as he tried to adjust to the ball.  This allowed the defender to intercept the ball, icing the game for the 49ers and ultimately splitting the 2013 series with Seattle, 1-1.

So, what did we learn about the 49ers game last week?

The Seahawks played one of their worst games of the season and lost by only a deuce.  Colin Kaepernick didn't look particularly sharp and even without Brandon Browner and Walter Thurmond, the Seahawks kept the Niners' wide receiving and tight end “quartet” under control for the most part.  Kaepernick was 15-29, 175 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT and a passer rating of 67.5.  The Niners signal caller has never had particularly good outings against the Seahawks, going 1-2 and getting blown out in both trips to the Northwest.  Seattle's defensive line also did their jobs for most of the game; Frank Gore had 110 yards, with 51 of those yards on one play at the end of the game, the play that ultimately decided the game.  The Niners had no touchdowns rushing and they kept Kaepernick from using his feet to attack Seattle's defense.  The real breakdown was on Seattle's offense and the ongoing problem with making mental errors and drawing ridiculous and unnecessary penalties on big plays and important drives.  The Seahawks had four plays called back of 20 or more yards gained passing and rushing.  Five of their nine penalties were on third down, killing drives and giving the ball back to the 49ers.  Russell Wilson was 15-25, 199 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT and a passer rating of 81.9.

The Seahawks protection of Russell Wilson was much improved, from what the diminutive QB phenom has dealt with over a 10 game stretch, while 2/3 of his best offensive lineman were out with various injuries.  Breno Giacomini, Russell Okung and the rest of the offensive line allowed Wilson to be sacked just twice for 21 yards.  Unfortunately, Seattle could not get their running game going throughout the game.  Marshawn Lynch tallied just 72 yards on 20 carries and his longest carry was for just 11 yards; Lynch scored the only rushing TD.  Robert Turbin was the only other Seahawks running back with a carry, just 2-12.  Another aspect of Seattle's offense that was nonexistent was Russell Wilson running the read option or even taking off of boot passing plays where he would usually tucked the ball under his arm and run if he couldn't find an open receiver.  Wilson carried the ball just once for 2 yards.  This is highly unusual for the Seahawks offensive not to utilize Wilson's speed while out on the flank looking for throwing lanes.  Slot receiver, Jermaine Kearse, had a real good look at a well thrown ball from Wilson in the left front corner of the end zone that hit Kearse right in his hands, but failed to haul it in.  This was a game of missed opportunities and far too many mistakes.  The mistakes have been a common theme for Pete Carroll's Seahawks over the last two years.  However, making plays hasn't been a chronic problem for this football team.  Each week it seemingly turns out that a new hero arises and makes the plays necessary for Seattle to move the ball and score often enough to win.  Wilson was unable to consistently find open receivers as Tate (6), Baldwin (3) Kearse (2), and Miller (1) seemed almost nonexistent.  The leading receiver of the day was rookie tightend, Luke Willson, 3-70, TD.

From the onset, it didn't appear that the Seahawks came into the stadium with the energy we are used to seeing from Pete Carroll’s highly excitable players.  There was a lot on the line for both football teams; the Seahawks playing for the division title and playoff rewards and the 49ers simply playing for a spot in postseason.  It was as if, the Seahawks' players believed the 49ers game wasn't one they needed.  As it turned out, that's the way they played the entire game, too.  Seattle had no energy, no sense of urgency and even the coaching staff seemed unimaginative, tentative and careful with their playcalling.  All in all, it was an uninspired afternoon of Seahawk football, with too many errors and not enough big plays to win.  The 49ers players were well aware what was on the line for them.  This was a must win game or they were going to be back on the Bay, watching the playoffs (on TV) this year from their living rooms. 

The Seahawks still possess a two-game lead on the 49ers in the NFC West division, but now it becomes imperative that Seattle wins two of their final three remaining games against the; Giants, Cardinals, and Rams.  The NFC West is widely believed to be the toughest division in football and division rivalries can create outcomes that are inconsistent with collective logic.  In simpler words, the Seahawks cannot sleep on any of these remaining opponents if they have any hope of winning the division and securing a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.  The latter, being imperative, Seattle not losing a football game in the last 14 contests at CenturyLink field.  Russell Wilson has been the starter for all of those winning games on his home field.  Winning this week against the New York Giants would be a favorable start to finishing the regular-season and dominating the NFC West.  Taking back the division title for the first time in three years would also be a shot in the arm for the 12^th man and would likely ramp up the volume at the C’Link for the playoffs.  Because of the decided advantage for the Seahawks, playing in Seattle in front of the 12th man at CenturyLink Field, home field advantage in the playoffs would virtually be "curtains" for any team coming to the cold, wet and miserable Pacific Northwest in January.

Pete Carroll seems to have his football team ready for the New York Giants.  This will be “one” of hopefully “two” visits to the New Jersey Meadowlands this season, for this year’s Super Bowl XLVIII will be played at New Jersey’s “MetLife Stadium,” the home of the New York Giants and Jets.  It’s a long flight and it will be another 10:00 AM start for the Seahawks, one of five this season (tied for most).  Carroll has his team in the mindset that “time zones and game start times” should absolutely have no effect on their ability to execute their game plan, and thus far, his team has responded winning five of seven road games this season, four of them being in different time zones with one remaining this Sunday.  Seattle has certainly bucked the stigma of being a poor “Road team.”  In fact, going back to last season, Russell Wilson and the Seahawks are 8-3 in road games for their last 11, including a playoff road win in Washington.  It was the first playoff road victory for the Seahawks in three decades.  The Seahawks have a road ready, dominant defense, and as history shows, you could take a defense on the road with little or no effect on the players; it’s another case altogether for traveling offenses, though.

Look for Seattle to re-establish their dominant running game this week against the Giants, followed by a rigorous and beguiling play action, read option combination in tandem with a big play deep threat to punish the aggressiveness of a team that may likely play in the same brand of football they usually do, but now without the personnel to make it effective.  Under Tom Coughlin this season, New York is a dismal 5-8 and mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.  So, the question for the Seahawks is likely; “How will the team react to playing for nothing, literally, in terms of this year’s postseason.  The Giants’ players are beaten down from a long, and losing, 17 week season, fall of a laundry list of key injuries and a roster that has been allowed to get old.  I believe it all depends on how much is left “in the tank” for these Giants’ players.  How many of Coughlin’s personnel are playing severely hurt or injured, and how successfully he can ready them for a game that seemingly has no real meaning to the players.  Other than, to save their coaches job and for their sense of pride, not surrendering to the West Coast bullies without a fight, there isn’t much to say about this game for Giants fans.  They must have a certain amount of pride on that football team, yes?  After all, this team has won two Super Bowl Championships in four years and both under the tutelage of Coughlin.  The Giants have their share of stars on the roster, as well.  Super Bowl MVP QB Eli Manning, big sack men; DE Jason Pierre-Paul and DT Justin Tuck, and WR Victor Cruz, and WR Hakeem Nicks.  Coach Coughlin has always put together very well coached and discipline defensive squads.  It’s vital that the Seahawks go to the East Coast with an aggressive game plan and a laser focus… A focus on Nothing other than the New York Giants football team.  The Seahawks must make this a “statement game” in New Jersey; everything else comes later; the time is NOW to concentrate on the HERE and NOW.  No one knows the concept of “supreme focus” more than Russell Wilson. 

There is no doubt among the Seahawks players, that this is Russell Wilson’s football team.  He is; their field marshal, their locker room cornerstone, their calming centerpiece and their on-field captain (voted by the team).

The Seahawks players must ride the wave of Wilson’s hopelessly positive attitude and his impeccable attention to detail.  They have their leader and now they must follow him into battle and take care of the business that they are fully capable of completing.  Wilson has already visualized winning multiple Super Bowls, and now the team must make the first one in reality.

WHEN PRO FOOTBALL WAS JUST A GAME

I feel trapped between the present and when football players did it just for the love the game –

The NFL has painted itself into a corner by making a very public pledge to reduce player injuries, especially the number of head concussions in 2013– and going forward.  After a reported 4000+ former NFL players collectively filed an enormous lawsuit against the National Football League, The 32 team owners and Commissioner Roger Goodell et al. had no choice but to listen.  After several studies on various issues related to player injuries and whether or not the league’s; physicians, trainers, coaches or equipment providers had any negligence, a class-action lawsuit resulted in a settlement for the players.  The settlement appeared, at first, to be large in the amount of $763 million, however after examining the dollar amount in relation to the number of filing litigants, each player received a settlement figure of approximately; $190,750 over the next 20 years.  That figure comes to $9537.50 per year and $794.79 per month.  I’m not certain of the state and federal tax laws, but I imagine the state tax laws would vary for each player receiving settlement funds.

It’s difficult to form an opinion about the case that was prepared and ultimately settled out of court by the Council representing the former players.  Without all the various study results and any other evidence used during the preparation for this case, but I was never in support of former NFL players receiving a settlement or any other reparations because of concussions or any other football related injuries.  Although, as you start to do the arithmetic necessary to determine each players settlement award, it doesn’t seem that they can claim victory.  Would you trade your mental and physical health, for headaches, depression, insomnia, photosensitivity, nerve disorders, memory loss (short and long term), ability to concentrate, inability to form thought or calculate numbers and a variety of other disorders; for a settlement that would pay you less than $800 per month for 20 years?

The game of tackle football is a violent sport and it was intended to be.  The men, who play this game, play it with both a conscious and subconscious mental objective of crashing into the opposing player as hard as is humanly possible, but at the same time it’s also enigmatic; players will honestly claim that they intend to hit their opponent hard enough to incapacitate them, but not to intentionally injure or permanently disable.  The goal of the tackler is to strike a blocker or tackle a ball-carrier with such violent velocity and force as to upend him, or at a minimum, enough colliding force to separate him from the football.  The blocking players often stand as high as 6’8” and sometimes weigh in excess of 350 lbs. and have a specific job of battering ram to provide a wall of humanity to keep a defensive team from attacking their quarterback on passing plays and the force and mass to plow defensive lines, creating runways for ball-carriers behind them.

Some observers of football have called it a “Contact Sport” but as the late, great, Hall of Fame coach, Vince Lombardi, once stated, “Football is Not a contact sport-- Dancing is a contact sport-- Football is a collision sport.”  Coach Lombardi made many profound and original statements about the game of football, but perhaps this was his most poignant.  His influence and effect on “the manner in which the game is played” is legendary, and no one encouraged more toughness in his players than the man whose namesake is engraved on the game’s championship trophy.  Lombardi is considered by many to be the godfather of rough and tough tackle football.

Coach Lombardi is also credited for drawing the parallels between the ancient sport of Roman Gladiators and American football.  Even the equipment (or armor) of football has its likenesses to the suits worn, protecting gladiators long ago.  Football equipment has continued to evolve with the evolution of the football player through the years.  Since the days of leather helmets, no facemasks and even earlier when no headgear was worn at all, athletic manufacturing companies have continued to test and evaluate equipment to be safer for the player.  The helmets are now lighter and custom fitting, with a reinforced and patted chin straps that fasten to the helmet shell with two straps and buttons and the facemasks more resemble the grill of a muscle car to protect the nose, chin, jaw and the forehead.  The shoulder pads are scientifically designed to defuse and distribute the force of shock in a way that lessons the PSI (pounds per square inch) of impact on the athlete’s shoulders, solar plexus and scapula.  Silicone mouthpieces have been technologically improved to protect the mouth and are molded to custom fit a player’s dental structure.  America’s favorite sport has spawned several improvements in nutrition, equipment and training sophistication to develop a faster, stronger and more efficiently destructive athlete. The result is a simple matter of pre-Newtonian concept, in particular Aristotle’s theory of force: F= M x V (force-mass-velocity).  The stronger the athletes become, the more they increase their body mass.  That mass becomes heavier and denser because muscle tissue weighs more than fat tissue.  And the more acutely trained they become, using improved mechanics and technique, their speed increases.  It simply more mass and velocity and therefore the collisions become more violent and destructive on both the player that initiates contact and the player that absorbs the majority of the collision.  In the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine, held in Indianapolis, Indiana each April, a mountain of a man from (U of Memphis) name Dontari Poe, ran the 40 yard dash in 4.84 seconds.  This was after bench pressing 225 lbs. 44 times.  All on their own merit, these tangible player statistics are impressive, but to make this graphic even more impressive, Poe is a defensive nose tackle who weighed 340 lbs. at the time.  After being drafted in the first round, the 11^th selection overall, Dontari Poe now plays for the NFL Kansas City Chiefs football team.  This is only to illustrate the evolution of the Y2K athlete and just how physical and demanding the game has become.  Given the fact that the players are getting bigger, stronger and faster, the possibility of defraying a lot of gametime and practice session injuries seems more and more unlikely as the years progress in pro sports.

Now, considering what I attempted to illustrate in the previous paragraph; I wonder how it is that the National Football League Office intends to make professional tackle football safer, without destroying the object of the game, and the manner in which football was originally designed to be played.  Even the simple fact that the NFL has stated a vow, promising to make the game safer is almost laughable – – if I didn’t think they were going to be serious about it.  As it turned out, they were dead serious about it and since have made several changes to the game itself, its rules and the way those rules are interpreted by officiating crews.

I’m not opposed to making rule changes to remove a “distinct and ongoing collection” of “unnecessary injuries” from a game that contains “obvious, severe and inherent” risk of “unusual danger” to the players, including a clear link of “cause and effect” to danger.  However, once they extirpate the foundational building blocks of the game, (the aspects that made the game popular to spectators to begin with), then I wonder if it’s really worth continuing to play the game at all – – particularly when it begins driving the fans away.  Watering down a sport that that literally began its popularity on the simple and primal attraction to gladiator-like competition, seems (at best) a reach to continue the avalanche of monetary gluttony by the conglomerate of 32 NFL franchise owners without giving back what fans pay, specifically, to see.  I think it would begin a long, slow death for the National Football League if their continued goal is to change the brand and the structure of football that has been the hallmark of tackle football since nearly every young, proud and excited footballer put on a helmet and shoulder pads and growled into a full-length, hall mirror in his uniform.

Now, the NFL is in the midst of a mild revolt in the form of upset and confused football fans who are watching, the rough and tough, hard hitting game they grew up watching, turn into something more resembling “two hand touch” that used to be played at recess in grammar schools across the country.  Football fanatics and enthusiasts are watching the best players in the game being flagged for doing the things that used to get great football legends inducted into the Pro football Hall of Fame in Canton Ohio. The playing field is becoming so slanted that it seems almost impossible for defenders to do their jobs on the field.  Originally, penalties for “defensive pass interference” and “illegal face guarding” were implemented into the NFL officiating handbook to increase offensive scoring raising the point production for teams and making it more exciting for fans to watch. Historically, fans enjoy higher scoring contests more than defensive battles between teams allowing little scoring action or yards from one another.  However, in the last two years, there has been a drastic change in roles and more specifically, in rule interpretation by officiating crews throughout the NFL and to a lesser extent, college football.

The major issue causing the NFL and the NCAA to change rules surrounds the subject of acute player injuries, in specific; Head injuries causing skull fractures and the more common occurrence of concussions.

I learned long ago that the answer to nine out of every ten questions is; MONEY. When former pro football players began to seek counsel from personal injury attorneys, the NFL office began listening to what they were saying.  Former players were complaining of acute chronic cases of symptomatic disorders, including but not limited to; short and long-term memory loss, acute chronic depression, photosensitivity, severe headaches, chronic confusion, suicidal thoughts, nerve disorders, early Parkinson’s disease, balance and coordination loss, chronic nausea and a variety of psychosocial disorders relating to an extensive list of behavior transformations spanning from antisocial disorders, severe anxiety and chronic agoraphobia among others.  The players, with the support of their physicians and treatment specialists, believed that these symptoms were directly related to multiple instances of acute head trauma, specifically concussed brain tissue.  Not long after the subject was broached to the NFL, the former NFL players filed a lawsuit against the National Football League.  Their attorneys cited the NFL for their inability to seriously make an effort to avoid concussions in football and even more importantly, a failure to institute a serious protocol to evaluate players who have possibly sustained concussions and a systematic plan to prevent players from playing action until they were physically and mentally ready to join their teammates on the field again.

Where does money come into play?  The NFL was anticipating a gigantic monetary lawsuit from the former players and began action to develop some sort of history of handling possible concussed players with as much care and attention as possible.  The NFL lawyers needed to put up some sort of organized front to convince a jury that the NFL cared about its athletes and was committed to caring for their physical and mental needs for all football related injuries including any that may carry on into the player’s lives once their football careers were over.  This is when the NFL’s competition committee began implementing rule changes to protect players from concussions.  Among those rule changes that were implemented after the lawsuit was filed, include several “Unnecessary Roughness Fouls”;

I: a 15 yard penalty for helmet to helmet hits.

II: a 15 yard penalty for a hit on a defenseless player, including blindside blocking hits.

III: a 15 yard penalty for an offensive ball-carrier lowering for a helmet to helmet hit, enforced only if the ball-carrier is outside the tackle box.

IV: A change on the kickoff play where the ball would be originally placed and kicked from the (35 yard line), rather than the formally placed position (30 yard line) to lessen the number of kicks returned as most kickers can reach the ball deep into the end zone causing the kick returner to take a knee and thus create a touchback, bringing the ball to the 20 yard line.

V: An increased scope of protection for the quarterback, penalizing would be tackler’s for hitting the quarterback high around the head and neck area of the body, and a penalty against a defender, hitting a quarterback in and around the region of the knee.

As the media coverage concerning the lawsuit against the NFL began to grow, the number of litigants involved in the suit grew substantially.  By the time the case was formerly filed and presented to opposing counsel, more than 4000 litigants were included in the suit giving it “class-action” status.  The NFL’s own investigation team then offered a veritable “mea culpa” when they publicly reported the result of their study on the medical findings of the players they examined.  They found that (indeed) the football related head trauma among the players examined were directly the cause of many of the former players “physical, psychological and developmental disorders” they complained of after retiring from the game.  After that investigative “faux pas” was discovered, the NFL Players Association had a very convincing case.  The National Football League had no other choice but to come to a reasonable settlement with the former players on a financial settlement rather than going to court and risking a bigger award of damages.  Ultimately, the NFL and the former players agreed on a payment of nearly $1,000,000,000 ($1 billion) in damages.  As a part of the settlement, the NFL also agreed to make several rule changes designed to hopefully prevent, or at least mitigate, many of the brain trauma injuries occurring in ways that could possibly be avoided. 

Now, because of the major focus on these types of injuries, officials have been said to be hypersensitive to hits and tackles of a violent nature-- Even if they are technically within the guidelines of safe blocking and tackling.

As a result of all the attention given to head injuries and the real possibility of future legal action against the league by players suffering from ongoing symptoms of concussions, an echo response has affected not only the way the game is played, but how it is officiated.  Entire NFL officiating crews are now asked to interpret many “real time” penalties on blocking assignments, hits and tackles by players in real speed.  Former NFL coach and longtime CBS football analyst, John Madden, believes the NFL officials are being asked to do too much in terms of rule interpretation and the sheer number of scenarios that could draw a flag.  By adding several judgment type observations than an official is asked to do in each play from scrimmage as well as special teams plays, Madden believes that it is confusing and the interpretation, although comprehensive education has been provided, is still taking officials away from the ability to call a clean game and focus on the fundamental rules that have been part of football for scores of years.  With a number of penalty possibilities on each play, and while adding so many safety related penalties, it would literally be necessary to increase the number of officials in any crew by perhaps 4 to 6 field judges and/or linesman.  Obviously, safety is the number one issue right now in pro-football, and the competition committees would also like to see the officiating crews get the calls right.  Thusly, a review board for officiating was created long ago to evaluate the correct and the erroneous calls made in every NFL game throughout the preseason, regular season and postseason games.  The officiating crews that score the highest in the manner in which they monitor their seasons game calls are elevated to the playoffs and ultimately the Super Bowl crew.  So, safety first, but what this is doing to the games and therefore, to the fans that make this great sport possible, is not going in a positive direction.

In the last two years and since the latest collective bargaining agreement (CBA) was agreed on and signed between the NFL owners and the NFL players Association in 2011, it seems fans are growing weary of the officiating process and how much of the game is focused on the officiating crew and decided by the interpretation of a growing number of penalties in the National Football League Rule Book.

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of officiating in the NFL, for spectators of the sport, is the ubiquitous and high level of inconsistency from officiating crews and individual officials themselves. Football is not a simple sport to officiate the way that baseball can be and even basketball.  First, there are 22 players on the field at once in football and each of the players is critically involved in every play; not just the ball-carrier.  The rulebook is also specific to what certain positions can do and what they cannot.  For instance, on passing plays, only certain players are allowed to run or block past the imaginary transverse line a.k.a. “line of scrimmage.”  Tightends, wide receivers, running backs and an occasional “tackle eligible” (who must report as such to the referee) are allowed to cross the line of scrimmage.  On offense, only one man can be in motion at a time, before the snap, and only skilled positions (RB, WR, TE, QB).  These are just examples of the way officials must see the game before the snap of the football.  Each official has a certain set of responsibilities to monitor during the game and the number of possible penalties is staggering when you consider everything happens in a matter of 0-12 seconds on average.  Several of these penalty scenarios are objective in nature, but now that the league has instituted so many new and subjective penalty possibilities, it’s making it increasingly difficult for officials to call a clean game and it’s showing in an obvious way.

The axiomatic increase of subjective penalties called in today’s game, and the delay in the flow of the game has made football tedious and frustrating to watch, to be kind.  To be honest, it seems to be ruining team’s ability to create momentum, a flow, even if everything is going to particular team’s way.  Between the challenge flags, penalty calls, officials convening to interpret penalties, the delay in determining the spotting of the ball, official’s timeouts and commercial timeouts have degraded the game the way it was originally meant to be played.  Football might be one of the most heavily affected games controlled by momentum for one team or another.  When the officiating crews control the flow of the game, then it’s not the teams on the field determining ultimate success or failure.  Many teams play a rhythm offense that requires the chains to move and an accelerated speed of lining up from one play to the next.  It’s a specific strategy that works for some teams, and isn’t an important part of others.  The start and stop momentum killers are being determined by the men in black and white stripes.  However, it’s the inconsistencies of these officiating crews that seem to degrade the game.  On one play, a pass interference penalty could be called on a slight touch on the receivers arm, and on the next play, a defensive back practically tackles a wide receiver to the ground, and no flag is thrown.  It has been said by many officials, coaches, players and analysts that an offensive or defensive “holding penalty” could be called on each and every play.  So, one has to ask what it takes an official to throw a flag and what makes them keep the flag in their pocket?  When an official or officiating crew chooses not to make questionable holding calls to the offensive or defensive line, or decides to allow more aggressive play in the defensive secondary, but then late in the game when a penalty could determine the outcome of a game, they suddenly decide to blow the whistle and throw the flag.  How would a player ever know what it takes to play within the rules when the rules seem to be called differently at different portions of the same game? It begins to appear that the officiating crews want to become more part of the game.  It has been said for years that the sign of a good officiating crew is that they’re not a focal part of the contest, sort of like a lamp in a room.  It lights up the room, but it’s not something you constantly notice is there.  We shouldn’t know their names, we should know their opinions and we definitely shouldn’t be hearing stories about coaches working over the officials before the game.  Theoretically, every official is trained in the understanding of the playbook and the interpretation of each penalty, clock management, play interpretation and field conduct.  Therefore, why is it allowed that coaches constantly work over officials before and during games to affect the way calls should be noticed or interpreted?  It should be presumed that the officials know the rules before the game begins each week and in every contest.  In that light, what could an official learn from a coach that would improve his ability to manage a football game within the rules of the NFL?

Now, I consider myself more than just an NFL enthusiast or fanatic.  I have a love affair with the game and I live for the strategy and the personalities of the players and coaches who line up across the gridiron from one another each week, no matter the weather or playing conditions, to play the world most popular and ultimate version of “Full Body Slam Chess”.  For me the game is all about the personalities; the Rookie, the Journeymen, the Seasoned Veteran, the Superstar, the Comeback Player; the strategy between the gum chomping coaches, the offensive scheming coordinator in the booth and the Copenhagen chewing defensive coordinators, reading and reacting and predicting and guessing on every play to gain the advantage.

I love the game of American football and truly want to see the integrity preserved for generations to come.  I grew up on tough, viciously played football by players who played because they loved the game.  Players who would gladly had played for nothing if they knew their families would be provided for.  The rules that have been adopted to protect their health of the players have their merit, but tackle football was meant to be played hard and it was meant to be full of hard hits, hard tackles, vicious sacks, crushing blocks and game deciding bombs and last second Hail Marys.  I just hope that the NFL doesn’t take their golden egg and change the way it’s played to appease the malcontents who willingly walked onto a football field knowing that it was a battlefield and sometimes soldiers become casualties.  It’s a choice and they chose their vocation.  Many people blame NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for all the problems occurring with the officiating and the new rules which have altered the way the game is played.

I want my NFL back again!

LET THE WAR DRUMS BEGIN POUNDING. SEAHAWKS VISIT CANDLESTICK FOR ONE LAST BATTLE.

The Seattle Seahawks went into Monday night's matchup against the New Orleans Saints with high hopes of taking a major step toward winning the NFC West division and securing a home field advantage throughout the playoffs.  Pete Carroll had his football team primed and ready to take care of business and get done what was necessary to advance toward the kind of team this football club is capable of.

Now, with a franchise record 11-1 start to the season, Seattle travels to San Francisco to play the 49ers at Candlestick Park, the final trip for the Seahawks to the stadium that is scheduled to be decommissioned and probably destroyed as San Francisco's new home will be ready for the 2014 season.  This game is extremely important in that the Seahawks have throttled the 49ers in the last two meetings by scores of 42-13 going back to last season and in the second game of the 2013 season, Seattle treated the Niners in a similar fashion lambasting them 29-3.  It's clear that the Seahawks and CenturyLink Field's rabid 12th man are in the heads of the Niners players.  Whatever it is, Colin Kaepernick and the rest of Jim Harbaugh's football team haven't difficult time scoring and keeping Seattle from scoring in the Pacific Northwest.

Now, it's time for Seattle to take their show on the road and enter a Stadium of fans that seem to have somewhat of a laissez-faire attitude when watching their team play their home games.  The 49er fans have historically been a late arriving crowd and apparently, a crowd that doesn't quite know how to support their football team during home games.  Reportedly, the 49ers ticket organization sent out letters to all of their season ticket holders instructing them on the art of being a football fan.  The letter explained when the crowd was supposed to cheer and when they were supposed to stay quiet.  I imagine the part of the letter that encourages them to be quiet was easier than the first instruction.  Fans were encouraged to wear red and each time the team scored, fans were encouraged to sing the team fight song.  I have no idea what that song could be, and apparently the fans in San Francisco Stadium don't have a particular familiarity to the song, either.  Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks, poked fun during a press conference earlier in the week explaining the Seattle's 12th man doesn't need a letter telling them how to behave in the Stadium to give their team a decided edge making it difficult on the visiting team.  It was all in fun, but it's clear that the San Francisco 49ers franchise is trying to keep up with the Joneses, or in this case, perhaps "the Allen's?"  Regardless, this is going to be a divisional rival game and a direct effect of playing one of the best football teams in the NFL and currently the second best team in the NFC West division.  Vernon Davis, the Niners tight end, praised Seattle during the off-season for their resolve and ability to play an extremely tough, physical and intimidating brand of football, no matter where the game is being played.  I look for this game to be very "chippy" before the game, during the game and if the Seattle Seahawks put a beat down on Kaepernick and the boys, you can expect some dissension to extend beyond the final horn.  This game might currently be the biggest rivalry in team sports. One thing that is for certain, these two teams do not like each other and it extends far beyond the players on the field.

Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh have a very public disdain for one another.  It all goes back to their coaching careers in the Pac-10 conference in college.  Harbaugh is a malcontent who takes everything personally and likes to find a certain edge by putting a chip on his own shoulder even when there's not one there to be found.  Pete Carroll was considered "Football Jesus" in Southern California when he coached the USC and was able to manage a couple of national championships for his SoCal Trojans.  Jim Harbaugh had opportunities to beat Pete Carroll's Trojans and he did give them fits.  During one conference game at the Los Angeles Memorial Stadium, the Stanford Cardinals put a beat down on Carroll's Trojans and when the game was done and decided, Harbaugh called for his football team to go for two after a touchdown.  Apparently, Carroll wasn't impressed with Harbaugh's decision to rub it in, and said so in the infamous "What's your deal?" comment that Carroll gave Harbaugh after the game at midfield when they met to shake hands. If you've watched Jim Harbaugh's game ending handshakes at midfield, you would know that is not really one of his fortes to shake hands and wishes opponent a good future and congratulated him on a tough game fought well.  So, there's a lot of history between these two teams and it starts at the top with the two coaches.

If truth be told without expurgation, I think the players would admit that they don't really have any personal ill will for one another.  This all comes down to soldiers fighting for their generals and fighting hard to honor the men who lead them into battle.  It could be said that the teams have animosity towards one another because they're both so darn good.  Both football teams play physical and intimidating styles of defense and both of them have committed to establishing a good rushing game in their offense, followed by big play passing offenses.  Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick really only share a couple of similarities.  Both quarterbacks are athletic and quick on their feet, with strong arms and dynamic styles of play.  That might be where the similarities end, however.  Russell Wilson is a humble, but confident young quarterback who has learned to deflect, rather than bring criticism and judgment upon him unnecessarily.  He gives credit to his offensive line, coaching staff and the defense that constantly puts the football team on the positive side of the field when they start their offensive possessions.  Wilson is likely to be found at Seattle Children's Hospital each week on Tuesdays and the rest of his life seems to be studying and improving his craft as Seattle's reliable and exhilarating young signal caller.  Kaepernick is a player that seems designed for the spotlight.  He enjoys the media game and he's a guy that likes to enjoy himself off the field.  Both Wilson and Kaepernick are both well-schooled and well prepared when the game begins each week, and both of them have the supreme confidence of their teammates.  One big characteristic separating the two young and athletic quarterbacks is this, confidence and a sense of calm, collected and a supreme belief in the outcome of extreme preparation and self-confidence.  Wilson has it, Kaepernick often finds himself in tough games and letting self-doubt creep in to his game.  If you watch Russell Wilson on any given Sunday, Thursday or Monday, and you will find the exact same expression and lack of anxiety.  Colin Kaepernick is smiling and high-fiving and celebrating on the sidelines when things are going well, as we have seen over the last 4 or 5 contests where the 49ers had comfortable leads.  It's when adversity starts to enter into a football game when you see Kaepernick lose that sense of calmness, that sense of confidence and the ability to see the game slow down enough so that the game comes to him the way that it has been practiced hundreds of times before.  Wilson is an enigmatic personality on the field, in that it is virtually impossible to use his facial expression and body language to determine what's happening in the football game.  His expression never changes.  It doesn't matter if the Seahawks are 30 points down or 30 points ahead in any particular game, Wilson stays steady and focused on one play at a time and a belief that something good is going to happen, Period.

One of the subtexts to this story is the return of San Francisco's wide receiver Michael Crabtree who was injured just prior to preseason training camp after sustaining a complete detachment of his Achilles tendon to his heel.  It was originally thought that he would miss the entire 2013 season, but through rigorous rehabilitation and a successful surgery to reattach the tendon, Crabtree has returned before expected and made an immediate impact in his first game back at Candlestick Park, catching a deep seam route for a 60 yard bomb reapplying a part of San Francisco's game that has been missing since Crabtree went down with the injury.

On the other side of this subtext is the story of Seattle's wide receiver, Percy Harvin.  He will be out again this week against San Francisco with complications from his hip surgery.  Pete Carroll and the rest of the Seahawks organization swear up and down that Harvin has not had a setback or any structural complications from his labrum surgery before the season began.  Harvin returned briefly for the Minnesota Vikings game in Seattle, catching one pass for 27 yards and returning a kick for 48 yards.  Though he only had two touches in the game, it gave the Seahawks and the rest of the NFL a taste of what the Seahawks offense could be like with him in the game.  Many believe Carroll is simply keeping Harvin healthy and available for the playoffs with Seattle meeting only two wins in their final four games to clinch the division and a first-round bye and number one seed giving them home field advantage throughout the playoffs at CenturyLink Field.

One thing's for certain, this will be a high-spirited game and both teams will show up to play giving 100% for 60 minutes, unless this game goes into a fifth quarter in overtime.  An organization in Seattle has paid to have the Seahawks 12th man flagged flown over Candlestick Park for 15 minutes prior to the game.  If this doesn't get the fans stoked in San Francisco, nothing well… They're playing their division rivals in a game that means a lot more for the 49ers than it does the Seahawks.  Obviously, winning this game would put the Seahawks in the driver’s seat for home field advantage and the number one seed, but it's not a must win game like it is for the 49ers and I look for Jim Harbaugh's football team to come out firing right away.  Last time the Seahawks played the 49ers in Seattle, they were without Michael Crabtree, and Vernon Davis was injured just prior to the fourth quarter giving Kaepernick one passing threat receiver in Anquan Boldin who was literally shutdown by the Seahawks defense, in particular Richard Sherman.  This one should be a donnybrook and the team that delivers the most head shots is going to take this one and give their team a great shot in the arm for the remainder of the season.