Percy Panic, Is The Sky Already Falling in Seattle?

Seattle football fans finally have all the hope in the world for the upcoming NFL season. The Seahawks have been center discussion among the best teams in the National Football League and the "trendy pick" in Vegas and around the country to bring home a Lombardi trophy this February. Rookie quarterback, Russell Wilson, had a sensational season and improved exponentially in each consecutive game he played throughout his debut tour of the NFL. Marshawn "Beast Mode" Lynch again lived up to his ominous name as he rumbled and pounded and dragged defenders down the field for 1,590 yards, 11 touchdowns and yet another postseason trip to the pro-bowl in Hawaii. Seattle's swarming, smothering and stingy defense led the NFL in points allowed (15) with a collective effort including the best defensive secondary in football and breakout players including; OLB KJ Wright, and rookies MLB Bobby Wagner, and LEO End Bruce Irvin, whom is being groomed to perhaps play strong side linebacker in the upcoming season.

The Seahawks offense finished the 2012 season with a glut of scoring and some excellent defensive play, which always provides the opportunity for the defense to play free and loose and take chances.  However, GM John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll weren't satisfied with with last year's effort, nor were the players content.  So, despite Schneider announcing that they would not be aggressive in the off-season free-agent market, they made some extremely (value-heavy) acquisitions including; DE Cliff Avril, DE Michael Bennett, DT Tony McDaniel and SC Antoine Winfield.  In addition to those exciting players, the Seahawks made the first big move of the off-season acquiring the electrifying WR/KR/PR/RB Percy Harvin in a blockbuster trade with the Minnesota Vikings.

The Seahawks certainly have some shiny new toys to play with and the needed pieces to a puzzle that will hopefully rocket them up over the top after a disappointing playoff loss to the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC title game. In that game, and with some tremendous play from quarterback Wilson, the Seahawks erased a 20 point deficit in the second half to take the lead with just 31 seconds remaining in the game.  Unfortunately, what was thought by many to be the strongest aspect of the Seahawks team, the defense faltered and it was the defensive line's inability to pressure the quarterback that was likely the reason Seattle couldn't hold the lead in the end.  However, the Seahawks return nine of their 11 starters on defense and all 11 starters on offense.  In addition, the 'Hawks have great depth at many positions and despite not having a first-round selection in this year's college football draft, (because of the Harvin trade) Seattle still made a big impact toward their future with all 11 selections they did have, and there will be several new rookies who will contribute right away.  Consider just the potential of last year's 2012 Seahawks roster at the close of the season:  This was an incredibly; hungry, talented, big and athletic group, with a swagger from its nucleus of veterans that sets an ultra competitive tone for every player on the team. Survey the additions to the teams personnel during the off-season and it's clear to see that, Schneider and Carroll, have continued to fortify this team's quality and integrity at every position, not only to compete in the present, but to legitimately contend for a title in all the years to come.  The immediate future for the Seattle Seahawks professional football team looks particularly auspicious, and it's no accident that the powers that be, are doing it the right way.  Owner Paul Allen has brilliantly illustrated how to implement the best people in  positions in which they are uniquely and specially talented, and understanding his own limitations and inabilities to efficiently take his investment into the next realm of success.  This is something Cowboys Owner, President, CEO and General Manager, Jerry Jones, hasn't figured out, yet.  Mr. Jones would do well to take notes this season as he watches the most wealthy NFL owner continue to frame a solid franchise within the constraints of a hard capped salary structure for players.  It's harder than it looks Mr. Jones, perhaps  it's time to fire your general manager, maybe?

Now, that was some of the good news, but everything is not all sparkling green in the Emerald City for the Seahawks.  Percy Harvin, the Seahawks' new dynamic offensive weapon, was recently diagnosed with a slight tear in his hip labrum and the condition is thought to be perhaps "serious" enough to need some variation of surgical repair.  Pete Carroll reported to the press on Thursday, July 25, saying,  "there just isn't enough information gathered yet to make any kind of decision on what should be done." He also confirmed that Percy was going to get a second opinion from noted hip specialist Dr. Bryan Kelly at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.  He closed by saying that they would likely know more (Tuesday) as to whether or not surgery would be necessary, how severe the tear is and how invasive any procedure might be. Coach Carroll did his best to dissuade the media's instant overreaction or Seahawks fan's (panic and worry) by staying positive and focusing on best case scenarios. Although, with his experience in the NFL and NCAA, he knows that the media circus is inevitable and fan panic is an almost organic. Panic is usually the natural reaction for fans who's favorite team loses an exceptional player… even if it's just for a short time. However, in this particular city (Seattle) which hasn't had a professional championship team for any of its sports franchises since the Supersonics in 1979-- Panic is likely an adjective of understatement. Watching the Seahawks' new Ferrari (Harvin) already up on blocks before the rubber has even touched the road…?  Well, that's got to be a big disappointment, to say the least… Unless you are a 49ers fan.  I'm sure there were few, if any, Seahawks fans willing to shed a tear when Michael Crabtree tore his Achilles tendon, essentially eliminating any chances of him playing in 2013-14.

Throughout this off-season, everything seemed to be coming up roses for the Seahawks, but the grim reminder of the fragility of the "human football player" has started a familiar feeling among Seahawks fans of; "Here we go again".  I can't tell you how many long-time, diehard Seahawks fans have said after learning of the acquisitions of; Percy Harvin, Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett, Tony McDaniel and Antoine Winfield, "But, good things don't happen to Seattle sports franchises."  That kind of gives you a sample of the sports fan climate in Seattle and, no… It's not raining.

I think it's important to remind football fans all over, that Seattle's acquisition of Percy Harvin, while expensive both financially and personnel-wise, was never made as an act of desperation by the club.  The Seahawks didn't trade for him because they believed the team had to have him; they didn't.  This move was made more out of an incredible opportunity to acquire a player that, Carroll and Schneider, thought was so special, it was worth taking a legitimate shot.  It's not like Seattle was struggling to manufacture points last year, particularly in the second half of the season. The Seahawks offense was electrifying and sensational in the red zone, scoring 150 points in just three consecutive games (Buf 50, Arz 58, SF 42) Incidentally, this was done without (Percy Harvin) and they will have an explosive and dynamic offense this season [with or without] Harvin.

Seahawks slot receiver, Golden Tate, finally emerged in the second half of the 2012 season as the supreme playmaker he was drafted to be by Seattle, three years ago out of Notre Dame in the second round.  In addition, split end Sidney Rice was healthy and productive all 18 games last season and looks to the completely healthy again for the 2013 campaign.  The leading receiver for the Seahawks in 2011 was rookie, Doug Baldwin, out of Stanford.  Baldwin had a down season in 2012, but unbeknownst to the fans and media, he had a grizzly shoulder injury and wasn't completely able to lift his arm above his head without searing pain.  Baldwin is a technician in the slot; with his superb footwork, athleticism, soft hands and his precise route running, there is no reason he shouldn't return to his rookie form, or better, this season now that the shoulder is completely healed and he has been in the system now for two full years.

Russell Wilson has proven to be a great distributor of the football, using all of his weapons interchangeably and at will, sometimes connecting with; slot receiver, split-end, flanker, running back, fullback and tightend all in a single possession of the football.  There are also some uniquely talented newcomers to this Seattle offense and the fact that Wilson is comfortable throwing to locations on the field, rather than just certain players, is another strength that will make newcomers and rookies; WR Chris Harper, TE Luke Willson, and perhaps some of the other new receivers on the roster able to contribute sooner than later. Wilson also has supreme trust in all of his receivers and they in him, never requiring the quarterback to find favorites and lock on to one particular player throughout a game or quarter or even possession.  He believes that each eligible receiver has a job to do and he will be looking for them if he sees a mismatch or when checking down in his progression.

Developing timing and chemistry between quarterback and receiver are essential disciplines for most players, but I contend that the elite level quarterbacks can throw to anyone on the field regardless of who they are, how long they've been on the team and with or without a line of trust created by playing together for an extended amount of time in practice or in game scenarios.  Quarterback Tom Brady has had a veritable "revolving door" of varying wide receivers in his career with the Patriots, and yet, he continues to be among the highest rated quarterbacks in the NFL, year after year.

So, is it the "Belichick System" that creates great results with every quarterback, every receiver?  It's a fair question, but one that illustrates the fact that a constant collection of familiar wide receivers is not always compulsory when you have the right quarterback who delivers a catchable football and throws the ball with anticipation so that the receiver is in space when the ball arrives in his hands and without a defender to tackle, deflect or intercept it.  If you watch Brady throw to his receivers, he gets rid of the ball in a hurry with no wasted motion in his delivery and rarely gives the defender time to close in on the ball or the receiver before it arrives.  That's playing with exceptional anticipation and it requires the quarterback to know where his target receiver will be, and it requires that his receivers run "discipline routes" and arrive at their pattern's destination on time.

Russell Wilson was a rookie last year, and because of that, most analysts don't recognize the fact that he is already shadowing many of the great qualities that the most elite quarterbacks in the NFL have, but require many seasons to perfect, players like; Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and of course the incomparable Tom Brady.  I'm not suggesting that Wilson is in the same maturation process of his career that those great quarterbacks are right now, but I would be bold enough to say that he's already ahead of them at his level than they were going into their second year as a starting NFL quarterback, and he's more athletically gifted than most of the established elites are currently, and has superior straight-line speed and is perhaps a more advanced team leader in such a short time of his quarterback progression.

Now, and into the immediate future, it's just a matter of time before Russell Wilson becomes a consistent and efficient quarterback, nonspecific to any particular wide receiver or set of wide receivers the way that the great contemporary signal callers have of the 21st century and going forward.  The only question for me as to whether Wilson will become an elite style quarterback is predicated on a few variables that he has little or no control over.  Those variables include his supporting cast of players, his head coach and offensive coordinator that will inevitably combine to prepare game plans and of course will construct offensive play calling.

HC Carroll, DC Dan Quinn and OC, Darrell Bevell, are committed to developing a dominant running game to establish control and momentum of the game and a big, athletic, fast and swarming defense to create fear and apprehension to their opponent. Once the offense wins the battle in the trenches, then Wilson can start launching passes deep down the field to loosen up the linebackers, corners and safeties.  Then, Seattle will be able to move the ball down the field at will.  Marshawn "Beast Mode" Lynch, along with second year running back, Robert Turbin, will be an awesome beginning to a running game that is reliable and relentless.  With newcomers, Christine Michael and Spencer Ware, the Seahawks fortify a ground attack that will be unforgiving and inexhaustible.  Once Michael begins to become comfortable with coach Cable's zone blocking scheme, the one-two punch of Beast Mode and Michael could be a change of pace attack that no defense can overcome.  In addition to Marshawn and Christine, is a backup reinforcing brigade of bulking muscle and bone crushing power.  Longtime veteran, fullback Michael Robinson, and rookie fullback, Spencer Ware, can bulldoze the defensive line into exhaustion and a complete war of attrition.  To make things even worse for their opponent, all of Seattle's offensive backfield are excellent pass receivers and route runners.

Nevertheless, the Seahawks are stacked at running back with some very special ballcarriers and you know Pete Carroll is going to establish a supreme physicality at the onset of each football team and fortify it with deliberate aerial attack, though I don't expect Russell Wilson to throw more than 30-35 times a game this upcoming season.  It sounds like a shame when you start rattling off the receivers names; Percy Harvin, Golden Tate, Sidney Rice, Doug Baldwin, Chris Harper, Zach Miller and Luke Willson.  All of these players are capable of making big gains and creating indefensible mismatches every week during the season.

So, what it we know about Percy Harvin right now.  First, we know that he didn't come from Minnesota with a pristine reputation of being a complete team oriented guy.  He's somewhat of a loner and keeps his relationships with his teammates, primarily to the field only, showing that he's unlikely to be a leader on this team.  We know that he is a diva of sorts and how much you are paid is extremely important to him.  He can have conflicts with his teammates as well as his coaches at times.  He doesn't particularly enjoy taking part in the daily grind of training camp nor practice sessions, and we know that he will be very creative in his predesigned task of missing as many practices due to "fantasy injuries" if that's what it takes.  The last thing we know about Percy Harvin is that, though he missed over 36 practices during his second and third seasons with the Vikings, he missed just three games, and probably more poignant and important, then any of the facts about Percy Harvin; his teammates say that he gives you every ounce of effort that he can squeeze out in every game he plays and that his special friends and teammates were absolutely heartbroken about his leaving Minnesota for Seattle and the Seahawks.  All world Adrian Peterson, a former Minnesota Vikings and teammate of Harvin said this via twitter after hearing of Harvin going to Seattle in a trade; 

Adrian Peterson        ✔ @AdrianPeterson

The best all around player I ever seen or you'll ever see! Goes to Seattle! I feel like I just got kicked in the stomach. Several times!!!

1:25 PM - 11 Mar 2013

 Harvin was an extremely popular player with his Viking teammates and so far, he seems to be fitting in with the Seahawks just fine. It remains to be seen what kind of teammate and what kind of player Harvin will be in a Seahawks uniform.  One thing is for certain, with a six-year contract with Seattle, he's going to be around for a while to prove exactly who he is to the Seahawks and to the fans all over.

 ****

Johnny Manziel: Heisman Hero or Barroom Brawler?

It's an amazing story, Jonathan Paul Manziel freshman quarterback from Texas A&M, Heisman Trophy winning freshman quarterback from Texas A&M. Johnny Manziel, also known as, "Johnny Football" has lived a charmed life. A talented athlete and the first freshman ever to receive the coveted best college football player of the year award, the "Heisman Trophy." 

Manziel was a gifted athlete playing golf, baseball, basketball and his best sport, football.  He received practically every high school award honor there is, playing wide receiver and quarterback at Tivy high school in Kerrville, Texas. After leaving Kerrville for College Station and Texas A&M and a college career at quarterback, he tore up the field as a red-shirt freshman.  Everything seemed to be coming up roses and Johnny Football impressed everyone in NCAA D1, but most of all… Johnny Football was busy impressing Johnny Football.

Fame had come on a fast track for Manziel, and he was quickly anointed the (BMOC) big man on campus at College Station from almost day one.  Unfortunately, he never had the grounding influences from his parents at home to teach him the virtues of;  humility, temperance, prudence and Self-discipline; the things you would hope for a 19-year-old young man on a meteoric rise to fame... Instead, the teenage Manziel had already fallen in love with the mirror.

The way that things are changing in college and pro sports, it was just a matter of time before high school football would be a driving force in the lives of young men far before they ever played before 80,000 screaming fans in some of the most storied college stadiums in the nation.  In Texas, high school football is huge.  It's virtually a religious category for Texas families and every parent hopes that their son or sons take to football like a fish takes to water.  For many young high school footballers, their parents require football first and schoolwork second.  It's that crazy and the media creates a sentiment of football romance thought for every young boy to dream of going to state and becoming the town hero, or maybe even the state hero, like Johnny Football.  Manziel could practically write every chapter of his Texas football story and it read like a bestseller, and it didn't stop in high school.

Now, Johnny Football has not only become nationwide, it's become a Manziel legally owned family trademark. In a year or so, Johnny Football will be a moneymaking, national brand for the 21-year-old.  In College Station, Texas, Johnny Football; hats, banners, pennants, T-shirts, ice chests, and bobble heads are filling the shelves at the A&M college bookstore almost as high as Manziel's ego stands. Stadium seat pads and Johnny Football Fatheads will be filling the shopping carts of fans all across the Lone Star State. 

It's almost certain that Manziel will be an early first round selection in the 2014 football draft.  He's already declared himself eligible and unless he tanks his sophomore season, which is unlikely, he will be the number one talk of New York City when Radio City Music Hall opens up to the hype and pomp of the NFL Draft.

 On June 29, 2012, before he was chosen as Texas A&M's starting quarterback and before his first college game, Manziel was arrested and charged with three misdemeanors—disorderly conduct, failure to identify, and possession of a fictitious driver's license. These charges stemmed from a late-night fight in College Station, Texas.  In July 2013, he pled guilty for failure to identify, and the other two charges were dismissed. As part of the plea agreement, he must pay a $2,000 fine and $232 in court costs, which shouldn't be difficult for Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Football (his parents) to pay this one off for him, they have money and he will likely learn nothing from that hiccup in his young life. The agreement also stated that he had to spend two days in jail, but he won't have to since he had already served time following his arrest in June 2012.  In Texas, high school football is such a phenomenon, that if Manziel did spend time any significant time in jail, he would probably do it playing Xbox football with; the judge, bailiff, his lawyer and the mayor.

Manziel told police he was with a friend who directed a racial slur at a man on the street.  The man then approached the two of them trying to aggressively get at the friend. Manziel claimed that he tried to place himself between the two men, saying his friend didn't mean it and he was going to take him home.  The man continued pushing against Manziel to reach the other, and eventually Manziel pushed back.  At this point, the man swung at Manziel who then began fighting back and the melee was on.  Shortly afterward, the campus bicycle patrol officers arrived.  Manziel, who at the time was 19 years old, presented a fake Louisiana driver’s license to police officers, showing himself to be 21 years old.  Manziel was taken into custody and reportedly spent the night in a jail cell... "Reportedly".

It's only been one season of Johnny Manziel as "the Texas A&M Aggies starting quarterback" and already there have been reports of discord and discontent, by Johnny and Texas A&M campus police. One of the more popular topics among the college football fans around College Station involved a tweet left on Manziel's official Twitter account. On June 15, 2013, Manziel tweeted; "Bullshit like tonight is the reason why I can't wait to leave College Station... Whenever it may be," that sparked much controversy. Manziel deleted the tweet later that night, and responded later saying he loved College Station, but asked people to "walk in his shoes.” Sources say the original tweet was influenced by a parking ticket he received on campus.

Shortly after the tweet of discontent, Manziel was arrested.

July 15, This off-season, Johnny Manziel was personally invited, by; Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning, to be a special counselor at the "Manning Passing Academy" in Thibodaux, Louisiana. This is considered the premier quarterback camp in the country for teenage students, grades 8 to 12, and a thrilling once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for young quarterback hopefuls to meet all three of the great NFL Manning's that played pro football, (not to mention) some of the other great quarterbacks of pro-and college football.  Just being invited to take part in this prestigious event is a great honor.  Johnny Manziel rewarded the Manning family by missing practice assignments and other meetings and camp activities without prior notice.  After missing more than one commitment, Peyton and Eli met with Manziel and it was announced that the Heisman Trophy winner would leave the Manning Academy early. Manziel stated at the SEC media day that it was, "a mutual decision" for him to leave the camp.  After the incident was announced to the media, it was reported that the 20-year-old Manziel was seen drinking at a local bar and was believed to be inebriated.  The second day after Manziel missed another commitment, his father reported that, "his son was "Dehydrated" and would not be able to honor his commitment.  Speculation by fans and media reporters was that a long night of drinking at the bar left him dehydrated and not fit to be involved with Academy activities.  Johnny Manziel was interviewed after the Manning Camp, at the annual SEC media day by ESPN. He was asked a series of questions related to his failures at the Manning Camp, and here are a few, Q&A's

Q: "Why did you miss practice assignments and meetings at the Manning Quarterback Academy?"

A: "I overslept because I forgot to charge my cell phone alarm." 

Q: "Were you drinking alcohol?"

A: “I don't want to get into specific questions about that."

Q: “How can you explain some of the problems you've created in your football career?"

A: “I’m 20 years old, I'm young and I've made mistakes, and I'll make more mistakes and hopefully learn from them and hope to not make the same mistakes over and over and over."

 

Johnny Football Parties, with a Bottle of Jose' Cuervo In His Grep..  21?  Nope!

Manziel is just 20 years old, and he will be 21 this coming December.  He is still under-age for drinking alcohol, yet has been seen partying and drinking by many witnesses throughout his time at Texas A&M, and high school. 

 Some will condemn Manziel for his reckless living habits, while others will forgive him because what he is doing is not atypical of college students throughout the country.  What really bothers me, is his lack of appreciation for the numerous opportunities and God-given athletic ability he has been blessed with. He has an inherent lack of respect for those who have helped him become the fantastic athlete that he is today. He seems to have no inherent appreciation or gratitude for the countless opportunities that he has been given by; his coaches and teammates at Tivy high school, and now we are witnessing a clear disrespect to the administration and the fans of Texas A&M,the school and people who made it possible for him to take the field and ultimately receive the honor of being a "Heisman Trophy" quarterback.

So, are we being too hard on 20-year-old Johnny Manziel?  Is he simply young, immature and inexperienced?  Should we give him a "free pass" because of his youth and inexperience?  Should we look back at his childhood and examine the iniquities and mistakes of his parents or perhaps their parents? Well…Maybe.  Perhaps those questions can be answered by the people who helped Russell Wilson climb to the height of his lofty goals and dreams.  You wouldn't have to go very far to find the source of Wilson's manners and respect.  He would deflect all of the credit to his mother, and his [father], whom he unfortunately lost to a diabetes related illness. The point is, he has such a grounded and balanced understanding of his faith and the opportunities he's been given. How about Peyton and Eli Manning, who both grew up in the huge shadow of, judgment and expectation, from the great Archie Manning?  Maybe it's just best that we expect more from our young men and women of 18, 19 and 20 years old.  Most of these gifted young athletes spend somewhere between 6560 to 7300 days with their guardian or guardians, and during this time isn't it expected that we learn something about life during that period of time, whether it's through positive reinforcement or full on abuse or neglect.  There has to be a point during that time in life where we learn the difference between right and wrong.  Not everyone has the ideal nuclear family, with mom and dad, little brother and little sister, with a nice big house, a picket fence and a dog named Lucky.  However, I have a strong belief that somewhere along that road of growing into an adult, we learn empirically the difference between the things that are honorable and inherently righteous and good and those things that are dishonorable and inherently evil or bad.  It is a federal law that ALL children, kindergarten through 12th grade, receive a minimum of a public school education.  Even if a child's parent isn't present and involved, there is a certain learning curve that we absorb as we go through an educational maturation period in that 12 year period. Obviously, there are going to be those children that have a seemingly natural progression of making wrong choices and through punishment, learn, and those that learn by a reward system of some kind that lead them in the direction of redeeming achievement.  Many colleges of thought that will say it's all about the nurturing process of life that determines the way a child develops in society, while others will say it's the natural development of a human determines their path, and then there are those that believe that both nurture and nature determine the development of a human being in society.  I find that I most closely match the philosophy that we are molded and developed by both sources: One: what we learn from those that, (sometimes by default), become our "nucleus" or center of influence, and at the same time that nurturing influence is constantly molded by a natural code of temperament given to us by God, our Creator.

That being said, what makes Johnny Manziel, Ryan Leaf, Todd Marinovich, and JaMarcus Russell so destined for failure, while; Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Drew Brees, Andrew Luck, RGIII and Russell Wilson seemingly so destined for greatness?

Choices.  It all seems to be factored by the choices we make and the moments we choose to take the "right path.”  I believe that most young males above the age of 12, know the difference between what is "right behavior” and what is "wrong behavior" when the choice is there to be made.

 

Lamar Divins                                               Ahmad Brooks

On July 3, 2013 San Francisco 49ers defensive end, Ahmad Brooks, made the choice to get into his car and drive when he was extremely inebriated, even though fellow teammate and friend, Lamar Divens, pleaded with him several times to stay at his home and sleep off the alcohol, instead of driving home drunk and endangering his life and the lives of everyone unfortunate enough to encounter him on the streets.  Instead of heeding his friend and teammate's wise advice, Brooks instead beat Divens over the head with a beer bottle and several more times with his fists, before threatening to brandish his pistol and shoot him.  Divens suffered just three stitches in his head from the beer bottle beating, but worse than the cut in his head, he was unable to keep Brooks from driving his car while impaired, risking lives instead of making the right choice.   So, what made Lamar Divens decide to try and stop his friend from driving drunk and what made Ahmad Brooks choose to drink and drive and assault a friend who is trying to save his life?

                                                                                                  Josh Brent

 Dallas Cowboys defensive end, Josh Brent, took the life of his friend and former Illinois teammate, Jerry Brown, when he chose to drive drunk.  Heavily inebriated, Brent swerved off the shoulder of an Irving, Texas Highway and flipped the car several times killing Jerry Brown, but surviving the wreck, itself.  He spoke with contrition and remorse of the tragic death of his friend, and was subsequently released from the hospital and also given bail so he could return to his home.  Josh Brent was ordered by a court justice not to drink alcohol or take drugs, as part of his parole sentencing.  However, even the death of a close friend, Jerry Brown, didn't stop him from drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana.  These are choices and Brent is of average enough intelligence that I believe he knows the difference between right and wrong and what's legal and what is not legal.  In addition, the judge ruled, the survivor Brent, coherent and lucid enough to understand the ruling that he handed down and that he was aware of the details of his bail hearing.  So why does Josh Brent continue to make bad choices?

As a complete dichotomy, I offer you one Russell Carrington Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks.  Wilson had the same number of years that most other athletes live before becoming a freshman in high school.  He was 15 years old when he had an epiphany; I don't know where he was at the time, perhaps in third period geometry (I don't know), but somewhere along the way he decided that if he became a professional athlete in baseball or football (he was drafted in both pro-baseball and football) that he would foster a camp for inner-city school aged kids, in five cities in the nation and he would fund these five camps himself and he would do it for the  entire duration of his professional career.  He wasn't thinking about partying, spending money, doing commercials or benefiting from the awesome opportunities that professional athletes are often given.  He wasn't thinking about the beautiful women that seem to surround rich and successful professional athletes and he wasn't thinking about breaking records and becoming famous.  He was 15 years old, not even through high school, and he was thinking of ways to give back to the people and the communities that make professional sports possible for young men and women with aspirations of working hard and achieving goals and experiencing dreams.  This is the way that Russell Wilson thinks and it's the way that he thought years ago, before he had achieved his goals and before his dreams were made real.  Wilson knew that there is a way to achieve goals and reach dreams and it required hard work, determination, a plan and a vision of his long-term destination.  He felt destined to succeed because he understood the order of life and the things that one must do to, not only succeed, but to make the successful journey feel right, and good.  Wilson continues to live by a code of honor and that honor requires that he make the right choices, regardless of whether it requires hard work and sacrifice.  He is highly organized and ritualistic in his preparation and like all great achievers; he remembers that to see your dreams from a distance, you must stand on the shoulders of giants.  Lastly, once you reach your life dreams, you must never forget the Giants that allowed you to stand on their shoulders to see your potential.  What makes Russell Wilson choose right from wrong?

I don't know what Johnny Manziel is going to do after college.  He may become a great professional quarterback, or he might fizzle out the way that Ryan leaf and JaMarcus Russell did, and after having so much potential for greatness.  I do know that he won't become great on his own and he will never become great if he continues to disgrace himself, his family, and those who have helped him by offering the opportunity to make the journey to his true potential.  Right now he is fueled primarily by his ego and his God-given ability to play the game of football.  In pro-football, ego and natural athleticism won't get you through training camp, let alone, a successful career.  He's got a lot of growing up to do, and he's got a lot of people around him that want to see him succeed.  Unfortunately, because of his behavior, early on in his life, there are also a large theater of football fans that would love nothing more than to watch his goals and dreams crumble and disappear while he sits alone with his ego and his God-given talent.  Now, he's got all the opportunity in the world to prove his critics wrong and show his supporters that he is more than just a spoiled boy who was given too much, too early and begin to believe the press clippings he read of his high school days in Kerrville, Texas and the raves of the masses who cheered for him as he played the season of his life and received the greatest individual achievement in college football, the Heisman Trophy, and at just 19 years old.

 

Marinovich                              Russell                                   Leaf

I believe that "Johnny Manziel" a.k.a. "Johnny Football" needs to reach down deep within himself and somehow resurrect "Jonathan Paul Manziel" the son of Michelle and Paul, and realize that his parents and all the experiences of his young life, did indeed, teach him the difference between right and wrong and start requiring more of himself, and to choose the path of selflessness and humility.  This would be a great start and I believe it will take him a long way toward the kind of person that he really wants to be.  Someone that his parents, coaches, friends and fans would be proud to see successful and happy.  Right now, it's about 50-50, the people who wish him success or bitter failure.  Johnny Manziel is the author of the life he has lived up to this minute, and he will be the author of the days in his life that remain.  I think his life story is destined to be a New York times best seller, but he has to choose whether it's a young man's plight to greatness, or a story of great opportunity that slipped through his fingers and left him; broke, discouraged and alone.  The great part is that there are success and failure manuals written all the time.  Will he read the autobiography of Ryan Leaf "How I Destroyed A Career and Wasted Countless Opportunities."  Or the autobiography of Vince Lombardi "When Pride Still Mattered."

After the events of 2012 and 2013, Johnny Manziel is likely going to be portrayed as a "Bad Apple" by some of the media and by a lot of the fans of college football.  After reading this post, you'll probably see a specific theme that paints him as a trouble-making, self-centered, college diva who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and hasn't earned the reputation that goes along with being awarded a coveted Heisman Trophy.  As Manziel has reminded us numerous times in the last five days, he IS just 20 years old and has a lot to learn about the world and the life of a high profile SEC college quarterback.  He's made some bad decisions, but because he's accomplished so much at his young age, it's brought along a comprehensive brand of scrutiny that most young men his age don't have to deal with.  I don't dislike Johnny Manziel, but I could do without "Johnny Football" and I think it's a little early to start calling him the next Johnny Unitas before he's even strapped up his helmet well walked on an NFL football field.  There have been many college prima donnas that left their university and entered the realm of the NFL, with the best football players in the world.  However, pro-football is a place that separates the pretenders from the contenders and it doesn't take long to find the difference between one and the other.  I think Manziel would do much better to remember "who he is" right now and show respect to the men who have proved themselves at the elite level of football.  Coming into the Manning Quarterback Academy football camp like an anointed football God was probably not the best way to introduce yourself to a family that has been referred to as "Football Royalty".  Archie, Peyton and Eli, have already proven that they are worthy of professional football elite.  Each of them have been selected NFL All-Pro at the quarterback position and all have been selected to the NFL Pro bowl team multiple years. What's probably even more notable is that all of the Manning family quarterbacks earned the respect they've been given by what they did and what they continue to do on the football field.  They are universally respected by everyone who plays or has played the game, and all three of the football greats are destined to be enshrined in the prestigious NFL Hall of Fame, first ballot inductees.  Showing up in Louisiana to the Manning's Quarterback Camp, after a last-minute stop in Toronto to party and hang out with rapper Drake and NBA great, Lebron James, isn't the way you probably want to show respect to the people who might someday be responsible for helping you secure a lucrative NFL contract someday.

Lastly, it's probably practical to say that most, including myself, really couldn't care less whether Johnny Manziel or Johnny Football, does well or falls flat on his face.  Frankly, with the behavior that he has had since high school and seems to be resonating through his young college career, I would say most would like to see him be "made an example of" as in a little karma.  What goes around comes around, as a lot of people say, and if that is true… What does that say for Manziel?  I don't know, I'm not particularly one of those to believe that justice always prevails, but sometimes it does and when it does, for some reason people feel validated for their feelings about players like Manziel.  After all, he hasn't really done anything to endear himself to the "every day college football fan" and aside from his amazing performances on the field, he really doesn't inspire people with the kind of behavior that causes people to lift him up.  Manziel, himself, has complained that he is on a pedestal and doesn't like it, and feels that he has a particularly difficult life because of his fame and notoriety as a college football quarterback, and even more notable because of his groundbreaking accomplishment, winning a Heisman Trophy as a freshman in college.  I believe that those who willfully step into the spotlight of notoriety, know exactly what they're doing and not too long ago were likely dreaming of being in that very position someday.  What boy, who loves sports, hasn't dreamed of one day, having tons of fans falling all over themselves to get his autograph or ask to have their picture taken with him?  When you walk into the bright spotlight the way that Manziel has, partying with NBA stars, popular rappers and actors etc., you are willfully inviting everything that goes along with that spotlight of fame.  Fame and notoriety always bring with it, the burden of losing anonymity and the freedom to do things as easily as common people in society.  The trade-off is hopefully a lot of opportunity, money and attention from other people who were also of similar stature in the public eye. In more simple terms; nobody's going to feel sorry for a a young man who has the world on a string, given a free education and on the verge of cashing in on a professional career that is likely to eclipse tens of millions of dollars.  Now is the time for Johnny Football to determine whether or not he can cope with the complication of being one of the more recognizable faces in America, or not.  So far, he's not impressing me and from everything I've read, watched or heard, I'm certainly not alone.  On the other hand, I do wish him well and I hope that he's able to reach deep down inside of his real self and begins to understand how fortunate he is and begins to appreciate that this is a process and he still has the choice whether or not he wants to take the baton of fame and run with it, or decline the complications of his positions and begins to live life like an ordinary 20-year-old young man.  He has all the cards, now he just has to decide whether or not to place them on the table and cash in on a wonderful opportunity for free education and the chance to compete in the NFL as one of the few men talented enough to be paid well to play a sport that can be a lot of fun.  Not many people in this world have a job that they would do for free.

FOR THE SEAHAWKS, WINFIELD IS A "WINDFALL"

 2013 Seahawks Defensive Secondary Best EVER?

The Minnesota Vikings have reaped the benefits of acquiring CB Antoine Winfield since signing him nine years ago.  For nearly a decade, he didn't disappoint anyone with the Vikings.  Winfield is considered by several, NFL player analysts, to be the best pass defending slot cover in the NFL and also one of the best DB's in run support.  His diminutive 5'9" frame didn't scare away the Vikings years ago, nor did it scare the Seattle Seahawks just months ago, signing him to a one-year contract as a free agent after the Vikings released him.  Apparently, officials in the front office of the Minnesota Vikings determined that the 36-year-old Winfield had already played his best football in the past, and considering his age, predicted he would no longer be able to continue to perform at the high level that he has throughout his 14 year career  The Seahawks genuinely hope they were very wrong!  After having the OTA’s and minicamps in Seattle, the Seahawks may have collected one of the really great free agent steals of the 2013 off-season in Winfield.

So, does Antoine Winfield have "enough left in the tank" to play on the same field with Seattle's "Legion of Boom" (Sherman, Browner, Thomas, and Chancellor), the best defensive secondary in football?  The Seahawks coach and front office officials sure seem to think so.  In fact, Seattle GM John Schneider, was completely perplexed as to why Vikings' head coach, Leslie Frazier, and GM Rick Spielman, would even consider parting ways with such a high character, high performance and big-time player, like Winfield.  AW is a three-time pro-bowl cornerback that probably deserved more trips and who has done nothing but dominate [both as a pass defender and against the run], throughout his career, but particularly in his final year with the Vikings.  In Minnesota, Winfield was the much-needed veteran leadership keeping a very young and shaky defensive group together, (on and off the field).  He was also the kind of balancing presence essential for an inexperienced, developing defense, like the Vikings, to grow, work together and stay focused.  After studying the career statistical spreadsheet on Winfield, in particular the last five seasons, it's puzzling why anyone (in their right mind) would let this man go, regardless of his age.  Anyone who can add, subtract, multiply and divide can see that Winfield has a lot of tread left on his tires and everything you could possibly want in a corner, in particular a slot corner.  In fact, he’s obviously got enough tread to drudge on out of the snows of Minneapolis and onto the slick streets of Seattle for the 2013 season, if not more.  The Seahawks are doubtful to offer him an extension and his age, with Pete Carroll who likes to keep the team young and incredibly athletic.  However, if Winfield has an outstanding season, and stays injury free this season, who knows? 
NOTE: Winfield played it all 16 games last season collected 101 tackles in 2012, along with 3 interceptions, 8 passes defended and 8 stuffs.

"Pro Football Focus", a magazine publication and Internet website primarily devoted to deep statistical analysis of the NFL has ranked the Top 10 Cornerbacks over the last five years of play, and comes to the conclusion that Winfield is not only one of the best in the game against the pass, having not allowed a touchdown to be scored against him in three years, but is also so much better than the rest of the league at stopping the run it's "insane" to let him go and a true nugget of gold to put in the pockets of an already filthy rich team with a defensive secondary and total defense that was already the best unit in football; A true defining example of the rich get richer in this case, and now Winfield gets a legitimate chance to play for a team that is serious about bringing a Lombardi trophy to the city of Seattle for the first time in franchise history. All comments coming from Winfield to the press reflect a man who was ready to put Minnesota and the Vikings in his rearview mirror and genuinely excited to play for a team with a new confidence and expectation of flying to the Meadowlands in 2014 and taking it ALL on the biggest Sunday in all of the NFL.  However, Winfield is also impressed by a Seahawks team, from top to bottom, that has a collective realization that they haven't done anything… yet.  They also understand that the only way to the Super Bowl is one game at a time and that's their approach to the new season.

It's well-known that Antoine Winfield is a solid cover corner in the NFL and despite his lack of verticality; he has been practically unbeatable in the red zone.  Over the last 14 years he's averaged 75.25 tackles per year, and 76 average in his last five seasons, so it's obvious he isn't slowing down.  In fact, just last season he had 101 tackles.  Now, because he's going to primarily play the nickel role in Seattle's defensive secondary, on primarily passing downs, he won’t even come close to his numbers in Minnesota, but that's simply because he is surrounded by great players 100% of the time.  Another potential impact player to play side-by-side with Winfield is a fourth-year pro corner Walter Thurmond.  Despite Thurmond's four years in the NFL, he has only played sparsely due to a collection of injuries.  He has tremendous upside potential and has shown freakish athletic ability playing in press coverage and in complex zone blocking combinations.  He has big hands and a huge wingspan from fingertip to fingertip.  He has quick hips and can snap them around and change direction to reroute the fastest wide receivers in the NFL, destroying the timing between the quarterback and receiver.  When he has played, he has looked sensational.  Unfortunately, the injuries keep him on the bench, but for the first time in his pro career, Thurmond is healthy.  He has looked fantastic during team OTA's and the veteran minicamp's.  He has tremendous leaping ability and puts himself in a position to make even the most difficult interceptions.  There's nothing but upside for Thurmond if he can keep himself away from the injury bug.  Winfield will truly be guilty of the lily as he comes into his first Seahawks training camp.  In his 14 years in the NFL, he has averaged 9 passes defense per season, and 12 in his final season with the Vikings. What is going to make Winfield so effective in the Seattle secondary is that he won't be required to cover as much of the field as he did during his playing days in Buffalo and Minnesota.  There's a lot of help in Seattle's defensive secondary and that will allow him to cheat a little on receivers in space, knowing he can rely on help from all directions inside and out, shallow and deep.  Winfield also has an exemplary character and will provide valuable veteran presence in the locker room, throughout a long, grueling NFL season.  He has a great attitude and understands exactly what his role is in this defense, which will be a big departure away from his starting position at the corner position during his 14 seasons.  I think he could be a huge improvement to an already stifling, almost impenetrable secondary in Seattle.  Pete Carroll has got to be smiling from ear to ear.  It appears that Winfield is an ideal fit for the Seahawks at this time in his career and at a time were Seattle is posturing for a special, hopefully memorable season.  They really do have all the talent in the world to get some great things accomplished this year. They have the best owner in football, a great coaching staff, great facilities, the loudest fans in the world and a roster that seems loaded in every aspect of the game.  For perhaps the first time in franchise history, the Seattle Seahawks franchise has become a destination for many young and veteran players throughout the NFL.  The snazzy new uniforms never hurt.  I think one of the reasons the Oregon ducks program has been so successful is the influence of the Nike Corporation on the university’s athletic department.  They have excellent facilities and an ever-changing variety of newfangled, futuristic type uniforms that attract a lot of young athletes to the school.  I don’t think the NFL is such a huge departure from the college attraction to the new and innovative parts of the game.  The best of the best is what professional athletes want.

Notes:
The Seahawks will likely keep six corners and five safeties.  Corner Locks: Richard Sherman, Brandon Browner, Antoine Winfield.  Fighting for three possible openings: Jeremy Lane, Walter Thurmond III, Tharold Simon, Byron Maxwell, Will Blackmon, Ron Parker, and DeShawn Shead.  Safety Locks: Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas.  Fighting for three possible openings: Winston Guy, Jeron Johnson, Ray Polk, and Chris Maragos.

Go Hawks! 

 ****

DO YOU FEEL LUCKY? WELL DO YOU SEAHAWKS FANS?

The Greatest Rivalry in the NFL: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers 2013

 This Is a Time for All Seattle Seahawks Fans To Be As Excited As Ever!

If you ask any NFL general manager what the necessary components are to build a championship caliber football team, not just a team built for one title, but for many titles to come… They would say this:


First and foremost, you must find and develop a franchise quarterback. A quarterback who can make all the NFL throws and have the intangible qualities to lead his teammates with a knowing that success is imminent (if only) the entire roster buys into a specific, predetermined model for success and each player works harder than his teammate to the right and his teammate to the left. This quarterback must set the bar high and he must practice all of the fundamentals of this model for success; willingly, tirelessly, and with the volition and unwavering belief that success can be the only outcome.  This quarterback must sell the program to every other player so that each participant has equal faith that this model is the roadmap that inevitably leads to a Super Bowl victory.  Anything less, and failure is not only likely, it is a constant certainty and it spreads like a virus throughout the entire organization, from the franchise owner to the water boy.  For the Seattle Seahawks this franchise quarterback is: Russell Wilson.

Second, a quarterback is only as good as those who are challenged with the job of protecting him from the fierce defenders who are determined to destroy the offensive objective.  It is essential that the men in the trenches control the line of scrimmage.  This is true for both the offense as well as the defense.  The Seahawks are returning all 11 offensive starters from 2012.  Last season the Seahawks used a combination of offensive lineman with the goal of finding the most effective combination.  The constants on that line start with the anchor at center, Max Unger.  Unger started all 16 regular-season games as well as the two playoff games in postseason last year.  He was voted to his first Pro bowl in just his fourth season in the NFL. Unger has proven to be an intelligent, rugged, consistent and reliable blocker and leader for the offensive line.  Perhaps the most talented member of Seattle's offensive line is left tackle, Russell Okung.  Okung is perhaps the best left tackle in the NFL.  His first season in the NFL, he suffered from chronic ankle sprains, but once his body acclimated to the high demands of the left tackle in the NFL, he has been a godsend for the Seahawks quarterbacks.  Russell Wilson is right-handed and benefits greatly from the security of knowing that Okung is protecting his blind side.  Okung is also equally efficient as a run blocker.  He has excellent footwork and provides what any championship team must have, any elite, dominant left tackle and that is exactly what Russell Okung is.  Breno Giacomini has been a constant at right tackle.  Giacomini provides a nasty, tenacious and aggressive profile to offset the quiet, workman type of personality of Unger and Okung.  The rare occasions where his quarterback or running back get taken down hard in the backfield, Breno is there to jerk them back to their feet and almost simultaneously letting the defender know that plays like that won't be tolerated and won't happen again.  Giacomini sometimes draws untimely penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct or unnecessary roughness, but it's all in the sentiment that the men on the other side of the line of scrimmage should beware that there is not a soft player on the entire Seahawks roster and they better bring their game each and every play.  The guard positions have been the most inconsistent in terms of solid and healthy players.  James Carpenter is a mountain of a man who, when healthy, could be the strongest and most difficult man to move in the NFL.  Unfortunately, he has had a litany of nagging injuries, but for the first time in his professional career, might be ready to anchor the left guard position and turning the left side of Seattle's offensive line into an unstoppable machine the way it once was when Steve Hutchinson and Hall of Fame tackle Walter Jones plowed their way to perennial Pro Bowls. The right guard position will be extremely competitive during this upcoming training camp.  Throughout the OTA's and minicamps, John Moffitt, Paul McQuiston, and JR Sweezy have been battling to win the starting job.  All three are fully capable of pro-bowl like performances, it will be interesting to see which one of these players rises above the others and claims the job for Pete Carroll.  So, the Seattle offensive line is experienced, accomplished and they have the benefit of working together and creating a line of synergy.  Tom Cable is the preeminent offensive line coach in the NFL and has done wonders with players such as JR Sweezy, who was drafted in 2012 as a defensive tackle and converted to offensive guard.  As a rookie, he played in all 18 games last year and got better with each and every game throughout the season.  Making the transition from the defense of line to the offense is monumental in nature and requires that the player turns everything he ever learned about football 180° around and then learns an entirely new and specified blocking system that isn't easy for players who have played the position their entire career.  The Seahawks have repeated that process again with the 2013 draft, converting Vanderbilt's 6'4" 310 lb. Ryan Seymour, from defensive end to guard, hoping that they hit on another gem like Sweezy. The Seahawks offensive line also has great depth.  Unfortunately, for a few backups and draft choices, several players will be released during training camp, but will likely catch on with other teams immediately.  This is an unfortunate reality trying out with a football team with the kind of talent the Seahawks will take into training camp this preseason. The Seahawks currently have 14 offensive linemen in camp; they will keep 9-10 on the 53 man roster.  If the season started today the offensive line would look like this; LT Okung, LG Carpenter, C Unger, RG Sweezy, RT Giacomini.  Controlling the offensive line of scrimmage is essential if the Seahawks plan to establish a dominant running game and build on a lead with a dangerous aerial assault.  This team of offensive lineman has the potential to dominate in both aspects of the game.



Third, is the other aspect of controlling the line of scrimmage, the defensive push.  Last season, the Seahawks were poised to put a tremendous amount of pressure on opposing quarterbacks and rushing ball carriers.  Red Bryant was fresh off of a handsome increase of salary with his newly signed contract extension.  After back to back seasons with 11 sacks, Chris Clemons was also selected as a player to fit in to the Seahawks future with an extension of his own. Brandon Mebane and Clinton McDonald were big inside run stuffers along with Alan Branch, who was poised to add to an already dominant interior defensive line.  The pass rush looked secure as well.  Bruce Irvin was drafted specifically as a Leo end to complement Clemons on the other side and both players possessed elite speed to get around the larger tackles and harassing quarterbacks on every passing play.  Jason Jones was signed as a free-agent out of Dallas, a tall and long armed defensive tackle who could press up the middle after quarterbacks and hopefully into the waiting arms of Irvin and Clemons.  All in all, the Seahawks defensive line looked dominant in every way and was poised to increase on last year's pathetic 33 sacks for the entire defensive unit.  It all looked good on paper, but there were some significant problems with the D line and it showed in several games during the season.  The 49ers, Dolphins, Vikings and Falcons exposed every one of the weaknesses created through weak and out schemed D lineman as well as injuries that caused Seattle to look porous inside against the run.  For starters, Red Bryant suffered from a foot injury in game two of the season against the Cardinals in Arizona.  Then, Jason Jones suffered a knee injury after a very strong start of the season with his new team.  Bruce Irvin turned out to be exactly what John Schneider and Pete Carroll thought he would be; a one-dimensional, extremely fast edge rusher that would benefit greatly from an interior push and perimeter rush from Clemons on the weak side.  Irvin is just 240 lbs. and at 6'3", failed to get leverage on the big 300+ lb. tackles and was pushed around like a ragdoll in many cases without a serious interior push up the middle of the offensive.  Chris Clemons continued his production in sacks, but wasn't benefiting much from a redirected push of momentum from the other side because of Irvin's inability to handle the strong side.  The Seahawks still had a very effective defensive front, but not the dominant type that Schneider and Carroll hoped for when they envisioned a healthy D line group.  However, the incredible play of the defensive secondary and linebackers made up for an anemic frontline pressure by the down linemen.  Bobby Wagner had an amazing rookie season leading the team in tackles at 140, with two sacks and three interceptions. KJ Wright also had a spectacular season as the Sam linebacker, after his solid rookie season playing the Mike.  Leroy Hill was not offered a contract, but there are other players in camp fighting for the Will linebacker position.  Malcolm Smith played more last year than any other time in his career and looks to be one of the front runners to start the season on the outside.  Undrafted free-agent John Lotulelei is also a wonderful athlete that could compete for playing time as well.  His sideline to sideline speed is sensational, and has a motor that just won't quit.  In a Seahawks uniform, he reminds one of former Seattle starting rookie linebacker, Lofa Tatupu, who was a huge surprise out of college and led the Seahawks in tackles in his rookie season as well.  The Seahawks drafted one linebacker, Ty Powell, but it's unsure at this point whether or not he will be groomed as a linebacker or as a Leo End to back up Irvin (who will miss the first four weeks of the season by suspension) and Clemons (who is scheduled to be back for game one of the regular-season).  Irvin has also been used early in the minicamps and OTA's as an up linebacker on the strong side.  This is just an experiment and it’s uncertain whether or not they will pursue using him in any such manner. 



The Seahawks had an amazing defense last season, but still Carroll and Schneider weren't satisfied with their production in sacks or stuffing the run.  With the uncertainty of Clemons return after rehab and of course Irvin's suspension, Pete and John went aggressively shopping around the NFL for free-agent help.  The biggest prize in the off-season free-agent market for a defensive playmaker, Cliff Avril formerly of the Detroit Lions was the best and most highly sought after.  Avril is an amazing pass rusher and sure handed tackler at defensive end.  He is a double digit sack master and that was with a defense that lacked any presence in the defensive secondary or linebackers.  Avril will be a huge contributor for the Seahawks with the other great defensive lineman and the best secondary in football.  With Bobby Wagner and KJ Wright directly behind him, Seattle should present huge problems for opposing offensive lineman, running backs and particularly quarterbacks.  Just days after signing the most talented defensive free-agent, Avril, the Seahawks signed Michael Bennett, another defensive pass specialist for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Bennett was Tampa's best defensive lineman and still young and athletic.  If that wasn't enough, the Seahawks signed defensive tackle from the Miami Dolphins, Tony McDaniel, the 6'7" 320 lb. defensive tackle with an unusual ability to create leverage even with his superior height and long arms.  At this point, the Seahawks were creating all sorts of buzz around the NFL with the high level of activity and particularly because GM Schneider said the Seahawks were not going to be aggressive in free agency this year.  Now, with the addition of Avril, Bennett, and McDaniel, the Seahawks look set on the defensive line for the upcoming season.  So, what did Pete and John do in the draft?  They drafted more help for the defensive line, taking defensive tackle Jordan Hill out of Penn State and the high profile, aptly named nose guard "Tha Monstar" Jesse Williams out of the University of Alabama, by way of Brisbane, Australia.  Williams was projected early on to be a first-round selection in the draft, but after suffering some nagging knee injuries, his stock dropped prior to the draft.  Regardless, the Seahawks may have made the steal of the draft taking Williams in the fifth round of the draft.  Williams is a bona fide monster standing 6'3" and weighing in at 325 lbs. and bench pressing an amazing 600 lbs. He is huge and will make a nice, strong and quick presidents in the middle of the defensive line on running downs.  Jordan Hill is also a big DT and will also compete for the interior defensive line.  At this point, regardless of Irvin's suspension or a possibility that Chris Clemons will not join the team right away, Pete Carroll has got to be happy about the additions to his defense that already scored in the top four defenses in the NFL and No.1 in scoring defense.  The Seahawks have perhaps the most talented and physically aggressive defense in the NFL.  Last year they were arguably the best and for the upcoming season, few deny the fact that the Seattle Seahawks are stacked and stacked for the long run.

NEW EXCITEMENT IN THE EMERALD CITY

There has been little cause for excitement in the Pacific Northwest regarding professional sports teams and success. It has literally been 34 years since Seattleites cheered a championship season for one of their local sports franchises.  In fact, the last team that won a championship in Seattle doesn't even exist anymore.  The 1979 Seattle Supersonics brought an NBA trophy to the city, but since then, the only team bringing a trophy to the Emerald City was a WNBA team, the Seattle Storm.  In fact, the Storm actually won two championships (2004, 2010). While those championships are impressive, men's professional sports in Seattle have mostly wallowed in mediocrity throughout their franchise's history.

The city of Seattle is filled with diehard fans that continually support their; Mariners baseball team, Sounders soccer team, and Huskies basketball and football teams. But most significantly, the "12 Man" of the Pacific Northwest go crazy for their Seattle Seahawks football team.  So much so, that the fans have a copyright for the term "12th Man" and with each home game they choose someone special in the Seattle community to raise the flag in a brief ceremony just prior to the gametime kickoffs at CenturyLink field, endearingly referred to as "The C'Link" by the true Seahawks fans of Seattle and throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Although Seahawks fans have always been intimately involved in their football team, this upcoming season has created a fervor of excitement never experienced here before in the history of Seattle sports teams.  Fans are so excited about the upcoming 2013 season, that the entire 2013 season has been sold out several weeks in advance; in fact 98% of last year's season ticket holders have renewed their license and have purchased the entire ticket package creating a waiting list for season tickets 37,000 customers long.  In order to buy your way onto a waiting list, a $100 fee must be paid for each ticket in advance for each year that you wait just to remain on the waiting list.  The Seahawks have not had a long waiting list for tickets like this since the Nordstrom's own the team and the Seahawks still played in the Kingdome.  At that time, there was a 25 year waiting list.  The current waiting list is estimated to be nearly 30 years.  This list is volatile however, and changes acutely with the performance of the football team.

Lastly, perhaps the most exciting part of the Seahawks is on the offensive side of the ball, with the so-called skilled positions.  Russell Wilson is obviously an extremely talented quarterback, an extremely detailed worker and tireless leader, but he can't do it alone.  The offensive line is prepared to fight their way through the season trying to win the battle in the trenches each game of the season, but what the Seahawks have done to become one of the most dangerous offenses in football, is enough to give you goosebumps and make the hair on your arms stand up.  Just after John Schneider and Pete Carroll announced that they would not be particularly aggressive in the free-agent market this off-season, they fooled everyone.  It wasn't a free-agent move, but it was an extremely aggressive and high risk-high reward move and there isn't a person connected to the NFL that isn't impressed with the Seahawks acquiring the Swiss Army knife of football players, Percy Harvin.  Harvin is the most versatile and dangerous player in the NFL with the football in his hands.  He has sensational speed and the quickness to leave would be tacklers laying on the turf while he runs around, under, over and through them on his way to the end zone.  He's an electrifying player in any of the receiver positions and is as likely to line up in the backfield as a running back and he is a slot receiver or as a split end outside the numbers.  Last year, before Harvin sustained a season ending high ankle sprain in Seattle while he was with the Vikings, he was a front runner for a league MVP.  Just eight games into the season, he already caught 62 passes for 677 yards and four touchdowns and he was just getting warmed up. It's a fair to mention that these great receiving statistics were achieved while Christian Ponder was the Vikings starting quarterback.  It's amazing to think of what he could accomplish with an outstanding player like Russell Wilson and the Seahawks offense.

After the Percy Harvin trade was announced, Harvin's former teammate, Adrian Peterson, said this via his official twitter account:

         "The best all-around player I ever seen or you'll ever see! Goes to Seattle! I feel like I just got kicked in the stomach. Several times!!!"

 The dominating defense is what you usually think of when you hear about the Seattle Seahawks, but their offense is equally as frightening when you consider their personnel and the style in which they play.  The Seahawks intend to grind the football on the ground with Marshawn Lynch, perhaps the toughest pound for pound running back in the National Football League. As aggressive and punishing as Lynch can be with the ball in his hands, he did show up on the injury list as "probable" in 10 of their 18 games last season.  Marshawn isn't old, but his style of running is to initiate contact rather than avoid contact the way some running backs due.  Coach Carroll fully expects great production from Lynch carrying the ball, but last year's backup rookie running back Robert Turbin had a solid first season running the ball and after one year experience running behind the Seahawks offensive line, he should be much more productive and well take some of the pounding from Lynch so that he can stay healthy throughout the long, grueling season as a starting running back.  The Seahawks surprised practically everyone as they used their first selection in the draft on a running back.  Seattle lacked a first-round pick after the Harvin trade, but in the second round the Seahawks selected Christine Michael, a spectacular, extremely athletic and bruising runner from Texas A&M.  Michael was possibly the most talented running back in the 2013 draft.  His play at A&M was limited due to injury and a new coaching staff that didn't know how to use him in their offensive scheme.  Michael also had some off the field issues, bad attitude issues with the new coaching staff.  Carroll and Schneider looked deep into his history and believed he was worth the risk and you just don't find a physical specimen like Christine Michael every year.  He is built like a Greek god and has an explosive first step like no other player in the draft.  Michael had eye-popping 43 inch vertical leap and ran the 40 in just 4.47 seconds.  In addition to those combine stats; he also pressed 225 lbs. 27 reps, better than most of the offensive and defensive lineman at the combine.  Michael will be used extensively in the preseason and if he shows promise, he might be used in the regular-season two spell Lynch and Turbin down the stretch.  Another fantastic addition to the Seahawks already loaded football team is a wide receiver gem out of Kansas State by the name of Chris Harper.  Harper is a wide receiver like none other on the Seahawks roster.  He is 6'1" and 235 lbs. With a body like this and his 4.50 speed, he would be a very difficult player to defend with his big body and ability to catch in traffic even though players are hanging off of him on all sides.  He also provides the explosive speed off the line of scrimmage that Seattle lacked last year.  This is a player who can line up outside at the X position or inside the slot, working his way into slant routes were his big body can push defenders out of the way creating separation for Wilson to hit him in space.  Another player that looks to be a bright spot in the practice field is 6'5" 251 lb. tight end Luke Willson, with two L's.  Wilson is big and deceptively fast.  With a tall frame and muscular body, Luke can run with 4.50 speed and is a very disciplined and precise route runner.  Pete Carroll raved about the tight end from Rice, citing his soft hands and ability to get open, creating a big target downfield.  Carroll has been searching for a tight end that can get downfield and create another fold in the offense to keep defenders guessing all the time.  Between Percy Harvin, Golden Tate, Sidney Rice, Doug Baldwin, Chris Harper, Zach Miller and Luke Willson, I would say the Seahawks are going to have many offensive sets designed to exploit mismatches on each play of the game.  Particularly, when Harvin can line up in one of five positions on the field and his versatility will give the Seahawks a chance to start him at one position and have him in motion to explode from the line of scrimmage and a different position.

On paper the Seahawks are literally frightening on both sides of the football.  Their defense is even more talented, experienced, fast, strong, powerful and deep at practically every position on the team.  Teams like this only come along every decade or so and the Seahawks are definitely set up to be dominant for years to come.  Carroll and Schneider have assembled a roster that has many young players and very few free agents that haven't come up through the recruiting and scouting system to fit in to the exact model for success designed by the creative minds within the front office and coaching staff of the Seahawks franchise.  John Schneider is a product of Ted Thompson from the Green Bay Packers who taught to build the football team through the draft and not the quick fixes of free-agent acquisitions that build teams quickly, but fall apart even quicker.  It is a magical balance to learn how to successfully build a professional football team for the long haul of success.  In the National Football League success means winning, but not just a few games, success means winning divisions, playoff games and championships.  When you examine the Seahawks roster, through their draft process, free-agent signings, contract configuration and the creation of a system that attracts players that want to compete, you start to see how and why they were excited to sign players like; Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Brandon Browner, Russell Wilson, KJ Wright, Bobby Wagner, Walter Thurmond, Michael Robinson, Marshawn Lynch, Golden Tate, Doug Baldwin, and most recently; Jesse Williams, Jordan Hill, Tharold Simon, Spencer Ware, Chris Harper, Christine Michael and John Lotulelei. You start to see a pattern of players that fit a unique skill set to play certain positions at one particular position in a collection where each is responsible to play a spectacular style of football.

You should be absolutely excited beyond belief at this point in the Seahawks journey to a championship.  When you think back to the days of frustration, dismal and uninspired play from teams that sometimes don't look like they should have the right to be on the same playing surface as the rest of the league, you will instantly feel the excitement of what is happening in Renton, Washington at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center, the place where your Seahawks plan to be great.

The National Football League is created to have a system of complete parity where each year all 32 franchises and their fans can be excited about the upcoming year with a real sense a quality and most importantly the feeling that your favorite football team can compete on any given Sunday and win.  The NFL has a "David and Goliath" like feel to it, because it's true that the worst team in the NFL can beat the best team on any given Sunday, and when it does happen, not many are really truly surprised.  That is the benchmark mantra for anyone involved in the process of creating each NFL season, one after another.  It's the ability to believe that success can be had by anyone playing for a franchise in the NFL no matter what the preseason odds reflect.  Now that's great… HOPE.  One of the most visceral of feelings that humans have, regardless of how bad the circumstances are, is rooting for their hometown team. The NFL is all about hope and for that reason I believe it's the best sport on the planet.

Be excited Seahawk fans!  This team is locked and loaded to assault the entire NFL season all the way to the Meadowlands and MetLife Stadium where Super Bowl XLVIII will be played.

Is it football season yet?  I ask myself that every day I wake up in the morning.  Then I keep hoping.




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