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Will Lynch come back for more (money and titles)?

February 1, 2015 cc Leave a comment

It looks like it’s all up to Marshawn Lynch now: He can retire and walk into the sunset after the Super Bowl or come back for more — more money, more titles.

At midseason, there were many rumblings that the Seahawks and Lynch were ready to move on from one another. Coach Pete Carroll admitted Lynch was still upset over his contract and said, “We are working through it.”

Well, if a report by NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport is to be believed, the Hawks have worked through it and are now interested in giving Lynch a contract extension.

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Super Bowl XLIX, X's & O's

Want to know why the Seahawks will win?

February 1, 2015 cc Leave a comment

A year ago, wise football followers knew Seattle was going to beat Denver in the Super Bowl. After all, defense wins championships, and Seattle had the No. 1 defense in the NFL.

Of course, the way it happened was astonishing — with the Seahawks’ defense shutting out the most prolific offense in NFL history for most of the game and Seattle running away with the win, 43-8.

It is hard to imagine the Hawks doing the same thing to the Patriots in this Super Bowl. But, Seattle again has the No. 1 defense in the league and — despite the Legion of Boom being banged up — that unit largely has played even better than the 2013 version.

Wise football followers once again know the Seahawks are going to win. The only question is: How will it happen?

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Contracts, State of the team

Carroll won’t say ‘D word’ but he plans to create one

January 30, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Pete Carroll does not talk about the “D word” — as he called it at one point last offseason. But “dynasty” certainly is on his mind — even if it is buried way in the back, behind Cover-3 schemes and ways to dominate turnover margin.

What do you think his motto, Win Forever, means? Principle No. 1 of that mantra: To do things better than they have ever been done before.

The Seahawks are still working toward that goal — obviously much closer to achieving it on defense than on offense — and beating the Patriots on Sunday would be a huge step in that direction, making the Hawks the ninth repeat champ.

No team has ever won three straight Super Bowls, but the Hawks are in good position to make a run at it. Carroll knows it.

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CHAWK LINES, Super Bowl XLIX

January 30, 2015 cc 1 Comment

The Legion of Boom is definitely not healthy for this Super Bowl: Kam Chancellor, who has dealt with injuries to his ankles, hip and groin this season, banged his knee at the end of practice and left with it wrapped. He’s listed as probable, along with Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas.

After his monster game against Carolina three weeks ago, Chancellor didn’t get to see former Seattle enforcer Kenny Easley. But maybe he will this time: Easley will be an honorary captain for the Hawks at the Super Bowl coin toss.

Sherman is expecting his first baby any day. What if his girlfriend goes into labor during the Super Bowl? As you would expect, Pete Carroll said he would support Sherman regardless of his decision to play or not. And, Carroll ended with, “I can’t wait to meet little Petey.”

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Fun & games, Super Bowl XLIX

Classic: Beast Mode & Gronk with Conan

January 30, 2015 cc Leave a comment

NFL history, Super Bowl XLIX

It’ll take more than two Super Bowl wins to join NFL’s dynasties

January 30, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Dynasty: A family, team, etc., that is very powerful or successful for a long period of time. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

“A long period of time” is open to interpretation, relative to the overall history of the institution — but suffice it to say two years is not a long period in NFL time.

Plenty of people are trying to jump the gun — saying the Hawks will join the elite dynasties of the NFL if they beat the Patriots, who just happen to have been the most recent NFL dynasty.

Uh, not so fast.

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Super Bowl XLIX, X's & O's

Super Bowl matchup: Gronk vs. Bam Bam & Co.

January 28, 2015 cc Leave a comment

One of the most anticipated matchups in the Super Bowl is Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski vs. Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor: Gronk vs. Bam Bam.

But that’s obviously an oversimplification of the matchup. The fact is the Hawks are going to focus their entire defense on all of New England’s offense, and Chancellor will interchange with K.J. Wright and other teammates in coverage against the Patriots’ best receiving target.

The Seahawks allowed just 17 passing touchdowns all season — second fewest in the NFL behind Buffalo’s 16. But 11 of those went to tight ends, making some think the Hawks have a weakness in that part of their defense.

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Super Bowl XLIX, The roster

Williams can thank Allen for Super Bowl

January 28, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Kevin Williams said he’s not gloating to former Minnesota teammate Jared Allen.

But, if not for Allen forsaking a shot at a Super Bowl with the Seahawks for a few dollars more in Chicago, Williams likely would not have gotten the chance.

The Seahawks pursued Allen last March, but they were not willing to pay him more than they were paying Michael Bennett ($7 million a year), and Allen got another $1 million a year from the Bears.

In June, the Hawks instead signed Allen’s former Vikings teammate, giving the 34-year-old Williams a one-year deal worth $2.1 million.

“I actually thought he was going to come up here (to Seattle),” Williams said. “I thought it was pretty much in the bag.”

But Allen didn’t, and now Williams is in the Super Bowl while Allen, who lives in Phoenix, will be cheering his former teammate on against the Patriots on Sunday.

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CHAWK LINES, Super Bowl XLIX

January 28, 2015 cc 1 Comment

Since Tuesday was Beast Mode Media Day, we’ll lead with a few on him:

Marshawn Lynch’s father is in prison for burglary, but his “Papa,” Leron Lynch, talked to USA Today about the mercurial running back.

The Seahawks love saying great things about Lynch, and they did so again to Seahawks.com.

If you don’t mind commercialism and Kenny “My nerdy, nonsensical shtick makes me funny, right?” Mayne, check out Lynch in a Progressive ad.

If you care about Lynch’s pointless interview sessions (we don’t), My Northwest ranked them.

The Legion of Boom talks about its old-school motivation tactics.

Coincidence (not irony): Losses to the Chiefs turned around the seasons of both the Patriots and Seahawks.

USA Today offers a pretty good analysis of the Super Bowl matchups, but the writer picks the wrong winner because he underestimates Russell Wilson’s passing ability.

Super Bowl XLIX, X's & O's

Super Bowl matchup: Browner’s a target, too

January 27, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Right after the
Patriots won the AFC title game, Brandon Browner told reporters he had envisioned meeting his former Seattle teammates in the Super Bowl.