Category Archives: CHAWK LINES

CHAWK LINES
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CHAWK LINES -- Week in review

Jon Ryan will be on “America Ninja Warrior” on Monday, proving he can do more than punt, pass and kick.

Tough-luck Jesse Williams got more bad health news with the diagnosis of kidney cancer.

Kris Richard talked about the defense, the new coaches, Tharold Simon and Cary Williams.

Bob Condotta looked at whether the Seahawks might consider going for two points rather than kicking a PAT from the 15-yard line.

Michael Bennett said Pete Carroll is like Willy Wonka. That was part of an interview in which Bennett complained some more about NFL economics. Prepare for a holdout.

Bobby Wagner said he would like to get a new contract soon, but he said, “I’ve heard nothing.”

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CHAWK LINES, Minicamp
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Rookie minicamp review

The Seattle Times offered its impressions of the weekend rookie minicamp, including the new offensive linemen and positional flexibility.

Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times broke down highlights from Pete Carroll’s pre-camp comments to 710 ESPN, with good news on Brandon Mebane and Alvin Bailey.

Gregg Bell of the News Tribune recovered from his anti-Clark rant in time to put up a bunch of detailed notes from the first day of the rookie camp.

Field Gulls relayed all of the video and quotes from Pete Carroll, Frank Clark and Nate Boyer.

Condotta tossed out some notes from Day 2.

Dave Boling, who loves to focus on offensive line play, gave his first impressions of Seattle’s three OL picks.

Danny O’Neil offered a second impression of Tom Cable’s new linemen.

Among the observations by the Hawks’ website after Day 1 of the camp, Tom Cable was “like a little kid in the candy store” and former defensive back Eric Pinkins is working at linebacker.

On Day 2, the website focused mainly on Tyler Lockett’s comments.

Jimmy Graham apparently thought he was traded to the Raiders, which made him “very sad,” before learning it was actually the Seahawks.

CHAWK LINES, Contracts, It's bigger than football, NFL draft
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CHAWK LINES -- Draft

John Schneider talked more about Frank Clark, Tyler Lockett and the rest of the draft class on 710 ESPN.

As expected, the media is picking apart the Seahawks’ selection of Clark. Field Gulls compiled the reports questioning their investigative diligence.

The prosecutor in Clark’s case says there was more to the story than the police report indicated and she does not see Clark as a habitual “batterer,” per The Seattle Times.

Clark’s position coach at Michigan backs him 100 percent and thinks the Seahawks “made a tremendous pick.”

Rob Staton broke down the on-field merits of the Seahawks’ draft class: Clark’s first-round talent, Lockett’s game-breaking ability and the six other picks (plus the best UDFA they signed).

Former Green Beret Nate Boyer talked to 710 ESPN about his journey to the Seahawks. The Times’ Jayson Jenks also wrote about him.

Bob Condotta gave a detailed look at Seattle’s 12 undrafted rookies.

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CHAWK LINES, NFL draft
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CHAWK LINES -- Draft

As expected, the Hawks are not getting very good reviews for drafting Frank Clark.

Larry Stone of The Seattle Times said the Seahawks “uncharacteristically and inexplicably misstepped.”

News Tribune beat writer Gregg Bell set aside all objectivity as he ranted against the pick.

Seahawks.com lists Three Things to Know about Clark (obviously the team’s website goes nowhere near his legal history).

Here are Three Things to Know about Tyler Lockett, whose dad played in Kansas City when John Schneider was director of pro personnel there.

Rob Staton breaks down the Hawks’ strategy on Day 2 and looks ahead to Day 3.

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CHAWK LINES, NFL draft
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CHAWK LINES -- Draft

NFL.com put together a seven-round mock draft. Like many, they gave Oregon center Hroniss Grasu to Seattle at No. 63.

Rotoworld gave the Hawks two Michigan players to start off its seven-round mock.

Rob Staton broke down the players selected in the NFL.com and Rotoworld mocks.

Everyone seems to have Ty Montgomery landing in Seattle, which means of course he won’t. But Bob Condotta lists him among 10 players who could fit the Seahawks.

The Seahawks likely have interest in a lot of the guys on this list of “underrated prospects” by Doug Farrar of SI.com.

The NFL has asked reporters not to tip picks on social media.

NFL.com calls out four draft smokescreens from teams.

Football Outsiders put together some data on teams that have created the best and worst trade value in the draft. The Seahawks were the best in 2000-04 — largely because they had two first-round picks in 2000 and 2001 off the Joey Galloway trade.

CHAWK LINES
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CHAWK LINES -- Week in review

At Texas Rangers camp, Russell Wilson didn’t have anything to say about his contract. But he talked about a lot of other things, including what he said to Max Unger after the center was traded to New Orleans: “Max, at least you are going from one short quarterback to another (Drew Brees).”

Brees also talked about losing Jimmy Graham and gaining Unger.

John Schneider talked to John Clayton at UW’s Pro Day. Not much new stuff, but the GM did explain the signing of Ahtyba Rubin and talk a little bit about the big picture with Wilson and Bobby Wagner.

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CHAWK LINES
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CHAWK LINES -- Week in review

The Seahawks got four comp picks for the first time, giving them 11 picks in the draft.

The Seahawks added three defensive coaches — including former Seattle assistant Dwaine Board and one of Pete Carroll’s former USC defensive backs.

John Schneider talked about Russell Wilson, Michael Bennett and Brandon Mebane at the owners meetings.

Carroll said he is “fueled” by the Super Bowl loss and doesn’t want to let it go because he wants to learn from it.

He also said, “I’m confident that this team is going to come back and fricking roar. We are going to roar back into this offseason. These guys are working hard for it.’’

Carroll said all reports on Wilson’s contract so far were incorrect, and he talked about many of the players along the defensive line.

Carroll also said the Hawks are working on re-signing several of their remaining free agents.

Schneider said the Seahawks chose Michael Bennett over Golden Tate last year because the draft had a better class of receivers than pass rushers. (The Hawks ended up drafting receivers Paul Richardson and Kevin Norwood.)

The NFL is going to change the PAT in some fashion. Here’s Carroll’s idea:

The Saints reportedly talked to the Dolphins about Jimmy Graham, too.

The Kingdome was imploded 15 years ago this week. And the debt for that structure was finally paid off this week as well.

Carroll helped Mike Williams, former USC star and one-time Seahawk, get a gig coaching high school football in Los Angeles.

Marshawn Lynch will appear in a Ludacris video for the rapper’s riff called — what else? — “Beast Mode.” (Did he have to pay Lynch royalties for using that title?)

Lynch has a strain of pot named after him, but he doesn’t smoke, according to Snoop Dogg, who said, “My homeboy got a career to play. He’s still in the NFL. He’s got a commissioner to deal with.”

Clare Farnsworth, who had covered the Seahawks for nearly their entire existence, retired this week.

CHAWK LINES, Free agency
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CHAWK LINES -- Week in review

For the second time in three years, the Seahawks stole the headlines on the first day of free agency, trading Max Unger and a first-round pick to the Saints for Jimmy Graham and a fourth.

Just days after signing his new contract, Marshawn Lynch purportedly found himself in the middle of a street brawl — and wisely extricated himself.

Lots of former Seattle cornerbacks are getting paid by other teams, Bob Condotta points out. It’s because they come from the Pete Carroll Secondary School.

The Seahawks added their own corner, Cary Williams. Here’s a breakdown from Doug Farrar. And here’s one from Field Gulls.

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CHAWK LINES, Trades
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CHAWK LINES -- Graham-Unger

Max Unger sets up in pass protection vs. Carolina as Russell Wilson receives the center's snap (Seahawks.com)Lots of reaction from the principals in the Jimmy
Graham-Max Unger deal:

Graham said he will follow Russell Wilson anywhere to make sure they establish the same kind of rapport he had with Drew Brees. He also said he will help open up more running lanes for Marshawn Lynch, making safeties play honest — or else make big plays against Cover Zero.

As excited as Graham is to be coming to Seattle, Unger is understandably as sad to be leaving.

Pete Carroll and John Schneider talked about the trade the day it happened. Said Carroll: “Your best players always help your other guys play well and be productive. That’s what we’re hoping for.”

Schneider elaborated on the deal the next day, telling 710 ESPN that the Saints asked about Unger, which led to Schneider asking about Graham.

Carroll talked about Graham’s toughness, how the Hawks will use him and how the tight end clearly fits the mold of a Seahawk in so many ways.

Bob Condotta gives a nice look at the Seahawks’ thinking along the offensive line in the wake of Unger and James Carpenter leaving.

CHAWK LINES
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CHAWK LINES -- Week in review

What else is new? Marshawn Lynch dominated the news this week.

First, he talked to Turkish TV about the last play of the Super Bowl, which prompted Warren Moon to say Lynch’s MVP comments stemmed from the fact that he “just doesn’t trust a lot of people.”

Robert Turbin said he didn’t buy into the conspiracy talk surrounding the final play.

Then, on Friday, Lynch signed an extension with the Hawks, who also released Zach Miller and tendered restricted free agent Jermaine Kearse at the second-round level.

Lynch’s agent, Doug Hendrickson, talked about how the deal came together and answered other questions about his client.

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