Category Archives: It’s bigger than football

It's bigger than football

Wilson, Hawks should take thug rapper’s threat seriously

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Wilson threatMaybe the Seahawks need a backup quarterback more than we thought. And maybe they and the NFL should take Ciara’s warning seriously.

All of the news about Tarvaris Jackson and Trevone Boykin over the last week brought Seattle’s No. 2 QB spot into the spotlight — and most of us dismissed it as a tertiary concern because the super-savvy Russell Wilson never gets injured on the field.

But, to hear his fiancée tell it, Wilson could be in danger off the field.

Continue reading Wilson, Hawks should take thug rapper’s threat seriously →

It's bigger than football, NFL Combine, NFL draft

Carroll: Clark ‘a great kid in the program’

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Frank ClarkA year ago at this time, the Seahawks were in the process of vetting Frank Clark — the controversial pass rusher they were targeting at the bottom of the second round.

They were ripped for the pick by almost every mainstream media outlet, and The Seattle Times did its own reverse investigation into Clark’s domestic incident and criticized the Seahawks’ background research into Clark. (For the record, we told everyone to lay off and trust the judgment of Pete Carroll and John Schneider.)

Not surprisingly (to us), Clark made it through his first season without drawing another bad word from anyone, and Carroll said Monday that the team monitored Clark closely — he reportedly continued counseling that he had started in Michigan — and “he was a great kid in the program.”

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Franchise history, It's bigger than football
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CHAWK LINES -- Marshawn Lynch retires

Marshawn Lynch made a unique retirement announcement Sunday and his agent confirmed it Monday.

Lynch is tied for third in NFL history with six 100-yard rushing games in the playoffs.

The Seahawks tweeted a cool video tribute.

We reposted the simulcast of his two greatest runs.

Russell Wilson called it an honor to play with one of the best of all time.

Richard Sherman said it was an honor to share the field with him.

Paul Allen thanked him for a great career and “so many runs and quakes.”

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It's bigger than football, State of the team

Remember when the Seahawks ‘slammed’ the door on Hardy?

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Greg HardyAs Greg Hardy proceeds to melt down in Dallas right before our eyes – and right before the Seahawks play the Cowboys this weekend — it’s a good reminder that the Seahawks realized what a head case the mercurial pass rusher was and steered away from him.

If you recall, a report out of Dallas in March indicated the Seahawks were willing to match any offer the Cowboys made for Hardy, who was facing a domestic-assault case and a suspension (which ended up being cut from 10 games to four).

The Seahawks did admit to checking into Hardy, calling it their usual “due diligence,” but general manager John Schneider also said they had zero interest in Hardy once they learned the specifics of the domestic assault case.

“We talk about being in on every single deal so we don’t miss out on something,” Schneider said in May. “… Once we found out what was going on with that situation, we were done. It was over. But we had to find out what happened. We opened that door, we looked inside and we slammed it.”

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It's bigger than football, State of the team

Honeymoon is over: Wilson can’t please anyone apparently

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Wilson HBO clipWant to know the real reason Russell Wilson drinks Recovery Water? To wash away the bad taste from all of the stupid or hateful things crappy people say about him.

For as great as the guy has been for Seattle — a standup person, a charitable man, a highly skilled player, a great leader, a Super Bowl champion — he sure has taken a lot of flak from fans this year. The honeymoon celebrated by an entire city that fell in love with him in 2012 and 2013 apparently is over.

Maybe it’s the goal-line interception in the Super Bowl, or maybe it’s his increased celebrity and association with other stars, or maybe it’s his girlfriend (one of said stars), or maybe it’s his faith in God. Whatever it is, people seem to find a lot about him to pick apart.

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Contracts, Fun & games, It's bigger than football

Bennett, Wilson and Lynch talk contracts and much more

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Lynch jumps into Skittles ZoneIt’s vacation time for the NFL, but on Monday the Seahawks hogged the sports spotlight as three of their top players talked about their contract situations and more.

While Michael Bennett babbled more nonsense about holding out, Russell Wilson made it clear he will show up no matter how much he is making. And then Marshawn Lynch finished the day with another hilarious appearance on “Conan,” saying (among other things) the $12 million the Hawks are paying him this year was a good reason to put off retirement.

Continue reading Bennett, Wilson and Lynch talk contracts and much more →

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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It's bigger than football, NFL draft

This draft class is full of intriguing people

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NFL draftThe Seahawks put together quite an anthology of dramatic stories this weekend.

They started off with the controversial pick of Frank Clark that had plenty of people ripping Pete Carroll and John Schneider. However, by the end of the draft, they had redeemed themselves by signing the inspirational Nate Boyer.

But Clark and Boyer weren’t the only guys who came to Seattle with attention-getting stories. In fact, this might be the most dramatic class Schneider has drafted.

Continue reading This draft class is full of intriguing people →

It's bigger than football, NFL draft, The roster

Carroll and Schneider are such drama queens

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NFL draftYou wouldn’t think it by looking at or listening to them, but Pete Carroll and John Schneider are drama queens.

They proved it again Friday when they used their top draft pick, No. 63 overall, on one of the most controversial players in the draft: banned Michigan pass rusher Frank Clark. Then, as if to take everyone’s mind off the controversial pick of Clark, Carroll and Schneider parlayed four draft picks to move up and grab explosive return man/wide receiver Tyler Lockett six picks later.

Carroll and Schneider knew they would take heat for drafting Clark, who was kicked off the team at Michigan after a domestic violence arrest last year.

But the Hawks have never been afraid to acquire players with dubious character. They traded for Marshawn Lynch, signed Terrell Owens and Braylon Edwards, traded for Kellen Winslow, drafted Bruce Irvin and Christine Michael and traded for Percy Harvin.

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Contracts, It's bigger than football, State of the team

Wilson: ‘I can’t wait to play (football) again’

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Wilson HBO clipRussell Wilson has been the center of attention in Seattle all month — whether it has been talk of his contract, the recent team-building trip to Maui he organized or his talk about baseball.

His HBO interview with Bryant Gumbel caught a lot of attention due to his comments about his “dream” of playing baseball. We’ve already dismissed all of the conspiracy theories surrounding those comments, and Wilson today waved off any concerns himself, saying he is focused on his future as a football player.

“I didn’t say I was going to leave the NFL,” Wilson told ESPN’s The Herd. “I love playing the game of football. To be one of 32 men in the world who get to do what I do, it’s a special thing, and I’ve been able to play in two Super Bowls and I’m only 26 years old. That’s been a blessing.”

Contract negotiations with the Seahawks reportedly have not gone very far, and neither side is saying much.

Continue reading Wilson: ‘I can’t wait to play (football) again’ →