Tag Archives: Cliff Avril

November 10, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Paul Richardson is expected to make his season debut Sunday vs. Arizona.

Jeremy Lane is “one day at a time,” but Russell Okung is expected to play vs. Arizona after missing the Dallas game.

Ricardo Lockette returned to Seattle. Okung and Marshawn Lynch had stayed in Dallas with him last week.

Michael Bennett talks his usual goofy gibberish about his fine for hitting Matt Cassel and other things.

Nice feature from ESPN’s Sheil Kapadia on Cliff Avril, who lost his dad earlier this year and has been playing as well as ever this season.

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It's bigger than football, State of the team

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

October 26, 2015 cc Leave a comment

As 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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State of the team, Week 7: At San Francisco

Can Carroll recapture his ‘distracted’ team?

October 21, 2015 cc Leave a comment

As the Seattle Seahawks seemingly sleepwalk through this season, with little sign of their previous hunger to win and killer instinct, it is fair to wonder whether the players have tuned out Pete Carroll and whether he can regain their ear before the season really does spin out of control.

Back-to-back Super Bowls, contract concerns and Carroll’s game-losing call in the last title game all could be culprits in the Seahawks’ late meltdowns that have resulted in a 2-4 record.

Carroll surely lost some players with his ill-fated decision to throw the ball rather than run it with Super Bowl XLIX on the line, and it is clear he has not gained back the confidence of all of them.

On top of that, he has a new defensive coordinator and the Legion of Boom has not been itself.

Kris Richard, the DC, took the blame for the communication breakdown that resulted in Carolina tight end Greg Olsen being wide open to win the game Sunday.

“I stand up and I absolutely accept full responsibility for what happened at the end,” Richard said. “It will not continue. We must get better and we are examining each and every single possible thing we can do to fix it, again, starting with me.”

On the field, though, it starts with the Legion. And, as Earl Thomas said, “We’re not being ourselves. I think we’re distracted.”

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CHAWK LINES, Week 4: Detroit

October 4, 2015 cc Leave a comment

With Marshawn Lynch and Brandon Mebane out, “Monday Night Football” might be a preview of the 2016 Seahawks.

Nice look at Seattle’s new No. 2 running back — and No. 1 again this week — Thomas Rawls, by Bob Condotta.

The big storyline for #DETvsSEA, of course, is the return of Golden Tate to face his old team and the Legion of Boom. “We had our battles in practice for years,” Richard Sherman said. “It’ll be another fun battle.”

Even in Detroit, Tate has been creating controversy at the usual rate.

Cliff Avril will be playing his old team Monday, but he calls it “just another game.”

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CHAWK LINES, Week 1: At St. Louis

September 14, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Field Gulls passed on the latest on Kam Chancellor: (1) Teammates have come to John Schneider and Pete Carroll asking them to resolve the situation and get Chancellor in and (2) they were close to a deal in mid-August, but it fell apart. Also, check out the homage to “Back to the Future” in the Field Gulls pic.

The Seahawks lamented missed tackles and big passing plays (eight of more than 20 yards). Cliff Avril said, “It felt like we gave up the most explosive plays that we’ve given up since I’ve been here.”

Dion Bailey said he should have just tackled Lance Kendricks and taken the pass-interference penalty when Bailey fell while trying to cover the tight end.

Don’t blame Bailey for all of the defense’s problems though. Tight ends were a big problem for them last season, even with Chancellor.

The Rams once again pummeled Russell Wilson, sacking him six times for the third time in his seven games against them. “Those guys are really good up front, and they got the best of us today,” said Russell Okung, who gave up the final sack.

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Contracts, State of the team, The roster

Wagner is worth $9M to league’s No. 1 defense

July 24, 2015 cc Leave a comment

When Bobby Wagner signs his new contract — and it appears that could be in time for training camp next week — every offense that has to face the Seahawks’ defense for the next three seasons is going to shed a few more tears.

You would too if you knew the No. 1 defense of the last three years likely will remain that way for the next three — with Wagner, Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, K.J. Wright and Cliff Avril (and maybe Michael Bennett) all under contract. That’s seven starters signed through at least 2017. And that doesn’t count Cary Williams, Frank Clark or Kevin Pierre-Louis — expected key contributors all signed through 2017 as well. Continue reading Wagner is worth $9M to league’s No. 1 defense →

CHAWK LINES

June 28, 2015 cc Leave a comment

CHAWK LINES -- Week in review

Bob Condotta recapped the Week in Russell Wilson Reports.

Michael Bennett, who lives in Hawaii in the offseason, says he might hold out for an upgraded deal: “I don’t mind staying home for a little while.” It’s an empty threat, and he knows it.

Cliff Avril said contract stuff won’t affect how the Seahawks come together on the field.

Danny Kelly of Field Gulls put together a nice piece on the Seahawks’ focus on “sleep as a weapon.” This dovetails with an old Vince Lombardi quote that Jimmy Johnson loved to repeat: “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.”

Frank Clark was at the rookie symposium, where he hopefully learned a few lessons on how to stay out of trouble. He said he is not dwelling on the past and is looking forward to finding his role with the Hawks.

Rob Rang wondered whether the Seahawks might be interested in intriguing, though slightly troubled, left tackle Isaiah Battle in the supplemental draft. Probably would require a third-round pick.

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CHAWK LINES

June 14, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Brandon Mebane says he will be ready to go full speed when training camp starts.

Cliff Avril talked about his concussion in the Super Bowl (which had a big effect on the defense). He said he has no fears about further concussions and is ready to win another Super Bowl while playing the full game. Avril also talked about Michael Bennett’s contract squabble, saying he understands both sides and isn’t concerned Bennett won’t play in 2015.

Jesse Williams is working out again after kidney surgery.

In news Sea Dawgs will like, the Seahawks signed Kasen Williams. (We couldn’t care less.)

Kevin Williams wanted to return to the Seahawks, but he ended up signing with the Saints.

Field Gulls broke out the Seahawks’ coaching candidates that were included in a MMQB survey.

Here’s a bunch of midweek CHAWK LINES on OTAs and contract issues.

State of the team, The roster

‘This is a team that’s built for the future’

June 11, 2015 cc Leave a comment

“This is a team that’s built for the future. … We’re in the middle of this. This is not like the end. This is just the middle of this.” — Pete Carroll to 710 ESPN after blowing the Super Bowl in February.

The Seahawks’ contract impasse with Russell Wilson has many wondering how much longer he will be the team’s quarterback and, in a related consideration, how long the Hawks’ Super Bowl window will remain open.

But Pete Carroll’s comments from February remain just as germane today, despite the apparent lack of progress on Wilson’s deal: This team is right in the middle of its Super Bowl window.

The team controls Wilson’s contract for at least three more seasons, which happens to match the duration of the deals of some of the team’s best players: Marshawn Lynch, Jimmy Graham, Kam Chancellor, Michael Bennett. Signed through 2018 are Cliff Avril, K.J. Wright, Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman.

Sure, Lynch could walk at any time if he feels the Call of Duty to do something else. And Bennett might not be with the team beyond this year if he continues to sit inside the VMAC whining about his contract while his teammates practice.

But, with the team now talking to Bobby Wagner about a new deal, we should be able to add the linebacker to the list of long-term Seahawks at some point this year.

Add the team’s young receivers (Paul Richardson, Tyler Lockett, Kevin Norwood) and some of the other additions from the last two drafts, and the Hawks have a solid core through at least 2017.

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CHAWK LINES

May 24, 2015 cc Leave a comment

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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