Labels: albaNY Hawker, NFC West

Not many people realize this, but the Seattle Seahawks have either been directly or significantly involved in several NFL Rule Changes.

Most everyone remembers the Vinny Testaverde "phantom" touchdown against the Seahawks, which ushered in the return of instant replay, and the Excessive Crowd Noise rule, from the old Kingdome days, which is still on the books but rarely called. There's also the "Joe Nash" rule, requiring an "injured" player to sit out for at least one play a 10 second run off for an injury stoppage if you're out of time outs, which came into effect after Tom Flores' Chuck Knox's "brain child" for slowing down the Boomer Esiason Cincinnati Bengals hurry-up offense was to have Nash fake an injury after every other play!

But given the fact that the lackluster Seattle Seahawks seem primed to "win" the worst division in football for the fourth consecutive year, there are rumblings that another NFL Rule change may forthcoming.

Six Teams make the playoffs from each conference, the four divisional winners and the two Wild Card teams with the next best records. If the playoffs started today, the Cowboys (7-1), Packers (7-1), Bucs (5-4) and Seahawks (4-4) would be your division winners, with the Lions (6-2) and Giants (6-2) as the Wild Cards, and the Redskins (5-3) on the outside looking in.

Looking at the AFC, the Patriots (9-0), Colts (7-1), Steelers (5-2) and Chiefs (4-4) would be your division winners, with the Titans (6-2) and Jags (5-3) as Wild Cards, with the Browns (5-3) and Ravens (4-3) getting the green banana!.

That's three teams with better winning percentages than the Seahawks watching the playoffs at home on their TVs.

There are rumbings throughout the league for the NFL to change the playoff format, seeding the teams by their season record, without automatic bids for divisional winners, and possibly even disregarding the Conference balance.

Which means if playoff rosters were comprised of the top 6 teams in each conference, the Redskins would be in and the Seahawks would be the out. Similarly in the AFC, the Browns would be in and the Chiefs would be out.

Taking the top 12 teams in the league, regardless of Conference, wouldn't change the participants, but would change the seeding.

Seeding the playoffs this way would basically render the Divisions and their respective rivalries as useless, but the only thing that may keep this change from getting serious consideration might be the fact that the Chiefs, one of the "good old boy" franchises from the league's infancy, would be screwed out of a playoff berth.

Because Lord knows, if the league could find another way to screw the Seahawks, it would jump at the chance!





[Comments taken in SeahawkBlue Forums]

Labels: albaNY Hawker, NFC West, NFL, Rule Changes

When Deon Grant sat down to consider his options and figure out where he wanted to play in 2007, he narrowed down his options with a quickness.
Seattle Times.com:

"One reason I considered coming to Seattle is the fact that they've been to the playoffs for four years straight," Grant told the Florida Times-Union Thursday. "They're definitely there."

Done deal sweety, bring on the cigar because the Seahawk secondary just gave birth to it's new age, and it's golden child is in the house.

I won't bore you with stats other than the big ones, namely an average of just about 65 tackles a year since he got into his first game in '01.

You want more reason to get excited about the landing? How does 18 interceptions float your boat? If you asked him how he did that, he might just come back with a line from one of his favorite Adam Sandler movies:

"You underestimate my sneakiness."

Grant also boasts 4 1/2 sacks to his credit, and he's only 27 years old.

"They're missing a few pieces, but I think with guys like Patrick [Kerney] and myself, we'll be able to make some things happen on that defense," Grant said to the Times-Union. "You bring in guys with playoff experience and Super Bowl experience with a coach that already has Super Bowl experience, we really feel like we can make it happen here in Seattle."

I think it's safe to say he's not alone on that sentiment.

Unfortunately with progress comes change, and the people of Seahawk Nation will likely be saying good-bye to local favorite Ken Hamlin as a result. Also with the addition of Brian Russel, even Michael Boulware will likely have to run his beak into the ground to prove he still belongs.

So now, right out of the Blue, you have sheer evil brewing in coffee town. All of a sudden opposing quarterbacks will not only toss and turn at the thought of Julian Peterson and Lofa, but also will have to account for Patrick Kerney and Mr. Sneaky as well.

To sum up that scenario, I give 'em each the same four words ...

Sucks to be you.

[Comments taken on Front Page]

Labels: NFC West, Seahawks

What a difference a matter of days can make, especially when you're holding your breath, and the collective members of Seahawk Nation were turning as blue as a Seahawk by the end of the first weekend of the FA shuffle.

But today the truth is you are hard pressed to find a Seahawk, especially here in the great Northwest, who has not been reduced literally to a couple of syllables when the subject is brought up.

"KER-NEY" is the most common one I'm confronted with, often with one fist balled up and the other in the traditional three-fingered, arm extended salute I remember best from my first Ozzy concert. For some reason they like to go way out of their way to seek me out just to heckle me, though I can't figure out why. One thing is clear - Seahawk Nation is pumped up!

And why not?

Some people have argued that Patrick Kerney, as a replacement for Grant Wistrom is a virtual exchange of basically the same assets for comparable money. And if you look at the stat sheets, this theory is somewhat supported.

But football isn't about just stats, oh no baby, it's about emotion - it's about momentum.

So as the Hawks kissed Grant Wistrom good-bye and sent him on his way to audition for a very Brady bingo-parlor, what they essentially did was bring in a breath of fresh air and change of mentality to their Defensive line. When you couple big-hearted with extremely talented, mix in a fantastic work ethic and high-motor, you run the risk of combustion when placed in the middle of the frenzy that is easily the most volatile stadium in the NFL.

That alone is enough to send shudders through every offensive coordinator in the division.

Maybe that's why when I say it's going to be a fight in the NFC West this year, I hear one or another version of the same thing back:

"The NFC West belongs to the Hawks baby, if they want it - let 'em come and TAKE IT!"


[Comments taken in SeahawkBlue Forums]

Labels: NFC West, Patrick Kerney, Seahawks

After the first full weekend of free agency, and with the earliest season lock in the history of the NFL, I am hereby commissioned to tell you all that there is no need to even play the first 18 weeks this season. What's the point? If I'm understanding correctly, there is already a team that will be so deadly and devastating that it will not only win the Superbowl, but scare the other team so badly that they will refuse to take the field.

If you haven't yet figured out the new NFL super-power that rivals Zeus himself, then either you live under a rock, or haven't seen one of the hundreds of orgasmic drunks across town swinging from the rafters at the 49er bar.

Yeah, I know they have been having a good FA period so far, but listening to some of these fools would have you giving away all your earthly possessions, and making a pilgrimage to San Francisco to meet the new Messiah himself - Nate Clements.

This 49er thread is high quality entertainment.

Nate Clements vs. Champ Bailey ... REALLY?

The good people on the bad fault-line were only giddy at first, but then throw in the signings of WR Ashley Lelie and SS Michael Lewis and suddenly they became down-right loopy.

This years 49ers without a doubt are not only a shoo-in to take the March crown from the Washington Redskins, but are setting their sights on breaking the Cardinals 3-year pre-season sexy-pick slobber-fest award, presented by the "expert analaysts."

It just doesn't seem right for one team to have so much excitement while the Seahawks fans are left wishing for good news like a spurned lover sitting for hours by the telephone only to be shunned and insulted and used by their own coveted potential saviour.

It's a pretty good trick these days to out cackle the Cardinals this time of year, I'll give em that much. Well as much as I hate to admit it, the 49er fans have alot to be excited about. But beyond the myopia, there are two distinct possibilities that loom in the near future.

There's gonna be an NFC West dog-fight this year, and Champ Bailey may die.





[Comments taken in SeahawkBlue Forums]

Labels: NFC West

What do Mike Martz and Norv Turner have in common? They both can do outstanding things for any NFL teams offensive attack - that's no-brainer number one. The other screaming no-brainer is they should never be given the keys to the whole show again -ever.

Tell that to the San Diego Chargers, or rather, explain it to their long suffering fans.

The hiring of Norv Turner as the new Charger HC is mind-boggling at best. His eight year totals at the helm of the Redskins and Raiders are a discouraging 58-82-1. But this time the Chargers are not the only losers. The 49ers will suffer because of this as well.

Norv Turner is once again headed for disaster when he should have stayed put doing the thing he does best, namely, backing up a good Head Coach in Mike Nolan. That's his calling, and he's very good at developing young offensive talent. A look at the 49ers resurgence over the last couple of years is testimony of that.

At the same time, one look at his last attempt to fit in the big chair reveals a Raider team that is still in shambles largely due to his inability to motivate and control an entire team rather than just the offense.

I'm don't have my crystal ball back from the shop yet, but in this case I don't think I need much more than my seven brain cells to see the fall-out from this debacle.

Everyone loses.

The 49ers lose a key building block for their puzzle. The Chargers will lose their hard-earned progress and end up on the wrong side of .500 within two years, and the fans will lose their minds in San Diego and form a lynch-mob for Turner.

Yes friends I predict that being a Chargers fan is going to suck immensely over the next few years.

Can you say "Raiders South?"


[Comments taken in SeahawkBlue Forums]

Reaction Threads
49er fans a wee bit pissed off.So are Charger fans.

Labels: NFC West, The Watchdog

According to Mr. Magoo himself,(John Clayton of ESPN) Jim Haslett is now being considered a "top" candidate for HC of the San Diego Chargers. We all know that Marty Schottenheimer got canned last week, which is proof beyone a reasonable doubt that the Charger hierarchy has no idea what is best for their organization.

Hire Jim Haslett for HC? PLEASE DO!

Not that I have anything against Haslett, other than his big mouth and lack of results. And there is the fact that he is so antsy to get his foot in the door as a HC of another team that he cannot possibly be giving the tall task he was hired to do, namely regenerating the Rams defensive unit, a fraction of the commitment and focus needed to continue what progress was made in '06.

Which begs the next and probably most obvious question.

Who in the world would be dumb enough to hire Jim Haslett as their new HC? Well, maybe the same organization who was stupid enough to let go of the man who is responsible for the best San Diego Charger teams in a generation.

Norv Turner, Rex Ryan and Ron Rivera are the other top candidates mentioned as contenders. One would think that Rivera would be the best choice for their style of play, but for some reason, RR is always in contention. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.

I for one would love for the Chargers to take a chance on Haslett and then have the Rams turn right around and offer the open DC position to Rivera. Or better yet, bring Marty over to St. Louis. Talk about stacking the West Coast deck with that one.

But if there is any logic involved whatsoever in SD, they won't let Haslett any closer than Mike Martz to the interview table.

But stranger things have happened, and miracles are real sometimes.

Here's wishing Haslett luck in his interview - go get that job Jimmy ... please!



[Comments taken in SeahawkBlue Forums]

Labels: NFC West, The Watchdog

AFC 31
NFC 28

When you see sights like Bill Belichick sporting turkey pale legs on national television and players sweating and laughing in the blazing sun, all in the middle of February, you know your watching NFL Hawaii - more namely, the Pro-Bowl.

For those of us who were yearning for one last glimpse of our team's representatives, it was kind of a bittersweet, love-hate performance all around. You want to see an all-out ass busting, high scoring affair much like you would expect when you put this many play makers on the same field together, but instead what I saw looked more like a frat party scrimmage at times.

Oh, I know that it's a just for fun game, but c'mon.

When Carson Palmer reared back and threw that beautiful 42 yard touchdown bomb to Chad Johnson in the third quarter, there was no coverage within ten yards of him. Okay, that happens. But on the very next play when the Chargers Kaeding kicked the extra point, I literally saw three of the linemen simply come out of their stance and stand straight up, arms at their side relaxed while the kick sailed through.

Maybe I expect too much, but this is an all-star game right? Don't the NFC players care that the AFC kicks their ass in just about everything they do regarding football?

Ahh, whatever.



There were some really cool plays made from our own players in the West. Frank Gore took a hand-off from Marc Bulger and ran it in to tie the score at 14 just before halftime. And later in the fourth quarter Steven Jackson showed why he was there with a nifty duck and dodge run for an 11-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to begin the late NFC rally which came up three points short.

It's not like Steven Jackson hasn't seen that scenario play out a few too many times.

But all in all, it was fun to see the stars come out one more time even if it was just an exhibition.

But it would have been nice to see the NFC win something on their way out the door.


[Comments taken in SeahawkBlue Forums]

Labels: NFC West, The Watchdog

Normally winning seven games in a season is not cause for celebration. But a simple visit to a San Francisco 49er website would have one believe that not only are the skies opening up to reveal the long promised saviour is finally returning, but is also sporting a San Francisco home jersey labeled "Heaven in '07."

But between the blubbery folds of the myopic being of destiny which has descended upon the good people of San Francisco, eeks a certain sweaty sense of unrest my friends. Oh yes, and the sinister evil which most have opted to ignore like a new lower body odor is real, and getting funkier by the minute.

Case in point:

You would think that Frank Gore would be a happy man. After all, he just finished his breakout season in only his second year, gaining roughly a thousand more rushing yards than he did in '05. At the same time he laid claim to the third best rushing total in the NFL with just under 1,700 yards. With one year left on his contract, it's not a stretch to assume he will be in quite the bargaining postition for a new and very lucrative contract.

But word has it that he's not interested in waiting that long. In fact chances are very good that when training camp opens up, his bright shiny face may be not available for a photo opportunity but instead listed as the biggest-name hold-out of the new season. Reports indicate that he is already pushing for a re-negotiation of his contract to the tune of ten million dollars.

Good luck with that brother.

Norv Turner, along with the rest of the 49er nation are no doubt eagerly awaiting the next move by Jerry Jones and the rest of the crackwagon organization in regards to his highly publicized lead candidacy for the next head clown with "America's team."

What Norv and the rest of the sports world are not so readily divulging is the fact that now that Ron Rivera is officially available to be tampered with, there will be a decisively cruel swap in bent-knee worship that favors the flavor of Chicago hot dogs over the former Raider flounderer.
Look for Ron Rivera to be the next Head Coach of the Cowboys.

So though things may surely be looking up in the gay bay as far as optimism, there is plenty of reality to keep the stories in context. Besides, keeping Norv Turner in the NFC West isn't so bad.

He is the utter definition of parity.

Labels: NFC West, Niners, The Watchdog

Labels: Cardinals, NFC West, The Watchdog