The Franchise

by John Morgan on Oct 28, 2009 2:43 PM PDT

Seattle coach Dennis Erickson and his staff also wanted the 6'5", 301-pound Jones, a junior who played two years at Holmes (Miss.) Community College and only 12 games at the major college level. Jones was projected as a low first-round pick until he ran the 40 in 4.6 seconds for NFL scouts last month, causing his stock to soar. Nonetheless, on the eve of the draft, Seahawks vice president of football operations Randy Mueller sold Behring and Bob Whitsitt, Allen's go-between in the Seattle front office, on the idea of trying to jockey into position to select Jones. Then Whitsitt called Allen.

Aware that anti-Seahawks sentiment at the state capital was running high, Whitsitt warned his boss. "You could be out of this in three days. Dennis and Randy think they can move up and get this great tackle, but it could really push your costs up. If they get Springs and this tackle, it could cost $13 million in signing bonuses alone."

"What did we say when we got into this?" Allen replied. "If we're involved, we're involved. Are we still involved?"

"Yeah," Whitsitt said.

"Then we have to do it," Allen said.

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4.6 forty

by Nate Dogg on Oct 28, 2009 2:50 PM PDT reply actions

John Carlson is slow.

by redwolf75 on Oct 28, 2009 3:32 PM PDT up reply actions

That is insane.

Makes me wonder what his 3-cone was. Same as Moreno’s? Wow.

Early prospect watch: RB C.J. Spiller, OT Ciron Black, DT Gerald McCoy, S Eric Berry, DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Ras-I Dowling 6'2, 200, RB Jonathan Dwyer, Sam Bradford*.

by Misfit74 on Oct 28, 2009 5:19 PM PDT up reply actions

I knew Jones was good

But didn’t realize how much of a freak athlete he truly was. There definitely won’t be anyone that even touches his caliber in the NFL.

by aerozeppelin on Oct 28, 2009 6:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Did that really take place?

Does the man who saved the Seattle Seahawks and helped bring us the Sounders really have those kind of balls?
Can he buy the Mariners please?

by skwid206 on Oct 28, 2009 2:56 PM PDT reply actions

Didn't he try?

And get axed by MLB?

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Oct 28, 2009 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions

he tried to buy the sonics before he bought the trailblazers

but NFL rules state that an owner can’t have more than one professional franchise in any given city. So Portland was the next best option. NFL RULES.

I ROCK out with my HAWK out, therefore I am....

by durteehawk on Oct 28, 2009 9:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Ahh, thanks NFL

by DJ C-Raig on Oct 28, 2009 9:25 PM PDT up reply actions

So MLS doesn't count? He owns part of the Sounders FC.

by redwolf75 on Oct 28, 2009 9:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Soccer is the exception.

Thanks to Hank Stram’s NASL-related anti-trust lawsuit.

by Frempf on Oct 28, 2009 11:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Paul Allen is (in my totally unbiased opinion)

One of the best owners in Sports today. He is wealthy enough to make any move, he loves the game enough that he understands what moves need to be made, he is intelligent enough that he knows when to make a move, and he trusts his implemented staff that he knows when he needs to act himself, and when he needs to step back and let the people he hired do their jobs. It’s the self-awareness of his own limitations that I particularly like, you won’t see him Al Davis or Dan Snydering us. he is good people.

Rooney is a cock.

by DJ C-Raig on Oct 28, 2009 3:34 PM PDT reply actions

Rooney is a cock.

Absolutely. Fuck Pittsburgh!

by GTsmookie on Oct 28, 2009 3:45 PM PDT reply actions

This is going to come off wrong

But I’m going to say it anyway: We never would have drafted Walter Jones with our current management.

It is what it is...

by kidder95 on Oct 28, 2009 4:13 PM PDT reply actions

I think

Your right. That said who knows. The talent and character would have been very persuasive.

by Fudwamper on Oct 28, 2009 4:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Without getting into a big GM battle royale

I’m going to agree with you. Ruskell goes to bat trying to get on base while Holmgren went to bat trying to get homeruns. Holmgren got a few homeruns but he also whiffed not infrequently.

"Its not that I can't read and write, its just that I don't like to read and write."
-Charlie

by ninjasocks on Oct 28, 2009 5:11 PM PDT up reply actions

I love Paul Allen. I love Walter.

Early prospect watch: RB C.J. Spiller, OT Ciron Black, DT Gerald McCoy, S Eric Berry, DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Ras-I Dowling 6'2, 200, RB Jonathan Dwyer, Sam Bradford*.

by Misfit74 on Oct 28, 2009 5:19 PM PDT reply actions