I've heard this close to 20 times since Pete Carroll was announced as head coach and we began to see how this power structure would unfold. "They're giving Pete too much power." "Didn't they learn from the last time this happened with Holmgren?" This isn't '99 folks, lets really look at where we are, lets honestly look at the words Pete used in his press conference and lets really look at the man he follows in terms of the hawks only success.

in 1999 when Holmgren arrived here he had everything handed to him, for several reasons. One simple reason though, was his superbowl rings, as an assistant and as a head coach. Combine that with the size of the man's balls to leave Green Bay for the money and no one was ever telling Mike Holmgren no those fateful years. He simply could flip them off with a middle finger wearing a superbowl ring and that meant that his word was the law.

Pete Carroll is different, while having a reasonably effective tenure in the NFL and a lack luster time as head coach, Pete is lacking the ego that comes with rings. Simple as that. He's a man that has done it all in college and now has a chance to conquer the last challenge. With failure comes a certain humbleness, a ear for ideas. Pete came here to make his mark on the NFL and that isn't all bad.

"The Seahawks believe in my philosophy. They believe in my approach." This is a pivotal speech point, it's the one that has stuck with the most people through Pete's light speed press conference  This has been taken to mean that Pete Carroll will make all of the decisions on talent. This might be true, or it might mean that the Seahawks are saying, "However you  want to build this team, we will do our best to help you." If this were the Steelers, you come in knowing 'Run the ball 35 times a game and  play defense.' No coach is ever going to make his own mark in Pittsburgh or a deep ball offensive approach in Oakland. You either do those things or you're out.

Pete knows how he wants football to work. He won't be putting deals together, making trades on draft day. Scouring waivers for the next big thing, he's going to coach. The front office will do the legwork and a GM that has good track record can take Pete to task. A young 32 year-old is not going to say to Pete, "Look at my Track Record Pete, you can trust me on this scenario, this deal, such and so."  Trust is the ultimate game here and in the end, that's what it will come down to, not,  who has what power or title. Will Pete Carroll trust some young gun? Well, that remains to be seen, but please stop saying "This is exactly like Holmgren '99." Because it isn't even close.