John Schneider on The Strength of the Seahawks' Locker Room
by Danny Kelly on May 6, 2011 10:33 AM PDT
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One other interesting tidbit from Mitch Levy's interview with Seahawks' GM John Schneider the other day was his commentary on the state of the locker room. Levy asked him about the fact the Hawks passed on Jimmy Smith and Schneider didn't beat around the bush: he replied that though Smith is an obvious talent, his off-field concerns ultimately led to them passing on him. They feel that their locker room just isn't strong enough at this point to take a risk on a player like that. He mentioned specifically that the Ravens are perfect for Smith; if he steps out of line they've got Ed Reed or Ray Lewis to "grab him by the neck," as Schneider put it. He then pointed out that though the Hawks do have good leaders in the locker room they're still building that core group of star players and at this point they don't want to mess with their chemistry.
Though I really did want Jimmy Smith's named to be called, it really makes sense to me. At this point the Hawks don't have enough established veterans to really lay down the law. Who really would keep him in line if he started acting up? Lofa Tatupu is the unquestioned leader of the defense but outside of him there's not a ton of veteran leadership on a team that was sort of cobbled together last year with the additions of Chris Clemons, Raheem Brock, and Junior Siavii. Well, Brock and Siavii are free agents and Clemons didn't really strike me as a vocal leader (though I could be way off base on that - I'm not in the huddle or locker room). Lawyer Milloy was an on-field general and commands respect from teammates and opposing players alike, but may not be back. Marcus Trufant is probably next on the rung but again, not sure how much of a vocal leader he really is.
Without rambling too much, I think what Schneider said has some implications for several 'character-concern' players we've linked to the Hawks. I think I've been guilty of this, but generally I have believed that the Seahawks are open to bringing in any 'troubled' players mostly because of Pete Carroll's coaching style. Rumors have gone around about Talib Aqib and the Hawks if he were to be dropped from the Bucs, and we talked a bit about Albert Haynesworth during the season as well. Another player recently rumored for the Hawks is Vince Young. Though Young would be fiscally pretty cheap, he plays a very high-profile leadership position and that in itself carries a lot of weight. If they're not willing to gamble on a talent like Smith I'm not so sure they'd have any interest in making Young the potential face of their franchise and hoping he doesn't create issues like he did in Tennessee.
My Jimmy Smith/Vince Young comparison may be apples and oranges - John Schneider did mention later in the interview that while they are building a young core of smart competitive players, "this is going to be something where we're able to take a chance here and there on guys, like you were talking about that may have some character issues and that sort of thing and that's when you can really start hitting on some cool stuff." The difference between wasting a first round pick on a guy that could headcase his way out of the league and taking a chance on free agent that you could drop tomorrow at no cost is substantial.
Ultimately it's a case by case basis and I think the Hawks stance on character concern guys is probably fluid. There are a lot of factors to be taken into account in every player but they're probably somewhere in the middle of Tim "high-character, low upside" Ruskell and Jimmy "just don't bring your guns to practice" Johnson. I'm ok with that.
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while it makes sense to me as well
It also makes me a little peeved.
I mean, that’s exactly the problem isn’t it? The fact that the Seahawks don’t have leaders is a good REASON for not taking Smith, but it’s not a good excuse!
After all, whose fault is it they don’t have players who will hold each other accountable?
You can say that Pete and Co are only into year 2, but shouldn’t aquiring at leats ONE of those kindsof players have been priority 1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, etc…?
Also, after years of drafting character guys, we can still say we don’t have leaders???
Not to mention, last year we traded a fourth rounder for Lynch, who is as big a character risk as anyone from this draft was. So we had enough leadership to keep Lynch in line but not Smith?
This whole thing smells of half thruths and bad excuses to me. Sorry, but it’s the GM’s job to bring in leaders, and if he doesn’t have any, he’s the only one to blame.
And now that lack of leadership is affecting our ability to add talent and finally get good.
This just doesn’t speak well of Pete’s “plan” if you ask me.
by fargomonkey on May 6, 2011 10:46 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
also, where's the coaches responsibilty in all this?
After all, shouldn’t the coaches be telling the players to hold each other accountable? Isn’t it part of their job as well, to also hold the players accountable?
And if there is no leadership in the locker room, then why are you afraid to upset the chemistry? Sounds to me like there isn’t any! That’s what good chemistry is, having leaders hold people accountable, and if we already don’t have that, then it really doesn’t matter WHO we add to the mess, because there IS no chemistry now.
by fargomonkey on May 6, 2011 10:54 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
There is chemistry and leadership in the locker room.
What they don’t have is an enforcer like Ray Lewis. You know somebody who will fucking kill you if you step outta line.
70% of space is covered by dark matter, the rest by ET.
Literally?
"When Pete first got here he said he wanted to establish the run and stop the run
Pete’s the architect and Cable’s the contractor." --Greetings from the Lord Humongous!
by Tyler Jorgensen on May 6, 2011 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Exactly. Perfectly stated.
Lofa could be outspoken – but who’s really going to be afraid of Lofa Tatupu. He’s short and not particularly imposing.
Ray Lewis is downright TERRIFYING.
"Pass rushers enter the world of Okung but never leave." - JM
You prefaced your comment by stating it's just year 2 and still arrived at a conclusion blaming the plan.
Does not compute.
All The Way, AIRBORNE!!!
by Airborne Hawk Guy on May 6, 2011 10:54 AM PDT up reply actions
Oh?
If the “plan” didn’t revolve around bringing in leadership, then yes, it’s quite fair to blame the plan…try adding it up again, factoring in that I said that, aquiring leaders should have been priority 1, 1a, 1b, 1c etc…
There is no one formula for winning, but there a few things that every team MUST have to win, and one of them is leadership.
As to the “enforcer” comment someone hazbro made, do you really think that in order for players to hold each other accountable, they need to threaten each other with bodily harm? Are you really saying that unless you have a guy in your locker room who physically threatens and intimidates people into toeing the line, that you cannot add questionable players?
If we have leaders and chemistry, then there’s no locker room problem, and Schnieder was lying.
If that’s the case, he was just using an excuse the media conveniently gave him, for not doing the right thing and taking the BPA.
And if he wasn’t lying, and the problem does exist, then he’s failed for two years to bring leaders in, and the coaches have failed for two years to get the players to step up and hold each other accountable.
So either way, his comments certainly don’t make me feel any better about the direction.
HA HA! I don't think he meant the Ray Lewis comment literally
by jubelthebear on May 6, 2011 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions
I just wanna see Jimmy Smith walk into that locker room and act "hard".
Ray Ray gonna say, “listen here son”
70% of space is covered by dark matter, the rest by ET.
He'd be insane to even entertain the notion
Any man who can mount a laser shooting ion-engine propelled jackdaw through the vacuum of space clad only in foam is no man I’d wanna mess with.
… oh yeah then there’s the murder rap…
by jubelthebear on May 6, 2011 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
What IS this?!?
"When Pete first got here he said he wanted to establish the run and stop the run
Pete’s the architect and Cable’s the contractor." --Greetings from the Lord Humongous!
by Tyler Jorgensen on May 6, 2011 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions
One of his Old Spice commercials.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYBz2befSfY
Work hard, play harder, rest easy.
First, you don't automatically draft players for "leadership" and leadership is something that develops over time.
If this is a team without Matt Hasselbeck, it’s understandable that there would be a leadership void that needs to be filled. And don’t say, “you have to plan/draft for that.” You simply can’t. There’s no way there will not be a void when Peyton leaves Indy. Matt was the face, the quarterback and the leader of the team for close to a decade.
That takes time to be filled/recovered from. We are losing/lost Matt and a HoF LT in the course of 2-3 years. You don’t just autofill leadership, it has to develop. Am I concerned that it wont? Absolutely not. But veteran teams can afford to take chances on troubled guys like Jimmy Smith. Younger developing teams need to be more fully developed before they do so. We’re totally in transition here, it’s natural to build with safer more traditional pieces than high risk/reward pieces.
Hell, two years from now, Carpenter could be one of our leaders. It’s doubtful, if the team is moving in the right direction, that Jimmy Smith ever would have been.
“..if he wasn’t lying, and the problem does exist, then he’s failed for two years to bring leaders in, and the coaches have failed for two years to get the players to step up and hold each other accountable.”
The problem with this statement— aside from the fact that you use the term “lying” which is a strong harsh statement, is that you assume that we didn’t bring leaders in. And you also added an extra year to the Carroll Schneider era. We are STARTING year two. So basically you’re saying that we failed to bring in leadership in year one.
Yet you fail to acknowledge that perhaps bringing in a borderline HoF safety for a year of tutorship to Earl Thomas wasn’t leadership. You fail to acknowledge that guys like Kevin Vickerson and LenDale White were shipped out despite having talent, because they weren’t positive influences in the clubhouse.
Those two moves alone show the focus and attention the front office is putting toward the locker room. Pushing out superior (and veteran) talent because of a lack of discipline/focus/leadership. But, guys like Siavii, Brock, Clemons and Cole are very much a part of the culture of the team. Guys that maybe weren’t the highest of talent, but they worked hard and “bring it” every play. THAT IS LEADERSHIP.
You do not create a leader or find a leader. Leaders develop through the culture they are a part of, through their attitude, their demeanor, their focus, their discipline, their hustle, their charisma. You just can’t develop that, but there’s no reason to jump ship and be pissed that in 18 months the front office has ‘struggled’ to bring in leaders. Hell, I would argue last year’s NFC West was won through veteran leadership and grit— it sure as hell wasn’t won by having the most talented of the 4 teams in the division.
Give it time. Earl Thomas, Russell Okung, Moffitt, even Charlie all have the potential to be great leaders. Some by example, some by force of personality, hopefully all by bringing it every week with the talent to play in the league. This is the kind of thing that takes more than 18 months to fully develop, and I believe 3 years from now, we’ll be the strong veteran team willing to take a chance on Jimmy Smith. But Jimmy Smith is not a foundation guy, he’s high end finishing work, and we need to solidify the foundation and walls first.
It isn’t the fault of the coaching that there is no hardline leadership on the D side, or the team in general.
"When Pete first got here he said he wanted to establish the run and stop the run
Pete’s the architect and Cable’s the contractor." --Greetings from the Lord Humongous!
by Tyler Jorgensen on May 6, 2011 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions 14 recs
TLDR?
"When Pete first got here he said he wanted to establish the run and stop the run
Pete’s the architect and Cable’s the contractor." --Greetings from the Lord Humongous!
by Tyler Jorgensen on May 6, 2011 1:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Well, it might have been a tad long, but it was packed with good content!
I need to put some front page stuff together instead of long responses like this sometimes, but then, here it is part of the connective tissue of the larger post.
"When Pete first got here he said he wanted to establish the run and stop the run
Pete’s the architect and Cable’s the contractor." --Greetings from the Lord Humongous!
by Tyler Jorgensen on May 6, 2011 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions
I like you whiskey chainsaw
and not just because I think drinking whiskey and playing with a chainsaw sounds like a lot of fun.
"(Mark LeGree) corners the other team's quarterback before games and makes him apologize for being born".
two offseasons
While I don’t disagree with much of what you said, there ARE players who, like Ray Lewis, command respect in the locker room, who can be and should have been (I’d we truly don’t have any) brought in year one through trade/free agency/or draft.
If it’s just a matter of the youth not having grown into that role YET as you imply, then I can understand that to a degree; but I have a VERY hard time swallowing the notion that between Lofa and Milloy that is a good excuse.
Milloy is in fact a veteran who commands respect because he’s been there done that, and has been at the top of the game. I’ve heard other players mention his leadership, and so called “mentoring” (an overblown concept BTW).
And again, if the lockeroom is too unstable to add a guy like Smith, then A) where are the coaches? And B) why’d they trade for Lynch? (A move I thought was bad to begin with).
Look, I’m sorry to come across as so negative, but this is just another thing on top of many many very questionable, if not outright stupid things this current FO has done since taking over, and I’m really not foreseeing a good outcome for this regime. (It would take too much space for me to explain all my reasons there are far too many).
I just see this thing ending in many more years of mediocrity and frustration, and as a fan since inception, I’m getting weary of it, (and probably a bit cynical and cranky as well.).
by fargomonkey on May 6, 2011 2:11 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I don't see how you can count two offeasons.
Unless you forgot there is a lockout in place. Aside from the draft, we haven’t done anything this offseason.
OOOOOH!!!!! That was NASTY!!!!!!!!
by bmxnw on May 6, 2011 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
One offseason to realistically get "leaders"
Unless you expect kids that were just drafted a week ago to assume the leadership mantle, or there was a free agency period I didn’t hear about.
Recognize, the locker room we’re going to see this year and next is going to be full of younger, impressionable players. Guys that are and have been leaders on the team (Tru, Lofa, Matt, Milloy) aren’t going to be here in the next 2-3 years. You’re going to need the current batch of young guys to step up into those roles both by their play on the field on Sundays and their work effort during the off season, training camp and game-prep.
One fabulous way to obstruct the younger guys development into those new leaders is to add a toxic element into the locker room at the beginning of their development.
by SmartAssCoug on May 6, 2011 2:18 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
You can't call this two off-seasons.
There hasn’t yet been a FA period. Calling it two offseasons just because it is their 2nd offseason when the opportunity to acquire players has been limited (and will eventually open up one way or another) isn’t really fair.
“there ARE players who, like Ray Lewis, command respect in the locker room, who can be and should have been (I’d we truly don’t have any) brought in year one through trade/free agency/or draft.”
You do realize that Ray Lewis is one of, at worst, the top 10 MLB in NFL history? It’s almost like you think those guys grow on trees and are easy to sign. There are very difficult to find, and when you do get them it tends to be like Lawyer on the very end of his career, the very last legs. A great example is Richard Seymour, who cost the Raiders two first round picks and a higher dollar contract. I use him because he may have cost more than most since it was the Raiders, but his leadership is an attribute given credit for the fact that the defense was shored up and they only barely missed going to the playoffs. Turns out in hindsight that trade while maybe not great wasn’t terrible for the Raiders like everyone thought it would be.
I agree that mentoring is an overblown concept for the record, and have been against “Hasselbeck as a mentor in Seattle” talk from day one.
On leadership and bringing in Lynch— you are crossing arguments here. You even say it yourself:
“why’d they trade for Lynch? (A move I thought was bad to begin with).”
You didn’t like the trade, so you are placing Lynch in the “locker room cancer” camp. He was never that from anything I read. He got in trouble off the field a little, but also competed with intensity on the field. Smith has a rep to get in trouble off the field and be lackadaisical on it. Perhaps they could forgive one of the two sins, but not both?
You are getting cranky and cynical. And it’s ironic, because before this draft I was too. But this draft actually helped push me the other way. I loved this draft, and have more optimism right now than I have had since our high water mark in 2005.
It’s getting better, and there is a solid plan. I didn’t see it for a long time, but I do know. I very much believe in the direction of our franchise.
"When Pete first got here he said he wanted to establish the run and stop the run
Pete’s the architect and Cable’s the contractor." --Greetings from the Lord Humongous!
by Tyler Jorgensen on May 6, 2011 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
When you say:
While I don’t disagree with much of what you said, there ARE players who, like Ray Lewis, command respect in the locker room, who can be and should have been (I’d we truly don’t have any) brought in year one through trade/free agency/or draft.
Do you mean guys like Lawyer Milloy? True, they didn’t acquire him, but they DID keep him here and give him significantly more playing time, in large part because he is such a great veteran leader. One problem with veteran leadership, though, is that they tend to be older players, and as a result, their veteran leadership doesn’t always last very long…
Personally, I think guys like Carpenter and Moffitt were also chosen for their potential leadership ability. I see Okung as being a strong silent type like they guy he replaced, but both Carpenter and Moffitt seem to be more vocal and fiery. If they pan out as good leaders, then we’ll soon have that leadership role on the O line taken care of for quite a few years. On D, I think we can still lean on Lofa for some of that, but it’s probably a need. You can’t to it all with 1 or 2 drafts. But I think the plan for leadership is still there, even if they haven’t had the chance to implement it fully yet…
by Highwatermark on May 6, 2011 6:45 PM PDT up reply actions
There's only so many headcases that one team can keep in line.
And the likes of Ray Lewis, or Big Walt until he had to retire, could just arch an eyebrow to make even the worst headcases siddown and shaddup. It seems to me that we don’t quite have as many of that type of player as we need just yet, mainly because there just aren’t very many intimidating elder statesmen that have anything left in the tank leaguewide. Stokley and Milloy are fantastic examples for all the young good guys to follow, but headcases need to be grabbed by the neck. If we have reached out allotted quota of headcases with Lynch and, I’m sure, a few others, fine.
Keep in mind we landed Lynch, a first round talent, with a fourth. And BMFMW, another first round talent, for zippedy doo dah. I’d rather bring in vastly talented headcases for that price instead of spending real capital for them.
by bleedshawkblue on May 7, 2011 9:44 AM PDT up reply actions
Consider Field Gulls like a locker room- a veteran one.
We’ve all got varying opinions, and ideas-but when somebody straight up brings the stupid-he get’s it from all sides. There is no GNN side here. I’ve brought the stupid before ten beers deep and know this from experience.
I can go over to seahawks.net and stay stuck on stupid all day long and fit right in.
And BTW, Ray Lewis doesn’t have to physically threaten anybody in the locker room, he’s the alfa male, one of the greats of all time, and is hard as hell. Rookies know it, everybody knows it. And in a game of violence, if he happens to knock your head off on the practice field, that’s just how it goes with the big boys in the NFL.
70% of space is covered by dark matter, the rest by ET.
it's ALPHA by the way....
Ray Lewis isn’t just an Alpha male, he’s an Alpha Omega male
Watching the Seahawks is like peeing on yourself, everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling it brings
He's the Italian car version.
But yeah, I knew that.
70% of space is covered by dark matter, the rest by ET.
Sure, leadership is job 1a, 1b. etc. I am sure that Green Bay, Pittsburgh, etc., would be willing to give up their
leaders for nothing. You act like you go to the corner market and just pick leadership up.
I don't think re-uniting Lynch with Forsett was such a huge risk
70% of space is covered by dark matter, the rest by ET.
If that's the case
Why did so many teams pass on Smith? Just about every analyst stated that Smith is probably the best CB on the boards but they all felt he had character issues. Thus he falling all the way to Bal @ 27. Like the analyst it was a great pick for Bal because a it filled a serious need and them and several veteran players to keep him in check. There is absolutely no one on the roster than could even come close to keeping him in check.
The problem for the Seahawks is that PC would have had to discipline him - keep him off the field...
…like he did with Tate last year, and that might not even work.
A lot of risk to take with your first round pick.
well bewrong, you certainly are
Reason and Excuse are similar yes, but they are not identical, they do in fact have somewhat different meanings and cannot always be used interchangeably.
Thanks for trying to correct me, but next time, consider your moniker
Might be something about the CB position
This article runs through some of the recent history of cornerbacks coming into the league with character red flags, and the results haven’t been pretty. Maybe there’s something about playing that position that requires your head to be screwed on straight, more than other positions.
by Suburban Shocker on May 6, 2011 10:57 AM PDT reply actions
The whole "off field issues" thing is a bit overblown at times.
It’s not hard to get caught-up with a drinking offense or a domestic charge when you’re young & stupid. I did, 30 years ago. The thing I want to hear is he is a good team-mate, and a good ballplayer . The courts will cure him of the behavior issues.
Hmm.
“The courts will cure him of the behavior issues.”
Not sure that has been proven, I see a tremendous amount of recidivism in our offenders, don’t you? But regardless, perhaps they will cure him. But will they cure him while he’s a major contributor in the league or years after your team has drafted him, been forced to let him go, etc.?
"When Pete first got here he said he wanted to establish the run and stop the run
Pete’s the architect and Cable’s the contractor." --Greetings from the Lord Humongous!
by Tyler Jorgensen on May 6, 2011 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Agreed
At times it’s too much. But then you have the Lawrence Phillips and Pac Man’s that enter the league. And you can see why it’s overblown at times. I don’t know all the details about his off field issues, but they must have been bad, see Ryan Mallet.
I don't see what the fuss is
Tom Cable comes in because you’ve told him you’re going to build the line the line, and you need his expertise to work on some mean, badass rookies to form a powerhouse of an offensive front.
Having done that, you do NOT use your first pick taking a flyer on a cornerback,unless you don’t mind leaving the room carrying your balls in a beercan.
I'd say the fuss is that Schnieder made a comment that insinuates we have no leadership.
You don’t see that as a problem? I certainly do!
The other reason for the fuss is, they passed up a more talented player (by their own admission), because of the lack of leadership problem. That too is definitely disconcerting.
In fact, rarely have I ever heard a coach or GM make a statement that has me more concerned.
Take a step back from the hyperbole cliff.
No leadership is quite a bit different than developing leadership. I think you’re reading a little too much into Schneider’s comments. Just because Q/PM didn’t feel like the team was ready to integrate a player like Jimmy Smith is not the same as having no leaders in the locker room or a leadership problem for that matter.
They’ve had one year, ONE, to build the team they want. I don’t think its that hard to understand why the team isn’t ready to take on rookie players that may not have their head on straight.
High character players
Team leaders are not going no be the high academic, never got in trouble, quiet student types that Ruskell wanted. They’re going to the loud get in your face and have an opinion type thats not going to be standing there watching while your QB’s getting mauled on the turf. (2009 O-line) Guys like Ray Lewis also come with risk in whether their commanding personality is selfish motivated or team results oriented. I have to agree we dont have this kind of player except for Lawyer at this time. Maybe Mallet will grow into this guy in a couple of years
yea dude
I want to see Moffit force feed Darnell Docket one of his boogers.
70% of space is covered by dark matter, the rest by ET.
by hazbro24 on May 6, 2011 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Hahahahahahahaha!
Me too! That’d be epic.
For those who missed it prior, here’s where this comes from.
"When Pete first got here he said he wanted to establish the run and stop the run
Pete’s the architect and Cable’s the contractor." --Greetings from the Lord Humongous!
by Tyler Jorgensen on May 6, 2011 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions
It's one of Schneider's comments I'm most impressed by, actually.
It implies that Schneider is not blind to the fact that the team is pretty soft, to be frank. And to draft a player without a team of players that can keep him in line is risky. A coach may scream in your face or sit you on the bench, but he’s not going to harm you. Ray Lewis? Yeah, I’d bet Ray Lewis would harm you.
Leaders are one thing. What Schneider is talking about is something completely different. You think if Brandon Meriweather gets into trouble, Tom Brady is going to get in his face in the locker room and set the kid straight? Yeah, no. That’s not happening.
Until the Seahawks roster has imposing guys that ‘enforce’ unity, so to speak, it doesn’t make sense to draft guys that will more likely than not step out of line.
"Pass rushers enter the world of Okung but never leave." - JM
by Nick Andron on May 6, 2011 1:36 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Forsett
is best buds with Lynch from their time at Cal and that relationship I think as much as anything led to them being comfortable bringing him (Lynch) in.
Lynch?! An issue?
Please! As frustrated as it was (facial expressions) running behind our o-line. He was mostly quiet and reserved. All the criticism he was getting just prior to that insane run against NO, and remaining quiet. It makes you wonder if he’s a problem after all
Plus It Was The People He Was Around In Buf
Lynch’s biggest problem was the jokers he hung out with in Buffalo. They led him astray more often than not. Having Forsett around is HUGE, because Marshawn was lost on the East Coast.
There also has to be an issue of maturity,(even though his crotch grab begs to differ). Marshawn may still get into trouble around here, but It’s a much smaller issue here than it was in Buffalo, with family closer by and around him, and on the west coast. He has a better support system here.
Id be armed too
if I was driving through Oakland with a backpack full of weed!
by CMoney87 on May 6, 2011 2:02 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I was trying to defend the guy
and then here you come destroying my seemingly valid reasoning for driving around with weed and firearms!
Really though, I was totally joking but I don’t think Lynch has ever been known as a disruptive troublemaker type. He’s definitely a goof and gets into some stupid situations off the field that have put his team in a tough spot because of the disciplinary actions but as a teammate I think he actually helps to bring a fun loving attitude and good work ethic into the locker room. Hopefully he refrains from partaking in such stupid activities in the future but I don’t get the comparison of trading a low pick for a guy like Lynch who by all accounts is a fairly humble (yet confident) guy with a good work ethic compared to spending a first on a primadonna with an attitude problem who comes off as though he thinks he’s gods gift to a secondary.
that marijuana was medicianal
and it was for orphans and bandits were threatening to take his drugs so he had to get a gun and fast……you insensitive jerk. SHEESH!
Watching the Seahawks is like peeing on yourself, everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling it brings
Yes, He Was
I would like to think this is the worst behavior, and I’m not going to minimize it, but the rap sheet is pretty long in Buffalo.
Nice short interview with his mother.
http://articles.sfgate.com/2009-02-25/sports/17189155_1_culver-city-traffic-case-drug-charges
Success breeds leadership in my eyes.
I don’t necessarily mean just in wins but in good hard play. The team definitely will gain some swagger in there playoff experience last when they knocked off the super bowl champs. The chemistry is still in its infancy here, with so much turnover on the roster we need to be careful not to add in “me first” guys. Which I think Smith is. Develop a solid foundation first and leadership will grow from it. You cant draft leadership or assign it, it is something that develops inside the clubhouse.
We don't have leaders because we're trying to get younger.
As these guys get older – they’ll be leaders. Baltimore has established, hard-nosed, Pro-bowlers (some of which will be hall of famers) – so they can take on the head cases.
Our team is a bit more vanilla than that. I can’t picture anyone on our team getting in someone’s face in the same way that Ray Lewis could.
Plus I think shoring up our lines was a much bigger priority than the DB positions (even though it is definitely a place we need to keep improving (as are most of our positions)).
There are a few but i think it is because the ones we have are on their way out
Think about it: Tatupu will chew anyone out for something, Milloy would try to encourage, Matt is a great leader, as is Stokely. Trufant is someone that leads by example more than being a “ra ra” type. When he’s on he is good but when he is not playing well he accepts the responsability. All of those guys might not be around the program much longer.
Jimmy Smith seems, to me, the type of player that would blame others for botched assignment, throw a fit on the field, and call players out publicly. Let alone what trouble he would get into after being made a millionaire…. Anyone else watch his interviews? When asked about the comparison he was getting to Nnamdi Asomugha he said that he likes the comparison but he thinks that he (jimmy smith) has better ball skills. Any rookie with that type of attitude is destined to be the next antonio cromartie. Good when he wants to be but dissappears for entire games (although i have a feeling Smith will not be invisible because of play, rather, suspension)
I don't think it's that they're avoiding bad character guys, they're avoid risking getting stuck with them
All the pick ups they made had no risk what so ever. BMW and Lynch came in for nothing really and got the it together. You wouldn’t be able to drop a 1st rounder like they did to Landell White
by G-Mo on May 6, 2011 1:44 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
That's what i was about to say
I think it’s less to do with leadership then talent. This team can’t afford to miss on a first round pick that has a pretty good chance of busting badly. Plus a player like that could screw up the younger players in practice, wasting their time on someone’s BS and melodrama when they need to be learning how to be a better player and listening to the coaches, not fighting them.
Great article but...
Ruskell’s philosophy like many in the NFL on early picks was good character and a high floor not a low ceiling. For some reason that keeps getting repeated so much it makes people think it is true. Curry was certainly not a low ceiling pick.
Respect goes a long way....
Nice post; enjoyed it. Also, whether or not I agree with Schneider's decision, at least there's a logic to it.
Nothing else to add, really, so let me just say… the team was “cobbled together”, not “hobbled together.”
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