Coffee and Cigarettes: Seahawks Links for Friday

TGIF it's Friday, y'all.

Seahawks showing interest in Courtney Upshaw? " Seahawks Draft Blog
Depending on your level of faith in the internet, Pete Carroll really likes Courtney Upshaw. An anonymous Alabama fan going under the moniker of ’8:16am’ supposedly entered an impromptu game of basketball with the Seahawks Head Coach during Senior Bowl week in Mobile. The conversation turned to the Crimson Tide players available this year, where Carroll supposedly revealed his admiration for Upshaw: "He thinks he is a better player than Von miller. He said Von was more athletic, but Upshaw is stronger, more technically sound and doesn’t have weaknesses."

Kendall Wright: Does Size Matter? " Pick 256
Baylor standout and 1st round hopeful Kendall Wright is an impressive wide receiver prospect. However, listed at (a generous?) 5’10 190, Wright is smaller than most potential 1st round WR’s . While he might be the most exciting of all the top players in the 2012 WR class, Wright is looking to become just the 15th WR shorter than 6’0 selected in the top 20 picks since 1980. Not only is it unusal for a WR of Wright’s stature to go early in the draft, but it’s becoming increasingly rare. Take a look at these numbers:

"Super" Undrafted WR’s " Pick 256

Defense Wins Championships? " Pick 256
You’re probably familiar with this old football axiom: "defense wins championships." Recently though, some have claimed that perhaps we are entering a new era – one where offenses rule. Will today’s younger generation grow up saying "offense wins championships"? Probably not. Take a look at the post-merger Super Bowl winners and their offensive and defensive rankings (points scored/points allowed):

Draft 2012: Mayock's Top Fives - NFL Draft Preview - Rotoworld.com
As Senior Bowl all-star practices kicked off Monday in Mobile, NFL Network’s Mike Mayock released his top-five player rankings at each position. Mayock's ranks have not yet made their way onto NFL.com, so after reading this writeup, consider yourself early to the party. We don't like to be late.

Irsay calls Peyton Manning a "politician" | ProFootballTalk
The relationship between Peyton Manning and the Colts is getting ugly fast.

2011 Tackling: The Safeties | ProFootballFocus.com
It’s that time of the year again–time to look at the best and the worst when it comes to tackling in the NFL. As with every season we’re going to start our analysis with the safety position, the last line of defense.

Did Andrew Luck just change the agent business? | National Football Post
QB took road less traveled, hiring an agent with no experience.

NFL.com Blogs " Blog Archive Players who made good Senior Bowl week impressions "
The inclement weather here along the Gulf Coast forced both Senior Bowl squads to take their practices indoors to the Mobile Convention Center on Thursday. That’s OK, though, because at this stage of the week it’s all dress rehearsal.

NFL.com news: Dilfer aside, elite quarterbacks essential to winning titles
The NFL season began with New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning making a statement to a New York radio station that he considered himself to be among the league's elite at the position. At the time, it was a highly debatable topic. Now, having a shot at winning his second Super Bowl ring, his elite status is a given and even has some wondering if he is better than his brother Peyton.

17 Power, A Seattle Seahawks Blog: 17 Blurbs on Peyton Manning and the Seahawks
Jason La Canfora of NFL.com has recently opined that the Seattle Seahawks are probably on the short list of suitors for Peyton Manning's post-Colts services. Imagine this...at the VMAC. Amongst La Canfora's arguments:

Seahawks Blog | Situation room: The offseason possibilities of Peyton Manning | Seattle Times Newspaper
It's a long shot. I want to make that clear before we even broach the subject of the Seattle Seahawks and Peyton Manning. First of all, he may not be available. And second, if he were to become available, there will be a line of teams interested in his services.

Mailbag: All eyes on Peyton Manning - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Filippo from Windsor, Canada, thinks Alex Smith, not Kyle Williams, was the 49ers' biggest problem in the NFC Championship Game. He wondered whether the team could trade for Peyton Manning this offseason.