Seattle Seahawks news, rumors, links, info, interviews, analysis. You name it, I got it here for you. Happy Saturday everyone. If you're like me, you're probably eating some pancakes right now. Because they're delicious. Also, I really, really love coffee. And compiling football links obsessively.
NFL.com news: Free agency will bring big risk for teams pursuing these vets: "Matt Hasselbeck, QB: The injuries have mounted and the production has dropped, but he's also not all that far removed from his Pro Bowl form. That can be seductive. Hasselbeck also has given no indications to this point that he will come cheaply; if anything, it seems he wants to continue to make a strong starting salary. You won't find someone with better intangibles and he's a born leader. Still, he's pretty far along. Just look at the failed Donovan McNabb experiment in Washington as evidence for how these kinds of moves can go. Can Hasselbeck make it through one season unscathed, much less more than one? He's not as athletic as he used to be. I'd be looking to go younger and cheaper at this spot if possible."
Clayton's All-Underrated Team strong up middle -- NFL - ESPN: "Some of these underrated players are classic overachievers. David Hawthorne of the Seahawks was a top special-teams player, but injuries at the Seahawks linebacking corps gave him starts. Hawthorne made the most of them. He's had 117 and 106 tackles over the past two seasons and continues to get better each year."
Team Pass Protection Rankings, Part 2 | ProFootballFocus.com: "2. Seattle Seahawks (1.27) This might surprise a few people. The Seahawks weren’t scared of leaving in extra men to help in protection, but the result was no team surrendered less pressure per play. If there’s a disappointment, it’s that they allowed the third highest amount of pressure to turn into sacks. But overall a great year, with Russell Okung serviceable for a rookie and Sean Locklear finishing with our highest pass blocking grade for a right tackle. If you’re going to focus on limiting damage, do it well. The Seahawks did. Pressure Per Play Rank: 1st Sack % of Pressure Rank: 30th Average Number of Blockers Per Play Rank: 24th" I'll have an article on this forthcoming.
Seahawks Blog | QB Josh Portis passing the time | Seattle Times Newspaper: "Portis is a quarterback the Seahawks had on their draft board, one they expressed interest in signing after he went unchosen. And Seattle is a place Portis could very conceivably choose to play." Article on this forthcoming as well.
Scouting Report: Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor - NFL - Sporting News: "Weaknesses: Pryor is a raw quarterback who needs to greatly improve his accuracy if he is ever going to become a quality starting QB in the NFL. Of the 40 quarterbacks I have charted over the past four years, Pryor’s accuracy ranked 36th out of 40. He needs to stride into and follow through on his passes more consistently in order to improve his accuracy. He obviously needs to work on his mechanics, but if he can improve his accuracy, then the odd look of his release would not be as big of an issue. With the baggage he is bringing from Ohio State, Pryor faces a big job to prove he has the leadership skills and intangibles to lead NFL players."
Massachusetts paper publishes false alarm about the end of the lockout - Shutdown Corner - NFL Blog - Yahoo! Sports: "We just published a post about the encouragement that could be gained by the ongoing talks between the owners and players, and the reasonable quotes put forward by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Things seem to be rolling, but it's possible that one overeager writer -- Bill Burt of the North Andover Eagle Tribune -- got a bit ahead of himself. In a story titled "SOURCE: NFL lockout almost over," Burt actually says that the lockout IS over."
Patriots’ Kraft believes progress is being made - Shutdown Corner - NFL Blog - Yahoo! Sports: "Comprehensive National Football League news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors, and more."
AEG has talked with five NFL teams about relocating to Los Angeles - Shutdown Corner - NFL Blog - Yahoo! Sports: "The fact that the Southern California-based AEG corporation is interested in bringing an NFL team back to Los Angeles may be the worst-kept secret in America. But the company, owned by billionaire Philip Anschutz and run by president Tim Leiweke (brother of former Seattle Seahawks CEO Tod), expressed real and concrete interest in moving a team to SoCal — the first time in 16 years that the league would be located there — for a Thursday story in the Orange County Register."
Barkley, Dilfer: Players will lose labor battles - NBA - CBSSports.com Basketball: ""I personally think in football and basketball, the owners are going to win this," he said. "We have been kicking their butt for a long time in the last couple of collective bargaining agreements. I think the owners, they are going for the jugular this time." The two television analysts had few encouraging words for current players Thursday while talking to reporters during a teleconference promoting the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship that runs July 15-17 at Lake Tahoe. "I do not see any chance the [NFL] players win this negotiation outright," said Dilfer, who led the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl victory over the New York Giants in 2001. "I think they can lose to a lesser degree than they may have in March. But no matter how you cut it now, the owners are going to win." "We as players in both leagues have been just destroying the owners in the last couple of collective bargaining agreements," said Dilfer, who retired in 2008 and now works for ESPN."
NFL.com news: Burress adjusts to life at home, but focused on next stop: "Plaxico Burress isn't sure what NFL uniform he'll wind up wearing next season, but it's clear he hasn't ruled out the New York Giants."
With incentive to behave and produce, Plaxico Burress could be great bargain - NFL - Sporting News: Russ Lande: "Skill set: Burress has always relied on his 6-5 size and very good all-around athleticism—and that will not change in his re-entry. In the past, he had the body control, balance, coordination, jumping ability and hands to make acrobatic catches look routine. He did an excellent job of using his size, strength, athleticism and ball skills to catch Giants quarterback Eli Manning’s passes even when a cornerback was draped all over him. Burress has also been an excellent red-zone target who shined on fade routes and could climb the ladder to catch high passes over defenders. His game won’t change, but it may take him awhile to restore his skills."
Miami Dolphins stress team’s prepared for lockouts conclusion – Miami Dolphins – Sun-Sentinel: "Ireland said "all avenues," including trades will be explored when it comes to adding a free agent quarterback before the 2011 season. He also stressed he’s not worried about the short window that quarterback has to learn during the lockout…. Ireland stressed re-signing Tyler Thigpen remains an option, especially if he’s a restricted free agent under the next CBA rules, but he again stressed the Dolphins "will add a veteran quarterback" even if Thigpen’s brought back…." This is topical only in that Matt Hasselbeck is a veteran QB that has been rumored to Miami.
Underrated players: NFC West - NFC West Blog - ESPN: "Seattle Seahawks Chris Clemons, defensive end: The Seahawks hoped Clemons would benefit from a change of scenery in 2010, but there was no indication the seventh-year veteran would suddenly become one of the better pass-rushers in the league. Clemons collected a team-high 11 sacks in his first season with the team. His toughness stood out. Clemons played through injuries and brought needed attitude to the defense. After six seasons with three other teams, the 29-year-old Clemons appears to have found a home in Seattle. He was particularly productive against NFC West teams, collecting seven of his sacks against division opponents and adding one more during the postseason."
Fire to play still burns for Cleveland Browns quarterback Seneca Wallace | cleveland.com: "Browns quarterback Seneca Wallace re-signed with the Browns in March knowing Colt McCoy was "the guy" heading into training camp, but it won't stop him from trying hard to beat out McCoy for the starting job. "You have to [have that fire]," Wallace said Thursday while driving from Dallas to Camp Colt III at the University of Texas, which runs through Saturday. "That doesn't go away. That's why I've been playing nine years now and I'm never going to give that up. I still want the opportunity to go out and be able to play myself, so I'm not just going to sit back and watch. I'd rather go out there and play.""
Sounders FC Blog | Steve Zakuani feeling better than he has since April 22 | Seattle Times Newspaper: "He acknowledged support from teammates, coaches, fans and team staff for helping him throughout this process. Zakuani also singled out words of encouragement from David Beckham and Seahawks wide receiver Deon Butler (who broke his leg in December)."
NFL.com news: Select few have top talent at three offensive skill positions: "Over the course of the past few weeks, Pat Kirwan has put together lists for the top quarterbacks, running backs and receivers in the game. Only four teams had players ranked among the top 15 at each of the three positions."