Coffee and Cigarettes: Seahawks Links for Labor Day

Happy Labor!

Opening weekend in review " Seahawks Draft Blog
Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner is one to watch this year. He’s listed at 6-1 and around 200lbs, although I think he’s a little smaller officially. But he plays like a Pete Carroll corner – physical, willing to play run support and he makes plays. He had an interception against Michigan in a comfortable win, adding to the three he had last year. Nick Saban regularly churns out talented corners and Milliner may be the next off the production line. See above for 2011 game tape. He could be the top 2013 corner.

Chuck Klosterman proposes three rule changes for the NFL - Grantland
ere's something I hate about myself: Whenever the NFL introduces a new rule, I'm automatically against it. My natural reaction to any change in the rule book is to assume it's wrong.1 And yet — despite this reflexive disagreement with every change made by other people — I annually find myself inventing potential rule changes that I'd undoubtedly be against if they were proposed by anyone who wasn't me. Here are three rule changes that I would consider wrongheaded, except for the fact that I thought of them …

Ranking the players (and contracts) in the National Football League, Part 1 - Grantland
magine growing up with a Ferrari in the garage that your dad only took out once a year. Wouldn't it drive you nuts? You would become a teenager, start taking driving lessons in a Corolla, occasionally get to drive the family Altima, and eventually, you would buy a 989 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser station wagon from your boss for $1 to serve as your first car, just like I did. All along, though, you would wait for the day where you would finally wake up to a set of Ferrari keys and a note of caution on your nightstand. After countless hours of showing your dad that you knew how to drive, you'd get a chance to take a legend out onto the street.

Ranking the players (and contracts) in the National Football League, Part 2 - Grantland
Here's Part 2. PS: Check the footnotes for Bill Simmons's "director's commentary" on my selections.

Tuesday CT scan will determine Witten’s availability for opener | ProFootballTalk
Yes, Cowboys tight end Jason Witten will indeed be evaluated one more time before Wednesday night’s game between Dallas and the New York Giants. And, yes, Witten definitely wants to play.

NFL's relaxed practice rules don't cut number players on IR - CBSSports.com
In taking a look at training camps with fewer padded practices and more rest between practices, it hasn't helped keep players off injured reserve. The the final two years -- 2009 and 2010 -- of practice the "old school" way of double sessions and more consecutive practice days led to 65 players leaguewide on the opening day injured reserve (IR) list in 2009 and 72 players in 2010 (average of 68.5 players).

Rams claim Ganaway, Heard off waivers - NFL - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy
The St. Louis Rams claimed rookie running back Terrance Ganaway and defensive tackle Kellen Heard off waivers to fill two open roster spots. The moves were made Sunday, a day after wide receiver Greg Salas was traded to the Patriots for a 2015 draft pick and cornerback Jerome Murphy was released.

Playbook: Mosley's 'pick-six' vs. Denard Robinson | National Football Post
Let’s go back to last night’s Michigan-Alabama game and take a look at C.J. Mosley’s ‘pick-six’ vs. Denard Robinson. A good opportunity to talk coverage, route scheme and decision making from the QB position vs. Cover 3 (3-deep, 4-under). Take a look at the video replay and then we will get into some coaching points.

NFLRA hits back at NFL after negotiations stall - NFL.com
The NFL referees union says the league is "engaged in a misinformation campaign" following unsuccessful negotiations earlier in the weekend.

Seattle Seahawks Play Tight End Swap with Kellen Winslow and Evan Moore | Bleacher Report
After a slow morning in the NFC West, things picked up with authority this afternoon. Former third-round draft selection Jerome Murphy of the St. Louis Rams was released, wide receiver Greg Salas was traded the the Patriots and Kellen Winslow Jr. was dropped in favor of Evan Moore.

Rookie quarterbacks more ready than ever to start in NFL - NFL News | FOX Sports on MSN
Thirty years from now, a grandfather is going to place his 11-year-old grandkid on his knee, and wax poetically about the 2011 Tennessee Titans. "It was a different time, you see," he’ll say, rocking on his chair, clutching a football and staring off into the distance. "Rookies still held clipboards. They weren’t thrown into the fire right away. It was a simpler time. And parking at the games only cost $40."

Depth gone as Cardinals lose another OT - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Brown will miss the entire season. Bridges' situation remains a bit murkier. As Darren Urban noted, the veteran swing tackle tweeted Sunday that he was heading to injured reserve after suffering a torn thumb ligament requiring surgery.