Coffee and Cigarettes: Seahawks links for Friday

Thank goodness it's TGIF!

Pete Carroll Bluffs His Way Through Press Conference About Rugby Leaguer
Rumors have had Jarryd Hayne talking with the Seahawks, so at his press conference yesterday, Pete Carroll was peppered with questions about the rugby league star who announced this week he's leaving Australia to chase his NFL dreams. He performed admirably, gushing about Hayne. The Seahawks PR guy then came out to tell the assembled media that Carroll had been joking, and that the coach had never heard of Hayne.

Seattle safety Earl Thomas: 'Maybe we took homefield advantage for granted' | Seahawks Blog | Seattle Times
Seattle safety Earl Thomas often has a lot of interesting things to say and today was no exception as he held his usual regular Thursday session with the media. The overall theme of Thomas’ comments was that the Seahawks have only themselves to blame for their two defeats this season, including Sunday’s against Dallas.

St. Louis Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks preview - ESPN
The St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks are both coming off bitter defeats against top contenders in the NFC in the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys, respectively.

Seahawks defense needs to return to last season’s form | Larry Stone | The Seattle Times
Let’s not overlook the fact that the Seahawks this season have been in equal-opportunity regression. To be blunt, their defense simply has not been as impactful and disruptive as it was in their championship run.

Doug Baldwin stands by his criticism of the Seahawks' offense - Seattle Seahawks | 710 ESPN Seattle
"I felt like it needed to be said out loud so that we could stop with all the positive stuff and actually look at what needed to be corrected," he said.

Michael Bennett: Seahawks aren't sleeping on Rams QB Austin Davis - Seattle Seahawks | 710 ESPN Seattle
"I see a lot of good things in that quarterback," Bennett said.

Michael Bennett's intimate thoughts on the Seahawks being the hunted - Seattle Seahawks | 710 ESPN Seattle
"It's a lot different. People want to play you," Bennett said. "... They probably don't have sex for the week, probably eat all the right things, they probably do everything right that week. It's like, 'We're playing the Seahawks. No, baby, not tonight. Maybe Sunday night.' But that's just how it is."

Play caller Darrell Bevell on Seahawks offense; Doug Baldwin explains sideline venting with Russell Wilson | Seahawks Insider - The News Tribune
To be clear, Bevell was pleasant and didn’t seem offended by the questioning or his knowledge that fans are all over him for not giving the ball enough to Lynch, for not sending Percy Harvin down the field more to catch passes, for being too fancy in his play calling and formations — for just about everything amiss in Seattle right now except Big Bertha being stuck and non-operational underneath the Alaska Way Viaduct.

Cassius Marsh latest D-lineman to get hurt; Seahawks down to one healthy TE, Cooper Helfet | Seahawks Insider - The News Tribune
Wide receiver Percy Harvin did not practice today because of a thigh injury. But before we sound alarms recall that last week the Seahawks also gave him Thursday off from practice and listed him with a thigh injury then, too, before he played against Dallas.

Seahawks' Wright will replace injured Wagner at middle linebacker | HeraldNet.com - Sports
RENTON — When the Seattle Seahawks selected K.J. Wright in the fourth round of the 2011 draft, they thought they were getting a strongside...

Seahawks WR Percy Harvin: ‘We're going to be fine' | HeraldNet.com - Seattle Sidelines
The Seahawks tried to get Percy Harvin involved early and often in their loss to Dallas, but thanks to a few miscues and some good defense by the...

Darrell Bevell: I must get Marshawn Lynch the ball - NFL.com
Marshawn Lynch had just 10 carries in Sunday's loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell admitted he needs to increase the number of touches his star running back receives.

Breaking down Tony Romo’s scramble, game-changing pass against Seahawks - Seattle Seahawks & NFL News
NFL coaches spend countless hours every week analyzing film and coming up with the perfect game plan to take advantage of their opponents’ weaknesses and give their own team the best possible chance for success.

Carson Palmer, Cardinals in contract extension talks - NFL.com
Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim confirmed Thursday that the team has been in discussion with Carson Palmer's agent on a contract extension.

Clay Matthews must improve vs. Newton's read-option - NFL.com
Clay Matthews has had issues containing read-option QBs. On Sunday, the Packers face arguably the best signal-caller in that mold in Cam Newton. What did the linebacker have to say about remedying the situation?

NFLPA president Eric Winston: We still have to educate on concussions - CBSSports.com
Players union president Eric Winston apparently didn't like what he heard about concussions this week from NFL coaches.

Marrone disputes that Mike Williams has been shut down in practice | ProFootballTalk
A report has emerged that Bills receiver Mike Williams didn't get a single rep in practice on Wednesday.  On Thursday, coach Doug Marrone disputed that contention.  Sort of.