Coffee and Cigarettes: Seahawks links for Thursday

Read.

Seahawks’ swagger on defense finally seems to be back | Seahawks | The Seattle Times
The Seahawks’ defense that made so much noise on its way to a Super Bowl victory last season has been muted this season. But the past two weeks, Seattle is forcing turnovers and dancing like it’s 2013.

Take 2: Seahawks fans should stop worrying and enjoy this crazy ride | Take 2 | Seattle Times
Win or lose, Seahawks fans, enjoy this team.

Midseason report: San Francisco 49ers - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Every time you get the sense the San Francisco 49ers are in deep trouble and have seemingly lost their offensive identity -- a 1-2 start -- they go on a run. Or a three-game win streak.

Midseason report: Arizona Cardinals - NFC West Blog - ESPN
If you had the Cardinals at 7-1, leading the NFC West and sitting comfortably atop the conference, raise your hand.

Midseason report: St. Louis Rams - ESPN
At the midway point of the 2014 season, the St. Louis Rams bear a striking resemblance to the two teams that preceded them under coach Jeff Fisher.

Midseason Report: Seattle Seahawks - ESPN
Being 5-3 at the halfway point wasn't part of the plan for the defending Super Bowl champions. Neither were injuries to seven starters or a surprising trade that sent the disgruntled receiver Percy Harvin packing. But the Seattle Seahawks have some momentum with back-to-back victories heading into the second half of the season.

Seahawks have overcome a first half full of challenges - Michael Grey | 710 ESPN Seattle
The Seahawks have traded their No. 1 receiver, dealt with the resulting distractions and sustained a wave of injuries that could have capsized their season. After passing all those tests, they're 5-3 and still in position to repeat as champions. - Grey Posts - 710 ESPN Seattle

Tuesday in Hawkville: Bryan Walters returns, and on his birthday
A flurry of roster moves on Tuesday returned wide receiver/kick returner Bryan Walters to the Seahawks’ 53-man roster and also added former Chiefs tight end Tony Moeaki.

Are the Seattle Seahawks in Trouble?
I've lived in Seattle now for three years. For someone who grew up in the midwest and moved here from Los Angeles, it definitely has been an adjustment. For starters, I don't drink coffee - just never took to drinking warm beverages. I also have never liked salmon, and I don't try to hide the taste with barbecue sauce like the jettisoned Percy Harvin.

Season's first half has been a battle for Seahawks | HeraldNet.com - Sports
So far this season, the Seattle Seahawks have been, depending who you ask and when you're asking, a juggernaut poised to repeat, a team in turmoil battling a divided locker room, a team battling a Super Bowl hangover, or just a team going through a rough stretch of injuries and is poised to bounce back.

First-half grades for the 2014 Seattle Seahawks - Seattle Seahawks & NFL News
It’s been a worrisome month for Seattle Seahawks fans. After the first quarter of the season — and with the Hawks then off to a 3-1 start — we said it was “so far, so good” for the defending Super Bowl champs.

Will the San Francisco 49ers miss the playoffs? - NFL - ESPN
Over the past three seasons, the San Francisco 49ers have been the most consistent team in the NFC (and arguably the entire NFL). They have reached the conference championship game in each season, one of which they won and represented the NFC in the Super Bowl.

How the Cardinals rose to the top of the NFC. | SportsonEarth.com : Jason B. Hirschhorn Article
Through the first half of 2014, no team has performed as consistently well as the Arizona Cardinals. In a division pegged as the most competitive in the league entering the year, Arizona has managed to claim the top spot with ease, an improbable result for a team that finished third just a season earlier.

Laurinaitis hopes Rams will develop more consistency | ProFootballTalk
At a time when most of the news coming out of St. Louis relates to the potential relocation of the team, let's not forget that the Rams beat the 49ers on Sunday.

Report: Eagles GM 'soured' on Nick Foles before collarbone injury - CBSSports.com
Nick Foles may not be a a part of Philadelphia's long-term plans at quarterback.

Meet the Prospect: Day three sleeper Norfolk State DE Lynden Trail - CBSSports.com
Trail arrived at Florida as a top high school pass rusher, but after Urban Meyer left, so did he, winding up at the FCS level and drawing scouts to Norfolk State

How the Arizona Cardinals shut down DeMarco Murray - NFL.com
The Arizona Cardinals silenced DeMarco Murray in last week's win over the Dallas Cowboys. Find out why defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is one of the NFL's hottest first-time head coach candidates.

How Joel Bitonio helps to symbolize the Browns' rise - NFL.com
In order to understand the sudden rise of the Browns, one should take a deeper look into the life of offensive lineman Joel Bitonio. The rookie's toughness has played a key role for the 5-3 squad.

Saints' Jairus Byrd leads list of top 10 free-agent flops - NFL.com
Jairus Byrd played just four games for the Saints after signing one of the offseason's biggest contracts. The Raiders and Jets are also heavily represented on our list of the top free-agent disappointments.

Marcus Lattimore informs 49ers he intends to retire - NFL.com
Marcus Lattimore informed the San Francisco 49ers that he intends to retire, the team announced Wednesday.

Plane circles with banner urging Jets to fire GM | HeraldNet.com - Sports
A plane urging the New York Jets to fire John Idzik circled above the practice field for about 20 minutes as the players went through drills while the embattled general manager watched.