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I remember two drafts ago Pete Carroll did his draft clues on twitter. Included in that batch of clues was a clip from the first "Hangover" movie in which Alan was talking about the Wolf Pack. I didn’t get it at the time but, in hindsight, Carroll was tipping off the selection of former NC State Wolfpack QB Russell Wilson. Yep. At the time it was a brilliant clue because Russell was more commonly thought of at that time as a Wisconsin Badger. Shortly after the draft though, lightbulb moment.
A similar thing happened to me this morning. Only this time ALL of the lightbulbs came on. All of the dots connected. It turns out those clues that Pete Carroll tweeted out last Thursday before the start of the draft…they ALL meant something. In fact, Caroll essentially pre-tweeted the Seahawks ENTIRE draft.
In the order he tweeted them:
1st of the #SeahawksDraftClues! "Van down by the river" from Chris Farley! http://t.co/uxiFGegjRR
— Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) May 8, 2014
My initial thought was that the clues were: 1) Matt Foley, 2) Van, 3) down by the river and that these all represented Jordan MATThews from VANderbilt, a school that is located approximately 2 miles from Tennessee’s Cumberland River. And this still may be correct.
In John Schneider’s post-draft press conferences and radio appearances he seems to have expressed that the Hawks were also interested in Matthews (drafted #42 to Philadelphia) and Cody Latimer (drafted #56 to Denver).
But this morning I found a longer version of the Matt Foley clip, and it contains an additional bit of dialogue that could lead us in a different direction:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/4183
Did you catch it? "We’re not here to ‘come down’ on you…" Even without that bit of dialogue, the youtube version still has the word "down" in it. Either way, this clue is likely representing the trade-down the Seahawks made out of the 1st round.
Second of the #SeahawksDraftClues! Will Ferrell & John C Reilly ESPY host audition: https://t.co/uAY54seCQT
— Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) May 8, 2014
So much to dissect there. But, for me, in hindsight the part of this we need to key in on is John C Reilly’s mention of Muhammad Ali. Ali was formerly known as Cassius Clay…our 4th round pick at #108 overall is Cassius Marsh.
3rd of the #SeahawksDraftClues! Robin Williams on "golf" http://t.co/0VY4tsOssL Send in your guesses!
— Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) May 8, 2014
I had to watch that a 3rd time today to pick out a few things. 1) There IS a mention of an alligator = possibly confirms the rumors of Seahawk interest in Florida Gator Dom Easley. 2) But then at 3:44, Robin Williams boldly declares, "TIGER", and later talks about the BRITish open. This is my guess for the moment Carroll references Missouri Tiger Justin Britt. 3) The fact there are two interesting/valid possibilities here makes me wonder if this isn’t true for ALL of these clues. And THAT would be some serious Jedi-mind-trick shit.
Some of you are getting warmer! 4th of the #SeahawksDraftClues! "My mom told me to tell you" by Kevin Hart: http://t.co/HYelzriWgl
— Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) May 8, 2014
One of the two SUPER obvious clues, in retrospect. We drafted two players of first name Kevin, so a Kevin Hart clue represents either Kevin Norwood or Kevin Pierre-Louis. We’ll narrow this down in a moment.
It's the Catalina Wine Mixer for the 5th of the #SeahawksDraftClues!! http://t.co/TEIGAq4GiN
— Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) May 8, 2014
This one is the most abstract, and the one I struggled with, until Chris Sullivan mentioned this to me:
@JaredStanger quick, find someone referenced whose father was named Richard
— Chris (@30AcreFortress) May 12, 2014
I quickly put one and one together…Will Ferrell’s father in "Step Brothers" was played by Oscar nominated actor RICHARD Jenkins…Ferrell was Richard’s stepson…Richardson…Paul Richardson.
Buuuut…in full disclosure…Ferrell’s character in that was Brennan Huff, which could easily have represented Oregon WR and VMAC visitor Josh Huff. Again, another instance of the clues possibly, intentionally containing two answers. So as not to tip the Seahawks’ hand entirely.
This could possibly be our best clue ever... "Tranquilizer to the jugular" from Old School! http://t.co/muTSc168nG #SeahawksDraftClues
— Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) May 8, 2014
Ferrell’s costar in this clip is, of course, Sean William Scott. Scott represents 6th round pick Garrett Scott.
The 7th of our #SeahawksDraftClues! Louis CK’s "Of course... but maybe" http://t.co/nYD6M5bTN0 Who can put the clues together??
— Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) May 8, 2014
Another clue that becomes so obvious in hindsight…Louis CK = Kevin Pierre-Louis. This means the Kevin Hart clue was for Kevin Norwood. Done and done.
Heading in to the draft, the Seahawks held 6 draftpicks. Pete Carroll gave 7 clues. Assuming the 1st clue was in fact to tip off the trade down, the other six clues would represent the 6 draftpicks the Seahawks held at that time. And those six clues end up representing picks: 2a, 2b, 4a, 4b, 4c, and 6a. The only players not represented by clues were pick 5b (Jimmy Staten), 6b (Eric Pinkins), and 7 (Kiero Small). But, like I suggested, those weren’t necessarily players they knew they could get on Thursday.
Love to hear any comments, contrary theories, or alternate suggestions you may have!