Coffee and Cigarettes: Seahawks links for Tuesday

It's the day before the day before.

Five questions, five answers: Green Bay Packers edition | Seahawks Blog | Seattle Times
Time for our first installment this season of five questions and five answers with a beat writer from Seattle’s opponent. This week, our guest is Ryan Wood, who covers the Packers for the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Seahawks players, coaches rave about Russell Wilson | ProFootballTalk
As the first game of the 2014 regular season approaches, the notion that Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson will make a major step forward in his third NFL season seems to be catching plenty of momentum, especially in light of his performance in the preseason.

Five questions: Green Bay Packers | ProFootballTalk
Since winning the Super Bowl to cap the 2010 season, the Packers have made it back to the playoffs three straight years.  But they haven’t made it past the divisional round.

NFL instant replay review changes expected to speed up process | The MMQB with Peter King
The NFL's new replay review system, featuring a centralized office in New York with officials monitoring every game, is expected to speed up the process. Here are the details of how everything will work, plus answers to readers' questions

San Francisco 49ers 2014 Preview: Colin Kaepernick takes on more | The MMQB with Peter King
Can a potentially more potent offense offset what might be a decline on defense? San Francisco will find out as Colin Kaepernick and company aim to keep pace with their Super Bowl champion, NFC West neighbors to the north

Best team to miss playoffs, more burning questions for NFL season | SI.com
Questions abound with the 2014 NFL season right around the corner. Can the St. Louis Rams' ferocious defense offset a punchless offense? Are the Panthers due for a hangover after a surprise 12-4 season? Who will be the first coach given his walking papers?

Salary Cap Space and Roster Updates | Over the Cap
Well it’s been a hectic few days as teams have taken rosters down to 53, signed Practice Squad players, moved players to reserve lists, traded players, and on and on and on. Thanks for bearing with me as I’ve worked through getting the rosters up to date and continue to get them up to date.

2014 Projected Quarterback Rankings — FootballPerspective.com
Below are my 2014 projected quarterback rankings. Let me be very clear at the top of this post as to exactly what these rankings mean: they represent my projections of the order in which these quarterbacks will finish in my preferred measure of quarterback play. Everyone has their own measuring sticks when it comes to quarterbacks; for me, it’s Adjusted Net Yards provided above league-average. As a reminder, here is how we calculate that metric.

Cover-Two: Predicting order of finish in each and every division | SI.com
The latest NFL news, scores, stats, fantasy analysis, and mock drafts as well as the best NFL writers and photos from SI.com

Monday Morning MD | National Football Post
Medical decisions play a significant role in final roster moves.

Cardinals GM Keim on Daryl Washington: 'Out of sight, out of mind' - CBSSports.com
There's still a question whether the Cardinals will welcome back linebacker Daryl Washington after this season.

2014 NFL playoff predictions: Cowboys, Titans will surprise - CBSSports.com
Which NFL teams will make the playoffs in 2014? You're at the right place if you want to know.

Case Keenum claimed off waivers by St. Louis Rams - NFL.com
The Rams picked up Case Keenum off waivers Monday. Will the former Texans quarterback compete for the starting job in St. Louis?

Alex Boone ends San Francisco 49ers holdout - NFL.com
After skipping training camp and the preseason, San Francisco 49ers guard Alex Boone has returned, passing his physical on Monday. Ian Rapoport reports Boone and the team re-worked his contract.

Video: Percy Harvin says he 'feels tremendously good right now' | Seahawks Blog | Seattle Times
“It feels tremendously good right now,” he said. “I’m blessed to be healthy right now. We’ve been together since OTAs so we all feeling good right now and just really to put it all together and put a great game together.”

Quotes from Seahawks coach Pete Carroll | Seahawks Blog | Seattle Times
And here’s much of what Seahawks coach Pete Carroll had to say to the media today:

Seahawks-Packers Monday injury report | HeraldNet.com - Seattle Sidelines
Only one unexpected name on today's injury report for the Seahawks, with backup C/G Lemuel Jeanpierre sitting out with a neck injury. Otherwise today's list is about what was expected based off Pete Carroll's pre-practice press conference.

Seahawks preparing for season opener with Packers - Sept. 1, 2014 | SPORTS RADIO KJR
Cornerbacks Jeremy Lane and Tharold Simon are both dealing with minor injuries. Lane has been dealing with a strained groin while Simon is dealing with a knee issue.

49ers’ Ray McDonald arrested on suspicion of felony domestic abuse - 49ers - The Sacramento Bee
Defensive end Ray McDonald was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic abuse Sunday morning in San Jose, bringing more scrutiny to a 49ers team that spent the offseason tangled in legal matters.

Seahawks sign WR/PR/KR Bryan Walters to active roster, so Earl Thomas may not be returning punts after all | Seahawks Insider - The News Tribune
All of you adverse to risk — at least when it comes to Seattle’s All-Pro safety being a standing target for opponents on 40-yard sprints right at him — rejoice!

Christine Michael sits out Seattle Seahawks practice - ESPN
We’re taking it day to day,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said of Irvin and Norwood. “We’ll see how they handle it. We’re hopeful they will have a chance to play.”

Bryan Walters returns to Seahawks following his release on roster cut to 53
“It was very uncharacteristic of me. It was actually my first fumble. Ever,” Walters said. Ever? Walters never did it as an option quarterback at Kirkland’s Juanita High School. Or as a record-setting return man and wide receiver at Cornell. Or in his first brief stint with the San Diego Chargers in 2011. Or in his first two seasons with the Seahawks. “It feels weird,” he said. “I’ve never had that feeling before.”

Dallas Cowboys Sign LB Korey Toomer, Cut By Seattle Seahawks On Saturday - Blogging The Boys
The Cowboys get a promising prospect for the linebacking unit, but Korey Toomer hasn't played football in a while.

Seahawks are ready to finally unleash Percy Harvin | HeraldNet.com - Sports
As good as the Seattle Seahawks were a year ago, they could be even better in 2014. A healthy Percy Harvin might do the trick. Harvin, one of the...

Pete Carroll: "We've all been waiting to get this thing started"
News, notes, quotes, and personnel updates from Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll's Monday press conference ahead of the team's Thursday night regular-season opener against the Green Bay Packers.

Richard Sherman focused on his craft - Seattle Seahawks Blog - ESPN
"It's cool for our team to get a Thursday night football game to start the season, except we won't get very many at home for various reasons. I'll let you guys speculate those reasons," Sherman said.

Seahawks 'thrilled' with Russell Wilson's development in Year 3 - JSOnline
The Seattle Seahawks aren't built like the Green Bay Packers on offense. They don't ask Russell Wilson to do the things Aaron Rodgers does. Still, it'd be no surprise to see the Seahawks put more on their starting quarterback in his third year as a starter.

Monday in Hawkville: Packer’s offense more than just Aaron Rodgers
The Green Bay Packers’ offense starts with QB Aaron Rodgers. But it definitely doesn’t stop there, so the Seahawks’ defense also is bracing for Eddie Lacy and Jordy Nelson at CenturyLink Field on Thursday night.

Events around Seattle Seahawks' season opener - ESPN
An extravaganza of events will take place this week as part of the season-opening game Thursday night between the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Here are two of them, one starting Wednesday and one on game day:

Packers-Seahawks Week 1 Dope Sheet
Packers travel to Seattle for season opener

Xs and Os: How the Packers Can Attack the Seahawks Through the Air | Cheesehead TV
The talent of the Seahawks defense is well-documented. Their 2013 defense was one of the best in the past ten years. As you will see below, their coverage schemes are simple, and they rarely disguise their intentions, but they execute so well. This article will specifically feature ways that the Packers can attack the Seahawks in the passing game. In terms of the offensive gameplan as a whole, the Packers will have to lean on Eddie Lacy and James Starks in the running game in order to have success.

Photo Gallery - "Turnover Thursday" on Monday
The Seahawks' accelerated practice week continued Monday with a "Turnover Thursday" practice ahead of the team's regular season opener against the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 4 at CenturyLink Field.

Boone passes physical, 49ers ask for roster exemption | CSN Bay Area
The 49ers asked for a roster exemption for guard Alex Boone, who signed a new contract Monday to end the holdout that lasted the entire offseason and training camp, the club announced.

NFL news roundup: Ray McDonald says 'truth will come out' about arrest, Chiefs extend Alex Smith - SBNation.com
The San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman says that his arrest for felony domestic violence is not what it appears while Alex Smith becomes the latest quarterback to earn a big payday.

49ers complete practice squad with three outside players | CSN Bay Area
The 49ers also completed their 10-player practice squad with the signings of three players form outside the organization: running back Kendall Gaskins, tackle John Fullington and cornerback Chance Casey.

What makes Derek Carr so special? - SBNation.com
The Raiders named Derek Carr their starting quarterback on Monday evening. Danny Kelly has a closer look at the quarterback the Raiders have been looking for.

Earl Thomas wins Seahawks' punt returner job - NFL.com
Coach Pete Carroll revealed Monday that Earl Thomas will indeed enter the season as the Seahawks' primary punt returner. Is Carroll putting his All-Pro safety at risk of injury?

Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman: Seattle glad new rules emphasis is there 'because it will give people less excuses' | Seahawks Blog | Seattle Times
“We’ve played the game exactly how we’ve been playing it,” he said. “And the rules continued to be what they were. We didn’t change anything. We were playing by the rules before and we continue to play by the rules. Every now and then you get tangled up and you get hit by illegal contact, and we had a few fluke ones in there.  But for the most part I think we try to play within the rules and play within the scheme. We are happy that the emphasis is there because it will give people less excuses.”