Coffee and Cigarettes: Seahawks links for Tuesday

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Beloved in Buffalo, Fred embraced in Seattle - City & Region - The Buffalo News
SOMEWHERE OVER MONTANA – Fred Jackson’s football journey, the reason Buffalo Bills fans adore him, was grueling.He scratched out his career. He didn’t start for his high school team. He didn’t get drafted. He lived off team-issued food vouchers in some moonlight...

Kasen Williams happy to be on Seahawks’ practice squad, but hardly satisfied | The Seattle Times
Former UW and Skyline High star Kasen Williams is happy, but hardly satisfied, to be on the practice squad of the Seattle Seahawks.

Russell Wilson’s offseason focus: Find another gear — and keep moving forward | The Seattle Times
The Seahawks quarterback’s offseason focus was to gain speed and strength. And while he is willing to talk about The Play that ended the Super Bowl, Wilson has spun his answers forward: Next time — always next time — he will come through.

Super Bowl 50 prediction: Ravens-Packers will meet in Santa Clara | The MMQB with Peter King
The Ravens and Packers came close last season, blowing late leads in their respective playoff losses. Here's why they'll finish the job and meet in Super Bowl 50. Plus more playoff predictions, a solution for the NFL's discipline woes and notes on the biggest news from cutdown weekend

The criticism of Judge Berman begins | ProFootballTalk
Privately, the NFL and its lawyers undoubtedly are blaming the outcome of the Tom Brady litigation not on their own mistakes but on the proclivities of a liberal, activist judge, appointed to the federal bench by a Democratic president.

Despite Michael trade, Cowboys “very content” with backs they already had | ProFootballTalk
The Cowboys spent the offseason professing their confidence in running backs Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden and Lance Dunbar and backing up their words by resisting additions to the group in the draft and throughout training camp.

Report: Grigson makes decisions against Pagano’s wishes | ProFootballTalk
On the surface, the news today out of Indianapolis quotes Colts General Manager Ryan Grigson and coach Chuck Pagano as saying they're on the same page. Scratch the surface, and it appears that the two don't really see eye to eye.

Rams' Gurley cleared for contact but may not play for 'a couple of weeks' - CBSSports.com
Todd Gurley said he 'can do everything' in practice now but he still won't play.

Inside Football: Why RG3 is staying put, why Tebow needs to go to Canada - CBSSports.com
Not cutting RG3 is a smart move by the Redskins. But dumb? That's the Falcons trading for Andy Levitre and anyone who still thinks Tim Tebow can be an NFL QB.

Monday Musings: 5 teams that are doomed because of their starting QB - CBSSports.com
Need proof that there's a QB shortage in the NFL? Just look at who the Redskins, Bills, Jets, Texans and Browns are starting in Week 1.

Marcus Mariota of Tennessee Titans headlines projected 2015 All-Rookie team - NFL
Marcus Mariota and Danny Shelton are among Mel Kiper's early guesses at a 2015 All-Rookie team. He runs through nearly 40 players.

Seahawks ship Christine Michael to Dallas - Seattle - Scout
One day after cutting the roster to 53 (but keeping five running backs), the Seahawks unloaded former second round pick Christine Michael to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a conditional late round selection in a future draft. What impact will this have on the Seahawks in 2015? With all due respect to Michael, it could be a case of addition by subtraction.

Mutual attraction brought Seattle Seahawks, Fred Jackson together - Seattle Seahawks & NFL News
When running back Fred Jackson found out he was being released from the Buffalo Bills, with whom he’d spent his entire nine-year NFL career, Jackson made a phone call to former teammate Marshawn Lynch to ask him to put in a good word with Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider.

Football's new buzz terms: 'step kick,' 'win probability' - seattlepi.com
If you're dizzy from "Deflategate," take heart. It's time to talk football and put aside all that hot air.

Seahawks notes: Hawks finalize practice squad; Team officially announces Fred Jackson signing - Seattle Seahawks & NFL News
The Seattle Seahawks added three players to their practice squad on Monday, signing cornerbacks Justin Coleman and Kevin Short and defensive end Robert Thomas.

Seattle Seahawks: roster selection was full of win-now moves
The Seattle Seahawks set their initial 53 man roster earlier today. There were plenty of surprises. This initial roster left analysts with plenty of questions.

Seattle Seahawks defense should dominate in Week 1
The Seattle Seahawks open the regular season on the road against the St. Louis Rams. All signs point to a dominant defensive performance for the Seahawks.

Pete Carroll: Seahawks not interested in talking to teams about Kam Chancellor - Seattle Seahawks | 710 ESPN Seattle
Pete Carroll confirmed that teams have inquired about Kam Chancellor's potential availability, but he shot down the notion that Seattle is at all interested in trading its Pro Bowl strong safety. - Blog - 710 ESPN Seattle

Seahawks notebook: Dion Bailey, Marcus Burley in line to start; captains decided - Seattle Seahawks | 710 ESPN Seattle
Dion Bailey will start at strong safety in the Seahawks' opener while Marcus Burley will be the team's nickelback, coach Pete Carroll said on Monday, six days before the start of the regular season. - Blog - 710 ESPN Seattle

Seattle Seahawks one of 5 NFL teams with biggest offensive line concerns
Five teams that head into the regular season with biggest offensive line issues:

Defensive line depth stands out with Seattle Seahawks' first roster - NFC West - ESPN
Here's a player-by-player look at the Seattle Seahawks' 53-man roster:

Wild-card predictions: No Super return for one-and-done Seahawks | FOX Sports
As kickoff of the NFL season approaches, FOXSports.com will preview how the year will play out, from the regular-season standings to round-by-round postseason predictions. Earlier this week, we told you who was making the playoffs and why. Now, we continue with the wild-card round. When you're done reading, feel free to let us know what you think about our picks.

Bailey to start for Chancellor as Seahawks release depth chart
The Seahawks released their depth chart Monday heading into the season opener at St. Louis.

Sabin: What Christine Michael has that other three Cowboys RBs don't; has void DeMarco Murray left been filled? | Dallas Morning News
The 2015 season is approaching and DeMarco Murray is long gone. But almost six months after he signed with Philadelphia, the reigning NFL rushing champion’s presence is still felt at the Cowboys’ Valley Ranch headquarters.

Fred Jackson Acquisition Will Only Make Seahawks, Marshawn Lynch Better | Bleacher Report
During the team's two previous Super Bowl runs, the Seattle Seahawks were known for their defense. Times are changing.

Standoff between Seattle Seahawks and Kam Chancellor reaches two-minute warning | OregonLive.com
The Pro Bowl safety hasn't appeared in training camp or the preseason as he continues to hold out in an attempt to renegotiate his contract. The regular season is six days away and Chancellor will begin to forfeit game checks if he doesn't report on Tuesday.

Three Things We Learned From Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll to Open Week 1 of the Regular Season | Seattle Seahawks
Key takeaways from Pete Carroll's Monday press conference.

Marshawn Lynch helped Fred Jackson become newest Seahawks; Seattle tells teams no trade of Kam Chancellor | The News Tribune
The Seahawks welcome Lynch’s good friend from Buffalo, and Jackson not only is going to play Sunday’s opener in St. Louis but play “a lot” at running back, coach Pete Carroll says.

How will Christine Michael impact Cowboys' backfield? - NFL.com
The Cowboys believe Christine Michael is a long shot to suit up in Week 1. NFL Media's Michael Robinson explains why the former Seahawks power back will be starting soon if given the opportunity.

No Foul Mouths on This Field: Football With a New Age Twist - The New York Times
Breaking away from football’s harsher motivational techniques, Seattle Coach Pete Carroll fosters an atmosphere of positive reinforcement and Zen-like focus.

Kam Chancellor won't gain leverage if Seattle Seahawks struggle early, Pete Carroll says
Pete Carroll said that a slow start by the Seahawks will not give Kam Chancellor leverage in his holdout for a new contract.

John McGrath: Expected new Seahawk Fred Jackson is the anti-Christine Michael | The News Tribune
Since the Seahawks apparently weren’t happy with Christine Michael, they went out and got the exact opposite running back — Fred Jackson