Coffee & Cigarettes: Seahawks links for Tuesday

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DraftBrowns Guide to the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine | DraftBrowns.com
The Super Bowl is over and NFL Draft season is about to be in full swing. Later this month, Indianapolis will become home to all 32 franchises and more than 300 former college football players for the long weekend known as the Scouting Combine. Prospects will be put through a number of physical challenges like the bench press, agility drills and the ever popular 40-yard dash. Then there is the much-maligned Wonderlic, a test designed to measure an individual’s brain power. Results aren’t supposed to be leaked to the public, but inevitably some poor soul’s low score winds up as material for hundreds of groan-inducing twitter jokes. And of course, players are weighed and measured for all to see. The process is criticized – the weigh-ins can seem creepy, and occasionally too much stock is put into a player’s performance in workouts, etc. – but almost everyone will agree that the event retains significance for at least three major reasons.

The Shutdown Corner Big Board, 1-16: Pre-combine list features a lot of big men | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
From the blog Shutdown Corner: The 2013 NFL Draft is far more convoluted than its immediate predecessor; with no obvious transcendent talent to fill the top in the form of an Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III, you could easily argue five or six different … Continue reading →

Advance scouting: Xavier Rhodes - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston
In advance of attending the NFL combine in Indianapolis later this month, ESPNBoston.com has identified 10 prospects it wants to learn more about. Alo

2013 NFL draft - Skill players lead best available after Todd McShay's mock draft update - ESPN
There are only 32 spots in my latest mock draft update , which means plenty of prospects with first-round tools and talent have been left out. This week's Nickel Package (which is really a dime package) looks at the 10 best players I'm projecting to be on the outside looking in at the first round. Among them are a pair of standout wide receivers, a trio of offensive linemen and two big-name quarterbacks. Below is a breakdown of each of the top 10 remaining players on my board.

Morning links: Does WR Harvin make sense in Seattle? | Seahawks Insider - The News Tribune
News of the Minnesota Vikings entertaining a possible trade involving electric receiver Percy Harvin perked my ears this morning. Harvin finished last year on the injured reserve after suffering an ankle injury against Seattle last season. But the reason he finished 2012 on the shelf has more to do with a blowup with head coach Leslie Frazier in front of teammates, according to the report. The 24-year-old Harvin is entering the final year of his rookie deal. He’s an explosive playmaker who has a history with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and receiver Sidney Rice from their time in Minnesota. But he’s also a bit of a malcontent, as ESPN’s Kevin Seifert spells out here.

Combine Prep: Offensive linemen to watch in Indianapolis - CBSSports
With the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine less than two weeks away, NFLDraftScout.com is taking a position by position look at the players you need to know now. Who has the most on the line in Indianapolis? Who is going to dazzle in workouts? Who has medical concerns that could significantly alter their draft stock? We tackle these questions and more, starting with the offensive linemen.

Seattle's Abundance in Cap Space Could Spell Big Things and More NFC West News | Bleacher Report
A once aging roster under Mike Holmgren and Jim Mora Jr. has quickly turned into an energetic, youthful roster under general manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll...

2013 NFL Combine Snubs
Later this month, the center of the NFL universe will move to Indianapolis for the long weekend of weigh-ins, workouts, medical checks and interviews commonly known as the scouting combine. And while over 300 prospects annually receive an invitation, there are always plenty of worthy names left off the list. Here is a look at ten prospects, who despite being given the cold shoulder and denied a late winter trip to the Midwest, should still hear their names called at some point on Draft Weekend.

Third-Down Give-Up Draws, Gary Kubiak, And You - Battle Red Blog
They didn't! Ha-Ha! Gary Kubiak didn't care anyway!

The Shutdown Corner Big Board, 17-32: Non-QBs rule the roost this time | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
The 2013 NFL Draft is far more convoluted than its immediate predecessor; with no obvious transcendent talent to fill the top in the form of an Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III, you could easily argue five or six different players for the top spot without sounding too crazy. One thing we do know -- the downgrade at the quarterback position is fairly serious, as evidenced by the presence of just one signal-caller in our first Big Board. Both lines is where NFL teams will find value in this upcoming draft, and that's true on both sides of the ball.

Linebacker Tiers - Rankings - Rotoworld.com
Much attention has been paid to the depth and athleticism of the defensive line class. However, the non-pass rushing linebacker group is one of the deepest crops in years. It features good variety – plugging inside linebackers, run-and-chase outside linebackers, versatile types that can play on the line of scrimmage and run with tight ends in coverage.

NFP Mock Draft - Version 6.0 | National Football Post
Russ Lande takes another crack at predicting the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

2013 NFL Draft: Stock of Geno Smith, QBs boosted by demand - NFL.com
"We have them graded on traits and skills," said one AFC college scout. "Then they go to all-star games, and a player can really help himself there. Colin Kaepernick goes to the Senior Bowl, has a phenomenal week, coaches get to see him throw next to other quarterbacks, and say, 'God, he can spin it.' ... Then there's the interview process. You talk Xs-and-Os, become comfortable with their personality, leadership traits; you talk schematics. Coaches get comfortable. They'll say, 'Wow, he's football smart.' " The scout said, "The interview process can help quarterbacks more than any other position."

2013 NFL Draft's top prospect: Luke Joeckel vs. Chance Warmack - NFL.com
Who's the best player available in the 2013 NFL Draft? Bucky Brooks says the easy choice is Chance Warmack. Or is it Luke Joeckel, as Daniel Jeremiah argues? The debate rages on.

What teams make sense for a Percy Harvin trade? - CBSSports.com
What teams might make sense as potential trading partners for the Vikings if they want to move Percy Harvin.

Seahawks most-bet team to win Super Bowl XLVIII - CBSSports.com
“The Seahawks have gotten far and away the most tickets written on them,” said Jay Rood, vice president of Race and Sports for MGM Resorts International, which runs 12 Nevada sportsbooks. “They're drawing an inordinate amount of interest at this point, similar to what the 49ers did last year after their playoff run.”

49ers, Seahawks Are Winners Of Vick Staying With Eagles - Business Insider
Michael Vick took a $5 million pay cut to stay in Philly in a surprise move today. As a result, two excellent teams with expendable back-up quarterbacks — the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks — just gained a ton of leverage in trade negotiations.

Potential Free Agent Targets: TEs - 12th Man Rising - A Seattle Seahawks Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.
Dec 2, 2012; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans tight end Jared Cook (89) catches a pass against Houston Texans safety Danieal Manning (38) during the f

Monday draft thoughts « Seahawks Draft Blog
The Baltimore Ravens didn’t have an elite defense during the regular season. While Seattle’s unit ranked fourth overall according to Football Outsiders, Baltimore came in at #19. The Seahawks had the third best pass defense, Baltimore’s was 13th best. And despite the presence of Haloti Ngata up front the Ravens only ranked 26th against the run. Seattle finished 12th.

Meet Tim Walton: The Latest St. Louis Rams Defensive Coordinator Interviewee | Bleacher Report
Ever since Blake Williams and Gregg Williams were relieved of their duties in St. Louis, the Rams have been looking to fill their vacant defensive coordinator position. Former Dallas Cowboys coordinator Rob Ryan was the first candidate they gave a long, hard look at.

There’s so much more to their drafts than first-round picks
Monday metatarsal musings: All the attention might be on who the Seahawks will select in April during the first round of the NFL Draft. But John Schneider and Pete Carroll have shown in their first three years together that the draft is not over until the final free agent has been signed.

Evaluating Jesse Williams | Draft Breakdown
The nose tackle is a crucial component to the success of a 3-4 defense. A nose tackle that can control the point of attack will allow other players on the defense to shine, and allow some more creativity from the defensive coordinator.

Double Coverage: Thomas DeCoud in Studio | NFL.com Podcasts
No rest for the weary as The “Double Coverage” podcast rolls on this offseason. Steve Wyche and Brian Webber are joined in studio by Atlanta Falcons safety Thomas DeCoud to recap the Falcons’ season and look ahead to 2013. The guys discuss the rise of young quarterbacks in the NFL and DeCoud’s unhealthy shoe collection.

Tyrann Mathieu will be under spotlight at NFL combine - NFL.com
Former LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu is among five invitees who will face big questions at the NFL Scouting Combine, according to Bucky Brooks.

Chip Kelly explains Philadelphia Eagles' science coach - NFL.com
The Philadelphia Eagles recently hired Shaun Huls as their "sports science coordinator." At his Monday press conference, coach Chip Kelly explained what exactly Huls will be doing for the team.

Percy Harvin, Darrelle Revis among stars who could be available - NFL.com
With trade rumors swirling and free agency looming in March, who is the best player potentially available this offseason? Our analysts share their thoughts, with Percy Harvin getting some love.

Buffalo Bills release Nick Barnett, George Wilson - NFL.com
The new Buffalo Bills coaching staff is in place. The inevitable roster cuts have started to follow as veterans Nick Barnett and George Wilson were shown the door Monday.

NFL has considered widening the playing field 35 feet, and reportedly may revisit the idea | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
From the blog Shutdown Corner: The NFL reportedly might consider widening the playing field to Canadian Football League standards, a drastic idea that would be one of the bigger rules changes the game has seen in a long time – if it comes to pass. … Continue reading →

10 things we want to see in 2013 | National Football Post
From the legalization of sports betting to a blizzard during the Super Bowl, here’s what we’re looking for next season.

Trade Percy Harvin? Maybe it's not such a bad idea after all - CBSSports.com
There's a report out there that Minnesota is considering whether to trade wide receiver Percy Harvin, and when you wonder why the Vikings might cast off a dynamic young playmaker who can run, catch and return kicks, consider this: Because it makes sense. He might be a headache not worth assuming.

What Went Wrong: Ryan Mathews - What Went Wrong - Rotoworld.com
Patrick Daugherty examines what went so terribly wrong with Ryan Mathews' 2012, and looks forward to his make-or-break 2013.

ProFootballWeekly.com - Jaguars announce some big changes
The Jaguars announced this week that they won't be very active in free agency and will transition to a zone-blocking system in 2013.

Hey, Don't F*$% This Up: Phil Loadholt and the Minnesota Vikings' Offensive Line - The Triangle Blog - Grantland
There's higher-profile news in Minnesota at the moment, but amid all the Percy Harvin drama is a lingering question that threatens the Vikings’ very foundation. There’s no actual proof that Adrian Peterson can be killed by conventional weapons, but his post-human season is at least partially (partially!) a result of running behind of the league’s best offensive lines.

Scouting the OTs: Dallas Thomas, Tennessee | FirstRoundGrade.com
A 2012 3rd Team All-American guard, Dallas Thomas projects more as a left tackle prospect for the NFL game. Possessing the requisite measurables for the position, Thomas is likely to be given every chance possible to play the left side in 2013. After starting 25 consecutive games at left tackle for the Tennessee Volunteers, Thomas was kicked inside this past season for all1 2 contests. While his positional versatility enhances his overall value for this April’s Draft, another season at left tackle in the SEC would have done him well.

The Combine Chronicles: Defensive End | National Football Post
Tony Villiotti of Draftmetrics.com dissects performance by position at the NFL combine

Combine Prep: Tight End class much more than just Ertz, Eifert - CBSSports
With rookie quarterbacks Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson leading their respective NFL teams to the playoffs and fellow first-year standout Luke Kuechly leading the league in tackles, it is more obvious than ever the immediate impact rookies can make in today's NFL.