Coffee & Cigarettes: Seahawks links for Saturday

Read these.

Rookies get to test motors at Seahawks minicamp | Seattle Seahawks - The News Tribune
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll gets his first glimpse at Seattle’s 11 draft picks when his team opens a three-day rookie minicamp this afternoon.

At Seahawks rookie minicamp, Jordan Hill and Jesse Williams get to work | Seahawks | The Seattle Times
Defensive tackles Jordan Hill and Jesse Williams are looking to contribute any way they can for the Seahawks this season.

Day 1 of Seahawks rookie minicamp: Luke Willson shines, Richard Sherman rides a jetski | HeraldNet.com - Seattle Sidelines
Also making a good first impression on Carroll were running back Christine Michael, who Carroll called, "very quick, very quick, very sudden," fullback/running back Spencer Ware, and tackle Michael Bowie."

TE Willson, RB Michael flash in first practice | Seahawks Insider - The News Tribune
Carroll said that he liked the way fourth round selection receiver Chris Harper caught the ball during practice. “He really has great hands,” Carroll said. “And that’s what we’ve seen. And the fact that he’s 230-something pounds is what we like, although you couldn’t judge much of that today. But he did catch the ball very well, and he’s a very natural athlete.”

Sherman gives Seahawks rookie camp a jet ski buzz | Seahawks Blog | Seattle Times
You can’t say Richard Sherman isn’t a man of his word.

Videos — Carroll, Michael, Hill | Seahawks Blog | Seattle Times
Here are some video snippets of interviews following today’s rookie mini-camp with Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, second-round pick running back Christine Michael, and third-round pick defensive tackle Jordan Hill. First. Carroll:

Rookie mini-camp, day one — Carroll quotes, and more | Seahawks Blog | Seattle Times
“We made a big deal out of (players) being early and these guys were sitting in there 20 minutes before the meeting was supposed to start, waiting for something to happen,” Carroll said. “We actually had to start practice early because they were out here 10 minutes before, being early.’’

Seattle Seahawks rookie camp with view of Richard Sherman - ESPN
A few notes after watching the Seattle Seahawks' rookies practice on a clear, 75-degree day at team headquarters along the Lake Washington shoreline:

Seahawks.com Blog | Friday in Hawkville: Seahawks kickoff rookie minicamp
A recap of the activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for May 10, when the Seahawks opened their three-day rookie minicamp:

Why the Seahawks had to have Luke Willson - Blog - MyNorthwest.com
"I thought Luke Willson did some cool stuff today," Carroll told "Afternoons with the Go 2 Guy" on Friday. "He looked very fast. He ran a great time [in the 40-yard dash]; it was 4.50, 4.51 or something like that. It looked like it today on the practice field. He got loose up the sidelines and got to turn it on a couple times and caught the ball really well. So that's an exciting first day for that guy."

Seahawks get first look at top pick Christine Michael - Blog - MyNorthwest.com
"He's very quick," coach Pete Carroll said after Friday's practice. "Very quick and sudden. Caught the ball well, too, and didn't have any trouble picking things up, understanding the system. For the first day, he had a good start."

49ers rookie minicamp: Jim Harbaugh speaks - Niners Nation
The 49ers opened their rookie minicamp on Friday. Head coach Jim Harbaugh met with the media to discuss his optimism thus far.

A Primer on Some Rookie Contract Negotiating Sticking Points - Over the Cap
Examining some of the smaller details that will go into negotiating contracts between an NFL team and a rookie draft pick

NFL Salary Cap - Calculating Player Costs
TFE starts a series on the economics of professional football by defining the factors of Player Costs as they relate to calculating the NFL Salary Cap.

NFL Salary Cap - Getting a little "Stadium Credit" for the effort
TFE continues its march towards calculating the NFL Salary Cap by defining the "Stadium Credit" that is applied to Player Cost Amounts.

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Word of Muth: Jonathan Cooper and Chance Warmack
Last week we looked at the top two picks, offensive tackles Eric Fisher and Luke Joeckel. This week we’re skipping Lane Johnson (for now), and going straight to the two highest drafted guards I can remember.

Rams and Saints will surprise, but don't believe Dolphins hype - NFL - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy
While Jason La Canfora doesn't see the AFC playoff picture changing much (sorry, Miami), he says look out for some surprise playoff teams in the wide-open NFC -- starting with the revamped Rams.

Alfred Morris tells this year’s class of unheralded rookies: Act like you’ve been there before | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
With rookie minicamps starting for so many teams through this weekend, there will be hundreds of young men new to the NFL who are convinced that the league sold them short. And every season, a few rise up from the rabble to become the new "How did THAT guy last THAT long in the draft?" stories. Perhaps the most glaring example that the 2012 draft was not an exact science came from former Florida Atlantic running back Alfred Morris, selected in the sixth round by the Washington Redskins. Morris ran for 3,506 yards and 27 touchdowns in three seasons for the Owls, but the team went 1-11 in his last year there, and 1-11 in the Sun Belt doesn't get you a lot of looks at the next level.

Pre Snap Read’s NFL Power Rankings 2013 | Pre Snap Reads
1. Seattle Seahawks There are a handful of things standing between the Seahawks and their first Super Bowl appearance since 2005, none of those things are talent related.

49ers' Marcus Lattimore 'fine' with sitting out season - NFL.com
Marcus Lattimore said before the 2013 draft his knee would be ready to go for the season, but now he says he's "fine" with being benched if that's what the San Francisco 49ers deem appropriate.

Dube: Blazers Owner Paul Allen Headed To Botswana Court In Giraffe Bone Smuggling Saga - Blazer's Edge
Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen is reportedly headed to court in Botswana after he and his sister allegedly tried to smuggle giraffe bones out of the country.

Videos: Russell Wilson, other Seahawks rib each other at charity bowling | Q13 FOX News
BELLEVUE -- The Seahawks rookie mini-camp starts Friday, but some of the team's veterans, including quarterback Russell Wilson, and coach Pete Carroll took part in a charity fundraiser at Lucky Strike Lanes in Bellevue Thursday night for

Vegas oddmakers favor Seahawks in 13 games this season | KING5.com Seattle
The Seahawks will host the 49ers on Sunday Night in Week 2, and appear twice on Monday Night Football and once on Thursday Night Football. They also have five early kickoffs on the East Coast.

Draft Tracker: The QB Whisperer | NFL.com Podcasts
Bucky Brooks welcomes QB guru George Whitfield on a special edition of the "NFL Draft Tracker Podcast." Whitfield breaks down what he looks for in grooming quarterbacks and how to prepare them for the NFL ranks.

First look at the first year players | Mitch in the Morning - Seattle's live and local sports station
“If I were to assemble what I think is the greatest 25 plays that Robert Turbin has ever had at college or his first year with the Seahawks … And then I were to do the same thing with Christine Michael … my gut tells me that Christine Michael’s highlight tape looks a lot better than Robert Turbin,” Millen said.

Six best NFL rivalries of 2013 - NFL.com
Stationed in a Los Angeles sports bar, I watched as a perspiring, cherry-red-sweater-vest-wearing 49ers fan screamed at the top of his lungs at Russell Wilson: "Make it stop! MAKE. IT. STOP."