Coffee & Cigarettes: Seahawks links for Friday

LINKS!

RGIII should shut up because we can't seem to - SBNation.com
Last year, RGIII was a rookie sensation and a media darling. This year, he's a magnet for hot takes from a media drawn to controversy. What happened in between?

Hawks owner Paul Allen funds research into brain injuries | Local News | The Seattle Times
Billionaire’s long-standing interest in neuroscience intersects with the current focus on head injuries to athletes, soldiers

The Increasing Size of College Football Players - Football Study Hall
A recent study has outlined the size increase in college football players over the past seven decades.

Ten-Point Stance: Mike Freeman's NFL Notebook Heading into Week 12 | Bleacher Report
The latest NFL news, rumors, scores, schedules, predictions, picks against the spread, free agent updates, power rankings, mock drafts and more

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Film Room: Kaepernick and Newton
When the San Francisco 49ers replaced Alex Smith with Colin Kaepernick during the 2012 regular season, nobody expected the young quarterback to explode in the fashion he did. Kaepernick's athleticism and ability to drive the ball down the field added a completely new dimension to what the 49ers could do.

The Second Level: What You Need to Know Heading into NFL Week 12 | Bleacher Report
The latest NFL news, rumors, scores, schedules, predictions, picks against the spread, free agent updates, power rankings, mock drafts and more

49ers Blog and Q&A: Why is Colin Kaepernick struggling? Mike Shanahan has answers
"It takes some repetitions," he said. "It's footwork, it's understanding the strengths and weaknesses of coverages. It's personnel, understanding your concepts. If you've got a concept to the left, a concept to the right, which side are you going to go to? What's your progression? So there's so many different things a quarterback has to master before he becomes one of the top guys in the league."

Chalk Talk: Doug Baldwin's touchdown catch and The Percy Harvin Effect - 710sports.com
The 19-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson to Doug Baldwin helped Seattle take an 11-point lead into halftime Sunday against Minnesota, and it's the subject of this week's edition of "Chalk Talk" with Brock Huard.

DDFP 208: Russell Wilson & Rod Woodson | NFL.com Podcasts
Celebrating five million downloads, Shek talks with featured guest Seahawks QB Russell Wilson about chasing the NFC's top seed, comparing himself to the NFL's other young QBs in a number of categories, stealing Marshawn Lynch's Skittles and throwing a #SexyDeepBall.

'Sound FX': Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman - NFL Videos
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman is wired for sound as he battles with the Minnesota Vikings receivers in Week 11.

Seahawks All Access - Vikings Pregame
Seahawks All Access has all the sights and sounds from the Seahawks 41-20 victory over the Vikings at CenturyLink Field as Percy Harvin makes his first appearance for the team.

Breaking Down Cordarrelle Patterson's Impact on the Minnesota Vikings' Offense | Bleacher Report
Minnesota Vikings news, rumors, scores, schedules, predictions, picks against the spread, free agent updates, power rankings, mock drafts and more

No need to worry about Seahawks bye week - 710sports.com
If Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll had his way, the team wouldn't be taking the bye week off. Still, he's not too worried about his guys getting in any trouble during their time away. Carroll did have a message, though, for the players before they took off.

Tips from a Hall of Famer: What Seahawks legend Steve Largent told Doug Baldwin - 710sports.com
"This training camp," Steve Largent recalled, "Doug Baldwin started emailing me and he said, 'Hey, Steve, I just really admire you and know your long history here at the Seahawks and I was just wondering if you had any tips for me?' "

Top 5 Seahawks at the bye week - Seattle Seahawks Blog - ESPN
My top five Seattle Seahawks at the bye week for a team that is 10-1, right where it wants to be:

Seahawks Insider - Darrell Bevell
Darrell Bevell sits down to talk with Tony Ventrella during the Seahawks bye week to talk about the progress of the offense this season as they prepare for the final stretch of the season.

NFL embraces possibility of snowy Super Bowl | Seahawks | The Seattle Times
Instead of shrinking from the possibility that this season's biggest football game could be played in a blizzard, organizers of the first outdoor, cold-climate Super Bowl have decided to embrace the snow as the game's unofficial theme.

Pro Football Focus says Seahawks have best special teams in the NFL | Seahawks Blog | Seattle Times
Pro Football Focus today confirmed what anyone watching the Seahawks has probably thought all season — they have the best special teams in the NFL. PFF rated Seattle No. 1 in its updated special teams rankings, and said of the Seahawks:

Vikings don’t regret kicking it to Harvin | Seahawks Blog | Seattle Times
Wondering if the Minnesota Vikings knew that Percy Harvin had snuck back to return a kick in the final minute of the first half of Sunday’s game?

Extra Points: A video discussion of Seahawk MVPs, and more | Seahawks Blog | Seattle Times
In our latest Extra Points video, we wildly argue discuss who have been the offensive and defensive MVPs for the Seahawks so far, as well as an unsung hero.

Walter Jones, Don Coryell Reach HOF Semis | Sportspress Northwest
First-time nominee Walter Jones and ex-coach Don Coryell have reached the semifinal round of Pro Football Hall of Fame voting. The semifinal list will be pared to 15 Jan. 8.

A look at Russell Wilson’s MVP chances | Seahawks Insider - The News Tribune
In the Trib this morning I looked at Russell Wilson’s MVP chances. On some early projections, he’s listed as high as No. 3 behind Peyton Manning and Drew Brees (Dan Graziano’s MVP Watch for ESPN). Amazing for a second-year, third-round draft pick to rise into that discussion this quickly.

Seahawks Insider - Pete Carroll
Darrell Bevell sits down to talk with Tony Ventrella during the Seahawks bye week to talk about the progress of the offense this season as they prepare for the final stretch of the season.

Seattle Seahawks Blog - Hawk Blogger: Get Seahawks, Huskies, Ducks, Cougars Gear, Proceeds To Charity!
We are not only nearing the end of the NFL season, but the end of another calendar year. That means it is almost time to add up any profits made here at HawkBlogger.com and donate them to Ben's Fund, a charity started by Seahawks GM John Schneider and his wife Tracy, to benefit parents who struggle to pay for expensive Autism treatments. We donated $1000 last year, and I'd love to do more this year. Come on Seahawks fans!!

It's Time for Cardinals to Prove Whether They're a Contender or Pretender | Bleacher Report
After a 1-2 start, with losses to the St. Louis Rams and New Orleans Saints , pundits from around the league believed the Arizona Cardinals were no better off than they were during the last couple of years under head coach Ken Whisenhunt...

Breaking Down the Seattle Seahawks' Renewed Ability to Protect Russell Wilson | Bleacher Report
When the dust finally settled on the 41-20 blowout victory by the Seattle Seahawks over the Minnesota Vikings, there were many positive things for those in Seattle to reflect upon. Lost among the excitement of the return of wide receiver Percy Harvin, and the impressive performance of Seattle's run defense, was the team's renewed ability to protect their franchise quarterback.

Teammate: RGIII's comments were 'cold-blooded' - NFL.com
Robert Griffin III's leadership has come under focus this week after some post-game comments which drew a sharp response from teammate Santana Moss.

Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery top WR duo ranks - NFL.com
No wide receiver duo has more combined yards than the Chicago Bears' Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. Find out who else made Chris Wesseling's list of the NFL's top wide receiver duos.

Rex Ryan: Stephen Hill demoted from N.Y. Jets' lineup - NFL.com
Stephen Hill is not meeting New York Jets coach Rex Ryan's expectations, and the wide receiver subsequently has lost his starting job. Who has usurped the 2012 second-round draft pick in the lineup?

Report: 49ers won't play Monday or Thursday home games in 2014 - CBSSports.com
If San Francisco plays on Monday or Thursday night next season, it will be on the road. Officials want to work out the kinks at the 49ers new stadium before the team hosts any weeknight games.

NFL Playoff Picture, Week 12: Philadelphia Eagles on rise in NFC East | Audibles - SI.com
Here’s how the AFC and NFC playoff pictures look as Week 12 begins: AFC 1. Denver Broncos (9-1): AFC West leader 2. Indianapolis Colts (7-3): AFC South leader 3. New England Patriots (7-3): AFC East leader 4. Cincinnati Bengals (7-4): AFC North leader 5.

Robert Griffin III's comments create schism with Washington Redskins | Audibles - SI.com
It's one of the oldest and truest clichés in the NFL -- quarterbacks get too much credit and take too much blame. It's part of the job when you're a team's franchise player, and another part of that job is a keen awareness when it comes to what you say about the team in public.

Pressure Points: McCoy's Great Awakening | The MMQB with Peter King
Fair warning to future Buccaneers opponents: thanks to a talk with coach Greg Schiano and tutoring from a Hall of Famer, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy has been unleashed.

Drew Brees passes Warren Moon for No. 5 career passing yards | ProFootballTalk
Saints quarterback Drew Brees is No. 5 on the NFL’s all-time career passing yards list.

Brooks not upset by the publicity from hit on Brees | ProFootballTalk
“I’m not upset,” Brooks said Thursday, via the team’s official website. “Obviously it’s given me a lot of publicity.

Dove’s 2014 Mock Draft: 2.0
Jon Dove’s second mock draft looks at how the first two rounds of the 2014 NFL Draft could shake out. It’s still early in the process but each week we get a better feel for which prospects are in the mix to come off the board early.