Coffee & Cigarettes: Seahawks links for Thursday

Links. To read.

John Moffitt says he simply wasn’t happy in football | ProFootballTalk
“I just really thought about it and decided I’m not happy. I’m not happy at all,” Moffitt told Arnie Stapleton of the Associated Press. “And I think it’s really madness to risk your body, risk your well-being and risk your happiness for money. “Everybody, they just don’t get it and they think it’s crazy. But I think what I was doing is crazy.”

Richard Sherman on how he'd run the NFL if he had Roger Goodell's job | The MMQB with Peter King
I’m Richard Sherman. I’m a guy who plays cornerback for the Seahawks, who makes $550,000 a year to control a small sliver of one of 32 NFL fields on any given Sunday. But let’s imagine, for a moment, I’m a much more powerful man, one who earns a salary—$30 million—higher than the best-paid player in the league. I’m the man who, for better or worse, holds the future of pro football in his palm. I’m the commissioner of the NFL.

Video: Arizona's Ka'Deem Carey Rising, Virginia Tech's Logan Thomas Falling - CBSSports.com
With two full months of the college football season finished, NFL prospects have had plenty of opportunity to create an impression on NFL scouts.

Tate has become explosive weapon for Seahawks | HeraldNet.com - Sports
As long as wide receiver Golden Tate has been a Seahawk, he's never been shy about getting in head coach Pete Carroll's ear and suggesting the team should find ways to take advantage of his playmaking ability.

49ers Blog and Q&A: Harbaugh throws support behind former player Jonathan Martin
Jim Harbaugh today made a concerted effort to stay away from the Dolphins locker-rooming hazing controversy that has dominated NFL headlines the last three days. But he did state his support for one of the key figures, offensive tackle Jonathan, whom he recruited at Stanford.

Doug Baldwin on critics of Jonathan Martin, 'It's pathetic.' | HeraldNet.com - Seattle Sidelines
As the messy situation in Miami regarding hazing/bullying continues to develop in Miami, the discussion for some has shifted away from Richie Incognito's behavior, and toward the victim in the situation, Jonathan Martin. Some have suggested that in the world of the NFL, Martin needed to "man up" and stand up for himself, not decide to leave the team when things got ugly.

Wilson had his best under duress - Seattle Seahawks Blog - ESPN
Seattle Seahawks signal-caller Russell Wilson is the fourth quarterback since AFL-NFL merger in 1970 to win his first 12 career starts at home, joining Danny White, Kurt Warner and, Marc Bulger.

Seahawks Offense Finds New Life - Hawk Blogger
It was only a week ago that Seahawks fans were fretting about their offense. And for good reason. Their offensive line was a joke against the Rams. The play calling was bizarre. Marshawn Lynch was an afterthought and Sidney Rice was lost for the season. Lost in the embarrassment of falling so far behind a winless Tampa Bay team was an offensive performance that contained a variety of encouraging elements which may signal the start of a powerful offensive run.

Chris Whaley one to keep an eye on « Seahawks Draft Blog
Texas defensive tackle Chris Whaley caught my eye last year. He didn’t declare as a junior, but he’ll be part of the 2014 draft. And he’s one to monitor.

Understanding the phenomenon of Seattle's rabid 12th Man - NFL - Chris Ballard - SI.com
About a month ago I got the phone call from Sports -Illustrated's NFL editor, Adam Duerson. "Can you go to Seattle? I need a 12th Man story." Me: I'd rather not. I hate the Seahawks. Duerson: Right, I forgot. You're a 49ers fan.

Pete Carroll: A matter of time for Percy Harvin
News and notes from head coach Pete Carroll's Week 10 Wednesday press conference at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.

Pete Carroll Week 10 Wednesday Press Conference
Head coach Pete Carroll looks ahead to the team's Week 10 road matchup with the Atlanta Falcons and provides an update on the status of wide receiver Percy Harvin.

Seahawks' run defense has hit another mid-year slump - 710sports.com
The Seahawks have been running into a defensive problem for a couple of weeks now. Wait. That's not quite right. Running hasn't exactly been the Seahawks' problem so much as their inability to prevent opponents from doing that.

Pete Carroll defends Darrell Bevell's play-calling - 710sports.com
Russell Wilson's goal-line interception was one of the lowlights of Seattle's win over Tampa Bay, and it has intensified the complaints among some Seahawks fans regarding Darrell Bevell's play-calling. But the man whose opinion on the subject matters most – head coach Pete Carroll – defended his offensive coordinator when he joined 710 ESPN Seattle's "Brock and Danny" on Monday.

Doug Baldwin defends his friend Jonathan Martin - ESPN
“I know Jonathan’s character,” said Baldwin, who was Martin’s teammate at Stanford. “He’s a great guy and a great friend of mine. He’s never been in any trouble. For this situation to happen it had to be very serious.

Midseason Report: Seattle Seahawks - Seattle Seahawks Blog - ESPN
It hasn’t always been pretty for the Seattle Seahawks, but it’s hard to argue with an 8-1 record that includes being 4-1 on the road. This team was often criticized in the past for its poor play away from home. This is a team that finds a way to win games that it would have lost in years past, like overcoming a 21-0 deficit Sunday against Tampa Bay.

Carroll press conference notes: Still no word on Unger, Bryant | Seahawks Blog | Seattle Times
Here are some quick notes from Pete Carroll’s Wednesday press conference:

Video: Seattle safety Earl Thomas | Seahawks Blog | Seattle Times
Here is some video of Seattle safety Earl Thomas talking to the media Wednesday about returning to Atlanta to face a Falcons’ team that knocked the Seahawks out of the playoffs last season:

Video: Seattle receiver Doug Baldwin | Seahawks Blog | Seattle Times
Here is some video of Seattle receiver Doug Baldwin talking to the media Wednesday about this week’s game at Atlanta, which beat the Seahawks in the playoffs a year ago. Baldwin talks about returning to Atlanta, and more:

Seahawks Overcame More Than 21-Point Deficit | Sportspress Northwest
The Seahawks should be 7-2 and smarting after losing to winless Tampa Bay Sunday at CenturyLink. Russell Wilson upset three big predictors in making sure it didn’t happen.

Inside Robert Quinn's Emergence as the Next Premier NFL Pass-Rusher | Bleacher Report
When the 2011 NFL draft rolled around, the St. Louis Rams were coming off one of their best seasons in recent memory...

Breaking Down the Seattle Seahawks' Recent Struggles to Defend the Run | Bleacher Report
Seattle Seahawks news, rumors, scores, schedules, predictions, picks against the spread, free agent updates, power rankings, mock drafts and more

NFL teams have forgotten how to earn tough yards - SBNation.com
As the NFL continues to become more pass-friendly by the week, teams are forgetting how to get the crucial yards.

2014 NFL Draft top 100 - SBNation.com
South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney still comes in at No. 1, but the gap is closing.

Mike James can do it all for Tampa Bay Buccaneers - NFL.com
Not much has gone well this season for the 0-8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but a gem has been discovered. Marc Sessler takes a look at rookie Mike James through the eyes of Game Rewind.

Joe Flacco is flubbing his Super Bowl follow-up - NFL.com
Joe Flacco has failed to follow up his spectacular 2012 postseason with play worthy of his $120.6 million contract. Gregg Rosenthal ranks every signal-caller in the NFL in the weekly QB Index.

Aldon Smith looking to stay sober | National Football Post
Offered verbal commitment to NFL.

Coach Killers, Week 9: It's officially time to blow up Steelers' D - CBSSports.com
Coach Killers is your weekly look around the league at those performances, decisions and 'Wait, what did he just do?!' moments that put the guy in charge squarely on the ol' hot seat.

Harbaugh says Aldon Smith’s situation is being taken day by day | ProFootballTalk
Now that linebacker Aldon Smith has returned to the 49ers, the question is when Smith will return to the field.

With no guard depth, Panthers start converting | ProFootballTalk
We mentioned the other day the extreme difficulty the Panthers are having keeping guards on the field.

Robert Griffin Part II: Reasons For Hope and Watching Grass Grow | The Rookie Scouting Portfolio
Part I’s analysis of Robert Griffin focuses on the relationship between Robert Griffin’s injury and Washington’s offensive scheme. It also raises questions about building an offense around a young player’s legs and its consequences. Part II examines how the weaknesses of this offense creates a vicious cycle of degradation to Griffin’s game, but there are also several reasons for hope if Griffin can hang tough.

Golden Tate is the NFC special teamer of the week | ProFootballTalk
The Seahawks dug themselves a deep hole against the Buccaneers in Week Nine, but they dug their way out of it for a 27-24 overtime victory. Punt returner Golden Tate had a lot to do with that turnaround and he's been named the NFC special teams player of the week as a result.

49ers vs. Seahawks will NOT be flexed to Sunday Night Football - Niners Nation
We break down the news that the NFL will not flex the Week 14 49ers-Seahawks contest to Sunday Night Football.

Robert Griffin III is struggling as an NFL pocket passer | The MMQB with Peter King
Halfway through his second season, it’s impossible to call Robert Griffin III anything but an unrefined quarterback. Slowed by his surgically repaired right knee and often playing from behind, he’s learning how to be a drop-back passer the hard way

New York Times: Post-Week 9, 2013
There are seven teams that have two or fewer losses this year. But that doesn’t mean those teams are without weakness: this week at the New York Times, I look at the biggest concern for each of the top teams in the NFL:

Updated QB Power Rankings After NFL Week 9 | Bleacher Report
The latest NFL news, rumors, scores, schedules, predictions, picks against the spread, free agent updates, power rankings, mock drafts and more