Coffee & Cigarettes: Seahawks links for Thursday

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Seahawks CB Brandon Browner suspended indefinitely for violations of the NFL’s drug policy | Audibles - SI.com
The NFL suspended Seattle Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner indefinitely on Wednesday for violations of the league’s substance-abuse policy. Browner had first been suspended in late November, and was facing a possible year-long suspension as a Stage 3 offender in the NFL’s drug program. Browner was suspended four games late in the 2012 season for a violation of the league’s policies against performance-enhancing substances, which is separate from the NFL’s drug policy. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reported the suspension.

Browner, agent vow to file suit against the NFL | ProFootballTalk
“We will continue to exhaust all administrative remedies,” Schaffer told PFT by phone. “If not successful, we will sue the living daylights out of the league.”

Bears Fake Jet Sweep Toss | NFL Philosophy
When watching Bears’ film this week, I came across a play in Marc Trestman’s offense that I really loved. The Bears used the play twice in the 4th quarter and Matt Forte gained 19 and 24 yards out of the same play and same formation. It’s cleverly designed and the Bears set it up by running an end around to Alshon Jeffery out of a similar look earlier in the game.

Tale of the Tape from NFL Week 15 | Bleacher Report
The latest NFL news, rumors, scores, schedules, predictions, picks against the spread, free agent updates, power rankings, mock drafts and more

Inside the Tape on Alshon Jeffery's Breakout Season | Bleacher Report
Chicago Bears news, rumors, scores, schedules, predictions, picks against the spread, free agent updates, power rankings, mock drafts and more

Nate Solder and Calais Campbell: How two giants approach their position | 100 Yards and Running | Blogs | theScore.com
Two weeks into the 2012 football year, Giants clashed. It was midway through the first quarter, and the New England Patriots faced a long second down against the Arizona Cardinals after gaining only a yard on a previous run play.

Bad Quarterback League: THE END - The Triangle Blog - Grantland
The season is winding down, and Eli Manning will not be denied. Back in Week 3 we wrote, "The Giants are so awful right now that either they're going to win the Super Bowl or they're going 5-11, Eli's throwing 30 picks, and Tom Coughlin will pop five different blood vessels in his face." And here we are. Eli chose Option B.

All-22 All-Stars: Andrew Whitworth, the Bengals' Adaptable Advantage - The Triangle Blog - Grantland
The All-22 All-Star Team is an attempt to provide some insight on the NFL's 22 most underappreciated players. Some will be All-Pros who haven't fully gotten their due; some will be names few casual fans have ever heard. All will, for one reason or another, have been overlooked.

Setting the Rams on a Path to Redemption - The Triangle Blog - Grantland
There's still a lot of football to be played in 2013, but nobody has a more interesting offseason ahead than the St. Louis Rams. The 6-8 Rams have had a disappointing season, with quarterback Sam Bradford suffering a season-ending injury and top pick Tavon Austin struggling to gain a steady foothold in the offense, but they have much to look forward to in 2014.

What Really Went Wrong With Robert Griffin III? - The Triangle Blog - Grantland
Last week, the Washington Redskins benched quarterback Robert Griffin III. We've heard all sorts of explanations: that Griffin had taken too many hits; that the franchise needed to see what it had in backup Kirk Cousins; that head coach Mike Shanahan was trying to send the message that he's the coach and Griffin merely the player; even that Shanahan was pulling a George Costanza and trying to get fired. There's a kernel of truth in all of those explanations — well, probably not the Constanza theory — but after going back and studying the film from every game of Griffin's last three seasons, I'm certain that Griffin's play was the main reason he didn't suit up Sunday and won't play Washington's final two games.

Brandon Browner suspended indefinitely - Dec. 18, 2013 | Seattle Seahawks
"Had he come back, who would play? It’s a big, great question," Carroll said. "Byron has done a great job. He’s just made it through and he’s done a great job of playing. That Wally Pipp story comes to life sometimes and I’m thrilled about what Byron has done."

Good Lines, Bad Lines - The Smash Mouth - Rotoworld.com
Lance Zierlein evaluates offensive line play throughout the NFL with two weeks left in the regular season.

After stating plans to return, Marcus Mariota requested NFL grade - CBSSports.com
Could the Ducks' star quarterback be second-guessing his decision to return for the 2014 season? NFL teams hope so.

QB Index: Colin Kaepernick looks Super Bowl-ready - NFL.com
Colin Kaepernick and his San Francisco 49ers look plenty good, while Matthew Stafford and Tony Romo keep falling into bad habits. Gregg Rosenthal ranks the top quarterbacks for the 2013 season.

Eye On the Seahawks at Giants
Winter in New York is beautiful and players and coaches alike had a blast all weekend in the snow as evident by these Rod Mar photos.

Michael Thomas, Richard Sherman lead award winners - NFL.com
Michael Thomas went from the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad to AFC Defensive Player of the Week for the Miami Dolphins. The Seattle Seahawks' Richard Sherman captured the NFC's Week 15 award.

Jed York: Jim Harbaugh hasn't asked for more power - NFL.com
Jed York doesn't believe there is tension between Jim Harbaugh and Trent Baalke, even if they "butt heads" about personnel. The San Francisco 49ers CEO said his coach hasn't asked for more power.

Brandon Browner suspended indefinitely - NFL.com
A source now tells NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport that Browner's suspension has escalated from one year to "indefinitely."

Seattle Seahawks: What You Need to Know Heading into Week 16 | Bleacher Report
Seattle Seahawks news, rumors, scores, schedules, predictions, picks against the spread, free agent updates, power rankings, mock drafts and more

Seattle Seahawk's punter Jon Ryan insists that punters are not defenseless | Audibles - SI.com
hen NFL VP of officiating Dean Blandino insisted that the hit Pittsburgh Steelers reserve linebacker Terence Garvin put on Cincinnati Bengals punter Kevin Huber last Sunday night was illegal because punters are defenseless throughout the down, there was a great hue and cry from football traditionalists everywhere. And the “Punters are People, Too” lobby took a very big hit. Garvin was fined $25,000 for a play that should have been flagged, and that flag would have negated Antonio Brown’s 67-yard punt return touchdown. That missed flag from Ed Hochuli’s crew would seem like a big deal in a game that ended in a 30-20 score in Pittsburgh’s favor, but the primary takeaway most people had was that the NFL has once again gone too far in its protection of people playing a violent game by default.

Seahawks to face NFL's No. 1 run defense | HeraldNet.com - Sports
For the second time this season, Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch had more receiving yards than running yards Sunday in the Seahawks' 23-0 win at New York.

Palmer says ankle feeling better | Seahawks Blog | Seattle Times
Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer just spoke to Seattle media via a teleconference and said that the high ankle sprain he suffered Sunday against Tennessee is on the mend.

Officials ready up for winter-weather Super Bowl | Sports | The Seattle Times
Standing amid giant piles of snow in the shadow of MetLife Stadium, Super Bowl organizers said Wednesday that they're prepared to deploy thousands of trucks and tons of salt to prevent snowy weather from interfering with the biggest football game of the year.

McShay sees an OT for Seattle in Round 1 - Seattle Seahawks Blog - ESPN
It’s no secret that the Seahawks would love to add depth -- or a possible starter -- on the offensive line, so ESPN Insider Todd McShay has the Seahawks addressing that need in his first-round NFL mock draft.

No Percy Harvin or Brandon Browner, not that it matters - ESPN
The seemingly unending saga of uncertainty on receiver Percy Harvin and cornerback Brandon Browner didn’t get much clearer Wednesday. Seattle coach Pete Carroll said neither player would practice Wednesday.

Seahawks' running game hasn't been itself of late - 710sports.com
The Seahawks' rushing attack has been slumping over the last four games, a stretch that surprisingly coincides with the return of their starting offensive tackles. - Blog 710 ESPN Seattle at 710sports.com

Super Bowl could be rescheduled for big storm - 710sports.com
If the Seahawks make the Super Bowl, as predicted, plenty of fans will be making plans to attend the game in New York. But the NFL says the game could be played earlier or later than scheduled if a massive snow paralyzes the region.

Pete Carroll on Arizona Cardinals: "They're just cleaner, sharper, better at everything"
Pete Carroll looks ahead to Sunday's matchup with the Arizona Cardinals and provides personnel updates on Percy Harvin, Brandon Browner & more.

Tuesday in Hawkville: Seahawks’ run defense steps it up
The Seahawks allowing 25 rushing yards against the Giants, the lowest total yielded in a span of 120 games, was just the latest – and greatest – example of the defense’s improved efforts against the run.

Seahawks' ability to develop DB talent will influence NFL draft - NFL.com
The ability of the Seattle Seahawks to develop later-round DB talent into starters could impact the way some teams view bigger defensive backs.

York expects to sign Harbaugh to extension after season | CSN Bay Area
CEO Jed York plans to sit down with 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh after the season to hammer out what he believes will be a long-term contract extension.

News, notes and quotes: Harvin not practicing; Browner still languishing | Seahawks Insider - The News Tribune
The Seahawks continue to try and figure out how to handle both. It sounds like — and the calendar sort of dictates — a resolution to Browner’s appeal could be close. If he wins, the Seahawks will have to figure out where he is healthwise, then how to work him back in if he’s 100 percent . They have a lot of moving parts with Browner close to the end of a season. “It has taken a long time,” Carroll said. “We’re a little disappointed in that.”

Richard Sherman: The NFL's cold-weather Super Bowl is a big mistake | The MMQB with Peter King
The Super Bowl should showcase the best of the NFL, but that can’t happen in a blizzard. Who wants to watch QBs fumble snaps and receivers slip and slide all over the place? Wintry elements favor teams that can run the ball and play suffocating defense. So the more I think about it, let it snow!