Coffee & Cigarettes: Seahawks links for Tuesday

Read.

Seahawks' Russell Wilson: Former professor on what he's really like | Take 2 | Seattle Times
I’ll never forget the first day of the fall semester of 2008 at North Carolina State University. As I walked toward the door to my American Government classroom, a young man approached me. “Professor, is it OK if I cut out of class a bit early for a press conference at the football complex?” he asked.

Mike Haynes outlines Seattle Seahawks' dominance - NFL.com
After the Legion of Boom defense turned in one of the most dominant Super Bowl performances of all time, the Seattle Seahawks viewed themselves in the same light as the historically great 1985 Chicago Bears and the 2000 Baltimore Ravens.

Chasing a Photo for A Lifetime [chase jarvis RAW video - Superbowl Edition] | Chase Jarvis Blog
When the Seahawks raised the Super Bowl trophy before my very eyes last Sunday I couldn’t help think that I’d been waiting a lifetime for this. But it was far more than being born + raised in Seattle that overwhelmed me – it was that I knew I’d captured a photo that I’d been chasing my entire life.

Future Consideration: NFL mock draft, top offensive linemen, and NFC West team needs - SBNation.com
In SB Nation's new NFL Draft show "Future Consideration," Matt Ufford and Dan Rubenstein discuss the latest mock draft, the best prospects at a given position, and the team needs in one NFL...

College Football 24/7 Rankings | NFL.com
Now that I've had an opportunity to study more players -- both on tape and at the all-star games) -- I've made a few adjustments to my Top 50 prospects list. There are four new additions and several players have been moved up or down on the list.

Ware pre-trial hearing set for March 3 | Seahawks Blog | Seattle Times
A pre-trial hearing for Seahawks running back Spencer Ware, who was arrested for Driving While Under the Influence on Jan. 12, has been set for March 3 in King County District Court.

Film study with Seattle Seahawks linebacker and Super Bowl XLVIII MVP Malcolm Smith - NFL Videos
Seattle Seahawks linebacker and Super Bowl XLVIII MVP Malcolm Smith looks at video from the game and gives insight on how he made some key plays.

Seahawks player and fans support Michael Sam | www.kirotv.com
An All-American football player from Missouri rocked the sports world Sunday. Defensive lineman Michael Sam announced that he was gay just months before the NFL draft, which means he could become the first openly gay player in the league.

Monday draft notes: Bashaud Breeland & Morgan Moses | Seahawks Draft Blog
Walter Thurmond is a free agent this year, and Brandon Browner’s time in Seattle appears to be up.

Seahawks’ defense saves its best for last
Fifth quarter: It consisted of only three games, but the Seahawks’ Super Bowl season did generate another quarter. So Seahawks.com hands out its honors for the best of the team’s postseason run.

Analyst: Seahawks front office ready for offseason test - 710sports.com
Much has been made about whether the Seahawks will be able to maintain their championship roster and sustain their status as a perennial title contender.

Top 10 plays from the Seahawks' Super Bowl season - 710sports.com
The Seahawks played 19 games over the span of five months en route to the franchise's first Super Bowl. Here's a look at 10 of the most pivotal, most impressive moments along the way arranged chronologically, not necessarily in order of importance...

Seahawks add DB Parks, officially sign three to futures contracts | Seahawks Blog | Seattle Times
Seattle just officially announced the signings of those two, as well as defensive back Terrance Parks, who played at Florida State and spent 2012 in camp with the Kansas City Chiefs before being released in the final cutdown and last year was with Hamilton of the Canadian Football League.

NFL offseason 2014 storylines to watch: What will Houston Texans do in NFL draft? | Audibles - SI.com
With the 2013 season over, the 2014 league year right around the corner, and the draft following soon after, every team is getting ready to deal with the offseason process. Many teams have tough questions to answer, while others will look to restock at several important positions.

Offseason Forecast: Arizona Cardinals - NFL.com
The Arizona Cardinals are aiming for a return to the playoffs in 2014. Will they be able to lock up Patrick Peterson and re-sign Karlos Dansby to a long-term extension this offseason?

Mike McCarthy, Packers to keep Dom Capers' 3-4 D - NFL.com
Coach Mike McCarthy wants changes to the Green Bay Packers' defense this offseason. However, he will keep defensive coordinator Dom Capers' 3-4 scheme in 2014.

Michael Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals likely to part ways - NFL.com
Bengals defensive end Michael Johnson will hit the open market as a free agent, Ian Rapoport reports. Johnson is a long shot to return to Cincinnati.

Dion Jordan not projecting as Miami Dolphins starter? - NFL.com
Dion Jordan had a quiet rookie season for the Miami Dolphins. Could the No. 3 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft continue to struggle to become a starter in his second season?

Five big names who could end up salary-cap casualties - NFL.com
It's the NFL offseason, when front offices have difficult choices because of the salary cap. DeMarcus Ware and Terrell Suggs could be two of five stars who soon might be on the street.

Face it: Quarterbacks are underpaid thanks to stagnant salary cap - CBSSports.com
Pro football fans might not want to hear it but salaries for quarterbacks in the NFL are not out of control. In fact, it is just the opposite. QBs aren't getting paid enough, and the NFL's salary cap is not growing in proportion with league revenues.

NFL Prospect Focus: Stanford offensive line | National Football Post
David Yankey and Cameron Fleming are on a lot of radars.

Monday Morning MD | National Football Post
It’s almost time for the NFL’s annual meat market.

Free Agency Primer: NFC North | Audibles - SI.com
Perhaps no NFL division managed to be more competitive without actually impressing anyone than the NFC North. The Green Bay Packers were the only team to post a winning record, and they did so at 8-7-1.

Free Agency Primer: AFC North | Audibles - SI.com
The 2013 season was disappointing for this division, with Cincinnati serving as its lone playoff representative and bowing out in the wild-card round.

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | 2013 Football Outsiders Awards
Welcome to the results of the 11th annual Football Outsiders Awards -- the best and worst players of the year, as voted on by you, our readers. For those curious about the FO Award winners in past years, you will find links to each of the previous FO Awards articles on this page.

Seahawks sign Travis Beckum, two others to contracts | ProFootballTalk
As a member of the Giants, Beckum suffered a torn ACL in the club’s Super Bowl XLVI victory against New England. In the previous game, he caught four passes as the Giants defeated the 49ers for the NFC title.

DeMaurice Smith calls anonymous General Managers who criticize Michael Sam “gutless” | ProFootballTalk
“[W]hen you contrast a group of anonymous G.M.’s against a 24-year-old college player, it seems like only one of them had the guts to put his name behind his message,” Smith told CSN Washington. “So my first reaction has nothing to do with Michael Sam. My reaction is to call those G.M.’s for what they are: They’re gutless. And if a young man has the courage to stand up and put his name and his face to talk about what he thinks is important, I would expect that a grown man can do exactly the same thing. But apparently they can’t.”

NFLPA prez: Players will accept Michael Sam “with open arms” | ProFootballTalk
“I know that the union will accept him with open arms, as will our players,” NFLPA president Domonique Foxworth said, via ESPN.

Colts waive guard Justin Anderson | ProFootballTalk
The Colts have parted ways with a member of their 2012 draft class.

Mike McCarthy: Our defense is going to change some | ProFootballTalk
“We were not as multiple maybe this year as we’ve been in prior years really because of the stress of injuries on that unit so we want to get back to some of the things that we did very well in the past and make sure we’re carrying enough packages to utilize all of our players,” McCarthy said, via ESPN.com. “We obviously need to get better on defense, and I think these moves that we’ve made on defense will definitely put us on that path.”

Pythagenpat Records in 2013 — FootballPerspective.com
For years, sports analysts have used Pythagorean records as more granular measure of team strength than pure record. We’re not exactly at the point where Pythagorean records are mainstream, but I think, at least with respect to readers of this blog, people are pretty comfortable using Pythagorean records.

Buccaneers Release Carimi and Landri - Over the Cap
Tackle/Guard Gabe Carimi was waived allowing the Buccaneers to clear out $1,337,187 in cash and cap charges. Carimi is one of the big busts of the 2011 NFL draft. Originally selected by the Bears with the 29th pick in the first round the Bears traded him after just two seasons to the Bucs for a 2014 6th round draft selection. Carimi lasted just one year in Tampa Bay. His contract can be claimed by any of the other 31 teams between now and 4PM on Tuesday the 11th. Carimi has no guarantees in his contract but he does have a $592,187 roster bonus due in March and a $100,000 workout bonus in his contract that would likely be a barrier to a team claiming his contract.

How will news that Michael Sam is gay affect NFL draft stock? - College Football - SI.com
The news that former Missouri defensive end Michael Sam is gay holds significant social and cultural ramifications. But from a purely football perspective, his decision to come out prior to May's NFL draft will make his path to the league daunting, eight NFL executives and coaches told SI.com.

Some teams could now be more inclined to draft Michael Sam | ProFootballTalk
At first blush, the news that draft prospect Michael Sam is openly gay could cause his draft stock to fall because, all things being equal, teams will be more inclined to opt for a player who won’t be bringing extra media attention and news trucks and all the stuff that goes along with having a player who has a high profile for something other than his football abilities.

Where Does Luck/Smith Rank Among Great Playoff QB Battles? — FootballPerspective.com
The NFL playoffs began in very entertaining fashion in Indianapolis. The Chiefs lost Jamaal Charles on the first drive of the game to a concussion, but stormed out to a 38-10 lead. Then the Colts pulled off the second greatest comeback in NFL history, eventually winning 45-44. The much-maligned Alex Smith had the game of his life, finishing 30 of 46 for 378 yards, with 4 touchdowns and no interceptions while also rushing for 57 yards.