Coffee & Cigarettes: Seahawks links for Tuesday

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Monday Morning MD | National Football Post
An inside look at the comprehensive medical examinations that take place during the NFL Combine.

Interesting: One of the first-round prospects at WR, Kelvin Benjamin, is represented by Eugene Parker, who ...
Interesting: One of the first-round prospects at WR, Kelvin Benjamin, is represented by Eugene Parker, who ... ... of course, also represents receiver Michael Crabtree. The 49ers drafted Crabtree No. 10 overall in 2009. He and Parker engaged in a 71-day contract stalemate that season, by far the longest any 49ers draft pick had gone without a contract agreement. The 49ers have not drafted any of Parker's clients since. Parker also represents Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who is the odds-on favorite as the first receiver drafted, and Penn State receiver Allen Robinson, who could be taken at the end of the first round. The 49ers have the 30th overall pick.

2014 NFL Draft: Sammy Watkins Atop Loaded Receiver Class
While the influx of underclassmen certainly aided to it, the 2014 receiver class is one of the best in recent memory. With as many as nine first-round-worthy options and plenty of depth after them, teams will be able to wait on taking the top-end talents until the mid-rounds, and instead opt for other positions early on.

NFL combine: Maurice Clarett flamed out, blew out career in 2005 - CBSSports.com
Though Maurice Clarett had a bad combine performance in 2005, he still was drafted in the third round by the Broncos.

Kaepernick, tonight’s co-host of Cartoon Network awards, speaks up in support of Sam and 49ers locker room | 49ers Hot Read
“Nobody cares if you’re black, white, straight, gay, Christian, Jewish, whatever it may be. When you step on that field, you’re a member, in my case, the 49ers. That’s your job, your occupation.”

Ted Wells Report: A Case Study in Locker-Room Cutlur Gone Wrong | The MMQB with Peter King
The official report on the Jonathan Martin-Richie Incognito case isn’t an indictment of the NFL locker room as a whole, but a case study in what can happen when it’s left to operate without restraints or mature leadership

Jonathan Martin, Michael Sam give wakeup call to NFL, Roger Goodell | The MMQB with Peter King
The timing of Michael Sam’s announcement and—five days later—the release of the Ted Wells report made one thing crystal clear: It’s time to professionalize pro football. Plus, America’s new non-hero and more as NFL eyes shift to Indy

Pre-combine position rankings for 2014 NFL Draft - NFL.com
With the NFL Scouting Combine just around the corner, Mike Mayock unveils his position-by-position rankings for the 2014 NFL Draft. Quarterback is just one position with plenty of intrigue.

Johnny Manziel leads most controversial prospects in NFL draft - NFL.com
Johnny Manziel and Jadeveon Clowney are expected to be among the top picks in the 2014 NFL Draft, but they come with red flags NFL teams will need to investigate.

The Biggest Sleeper in the 2014 NFL Draft: Vanderbilt WR Chris Boyd | RotoViz
For more than two years, I have known he could play.  In 2011, Chris Boyd was Vanderbilt’s best wide receiver (Yes, Jordan Matthews was on that same team).  But 2011 was a long time ago and the devil is in the details– when I saw the words rape and dismissed I made a few assumptions– so I haven’t given him any thought in a while.

I just found out my dad "invented" the "seahawks".( He still doesn't know what they are...) : nfl
I just found out my dad "invented" the "seahawks".( He still doesn't know what they are...)

10 players to watch at the 2014 NFL Combine | National Football Post
Keep an eye on these names in Indianapolis.

Press Releases : News : Senior Bowl
Fourteen wide receivers descended on Mobile for the Reese’s Senior Bowl with all hoping to impress the 32 clubs with their hands, speed and quickness. The most important factors for pro success include size/strength at the line-of-scrimmage, separation suddenness in the route and playmaking ability to move the chains and score touchdowns. Here is our breakdown of the top 10 performances during the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday practices.

The thankless task of projecting tight ends | Seahawks Draft Blog
Tight end is one of the toughest positions to judge.

Super Bowl and Urban Peace | The Shift Network
The Seattle Seahawks just won their first Super Bowl.  Their head coach, Pete Carroll, was featured in the Summer of Peace in 2012 when he talked about A Better LA - a project that he helped to create aimed at promoting urban peace in Los Angeles.  We thought you would enjoy listening to that interview.

Franchise/transition tags: Seattle Seahawks - ESPN
The Seattle Seahawks have three top-priority free agents they want to keep: defensive end Michael Bennett, receiver Golden Tate and kicker Steven Hauschka.

Will the Seahawks use the franchise tag this offseason? | HeraldNet.com - Seattle Sidelines
Monday begins the two-week period in which NFL teams can use the franchise tag. That means between now and March 3, the Seahawks (and every other team) can assure the return of any one free agent by placing the franchise tag on that player. The question now is whether or not the Seahawks use the tag, something they’ve only done once under Pete Carroll and John Schneider, placing it on kicker Olindo Mare in 2010.

Johnny Manziel cites Russell Wilson's success with Seattle Seahawks as proof that short QBs can succeed in NFL - ESPN
"I think he's kicked the door wide open," the 6-foot Manziel told the Houston Chronicle. "You're seeing more guys being successful avoiding that first wave of pressure -- get out and do things outside the pocket."

Gabe Carimi signs contract with Atlanta Falcons - NFL.com
Gabe Carimi will reunite with Mike Tice on the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons' offensive line needs help, but the former first-round draft pick is far from guaranteed a roster spot.

Rams' Cortland Finnegan must take 'sizable' pay cut - NFL.com
Cortland Finnegan's production cratered last season. The St. Louis Rams cornerback is set to carry a $10 million salary cap number in 2014, so he needs to restructure to stay on the team, Ian Rapoport reports.

NFL salary cap cuts: Wilfork, Ware, Sanchez among those likely gone - CBSSports.com
It's combine week, my friends. Even though the Super Bowl seems like it just ended, the NFL cycle churns on. And lest you think the combine is only about the upcoming draft, it's anything but. All sorts of business gets done this week in Indianapolis, not the least of which is jockeying for cap space.

NFL Prospect Focus: A.C. Leonard and Nic Jacobs | National Football Post
The two juniors would have benefited from another year in school.

Sam Bradford deal: St. Louis Rams QB may get contract extension | Audibles - SI.com
Sam Bradford was on his way to smashing career bests across the board statistically in 2013, so perhaps if he had stayed healthy the Rams would have left the debate about his future for later.

NFL combine 2014 storylines to watch: Defense | Audibles - SI.com
From Thursday through next Tuesday, the entire NFL, the whole of the football media and as many draft prospects as one can fit into Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium will participate in the annual event known as the scouting combine. This is where teams start to get firm beads on prospects, and those prospects can impress in all sorts of ways. Here are a few storylines to watch in this year’s version — from the defensive side of things.

NFL combine 2014 storylines to watch: Offense | Audibles - SI.com
Even though the Seahawks proved once again that defense can in fact win championships, the players on the other side of the ball will command the majority of attention — at least from the general public — when the NFL’s scouting combine begins this week. A few storylines to watch:

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Four Downs: AFC West
As we chronicled before the AFC Championship game, the Broncos had the worst pass defense in the league in the games Von Miller missed. Miller should be healthy by the start of the 2014 season, and the pass defense was better with him in the lineup. Still, the secondary that struggled badly without him could be facing significant personnel turnover, as four players who started at least ten games are free agents.

NFL may not be able to discipline Incognito | ProFootballTalk
As the NFL contemplates the question of whether and to what extent the players deemed to have harassed Dolphins tackle Jonathan Martin should be punished, the league has a potentially major problem when it comes to Dolphins guard Richie Incognito.

Report: Rams don’t intend to extend Bradford’s deal | ProFootballTalk
The Rams would like to extend the contract of quarterback Sam Bradford.  Unless they don’t.  Unless they presently have no intention to do so but may do so in the future.

Vernon Davis, in light-hearted discussion on curling: “Anything’s possible” | ProFootballTalk
49ers tight end Vernon Davis is an honorary captain for the U.S. Olympic curling team. He also caught 13 TD passes in 2013, and he’s in top form entering his ninth NFL season.

The Contrasting Statistical Profiles of Geno Smith and Mike Glennon — FootballPerspective.com
We were very spoiled last year. Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, and Russell Wilson had outstanding rookie seasons in 2012, and perhaps that set expectations a bit high for the 2013 class. No one will confuse those three with EJ Manuel, Geno Smith, and Mike Glennon, all of whom struggled for most of their rookie seasons. But while Smith and Glennon didn’t produce excellent numbers, they produced very interesting ones.

February 17 NFL Salary Cap Space Update - Over the Cap
Here is the salary cap space update for the start of the week of February 17. These numbers should be relatively current through Thursday’s signings. Please note that there are two uncertainties in these numbers. One deals with Matt Cassel of the Vikings as I am not 100% certain that he did void his contract so I have him in there. If he did void the deal the Vikings will gain around $3.3 million in cap space.

A Brief Overview of the NFL Franchise Tag - Over the Cap
February 17 marks the first day that teams can apply either the Franchise and Transition tag to one of their pending free agents. The Franchise tag is essentially a mechanism that is designed to block a player from entering free agency and maintain exclusive negotiating rights with the player, by extending a one year tender offer to the player.

UCLA LB Anthony Barr believes he should be draft's top pick - NFL.com
Move over, Jadeveon Clowney and Johnny Manziel. You're not the only two making a case for yourselves as the No. 1 overall draft choice.

Texas Tech's Jace Amaro out to show he's a complete tight end - NFL.com
Jace Amaro was listed as a tight end by Texas Tech, but he split out wide about 80 percent of the time. Still, he says he can be a complete, all-around tight end.

Savage: BYU's Van Noy ranks as top Senior Bowl OLB - NFL.com
BYU LB Kyle Van Noy was rated as the most impressive outside linebacker at the Reese's Senior Bowl, according to Senior Bowl executive director and former Browns GM Phil Savage.

Jaylen Watkins predicts sub-4.4 40 time at combine - NFL.com
Florida defensive back Jaylen Watkins believes he is primed to post an excellent 40 time at the scouting combine.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins should be top TE performer at combine - NFL.com
Austin Seferian-Jenkins had a disappointing junior season, but he's expected to be among the standout tight ends at the combine, reminding teams why they were so high on his pro potential.

Nearly 200 players participate in New Jersey regional combine - NFL.com
Close to 200 players, all eligible for the 2014 NFL Draft, gathered over the weekend at the New York Jets facility for the second of 10 NFL regional combines.

Embracing The Craft of Player Evaluation | The Rookie Scouting Portfolio
Player evaluation is an imperfect endeavor. Understanding one’s limitations is a huge step towards getting better at it.

Seahawks' top 5 defensive plays: No. 5 - Seattle Seahawks Blog - ESPN
Here’s my list of the top five plays by the Seahawks' defense in the 2013 season: