Coffee & Cigarettes: Seahawks links for Friday

Thank goodness it's TGIF, gang.

Measuring beyond girth: How offensive linemen are graded in the NFL | The MMQB with Peter King
By Ross Tucker Offensive linemen are football’s forgotten men. They sometimes work on an island, trying to stop rabid pass rushers one-on-one, while other times they’re cogs in complex schemes that demand perfect spacing and precision timing.

The Impact of Advanced Stats in the NFL | ReplyAll.me
Derek brings up a good point about grading. I honestly don't know what my PFF grades are this year. I do know however in the Seattle game, PFF had me down for 8 or 9 hurries I believe but my coaches had me down for 2 or 3. Well let's look at the first problem: what is a "hurry". Is it forcing the QB to step up because of short corner? Is it a forced throw? Is it moving the QB of his "spot"? My point being advanced stats get into murky waters due to the lack of universal definitions.

The Dark Side of NFL Free Agency
Dick Jauron called right in the middle of dinner at my grandma’s house.

Bill Polian outlines top tips on how to approach free agency - NFL - ESPN
In today's NFL, the proper approach to free agency starts with acknowledging a simple truth: GMs can't win in this game.

NFL Draft 2014: Family ties help Donte Moncrief make decision to turn pro - SBNation.com
The wide receiver's decision to forego his senior season at Ole Miss was questioned by some, but the potential second-round pick says he was validated by a monster performance at the NFL Combine.

Donte Moncrief: Metric AllStar - Out Of The Box - Rotoworld.com
In the burgeoning war between the “numbers never lie” and “real football is on film” factions of the football community, I find myself rooting for both sides of the struggle.

Free agency primer: Top 25 defensive linemen - NFL.com
While offensive playmakers are scant in this year's free-agent crop, Chris Wesseling says defensive linemen like pass rusher Jared Allen and run stuffer Red Bryant are plentiful.

Houston Texans should not draft Khalil Mack with No. 1 pick - NFL.com
Buffalo's Khalil Mack is among seven players who could be the No. 1 overall pick of the Houston Texans, but Gil Brandt explains why he doesn't think Mack should be drafted that high.

Ranking the 10 best defenses of the Super Bowl era. | SportsonEarth.com : Dan Pompei Article
Selecting the greatest defenses of the Super Bowl era is a little like choosing the best-looking vintage automobiles. There is an "eye of the beholder" factor. But there are other, more black and white factors when discerning great defenses, like statistics, schematic advantages, championships and player legacies.

Video of the Week : News : Senior Bowl
Phil Savage's 'Best in Show' from the NFL Combine: QB, RB, WR

Video of the Week : News : Senior Bowl
Phil Savage's 'Best in Show': OL and TE

Report: Cardinals bring in John Carlson for a visit | ProFootballTalk
The Cardinals, whose head coach has a very clear idea about a tight end’s priorities, are hosting one of the more prominent available players at the position.

Cardinals sign nose tackle Alameda Ta’amu | ProFootballTalk
The Cardinals have signed exclusive rights free agent nose tackle Alameda Ta’amu, the club said Thursday.

Saints open to trading Thomas, Sproles, Moore, per report - NFL.com
Could Pierre Thomas, Lance Moore and Darren Sproles be on their way out of New Orleans? According to one report, the Saints are open to trading all three to help ease the team's ugly cap situation.

Cardinals hire hurdling gold medalist as speed coach | ProFootballTalk
As the Cardinals continue to shake up their strength and conditioning staff, they’ve brought an Olympic gold medalist on board.

Cowboys Corner: Per source, Ware will listen to Cowboys offer of reduced deal; but knows he will be coveted as FA
Per a source, former Pro Bowl defenseive end DeMarcus Ware doesn't want to take a pay cut but will listen to the Dallas Cowboys thoughts about a reduced deal.

Michael Bennett to test free agency | Seahawks Draft Blog
A lot of people are saying they never expected Bennett to re-sign in Seattle before March 11th. I’m not one of those people. In fact, I fully expected the Seahawks to get this done before free agency.

Seattle Seahawks' Michael Bennett to test free agency - NFL.com
Michael Bennett will not re-sign with the Seattle Seahawks before first weighing his options on the free-agent market, Ian Rapoport reported Thursday. Who else is in the hunt for the pass rusher?

Seattle Seahawks inspire movement: Oregon wants its own NFL team in Portland - Seattle Seahawks & NFL News
If football fans in Oregon have their way, the Seattle Seahawks would soon have a new rival just 175 miles to the south.

McShay Mock 3.0 reax: Seattle Seahawks - ESPN
This is the right man in the right spot. UCLA guard Xavier Su'a-Filo is who ESPN Insider Todd McShay has the Seahawks taking at the end of the first round in McShay's Mock Draft 3.0.

NFL Draft 2014: The running backs
For the second time in the past three years, there is a chance that no running backs will be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft on May 8 as most teams are adopting a ground-game-by-committee approach.

2013: Best of Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate was critical to the team's offense and special teams and went on to win Super Bowl XLVIII. Check out some of his highlights from the season.

2013: Best of Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett was a key contributer to the 2013 Seahawk defensive unit that ranked number one in the NFL and went on to win Super Bowl XLVIII.

Re-signing Alameda Ta'amu first step for Arizona Cardinals - ESPN
After the season, Arizona head coach Bruce Arians said he wanted the entire defense back, even though he admitted the likelihood of that happening wasn't very high.

Brandon Browner's options could be limited - ESPN
As it turns out, Brandon Browner was a little misleading on his tweet Tuesday night about being reinstated by the NFL. Browner still has some time to serve on his substance-abuse violation from a positive test for marijuana use.

Top 10 players who will be overpaid in free agency - NFL.com
With the best players usually locked up before free agency, Around The League lists 10 candidates to receive an inflated contract not quite commensurate with their worth.

Report: Saints open to trading Thomas, Sproles, Moore - NFL.com
The New Orleans Saints are reportedly willing to part with offensive weapons like Darren Sproles to help ease an ugly cap situation. Find out who else might be on the trading block.

Minnesota Vikings release Letroy Guion, Greg Childs - NFL.com
The Minnesota Vikings, already devoid of defensive tackles, released Letroy Guion. The team also parted ways with wide receiver Greg Childs.

NFL free agency: Going inside with semi-available center Alex Mack - CBSSports.com
The Browns have left the door open to poachers by transition tagging Alex Mack. Here's why this exceptional center could draw big, creative bids.

2014 Pro Days: Ka'Deem Carey improves his 40-yard dash... a bit - CBSSports.com
The All-American running back was faster and more explosive in the vertical jump at his Pro Day Thursday. Was it enough to make scouts forget about a disappointing Combine?

Report: Falcons ask Osi Umenyiora to take pay cut - CBSSports.com
The Falcons have reportedly asked Osi Umenyiora to take a pay cut.

Report: B.J. Raji, Packers close to one-year deal - CBSSports.com
B.J. Raji and the Packers are reportedly close on a one-year deal.

2014 Pro Days: Sleeper WR Austin Franklin impresses at NMSU - CBSSports.com
Some in the NFL have said there are potential starters to be found at wide receiver in the third and fourth rounds. One of these players could be the New Mexico State junior, whose talents drew reps from nearly half the league's teams out to Las Cruces Wednesday to watch his Pro Day.

2014 NFL Draft: Winners, losers, surprises in combine long shuttle - CBSSports.com
Oregon State wideout Brandin Cooks continued his assault on the NFL Combine with the fastest time recorded in the 60-yard shuttle in at least nine years. Two other players from the west could see an even greater draft-day spike due to their surprising times. Two from the reigning champion Seminoles? Their results weren't as impressive.

2014 NFL free agency primer: Karlos Dansby, Daryl Smith headline linebackers | Audibles - SI.com
Inside and outside, the face of the modern linebacker has changed. Inside guys were once able to get by on a primary skill -- either an ability to move up against the run, or cover tight ends and slot receivers in a rudimentary fashion.

2014 NFL free agency primer: Jairus Byrd, Aqib Talib headline secondary | Audibles - SI.com
Stopping the league's onslaught of offense has become a real headache for just about every team outside of Seattle. Accomplishing the task, with teams spreading the field in three-, four- and even five-wide sets, requires a deep secondary.

Top 50 2014 NFL free agents | National Football Post
The checkbooks open on March 11 at 4:00pm eastern.

NFL considers changing extra point? Let's leave it right where it is | The MMQB with Peter King
The premise is that the point-after has become pointless. A mere formality of a play. To that I say, what’s wrong with formalities? They have their place. Even in football.

Titans lock up Ropati Pitoitua with a three-year deal | ProFootballTalk
The Titans were able to hang onto one of their own priorities, locking up defensive end Ropati Pitoitua to a three-year deal, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennesseean.

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Under the Cap: NFC West
Seattle Seahawks Cap Space as of March 5th: A little under $18 million

What Teams Might Sign Jimmy Graham? — FootballPerspective.com
On February 28th, the Saints elected to use the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jimmy Graham. The big dispute now is whether Graham should be classified as a tight end or a wide receiver; if Graham is classified as a tight end, the tag is worth $7.0 million, a number that jumps to $12.3 million if he’s labeled a wide receiver. An arbitrator will decide which position Graham plays for New Orleans, but it’s the type of tag the Saints used that’s interesting to me.

Taylor Martinez displays exceptional athleticism - NFL.com
Martinez (6-foot 1/4, 201 pounds) ran the 40-yard dash in 4.45 and 4.6 seconds. He had a 39-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-9 broad jump. He had a 20-yard short shuttle time of 4.03 seconds and did the three-cone drill in 6.85 seconds. All of those numbers with the exception of the three-cone would have either been the best among quarterbacks or matched the best among quarterbacks at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Brock Vereen among top defensive sleepers in 2014 NFL Draft - NFL.com
I'm unveiling my defensive draft sleepers today after revealing my offensive sleepers earlier this week. These prospects might not hear their name called on the first or second day of this year's draft (perhaps not even on the third day), but NFL history is rich with players that were mid- to late-round draft picks or undrafted free agents who went on to become stars in the league.

2014 Pro Days: Nebraska's Taylor Martinez works out at QB, WR, DB - CBSSports.com
“I felt pretty good doing receiver and safety,” Martinez told reporters after his workout. “Whoever wants me at whatever position, I'll go.”

Patriots QB Ryan Mallett just 'OK' at Arkansas Pro Day - CBSSports.com
Former Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett shed his New England Patriots' uniform for a day and threw passes to Razorbacks pass-catchers during Wednesday's Pro Day. Unfortunately for the current Hogs looking to be drafted into the NFL, Mallett was one of the few who impressed.

2014 Pro Days: Dezmen Southward the story at Wisconsin workout - CBSSports.com
Southward currently ranks as NFLDraftScout.com's No. 9 strong safety and 7th round pick. While his potential medical concerns must be taken into consideratio, Southward's stock could be significantly impacted by his performance Wednesday. He was known more for his reliable tackling rather than his ball-hawking skills for the Badgers, collecting 152 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss over his career but only intercepted two passes.

Broaddus: Highly-Ranked QB Has Few Alarming Flaws

One of the questions I keep getting asked is not so much about the best players, but guys with some red flags or concerns.