Coffee & Cigarettes: Seahawks links for Saturday

The weekend is here everyone.

An interview with Dr. James Andrews, the man who's operated on all your favorite athletes - Vox
The only celebrity doctor in sports discusses his remarkable career, how teams spin injuries, and the alarming rise in Tommy John surgeries

Seattle Seahawks Announce New Team Name - Daily Norseman
In a surprising move, the Seahawks are changing their name a year after winning the title.

Seattle Seahawks kicker Steven Hauschka's long road from Middlebury College to Super Bowl XLVIII - ESPN
It speaks volumes about Pete Carroll that he listened. It says even more about Steven Hauschka that he spoke up.

Paul Richardson needs to develop into a more complete receiver | theScore
Listen: You can’t get excited about Paul Richardson just yet. Yes, he was the Seattle Seahawks’ second-round draft pick, but he has a lot to learn at the wide receiver position. Players like him come into the league every year, and within three years, they’re out of it. It’s a difficult transition.

Evaluating the Arizona Cardinals after off-season work
Outside of the Arena League, no one plays real football in the spring. It's shorts, t-shirts and helmets. As Cardinals coach Bruce Arians says, the noise starts when the pads go on.

Tharold Simon showing what kind of contributor he could be for the Seahawks | Seahawks | The Seattle Times
Until the last few weeks, Tharold Simon loomed as one of the Seahawks’ biggest mysteries. Taken in the fifth round of the 2013 draft, Simon missed all but a handful of workouts and practices last season while dealing with separate injuries to each foot.

The Greatest QB of All-Time V, Part III: Adjusted Dropbacks — FootballPerspective.com
The comments to Parts I and II of this series have been great, so let me start with a thank you. One of the more difficult parts of this process is comparing players across eras not just for efficiency, but […]

NFL coaches still upset about offseason player availability in new CBA | The MMQB with Peter King
We now have a new tradition during the long NFL offseason: coaches griping about limits on players’ offseason availability and activity due to the restricting nature of the CBA.

Tharold Simon shines in final OTA practice - Seattle Seahawks Blog - ESPN
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Tharold Simon had a personal coach during Thursday's practice in All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman.

Famous Movie Moments starring Jim Harbaugh | Kissing Suzy Kolber
Jim Harbaugh makes a lot of funny faces, lets have some fun with that.

Chris Houston released by Detroit Lions - NFL.com
Chris Houston was the best cornerback in Detroit from 2010-2012, and was rewarded with a five-year, $25 million contract last offseason. Injuries struck, and now he'll only see one year of that deal.

Seahawks draft: Is Chris Michael the next Shaun Alexander? - Seattle Seattle Seahawks | Examiner.com
Think the Seahawks' pick of running back Chris Michael was odd and unmerited because they already have plenty of players at the position?

Seattle Seahawks Blog - Hawk Blogger: Kevin Williams: A Luxury Addition For Seattle
The Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks boasted the best defense in the NFL last season, and one of the best in NFL history. They reached that peak by throwing wave after wave of top-shelf talent at opponents. Some of that depth was lost this off-season, opening opportunities for younger players to emerge, but John Schneider and Pete Carroll never turn down a chance to strengthen their roster. They buoyed one of the most important and most uncertain areas of the team when free agent DT Kevin Williams agreed to a deal.

Seahawks sign Kevin Williams & will Marshawn Lynch retire? | Seahawks Draft Blog
Even during the most mundane section of the NFL calendar, the Seahawks find a way to make life interesting.

Max Unger remains in the center of everything for Seahawks
One of only three players on the current 90-man roster that remains from the team coach Pete Carroll inherited in 2010, Pro Bowl center Max Unger continues to approach the game with the same enthusiasm he had as a rookie.

Friday Round-Up: Key takeaways from Seahawks' final OTA
Second-year cornerback Tharold Simon was the clear standout during the Seahawks' ninth and final OTA at Renton's Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Simon, who stepped in at left cornerback with the No. 1 defense for All-Pro Richard Sherman - who was given the day off - intercepted two passes on the day. Sherman may have been out, but he was still involved in the day's events, providing a few coaching tips to the 6-foot-3 Simon throughout the day.

Grey Area: New deal for Lynch? Unwise and unlikely - 710sports.com
The news broke late on Wednesday that Marshawn Lynch – who didn't attend the Seahawks' White House visit or organized team activities to this point – might be setting the stage for a holdout next week during mandatory minicamp due to unhappiness with his contract.

If Lynch stages a staredown, Seahawks can't blink - 710sports.com
He is one of the Seattle's most consistent performers and one of its most unpredictable personalities.

Terrelle Pryor, Ricardo Lockette and others at Seattle Seahawks OTAs - ESPN
Wide receiver Ricardo Lockette had an impressive showing with a couple of touchdowns grabs and several other long receptions, but it's nothing new. Lockette has looked good throughout the OTAs.

Avril, Mebane discuss Red Bryant and busy offseason | Seahawks Blog | Seattle Times
We had the chance to catch up with defensive end Cliff Avril and defensive tackle Brandon Mebane before Wednesday’s Mariners game. Avril threw out the first pitch — he made it to home but did so with a soft lob — and Mebane accompanied him. Here are some of the highlights of the quick chat with the two:

Marshawn Lynch could be going down a risky route with the Seahawks | Jerry Brewer | The Seattle Times
Does Marshawn Lynch deserve more money? Absolutely. But Lynch won’t be successful trying to force the Seahawks into a new deal by skipping voluntary workouts (as usual), missing next week’s mandatory three-day session and hinting at retirement.

Rookie receiver Paul Richardson says he’ll be Seahawks’ punt returner - Seattle Seahawks & NFL News
Seahawks rookie wide receiver Paul Richardson, the team’s top selection in last month’s 2014 NFL Draft, recently revealed that he might be the top choice to fill the vacated punt-returner job.

Dave Boling: Best changes to Hawks’ O-line? Fewer changes | Dave Boling | The News Tribune
Quarterback Russell Wilson thought it was one of the great unexamined stories of the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl-winning season.

Seahawks live chat | Seahawks Insider - The News Tribune
With Todd Dybas.

Marshawn Lynch watch: Day 3 | HeraldNet.com - Seattle Sidelines
And yes, that’s an intentionally over-dramatic headline, because as much as we’re all talking about Lynch’s potential holdout—he is, after all, one of the Seahawks’ most important players—it is at this moment still just that, a potential holdout. For all we now, Lynch could show up to next week’s mandatory minicamp and render the past week of talk meaningless. After all, as of now we’re hearing a lot of sources saying he won’t show up, but Lynch has yet to actually convey that message to the Seahawks. But for now, let’s get into the latest on Lynch.

San Francisco 49ers Making a Mistake Moving Jonathan Martin Inside to Guard | Bleacher Report
When the San Francisco 49ers acquired offensive lineman Jonathan Martin from the Miami Dolphins for a conditional seventh-round pick, general manager Trent Baalke was hoping Martin’s collegiate coach, Jim Harbaugh, could help rehabilitate his image and boost his ego.

Seven landing spots for Brandon Flowers - NFL.com
Brandon Flowers was released by the Chiefs on Friday, answering the prayers of teams looking for cornerback help. Where might he call home this season? Gregg Rosenthal breaks down the field.

Chris Houston released by Detroit Lions - NFL.com
Chris Houston used to be the best cornerback in Detroit, before the injury bug hit him. Now the four year Lions starter is on his way out of Motown.

Steelers set to pound the ball with Bell, Blount combo - NFL.com
Old school football will be back in Pittsburgh this season. Albert Breer reports that the Steelers are expected to focus on the ground attack with running backs Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount.

Instead of a developmental league... | National Football Post
Why not look to an extended training camp for all NFL franchises?

The All-22: Buccaneers hope to become the new Bears with rookie Mike Evans | Audibles - SI.com
In 2013, veteran quarterback Josh McCown had his best NFL season. Serving as Jay Cutler's backup in Chicago, and starting five games as Cutler dealt with various injuries, McCown completed 149 passes in 224 attempts for 1,829 yards, 13 touchdowns and just one interception.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers can compete for NFC South title, Jason Licht says | The MMQB with Peter King
First-year general managers generally say the same things. They express optimism that the losing franchise they took over can rebound. In the next breath, they acknowledge the reality that the team doesn't quite measure up yet.

Shutdown Corner's Overrated and Underrated: Pass rusher | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo Sports
This offseason, Shutdown Corner's Frank Schwab and Eric Edholm will look into what is overrated and underrated in all aspects of the NFL. We fully expect your angry emails and comments that are sure to follow.

Bruce Arians has Oct. 1 as target date for Tyrann Mathieu | ProFootballTalk
The Cardinals wrapped up minicamp on Thursday, which means they’ll next hit the practice field at training camp.

Why Gus Bradley Is the Next Great NFL Head Coach | Bleacher Report
NFL teams are always looking for next. Fortunes rise and fall so quickly in the NFL; greatness today could be disaster tomorrow.

Mike McCarthy: No doors are closed on Jermichael Finley, Johnny Jolly or Ryan Pickett | ProFootballTalk
The Packers have maintained all offseason that they are open to a return from tight end Jermichael Finley if they think his neck is sound after last year's injury and subsequent surgery and nothing has changed on that front.

Mandatory knee pad controversy went away quietly | ProFootballTalk
There once was a time when players were steadfastly opposed to a new rule which mandated leg and thigh pads, with many players talking tough about refusing to wear them. Yeah, that didn't last long.

Evan Mathis strikes again | ProFootballTalk
Good one, Evan.  Now grow up. Whether it’s lying to one reporter or lying to all of them, the lesson is that no one should listen to anything Mathis ever has to say, if he’s going to continue to engage in the pro athlete equivalent of having pizzas delivered to his next-door neighbor. That’s hilarious.  When you’re 12. (ED: lol)

On Maurkice Pouncey, Center Salaries, and How the Annual Value Can Be Misleading - Over the Cap
With Maurkice Pouncey locked up and surpassing Alex Mack as the highest paid center in the NFL I thought it would be a good time to dissect the contracts at the top of the position and see why looking at annual value can sometimes be very misleading.

Potential NFL Bubble Players & Cap Casualties | The Daily Spot
With a high percentage of draft picks now signed, and the free agent market finally slowing down to a jogger’s pace, we’ll take a look at each of the NFL rosters and locate a player who still may be considered a roster bubble or cap casualty over the next few months. In some cases we’ve outlined a player who may have more value via a trade than a release or an over-priced roster spot. These are merely projections based on financial value and roster availability. Feel free to leave your thoughts & comments below.