Coffee & Cigarettes: Seahawks links for Monday

Brand new week, gang.

Breaking Down Richard Sherman's Madden 15 Cover
Richard Sherman and Cam Newton were locked in a cover vote for Madden NFL 15 for nearly a week, but you didn’t need a crystal ball to predict who would come out on top. While Newton inched past every opponent in the first few rounds of the voting tournament, Sherman absolutely blew out his opposition. The result? The Madden 15 cover is coming to Seattle, so to speak.

Do the Seattle Seahawks have what it takes to repeat?
We analyze if the Seahawks have what it takes to repeat as Super Bowl champions

Boling: Familiar faces, yet slightly forgotten, step up in Seahawks camp | Dave Boling | The News Tribune
Natural at this point of the offseason that observers would have a few consult-the-roster moments when watching Seattle Seahawks voluntary practices.

Seattle Seahawks Blog - Hawk Blogger: Lethal Combinations
Individuals tend to get the glory, but it is often the combination of talents from multiple players that allow any single player to stand out.

Hawk Talk highlights: What injury is most concerning? - 710sports.com
Highlights from the latest edition of 'Hawk Talk' with Danny O'Neil, which included a conversation about Seahawks who are nursing injuries this offseason and which could have the biggest impact. - Blog 710 ESPN Seattle at 710sports.com

Ben Roethlisberger: Steelers to run more no-huddle - NFL.com
Ben Roethlisberger excelled in the no-huddle offense last season for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback believes he'll get to call even more shots in 2014.

Report: DeSean Jackson claims he was 'bribed' by Drew Rosenhaus - CBSSports.com
According to a report, DeSean Jackson filed legal documents claiming he was "bribed" by his former agent Drew Rosenhaus.

Ready to bust loose: Part III | National Football Post
The final five rookie players to keep an eye on in 2014.

Seven teams holding mandatory minicamps this week | ProFootballTalk
As was the case last week, all 32 NFL teams will engage in organized offseason workouts this week. However, in a sign we've moved into the late stages of the pre-training camp work, seven teams — the Cardinals, Bengals, Browns, Broncos, Lions, Saints and Buccaneers — will hold their mandator...

Brandon LaFell: Patriots work a little harder than the Panthers | ProFootballTalk
"We’re throwing in a whole lot of plays every day," LaFell said. "At the same time you’re a professional, man. You gotta be able to do it. There’s going to be times during the season when we come in on Monday and throw in eight plays, come back in on Thursday and throw in another eight. It’s pretty much getting us prepared for the season. The harder it is now, the easier it will be on Sunday. . . . Winning makes it all worth it."

Banner, Lombardi wanted to trade Josh Gordon | ProFootballTalk
Per Cabot, the best offer for Gordon was a second-round pick and players.  Any, some, or all of that compensation would have been more productive that what the Browns may get from Gordon in 2014 and beyond — quite possibly, nothing.

Steve Smith now freshly motivated with Baltimore Ravens - NFL - Don Banks - SI.com
OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Steve Smith had made up his mind. Last January, in the days following the Carolina Panthers' disappointing one-and-done playoff appearance against the San Francisco 49ers, Smith's heart and body started leading him in the direction of his own one-and-done experience. His decision was clear. He would play one more season with the Panthers, his 14th in Carolina, and then retire, heading home to his burgeoning family and whatever life after football held.

Ace Sanders already on the outs in Jacksonville? | ProFootballTalk
"It wouldn’t be a shock because 5-foot-7 players who don’t make guys miss don’t have a ton of value," O’Halloran writes.  "That said, if he improves his punt return stats in August, he deserves to make the 53-man roster."

Mailbag: Keeping pressure on Kaepernick? - San Francisco 49ers Blog - ESPN
Craig from Fox Island, Washington, wants to know if I think receiver Jon Baldwin could be moved to tight end. BW: Conceivably, sure. Baldwin is 6-foot-4, 230 pounds. He is big and he could probably get bigger. If Vernon Davis holds out in training camp, perhaps the 49ers would think about it. Baldwin has virtually no chance to make the roster as a receiver. I think the chances of him making it as a tight end would be a longshot as well. The former first-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs has had trouble making an impact in the league in any way.

Sam Bradford doing more than expected at Rams’ OTAs | ProFootballTalk
So many NFL players recovering from injuries in recent years have boasted that they're "ahead of schedule" that it sometimes seems like it's time to change the schedule. But Rams quarterback Sam Bradford does appear to be ahead of schedule in his recovery from a torn ACL.