International Flavor

by: Michael Steffes

I haven seen much written about this, but if you didn't know, the Seahawks will be given one extra spot on this years practice squad for an international player. This is part of the NFL's International Development Practice Squad Program.

Each year, it rotates to different divisions. Last year the NFC North and the AFC's East and South divisions had this privilege. At the recent owners meeting this program was just expanded to include 16 players and four divisions each year. This year both of the West and South divisions will have an international player on their practice squads.

Only one player from this program has seen time in a regular season game, and that was G Rolando Cantu from Mexico. After spending 2004 on the Cards practice squad, he stuck around and eventually played week 17 of 2005 with the Cards.

2004 was the last year the Seahawks had this exemption and the player who spent the year with the Hawks was Christian Mohr, a defensive end from Germany. Mohr was recently on the Eagles practice squad. I will update this story when I see who the Hawks will add, but in the meantime, maybe some of our overseas readers can update us on who the stars were last year across the pond. Read More!

Seahawks Take on the Labor Issues

by: Michael Steffes

With little else to talk about around the NFL, the pundits are beating the labor issues like a dead horse, despite the reality that the parties have two years to work things out. Anyway, it inspired me to at least take a look-see on how it could effect the Seahawks. Here is what I see...

The labor strife could actually end up benefiting the Seahawks, but also making it a touch difficult on them too. First off, the Seahawks have three guys who could be looking to strike it big in 2010, what would be the uncapped year. These three players are Chris Spencer, Rob Sims, and Darrell Tapp. Here is the problem. If 2010 is actually an uncapped year, none of those three players will actually be free agents. They will be restricted free agents. The Hawks could essentially control their destiny, which is probably good for the Hawks, especially if Sims and Spencer take off under coach Mike Solari.

Here is the part that could be difficult on the Hawks. There is also a rule to balance the loss of the salary cap that the final eight teams must lose free agents before they are allowed to sign free agents of equal value. As an example, if a free agent left and signed for 10 million, then the Hawks would be allowed to go spend 10 million. Well.... The Hawks have their key players locked up through 2010. With no notable free agents coming free, who would not be restricted,it is unlikely the Hawks would be allowed to open up Paul Allen's checkbook to improve the team. What is most likely is that the team opens up the vault to get Spencer, Sims and Tapp signed long term. Can you say front-loaded contracts?

Of course a lot could change between then and now. Most likely though, this is all for naught. All parties involved have every reason to get a deal done. Read More!

Sims Takes Shot at Shaun?

by: Michael Steffes

Over at the Seattle Times Blog, Jose Romero has transcribed some of his interview with Rob Sims, the one used for the story I linked to earlier.

Here is what Rob Says about the new look running game....

"It's a new deal. We're falling in love with Julius Jones. With T.J. Duckett there and the guys up front, man, it's starting to fit. Nobody feels like anybodys bigger than anybody else."

For those of you who read this blog, I am not usually in the business of stirring the pot just for the sake of making waves. However, I couldn't help but point out the implications of what Sims is saying. Nobody feels bigger than anybody else? I think the only way this can be interpreted is that Shaun maybe saw himself in a different light than the rest of the team. It is funny to see a veiled shot at the former running back, especially after all the veiled shots sent the lines way last year from #37, deserved or not. END Read More!

Mike Holmgren: Genius or Not?

by: Michael Steffes

I think that most of us in Seahawkland agree that Coach Holmgren is pretty smart guy. He, in fact, is a coach who should end up in the Hall of Fame. However, this doesn't mean he is without flaws.

Many times each season, everyone from radio hosts to blog readers have a few choice words to say about coaches decision making in critical situations. Now you have something to back it up. Here is an article in Gelf Magazine, talking about a computer program called Zeus. Zeus analyzes coaches decision making on situations like 4th down (going for it vs punting), PAT's, and kickoffs. These are labeled "critical". Zeus says the Seahawks rank 27th, and lost 1.06 games due to decision making error last year. In a non-linear sort of way, who knows what would have happened had the Seahawks had one more victory heading into the final quarter of the season. Things might have been a lot different, for the entire NFL.

Now, I give Mike Holmgren all the credit in the world for knowing how to get the most out of an offense. But when it comes to making these types of "critical" decisions, some times his choices are baffling. Was it the New Orleans game where he could have kicked a field goal and then gone for the onside, when instead he went for it on fourth down? It seemed last year there was about 4 or 5 questionable decisions that fall into this "critical" type element. Pittsburgh was another one, at the end of the half.

So what do you think, first about Zeus, and second about Coach? And does this really matter.... The Rams finished at the top and they were plain awful last year. Maybe they should have made some different decisions. Also, what other Seahawk games do you remember questionable decisions being made?

Holmgren might be lucky, he might escape before they program a computer to rate his clock management skills.... Read More!

Rob Sims On Track

by: Michael Steffes

Wow, it seems like it has been a week at least since the last Seahawks article was written. However, Rob Sims spoke to a group of public school teachers who were being honored yesterday at Qwest. This gave Seattle Times reporter Jose Romero a chance to catch up with him.

Sims seems to have adjusted his attitude quite quickly about playing RG...

"I'm kind of kicking myself for getting mad in the first place," Sims said. "It's one of those deals where this game is kind of territorial, and it's one of those things where you get excited too fast before you need to. Now I feel great about it."

It also seems as if he won't miss anymore time because of the arthroscopic knee surgery he had....

"As soon as I came out of it, they [doctors] looked at it and said 'You're already a week ahead of schedule"

Just the fact that he will be participating the next time the Seahawks hit the field is a big plus. Now if we can get Spencer and Big Walt out there soon, this line might really have something. END Read More!

Tough To Beat with #4

by: Michael Steffes

A bit off topic here, kinda, but the Sonics were just given the number four pick in the upcoming draft. I thought it would be worth a discussion of picking number 4. The Seahawks selected in this spot once, in 1981. They selected UCLA safety and Ring of Honor member Kenny Easley.

In his time in Seattle Easley went to 5 Pro Bowls, was a first team all-pro 3 times, and was the key defensive cog during the Seahawks run to the 1983 AFC Championship game.

If the Sonics find a way to make Seattle remain their hometown, we can only hope they find a player with Easley's talent and character. It would go a long way to making Sonics Basketball relevant again. Read More!

Florio Disses Seahawks

by: Michael Steffes

Mike Florio, mastermind behind Profootballtalk.com has done it this time. In his most recent article for the Sporting News, he lists the Seahawks as one of 6 teams who won't be returning to the playoffs.

With coach Mike Holmgren entering his final year on the sideline and the team’s next head coach (Jim Mora) already working in the building, there’s a strange vibe coming out of Seattle. Shaun Alexander, the league MVP in 2005, is long gone, and the hole in the left side of the line that was created by the departure of Steve Hutchinson in 2006 is still there. The rest of the team seems stagnant, in a division with three other squads that could be getting better. If only one of them delivers, the Seahawks will lose their hold on the NFC West.

Mike Florio has been labeled as Seahawk Hater on here before (DKSB where you at?), and in this case it seems he is surely misguided. However, it could also be a case of him looking to sensationalize. He also picks the Steelers and Giants too, which I am sure will cause a bigger reaction than the lowly Seahawks (sarcasm). Either way, he seems pretty off base on this one, probably stemming from the fact that he clearly has no idea what is going on in Kirkland.

Actually, this could be a good omen, Florio picked the Rams to go to the Superbowl last year. I trust him on the NFC West like I would trust Brittney Spears for parenting advice. Maybe he should stick to legal issues in future columns, cause I have a feeling that he may end up looking stupid when all is said and done on this one. END Read More!

More About the Labor (Dis)Agreement

by: Michael Steffes

If anybody is interested in reading more about the owners decision to opt out of the labor agreement, I added an article over at The Power of 12, MVN's Seahawks site.

It talks about what an uncapped year really means and some of the points besides money the owners are looking to address. Hopefully this sheds a little extra light on things for people who may be wondering what the heck is going on. END. Read More!

NFC West Nostalgia

by: Michael Steffes

Here is an interesting story this morning from Yahoo Sports Mike Silver that should peak the interest of NFC West fans. The Rams are for Sale, which isn't by itself all that interesting except when you look at who wants to buy back in, Eddie DeBartolo JR. I can hear the Niners fans grumbling from all the way down here in LA. DeBartolo was of course the Niners owner during their glory days who was disgraced during a rough patch in which he was indicted in a Fraud/Gambling/Bribery scandal. He signed the team over to his sister who is now running the team, Denise DeBartolo-York.

The other interesting note, is that Eddie would possibly be interested in moving the team back Los Angeles. That would shave some of the miles of the Seahawks travel schedule, along with eliminating the only divisional game with a 10am start. That would be plus. That and there would be one heck of a family feud going on within the division, which will certainly create some headlines. We will see what happens, the league is going to be taking a PR hit with the labor problems already, so they may not be as interested in bringing DeBartolo back as he is in becoming an owner again. To quote Eddie Jr, ""It'll be interesting to see what happens."END Read More!

Labor Turmoil? -Owners Opt Out

by: Michael Steffes

ESPN is reporting that the owners have unanimously voted to opt out of the current labor agreement. The CBA will now expire in 2011, with 2010 being an uncapped year, unless a new agreement is struck.

This was expected, although there was talk that Commissioner Rodger Goodell was trying to convince the owners otherwise. Really, we won't see the effects of this until next offseason, when contract negotiations will get very interesting.

But fear not football fans, there will be football for the next three seasons for sure. That seems like a lot of time to get something worked out, but the chatter from both sides suggest it is going to be an ugly fight. END Read More!