Elegant Distractions

The Seattle Seahawks had a chance to send Mike Holmgren into his sabbatical year on an up-beat, seeking to win their finale against division leaders, the Arizona Cardinals. Instead, they may have improved the odds of Holmgren seeking another head coaching position in 2010 via the 34-21 loss.

Holmgren is a winner. This 4-12 season will stick in his craw. It will fester like a sliver under his skin and come this time next year he will want to put a different ending to the final act of his coaching story.

He will have his pick of teams, of course. If Mike Singletary stumbles in San Fransisco he will take that slot. Any struggling team will offer him the keys to the kingdom to lure him out of his so-called retirement but he will only be interested if a) he gets full control and b) the team is close to being a winner already.

It will be interesting to see where he lands.

Posted by director at 03:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In running up their victory total to four including two in a row, the Seahawks actually played a decent game on both sides of the ball. The 13-3 win over Green Bay was head coach Mike Holmgren's final home game.

Seneca Wallace has matured at the quarterback position, looking poised and determined while making much better decisions than at any other time in his career.

Receivers caught balls. Defenders forced turnovers and punts, keeping Green Bay out of the end zone for 60 minutes. Koren Robinson looked like he might have a break-out game but had to settle for another solid contribution of 3 catches for 38 yards. Robinson has done OK for himself and might find a permanent home here in Seattle.

Much digital ink will be spilled covering the final game of Holmgren as Seattle's head coach. My assessment is that he will be missed, hopefully not terribly because that means Mora is doing poorly. The fans put up with this losing season because it is an aberration resulting from critical and numerous injuries. Mora won't have earned the benefit of the doubt as Holmgren has.

Posted by director at 09:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Seattle held the lead yesterday against the Rams for exactly 0.0 seconds and yet they came away with a 23-20 win.

The final field goal passed through the uprights with no time remaining on the game clock. Deion Branch, for the second week in a row, reminded everyone in Seattle why he is paid so much dosh. He reeled in a crucial 45-yard reception to set up the game-winner. So, that's what receivers are supposed to do? I had forgotten amidst the season-long festival of dropped passes and faulty routes.

The loss puts the Rams in sole possession of last place in the dreadful NFC West. Seattle lags San Fransisco by two games.

Next Loss: Jets at Seattle

Posted by director at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Jim Kelly is afraid to come out and say it.

It's way too late to worry whether that "stuff" might have worked in Seattle, if general manager Tim Ruskell had promised Zorn the Hawks head coaching job after this final season for Holmgren instead of assistant coach Jim Mora.

And it's too early to doubt whether Ruskell made the right choice in Mora.

Zorn has the personality to pick up the pieces after Holmgren's final-year cave-in. Mora will do better but it won't be the same. Zorn will contend for Super Bowls every year while Seattle struggles to keep pace in one of the weakest divisions in the game.

Jim Zorn should have been the coach here. It was something I dreamed about when I first heard he was coaching at the college level in Boise. Imagine Zorn coming here, working his way up the ladder and then becoming head coach. That would have been cooler than anything.

Ruskell killed that dream for fans and for Zorn all because of his buddy Mora. After two seasons with Ruskell and Mora perhaps they'll both be run out of town.

Somebody had to say it.

Posted by director at 12:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Anyone hoping for a storybook ending to Koren Robinson's NFL career might start looking in the Horror section of the library.

Robinson's return to Seattle was a desperate move by an organization desperate for anybody who could a) run a route and b) catch the ball. There was a sliver of hope that Robinson could be that guy and wipe out the word "bust" stamped on his resume. But there were problems.

When he showed up at Seahawks headquarters, he was out of shape. It took three weeks to get him meaningful game time and when he did get in the game he ran the wrong routes and showed his old tendency to drop balls.

The past two weeks have been more of the same. For the second game in a row Robinson ran the wrong route on the final Seahawks possession as they were attempting to drive for the winning score. Both times Matt Hasselbeck threw the ball to space occupied only by defenders, resulting in game-ending interceptions.

I'm not suggesting Robinson is drinking again but maybe he's done too much brain damage to be capable of concentrating for a full 60 seconds of game play? Right now he's still one of the better recievers on the team, sad as that may be, so I don't expect him to get the ax. There's still time for him to redeem himself during the last few weeks of the season and then he might just work himself onto the roster for next season if he can, I don't know, work hard and learn how to get his brain in the game as much as his body.

Next Loss: at Dallas

Posted by director at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Outside of the local sportswriter community and the Mariners organization, who the hell cares?

Posted by director at 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Even though my prediction was off by a day, I was right about the Seahawks releasing Keary Colbert.

Colbert had an amazing chance to prove he belonged in the NFL, perhaps as a starter. Instead he dropped the ball, quite literally. With Deion Branch hoping to return this week Colbert made it easy for Holmgren to part ways with Mr. Butterfingers.

Posted by director at 01:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It took almost every one of the sixty game minutes for the Seahawks to find a way to lose to the Miami Dolphins 21-19. The game came down to the final drive only because Seattle had failed often enough to trail by two points.

Let's start with Keary Colbert who may have single-handedly lost this game. Two key dropped passes should be enough to land him on the unemployment line come Monday morning. To be fair, Colbert wasn't the only receiver playing with butter fingers but Colbert dropped easily catchable passes. On third downs.

Too often the Seahawks settled for field goals with drive-killing mistakes like false starts or dropped passes. Is it just me or does Mike Wahle wait for the worst possible situation to commit fouls? It has become so predictable that when the Seahawks committed a false start near the Miami goal line I yelled out, "Wahle!" before even knowing what the penalty was.

The Seattle defense is still playing two-hand touch football. Several plays on third down would have sent in the Miami kick machine except that the defenders tried bump tackles instead of wrapping up the ball carrier. In each case the Dolphin player stumbled forward for a first down.

It looks like the battle for last place in the NFC West will be hotly contested this year but nobody is likely to catch the winless Lions for the worst record in the NFL.

Next Loss: Arizona

Posted by director at 05:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

One play from today's 26-7 loss to the visiting Eagles typifies the 2008 season. At the end of the second quarter Seattle faced third down and seven when quarterback Seneca Wallace inexplicably spiked the football, thus ending yet another drive and with it any chance Seattle had of catching Arizona.

To be fair time was running out and the Eagles didn't do anything with the ball, having only five seconds on the clock. The play wasn't a game changer but it is the kind of play I've come to expect from Seattle generally and Wallace specifically. Seattle is playing down to the boneheaded level of its quarterback.

The day was laced with knuckle-headed plays. Dropped passes, missed blocks, and most of all poor judgement. The defensive unit plays well to begin with until they realize the offense is going to accumulate more 3-and-outs than first downs at which point they surrender everything from massive passing yards to time of possession.

Wallace passed for a measly 169 yards but even that is deceptive, as ninety of that came on the first play from scrimmage when Koren Robinson turned a decent catch into a franchise record-long touchdown. Aside from that, Wallace only managed 79 yards passing.

Next spring Seattle will be enjoying the fruits of this dreadful season with a very high draft pick. Here's my vote for drafting the next franchise quarterback.

Next loss: at Miami

Posted by director at 05:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

On Sunday the Seattle Seahawks Kiwis moved out of the basement of the worst division in the NFL and into a tie for second place (with the Rams). And a mere two games behind division leader Arizona. I can't believe I just wrote those last three words.

Seattle thumped the 49ers, who are at present the worst team in both the NFC West and the NFL, 34-13. Leonard Weaver had a huge day with two long touchdown receptions.

Seneca Wallace, who has shown poor judgement with remarkable consistency, had a decent day, throwing for 222 yards, two TDs and zero INTs. Nevertheless, Wallace is not ever going to be the successor to Hasselbeck. Seattle needs to be grooming the next #1 guy. Maybe that's Charlie Fry? He's still to shell shocked from his time in Detroit to know for sure.

Wallace is a #2 guy and will ever only be such. Hosting Philly this week should expose him again as not starter-caliber.

Next loss: Philly at Seattle.

Posted by director at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With the Seattle Seahawks season in shambles much ink has been spilled trying to figure out the problem and the solution. The players are lifeless and sloppy. Head coach Mike Holmgren, who is in his last year with the Seahawks, has tried been nice and being naughty and so far nothing is getting through to these guys. For all the talk of NFL players being professionals they are often just giant children.

The players have allowed themselves to get caught between the rock of expectations and the hard place of Holmgren's final year. They looked at this season as a gimme and now are being crushed under the weight of their misjudgement.

For the first time in his tenure in Seattle the players aren't listening to him. Hell, this is a first in his career and there's only one thing to be done.

Look for Holmgren to step down as head coach within a month. He's a bull-headed man who has never quit anything before so this will be a gut-wrenching decision. I expect, however, that he will bite the bullet and make the move to give head-coach-in-waiting Jim Mora the chance to breathe some life into the remainder of the season.

It happened in St. Louis, where the Rams have two impressive wins after dumping their head coach. San Fransisco this week made a stab at invoking the same magic. It leaves only the team with the worst record in the division to play catch-up.

Posted by director at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Unfortunately for the Seahawks Kiwis the team they face in this week's Sunday night matchup is not the Pittsburg Pirates but the Tampa (Bay) Bucaneers. Matt Hasselbeck is not starting again so expect the offense to muster 10 points or less. Look for Seneca Wallace to go down with an injury in the first quarter.

I've decided the nickname for the defense should be the Carlsbad Defense because they are they biggest caves in the league. If they put up a great fight they should hold Tampa under 50 points.

Prediction: Tampa 49, Seattle 6

UPDATE: The final score (20-10) while not as dire as I predicted still puts Seattle at 1-5 and in last place in the worst division in the NFL. Seneca Wallace does not make good game-time decisions. He may look good in practice but always finds ways to lose when the plays count.

The defense held an opponent under 30 points for one of the few times this season. It was funny to hear the yakkers on TV talk about the 'potent' Buc offense. Twenty points is potent? Since when? Since when against Seattle?

Mike Holmgren's final words to Jim Mora at the end of the season: "There, now if you can't do better than that you don't deserve to be head coach."

Posted by director at 04:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Forgot to mention (by means of PTSD from watching the game) that the Seahawks Kiwis lost by a thousand point to the Packers last Sunday.

Next loss: at Tampa by the Bay.

Posted by director at 10:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With yesterday's drubbing at the hands of the NY Giants the reality of the the 2008 season is clear. These guys are awful.

Perhaps a coincidence (you believe in those, right?) but since allowing a defensive player to have a radio reciever in his helmut, like the quarterback does, the Seahawks defense has deteriorated significantly. Perhaps John Marshall is concerned that Jim Mora will ask him to stick around next year so he's working to ensure his retirement by making ever worse defensive calls?

Since Lofa Tatupu set a goal for the defense to shutout 5 opponents this year (why have the links to that story vanished?) it has been made clear that he was misquoted. Evidently he meant that the offense would be shut out five games in 2008.

The defense has no confidence in the offense. More than that, what we are seeing is that once again, key defensive players do not trust certain other defensive players to be in the right place. This leads to players being out of position all over the field.

Bottom line is that this is the kind of football the Seahawks will deliver for the remainder of this season.

Posted by director at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

After Sunday's 37-13 steamrolling of the toothless Rams, the Seahawks are looking for a nickname for the suddenly potent running game.

Let me suggest the Kiwis, as in the flighless birds from New Zealand.

While the potential returns of Branch and Engram (after the bye week) might lift these birds off the ground their ability to soar will for several weeks resemble the hippity-hop of kiwis more than any flavor of hawks.

Posted by director at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With the 33-30 overtime loss to the San Fransisco 49ers yesterday, Seattle has put in a solid bid for the worst team in the NFC West. St. Louis will make a match of it, however, so the fight for bottom slot will be intense.

Thankfully, Seattle has John Marshall, the Prevent Defensive Coordinator. Marshall's defensive calls and plans result in blown leads so often it is a wonder he is still employed. Count on that changing in January when Jim Mora takes over.

For the first time in six years Seattle will enjoy a high first round draft pick. Winning divisions and going to the Super Bowl have consistently pushed Seattle down the draft order.

Next Loss: St. Louis Rams at Seattle.

Posted by director at 02:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With the 33-30 overtime loss to the San Fransisco 49ers yesterday, Seattle has put in a solid bid for the worst team in the NFC West. St. Louis will make a match of it, however, so the fight for bottom slot will be intense.

Thankfully, Seattle has John Marshall, the Prevent Defensive Coordinator. Marshall's defensive calls and plans result in blown leads so often it is a wonder he is still employed. Count on that changing in January when Jim Mora takes over.

For the first time in six years Seattle will enjoy a high first round draft pick. Winning divisions and going to the Super Bowl have consistently pushed Seattle down the draft order.

Next Loss: St. Louis Rams at Seattle.

Posted by director at 02:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Seattle travelled to Buffalo for the 2008 season opener and played like it was still the pre-season, losing 34-10.

Seahawk's put the "special" in special teams by giving away big play after big play, including a fake field goal and a punt return for a TD, not to mention several muffed punts.

The very offensive offense will be scouring the waiver wire for a receiver interested in actually catching passes. The collection of young guns turned gun-shy in Buffalo, dropping and/or fumbling the ball all day. At one point early in the second half Hasslebeck drove tot he Bill's 20 yard line before racking up 23 yards in penalties, pushing themselves out of field goal range.

The defensive unit was just worn down from being on the field all day.

I would not want to be at the next Seahawk team meeting, except as an observer. Nobody is going to be immune to Mt. Holmgren's eruptions this week.

Posted by director at 03:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I leave the Men's Gynastics competition with the exact same medal count as the Russian Men's team: Gold: 0, Silver: 0, Bronze: 0.

Not only that but I reached my medal tally with considerably less cost and effort.

Posted by director at 12:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Listen, my speculation about Belicheck was not a prediction. No, really. It would only be considered a prediction if it came true.

That won't happen, since Jim Mora, Jr. was named the next head coach of the Seahawks. I bet there will more sucking up to a position coach than has ever been seen on a team, as other coaches try to impress Mora enough to be offered jobs next year.

I like what Mora did with the secondary and that he's a defense-oriented guy. No doubt his first order of business will be canning John Marshall, after which the wife and I will hold a small celebration.

However, Seattle needs some serious tuning on the offensive side of the ball this offseason. A new line coach is on the way (yah!) but they also need a big, fast reciever. Branch just hasn't worked out so far but I think 2008 might be a good year for him if he can (finally) stay healthy.

Alexander needs to go and be replaced by a young stud in the draft. A talented (and smart) offensive lineman or two, a catching + blocking tight end. Not too much, then.

The front office has a lot of work to do.

Posted by director at 05:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As NFL football heads into the long, dark dead-zone of the offseason there is one scenario that could play out over the next twelve months in an interesting way. It's all speculation and the odds are outrageous but it isn't impossible. It starts with Spygate (via ProFootballTalk -- sorry they don't have links):

ESPN's Sal Paolantonio reports that, if it turns out that former Patriots employee Matt Walsh has in possession video of the Rams' final walk-through practice from Super Bowl XXXVI, New England head coach Bill Belichick will be suspended.

For a year.

Let's say there is an investigation, evidence is produced and it goes badly for New England. A year's suspension for Belichick. Let's say that the Patriots decide that Belicheck is now a big PR liability so they cut him lose.

Guess who already knows they have a coaching vacancy for 2009? Guess which team owner has unlimited funds to throw at a top-tier coach? Guess which owner has done so in the past?

If all the dominoes fall the right way Belicheck could end up the head coach of the Seahawks for 2009. It is a rediculous speculation and impossible odds but it could happen.

Posted by director at 09:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Jim Zorn, Seattle's quarterbacks coach, will be the Offensive Coordinator for the Washington Redskins next year. I'm very happy for Zorn, a long-time favorite around these parts. I just wish he'd been able to secure a promise to be the OC for Seattle next year under (presumably) Mora.

Does this mean Mora has no guarantee from Seattle to move up to head coach next year? Could be. Or it could be that Mora doesn't care for Zorn and his philosophies.

At any rate, all the best to Zorn and his professional progress. I hope the 'Skins have a brilliant offense next year, unless they meet the 'Hawks.

Posted by director at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

According to the P-I, Mike Holmgren will play out his contract in Seattle. With Jim Mora eschewing the Redskin's overtures to remain in Seattle it is even more clear that he will succeed the Big Show next year.

Look for Mora to take on a bigger role for the Seahawks this year.

Posted by director at 12:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Yesterday the Seattle Seahawks succumbed to the elements in Green Bay, losing to the Packers by a huge margin. The game served to expose the glaring weaknesses on the team.

* The tight end once again let down the team with three critical dropped passes, one for a touchdown.
* The very offensive line failed to run block. OK, duh. Nobody expected them to. The loss of Steve Hutchinson continues to rankle and infect the line.
* Wide recievers Hackett, Burleson, etc. are not playmakers. Branch might be but has been a bust so far.
* Alexander isn't the future at tail back. He is overpaid and his huge salary will drag down the franchise for one more year before he's cut.
* Defensive Coordinator John Marshall made wrong call after wrong call and his game plans on the road are the worst of all.

The result of this is that I expect Mike Holmgren to call it quits within a few days. He's had a good run but it does look like the fun is gone for him. Jim Mora, Jr. will take the reigns after a perfunctory search. I have no idea how that will turn out, however. Probably about the same.

Posted by director at 08:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Peter King, in his latest Monday Morning Quarterback article gives the Seahawks several nice mentions. Patrick Kerny gets his Defensive Player of the Week award. Then there is this:

We all -- everyone of us -- underrated the Seattle Seahawks.

Posted by director at 04:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Seattle beat Washington at home, 35-14, in a game that should not have been that close. Once again John Marshall's defensive plan took a nap late in the game, allowing the 'Skins to come alive. Thankfully, this time he woke up soon enough to put the clamps down to finish the game strong. I have no idea why he gets into these moods of mercy that allow the opponents new life when they should be finished but it is probably far too late in his career to learn to stop that.

In the mean time, Washington Times writer Dan Daily had this to say:

[U]ltimately, the better team won, the Seattle team that has been to the playoffs five straight seasons, went to the Super Bowl two years ago and had the screaming support of a stadium-record 68,297 fans. The Seahawks are what the Redskins want to be — perennial contenders. After four seasons of building under Joe Gibbs, though, the Snydermen aren't quite there yet.

....

And so a one-sided game became a close game — and then went back to being a one-sided game. The Redskins would do well to remember that during the offseason when they're making plans for the future. They came a long way late in the year and deserve every bit of praise they've gotten, but all it earned them was a 21-point shellacking by the Seahawks in the first round of the playoffs. Wasn't that how they ended the season two years ago, losing to a superior Seattle team on the road and struggling offensively for much of the day?

Posted by director at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With a pathetic and predictable final loss in Atlanta Sunday, the Seahawks put an end to yet another weak finish. The game featured mostly replacements in the second half from the visiting team who made plenty of mistakes. The urge to protect starting players is completely understandable but at the same time I do not see how losing to a bad team provides good preparation for the upcoming wild card game.

That's why I don't get the big bucks from Paul Allen.

Posted by director at 08:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Later today the Seahawks will attempt to avoid a repeat of last year's seaon-ending losing streak. The stage was set for the encore performance by the stupidly weak outing against the Panthers.

The Ravens come to town for a game that has massive implications for both teams. Just kidding. The only reason to care about this game is that the Seahawks need to stop this mentality where they quit on games before taking the field. It's like they expect the other team to make it easy for them. A nice long losing streak is not the ideal preparation for the post-season.

Mike Holmgren hates losing for any reason much less to inferior teams because his guys take naps during plays. In order to come away with a win today the Seahawks need to make a serious attempt to play well, almost as if they were tuning up for better teams in the playoffs. Everybody else understands this so let's hope the players get it this time.

Posted by director at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

After realizing they probably had as good of playoff positioning as they were likely to get, the Seahawks went out and played like nothing mattered against the dreadful Panthers, losing by a few points (I don't even want to read the sports page to get the final score). The Line That Offends gave up four sacks, including the game-clinching sack/fumble that lead to Carolina's winning TD. By the fourth quarter I was fast-forwarding through most of the "action".

The Seattle defense made the Panther's rookie, first-time starting quarterback (whatever his name is) look like a star. Not sure what John Marshall's game plan was for the defense but "Run Away!" could fairly easily sum it up.

If Seattle was intending to concede this game (and the next two) they might as well sit the starters.

On the plus side, this was the first game I watched on the new HD Tivo and it must be noted that the difference between Tivo and the Comcast HD DVR is astonishing. The picture is better, the remote response is better, the fast-forward stops where you want it to and the UI is better.

Posted by director at 08:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The video coverage of the Men's Half-Pipe was horrendous. The exposure and the pixelation was so bad it looked like ABC was using webcams instead of their expensive ENG cameras. I don't know who set up the cameras but they clearly didn't account for the extreme variations of bright and dark.

It was by far the worst camera work I've seen on network television. The good news is that it was sorted out in time for the Women's Half-Pipe the next day.

Posted by director at 09:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Initial betting line has Seattle 5-1 favorites to repeat as NFC Champions next season. I have no idea who might be the AFC representative but, as long as it isn't Miami, I feel sorry for that team.

First of all, if Holmgren & Co. do what it takes for a return ticket they will be formidable. Already the offense is a thing of beauty, when the players do their part. Some interesting upgrades could make it nearly unstoppable. The defense matured to an unexpected level and could make the leap to brutal.

Second, Seattle will be the sentimental favorite of NFL fans around the country who will be seeking redress for the injustices of Super Bowl XL. Fan sites across the nation expressed disgust and anger at the officating and will want their pound of flesh -- as long as it doesn't cost their own team, of course. Instead of black & gold in the stands it may well be a sea of blue in support of the 'Hawks.

Hopefully, though, the game won't be one big make-up call for Seattle. Nobody wants to see that, since it would be just as bad as XL. Just be objective, officials. Look up the word, if it has become unfamiliar to you. Here is a magnifying glass to help you see.

Posted by director at 10:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I was going to write an update to the item below suggesting that if the NFL wished to get back in the good graces of its fans it should fire the head of officiating and the entire Super Bowl crew. Just kick them all to the curb and promise such a performance will never happen again.

Then we get this:

Aiello said Monday the league is satisfied with the performance of its officials during the postseason.

"It was a very well-officiated playoffs, including the Super Bowl," he said.

Either Aiello really believes this or the NFL does, in fact, have another agenda besides overseeing the league.

Via Sports Column. Check out their other posts on the officiating fiasco, including a rundown of fan sites for other teams who are equally (well, maybe not equally) outraged.

Posted by director at 09:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Paul Tagliaboooo, for some inexplicable reason, has decided the NFL isn't good enough to draw fans based on the quality of the product on the field. Somebody convinced him the NFL should become the NBA.

You remember the NBA? They run that sport you used to watch? The league that wants the star players and star teams to be bigger than the league itself? Right, those guys. That's what the NFL has decided to emulate.

No more objectivity in officiating. No more letting the best team win. The NFL has decided to inject itself into the outcome of games and to favor the teams it wants to win. Its good for the league! Nobody wants Arizona or Houston to win the big games, for crying out loud. Well, except for people in Arizona or Houston, and they don't live in New York, do they? There you go.

The NFL figured out that having a lesser-known team from a smaller market win the big games was bad for business so they can no longer let that happen. Never mind they will kill their own business and drive away life-long fans. They will become arena ball, since that's all the seats they will need to hold the gangsters who will become the new customers.

Brilliant strategy, Napolean!

Posted by director at 07:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Thanks to Pro Football Talk.

Posted by director at 09:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When I went to sleep Sunday I fully expected to read nothing about the Super Bowl officiating. I thought I was just a frustrated fan and the sports pages would be full of praise for the Steelers and nothing about how they got the trophy.

Was I ever wrong.

Football Outsiders declare Worst... Super Bowl officiating ... ever.

Kevin Hench, an unabashed Steelers fan writes, "This is the space where I get to say, I told ya so. But I won't. I can't.".

Michael Smith of ESPN writes,"Here's what referee Bill Leavy's crew did, point blank: It robbed Seattle. "

This Slate article includes, "Seattle's role as afterthought to the pre-ordained Pittsburgh coronation was confirmed when ABC didn't even bother with the traditional losing-coach interview."

Pro Football Talk says, "The NFL, as we see it, has a problem. A big one. A bigger one, in the bigger picture, than the looming CBA crisis." It also has a great photoshop image that sums up the opinions of most of their readers. Sorry, no permalinks, so just scroll down.

Skip Bayless apologizes to Seattle fans, "And after spending a week in Detroit, I thought the city had cleaned up most of its crime."

Don't think this is just a nation-press issue either. Articles from the Kansas City Star, the Miami Herald, the Chicago Sports Review,
the LA Daily News, and the New York Times all weigh in.

Some fan sites from other teams express their outrage as well. Thanks to the Bills and Pats fans for their good words.

You may get a kick from the irony in this article about NFL officials prior to the game.

And that's just a quick list. More thoughts later.

Posted by director at 09:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Pittsburg players and fans should be embarrassed by the "win" handed to them by the officials.

UPDATE: Just for the record, apparently some reporters saw the same game Seattle did:

Seattle should have been ahead by a couple of touchdowns, yet found themselves down 7-3 at halftime because the referees blew a call. Roethlisberger's third-down dive into the end zone simply was not a touchdown, though it was called that on the field. Because less than two minutes remained, the call was reviewed in the booth. It was clearly and conclusively not a touchdown. Big Ben didn't get the ball across the goal line. Yet, the call stood.

Another penalty assessed on the Seahawks early in the fourth quarter, which negated a gain that took the Seahawks to the 1, also never happened. A penalty against Hasselbeck for blocking below the waist when, in fact, he was trying to tackle the interceptor, was erroneous. It would be irresponsible to say the officials were intentionally cheating Seattle. But the bad calls hurt Seattle's chances, no doubt.

Also heard Tony Snow complaining about the poor officiating on his syndicated radio show. No, the officiating wasn't bad on his show, he was, oh never mind.

I'm not one to spout conspiracy theories and I have stated often that NFL officials are the best in sports but now I have to rethink that position. Could the NFL have made their wishes known to the refs? Could there be a non-sublte belief on the part of some officials that "those guys" don't deserve to win?

It will be interesting to hear if the NFL makes any statements at all concerning the poor officiating.

Posted by director at 07:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Mike Holmgren professes that it takes three years to make a quarterback in the West Coast offense, and it takes five years for a West Coast quarterback to become a very good one."

"Even though the Seahawks haven't used their hammer on the field most of this season, they've used The Hammer in building toward a run at Super Bowl XL."

"Holmgren is no neophyte in preparing a team for the rigors of the Super Bowl week."

"Around Seattle, the symbol of the Seattle Seahawks' "12th Man" is like winter rain. It's everywhere. Every day. Over downtown office towers. Across the sides of buildings."

"This week we’ll look at the players who prevent Tatupu from having to be blocked by offensive linemen. Seattle has quietly assembled one of the league’s best defensive tackle rotations, and in the Seahawks’ 34-14 NFC Championship victory over the Carolina Panthers, all four tackles turned in excellent games."

"The Seahawks were fortunate to arrive in Detroit one day ahead of the Steelers. It gave them an extra few hours to get used to seeing so much black and gold in the Super Bowl city."

Photo Gallery of the season

"There are two backs with 13 years of NFL service making Super Bowl debuts this weekend. One of them is Pittsburgh's Jerome Bettis -- plan to read volumes about the guy in the days ahead. The other you probably don't know and wouldn't recognize without a name tag."

"The Seattle Seahawks are in the Super Bowl not because Shaun Alexander got better this season, but because their defense did. It not only led the league in sacks; it led the league in turnover, too, and notice the noun is singular."

"Nobody is in a better position today than Seattle running back Shaun Alexander. He was the league MVP. He set an NFL record for touchdowns. And he helped propel Seattle to its first-ever Super Bowl. It doesn't get much better than that, but it will for Alexander, because now comes his reward for a year's hard work. Shaun Alexander has been waiting for his payday. Now comes the next paycheck."

"It's going to be business as usual for the Seattle Seahawks this week. "We're going to try to stay as close to our practice schedule at home as possible," said Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren on Sunday, a few hours after the team arrived in the Detroit area to begin preparation for Super Bowl XL."

"Even before Super Bowl X-tra L-arge kicks off, the Seattle Seahawks coaching staff can be proclaimed, the Lords of the Rings."

"In the darkened meeting room, Mike Holmgren was doing what has always come naturally to him. He was teaching class. "

Posted by director at 07:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

They didn't seem to care so much in 1993 when the Seahawks were 2-14.

Talk about a grab for the spotlight. Do they really want to take on Paul Allen on this? That seems a foolish quest.

P.S. I don't think A&M can get a trademark on the number 12.

P.P.S. The Seahawks retired the 12 jersey back in the 80's, long before A&M got their trademark and they have not tried enforcing it against Seattle in fifteen years. They are going to have a tough time winning this one. I know they expect the team to back down but they have underestimated the organization and the city on this count.

P.P.P.S. Mr. Gill, the 12th man of legend, couldn't have been the 12th man at all. As the story is told, he was called out of the stands when "reservers wore thin" meaning they had lots more than 11 players on the sidelines. Calling him the 47th Man just didn't have a ring to it. So the basis of the entire legend is faulty to begin with.

Posted by director at 11:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Walter is getting as much or more coverage of late than the stars on the team. Here is what one player on the Giants had to say about him.

I don't know what's more demoralizing -- being the guy getting ready to go up against Walter Jones, or being a tackle watching him on film and knowing you'll never be that good.

Posted by director at 07:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I would also like to send out a huge congratulations to Robin Houlbjerg on the staff of the SeaGals for her part in the Seahawks Super Bowl run. I've known Robin since junior high school and am very excited for the opportunity she has to travel to Detroit next week.

P.S. No, I haven't asked for a single ticket or any other favors, especially regarding the SeaGals as the Spousal Unit is half Italian and I value my life.

Posted by director at 08:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Anybody can go to the Seattle P-U or The Slimes sports pages to get the local view of the Boys in Blue, or as ElegantDistractions likes to call them, the Maul Rats.

On the other hand, it's not espcially easy to find articles on the Seahawks in the national press, in spite of that Super Bowl thingie you may have heard about. Nevertheless, I've tracked down some good pieces.

Let's start with a pretty good article on Holmgren.

USA Today has provided the most coverage so far, more than even the NFL itself, with writings on Jerramy Stevens, Big Walt, and Matt Hasselbeck. They also have two write-ups on the defense here and here.

The numbers geeks at Football Outsiders gave Lofa a nice review prior to the Panthers game.

Somebody even wrote about the owner and his contributions to the team, besides the fat wallet.

Dr. Cheeks explains the silliness around the fight for the underdog position. Best line:

You also have to think that other NFL teams' marketing departments curse when they see the flag raised in Seattle before every game -- "#@$%, why didn't we think of that?!"

Team updates can be found on an irregular basis at Fox Sports.

TMQ provides a nice review of the Panthers game in his unique style, saying "Finally someone had a game plan for Steve Smith!"

Finally, here is a video trying to explain why the Seahawks are the underdogs in the Big Fight.

Posted by director at 06:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This just in:

His Panthers have been plagued by injuries the last two seasons, but they've still been a very dangerous team. Carolina has a talented young nucleus with stars like Julius Peppers, Steve Smith and Jake Delhomme. And no coach in the NFL is going to out-gameplan Fox. (emphasis added)

Well, not again at least.

Posted by director at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Had to double-check this morning to make sure it really happened yesterday.

My predicted final score, which I bravely forgot to post, was 35-19 in favor of Seattle. I'm sure I have a brain recording somewhere to prove it, but there would be far too much other stuff to sort through to find it.

Pittsburg will be a different set of problems. I don't know if the Seahawks can win it and so I will try to just be happy they are in the Big Game.

UPDATE: At least I'm not the only one.

Posted by director at 08:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Yes, I'm thrilled by the Seahawks win but I'm also very happy with the result of the AFC game today. Can we please stop hearing about New England now? Please?

Posted by director at 10:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

NY Times reports (registration required):

KIRKLAND, Wash., Nov. 28 (AP) - In a rare admission of error by the National Football League, the Seattle Seahawks received word on Monday that the referee Larry Nemmers had erred Sunday on both of the Giants' touchdowns in Seattle's 24-21 overtime victory.

"There were mistakes that were made," said Seattle Coach Mike Holmgren, one of eight men on the league's competition committee, which oversees rules and game operations.

The N.F.L. said that touchdown catches made by Jeremy Shockey and Amani Toomer should not have been ruled completions.

On Sunday, with 1 minute 14 seconds left in the second quarter and the Seahawks leading, 7-3, Shockey caught a 7-yard pass from Eli Manning in the center of the end zone. Seattle safety Marquand Manuel lowered his right shoulder into Shockey and forced the ball to the turf, though officials signaled a touchdown.

Jim Blackwood, the replay review official, asked Nemmers, an N.F.L. game official for 21 years, to review the play to determine if Shockey had possession long enough to constitute a catch. After a few moments, Nemmers emerged from under the hooded replay monitor and declared that Shockey had possession before losing the ball. The touchdown stood and the Giants took a 10-7 lead into halftime.

With 2:03 left in regulation, Toomer leaped high and caught a pass at the back of the end zone. He got his left foot down inside the end line, then appeared to drag the toes of his right shoe into his left as it hit the turf. Game officials concluded on the field that it was a touchdown - and Nemmers concurred after reviewing Holmgren's challenge.

That touchdown, and Shockey's subsequent 2-point conversion catch, tied the score at 21-21 with 1:59 left.

UPDATE: Wasn't this the same official that gave Testaverde the "phantom touchdown" in 2002?

Posted by director at 10:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Seahawks managed to pull out a near-miraculous 13-10 win by driving the length of the field with 2 minutes left and then getting an interception with 5 seconds left on the clock. This set up a 50-year field goal attempt which they made. Their offense looked pretty miserable today in the rain. That is especially true of their running game. Seattle rushed for a total of 72 yards, with Alexander getting only 61 of those. He averaged less than 3 yards per down. Dallas obviously has a really good run defense but it makes me wonder if Shaun Alexander is really the amazing player he seems to be or if he is just the product of a really good situation. Not everyone gets to run behind Walter Jones.

-Godshatter

Posted by Godshatter at 04:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

This quote from Houston says it all: "He's one of the top running backs in the league," Robinson said. "I thought last time when I played against LaDainian Tomlinson, I thought he was the best. But not now. Alexander is a big, fast running back."

I admit to being one of those who doubted Shawn Alexander was the right running back for Seattle. Forget that. Sign him and ride him to the playoffs.

Posted by director at 08:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

After the serious mountain stages this last weekend, things look to be clear for Lance Armstrong to take an unprecedented 7th yellow jersey. Lance holds a 2:46 lead over his closest rival and should be safe in upcoming stages. Most of them are flat, or at least flat near the end which stops major competitors from getting away from him. The time to beat him was in the mountains and the biggest stages there are done. The only real danger ahead is the time trial on Saturday. Lance rides time trials at least as well as anyone in the field and so to lose 2:46 he'll have to really screw up. Barring a major disaster, he may well win yet again.

-Godshatter

Posted by Godshatter at 10:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Seattle PI report that troubled wide receiver Koren Robinson has reached the end of the road in Seattle. Robinson is likely to garner little sympathy around town and his dismissal may serve as further motivation to not-quite-as-troubled tight end Jeramy Stevens.

I expect he will find another team to take on his talent/burdens (where's Whitsitt working these days?) but unless he turns things around beyond lip-service he will be out of the league in short order.

Robinson doesn't accept blame for his problems which means when he has exhausted his last option for pro football he will blow through the money and end up sitting in a slum wondering what happened. At least, when lucid enough to wonder.

This isn't the first talented Seattle player to drink/snort his way out of the leage. Anybody remember Darrell "Pancake" Turner? No? He managed to destroy his career in a even less time than Robinson but the effect is the same.

Posted by director at 12:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Sonics magical run is over, the Seahawks are several weeks away from training camp and the Mariners are, well, let's just say they aren't taking up much of my time.

These are the days when the local sports page fails to draw much interest. Good thing, as I have several goals (not the least of which is finishing the next screenplay) and having a hot baseball team would put my resolve to the test.

Posted by director at 08:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Shawn Alexander remains a Seahawk after draft day. Not for lack of trying on the part of the team but nobody was interested in him for what the Hawks were willing to take in return.

I tend to agree with the idea of grooming a new center while Tobeck is still servicable. Still, I found the draft largely underwhelming.

Posted by director at 09:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm going to rate the possibility of the Seattle Seahawks trading Shawn Alexander on draft day as 60%. If they can find both a taker for the flamboyant runner and position themselves to pick up a top replacement in the first round, they will take the leap.

Why trade one of the most touchdown-and-yardage producing running backs in the league? It isn't because he's a prima donna -- that comes with the territory. Heck, you want players who want the spotlight. No, it is more about the plays where he isn't featured.

When you watch him run you realize that Alexander is only interested in the big gains. When holes close up he hits the turf instead of pounding for two yards. Unless, of course, the goal line is on the other side of those two yards then the glory hound can't be stopped.

See, sometimes two yards in the middle of the field are important to keep a drive alive but he is very uninterested in those kinds of yards. If he had been, the whining about missing the rushing title by one yard would have been unnecessary.

I like what Alexander has done for the team but if they can get a hard worker (who will pass protect as well) then the Seahawks should pull the trigger.

Posted by director at 04:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)