According to Tim Booth via twitter, a press release from the Issaquah PD says Leroy Hill will be booked into King County Jail for unlawful imprisonment and 3rd degree assault. No other details are known at this time.

Hill is 31 years old, and this is the 4th time he’s been arrested since joining the Seahawks. It is time for the Seahawks to move on. It’s not like Hill’s on-field performance has been great either. He’s been demoted out of the nickel defense already, and was splitting time With Malcolm Smith.

Hill is a free agent, and it is now unlikely that the Seahawks will look to re-sign him.

A year ago, and back in 2009, Hill was arrested for Marijuana possession. The 2012 chargers were eventually dropped. In 2010, just days after reaching a plea deal for his 2009 arrest, Hill was arrested on domestic violence charges. He was able to avoid legal trouble in 2010 by entering an anti-violence program.

In light of recent event, this picture seems appropriate:

Nov 6, 2011; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray (29) runs with the ball in the first quarter against Seattle Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill (56) at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Alan Branch

Jason Jones

Marcus Trufant

Deon Butler

Patrick Chukwurah

Clint Gresham

Steven Hauschka

Leroy Hill

Ryan Longwell

Chris Maragos

Clinton McDonald

Cameron Morrah

Frank Omiyale

Sep 16, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Kevin Ogletree (85) carries the ball and stiff arms Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Leroy Hill (56) during the 1st half at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

I could see the Seahawks letting every single player on that list walk. None aren’t replaceable. It wont happen though, expect many to be re-signed to come back and compete for a roster spot in camp. Remember that rosters expand from 53 back to 90 when the 2013 league year officially starts, so there’s no reason to let someone leave if they are willing to sign for the minimum.

With that in mind, I expect LeRoy Hill to be brought back even though he’s lost playing time to younger players in each of the last 2 seasons. He’s a vet presence, and provides depth in case the draft doesn’t fall in a way where finding a replacement happens easily.

The same is true Alan Branch. He’ll cost more than the minimum to bring back, but as long as the number is under $2 mil having him there means the D-line wont be any worse than it was in 2012, and he does provide depth at 3 of the line spots.

Jason Jones is an interesting name. The team was decidedly better when him on the field. The problem is that he played in just 11 of 18 games this year. While he was a difference maker, it’s tough to pay a guy what it will cost to retain him if you can’t count on him to play more than 60% of the games.

Previewing the Seahawk/ Redskins game

I’ve thought about this game all week and while I feel it’s a game we can win, I have not jumped on the bandwagon of “it’s going to be a blowout!” I think the key to looking at this game is balancing expectations with reality. I’m looking at several categories:

1. Scoring: The Seahawks are entirely capable of scoring a lot of points. But that hasn’t been their predominant performance over the season and certainly not on the road, the one exception being the Buffalo Bills. While our offense has turned in solid performances recently, expect Marshawn to be only moderately successful tomorrow based on the Redskins run defense. The bulk of our scoring will be on Mr. Wilson!
2. Talent: the Seahawks clearly have the greater depth in talent. A great example would be Brandon Browner returning at cornerback and yet if he’s rusty we don’t have to play him the entire game because we can rely on Jeremy Lane. We also have the shared linebacking skills of Leroy Hill and Malcolm Smith.
3. Taking care of the ball: both teams are excellent at this I can’t see an advantage in either direction.
4. Special teams: Leon Washington. 2nd best returner in the NFL. Advantage Hawks.
5. Making adjustments: both teams excel at halftime adjustments, again I can’t see an advantage for either team.
6. Quarterbacks: both quarterbacks are extremely talented but I’ll take Russell Wilson. He may not be as fast that he’s an excellent game manager and he doesn’t put himself at risk trying to run the ball. He also has a ton of poise in the pocket.
7. Defense: no team allows fewer points than the Seattle Seahawks. There’s that old saying that defenses win championships. My guess is that our entire defensive squad has that tattooed on their behinds.
8. Pass coverage: Advantage Hawks. Browner and Sherman, Kam and Earl… Expect the legion of boom to give RG3 fits with passing.
9. Running game: Both teams excel with Lynch and Morris running the ball…. But I’ll take Beastmode every day and twice on Sundays!

I expect this to be a very close game, while we haven’t played our best ball on the road this year, much of those games were earlier in the season. Expect this game to be the exception. I believe the Seahawks will win… but like the Rams game, not by much.

In many ways I think the Rams game was good for us. It reminds us as players and fans that at times we will struggle and that one of our best strengths is the ability to rise to the occasion. I’ll close with this message I got from Malcolm Smith after the Rams game last week:

@Asthmagirl thank you very much. It was too close for my liking but im glad we won. Now the real ball starts

Now the real ball starts… Well played Malcolm, well played!!

Go Hawks!

December 16, 2012; Toronto, ON, Canada; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) reacts on the bench during a game against the Buffalo Bills at the Rogers Centre. Seattle defeated Buffalo 50-17. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Seahawks did it again. The made sure that they at least have a solid chance at making the playoffs. All they have to do is win one of their remaining two games against San Francisco and St. Louis. And if Seattle is able to beat Saint Harbaugh and Arizona beats San Francisco in the final week with Seattle winning out , the Seahawks are the NFC West division champs. Basically the situation is in flux and very fluid at this point. Chance of playoff berth is high, with a smaller chance of division championship. Either way, Seattle would be playing in the first week. It’s just whether it’s home or away.

I know everybody not in Seattle has their panties in a twist over “douche” “idiot” Pete Carroll “running up the score” on poor little Buffalo, but I’m going to be covering that in another piece. For now, I’ll just say there were two other games, both shut-outs, on the same day that higher spreads in the score. Food for thought.

Onto some more meaningful thoughts. First, why the hell does Pete Carroll keep starting Leroy Hill over Malcolm Smith? Maybe there is a reason. I don’t know what it is, but I’d really like to hear it. With Hill on the field, I feel like the opportunity for the opponent to open up a big play is greatly increased (ex. CJ Spiller’s touchdown run). Smith is a better tackler, a headier player, and is able to back up his team mates. Hill often times looks lost and has an uncanny ability to get run over.

Russell Wilson continues to grow and lead the team. It is clear that Pete Carroll made the correct choice for quarterback. I wish he’d have opened the playbook up sooner, but nothing can be changed now. I just hope Seattle’s success continues into next season. The NFC West is getting much stronger and Arizona could resurge without much changing.

Marshawn Lynch is a stud. I wish Wilson had shared some of his rushing touchdowns with Lynch because it would have helped me in the fantasy playoffs. Now I have to hope that Shonn Green somehow scores 20 points tonight against the Titans. With Lynch able to get rest and Robert Turbin able to step in for the second half of the last two games, it means Lynch will be rested for the 49ers and hopefully the playoffs.

Steven Hauschka really stresses me out. I’ve thought the trajectory of his extra point kicks is really low for a long time and now he’s had two of them blocked in the last 23 attempts. I’m not sold on Hauschka as Seattle’s long term kicker. He doesn’t have great range and no real credibility in crunch time. If somebody becomes available in the off season I hope Pete Carroll takes a look.

The defense seemed very lackadaisical for the first half. Seattle built a quick lead but the defense had a difficult time stopping CJ Spiller and Stevie Johnson was able to make some nice catches (one of which there was nothing that could be done about). The second half was much better and made the overall game statistics for the defense look good. I just wish they’d play a whole four quarters that way. It will be needed against San Francisco. I’m worried about Colin Kaepernick’s running ability and Seattle needs to be able to shut that down early. If Seattle can stop Kaepernick and Frank Gore on the ground, San Francisco will become very one-dimensional and I think our secondary would eat Kaepernick’s arm alive.

Which brings me to Seattle’s pass-rush, or lack thereof. The defensive line was finally able to wear down Buffalo’s offensive line but there was no real pressure on Ryan Fitzpatrick until later in the game. Seattle needs to pressure the quarterback early and often. Then they’ll hopefully get more plays like Bruce Irvin’s hilarious recovery and run. He might have the best happy-face in the NFL.

My final thought is something I encountered on Twitter during the game. Seahawks fans are very proud and defensive of their team. I know I am; especially to outsiders. However, I don’t think Seattle is perfect and there is still a lot of legitimate criticism and areas for improvement to be focused on. I’ve outlined some of them above. It isn’t because I’m “not a true fan” or will never be happy. It’s because I have high expectations and I believe that Seattle can live up to them. If I was completely satisfied and had no qualms whatsoever, that would mean that I’d expect another 7-9 or 8-8 season and be happy with just missing the playoffs. Instead, I see a lot of potential in Seattle to be 50% better than they are now. They could be a team that San Francisco fears playing instead of the other way around. Seattle can certainly beat San Francisco, but I in no way feel confident about the game. I’d rather be on the other side of that equation – feeling confident, but not certain. I’d rather have the 60% in a 60-40 split.

I have no problem giving a compliment or celebrating when something is done well. But I don’t believe in focusing on the good at the expense of the improvable. If something is already done well – Seattle’s running game for instance – then I don’t think I need to talk about it as much. Just keep doing what they’re doing. I am strong believer in hanging a lantern on your problems and then working like hell to fix them. It’s not traitorous. It’s simply improving the foundation upon which the franchise is built.

Those are all my immediate gut-related thoughts for this week. Until next week, I’ll be breathing deep and removing throwable objects from my living room in preparation for this Sunday’s game.

Sept. 9, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Sidney Rice (18) is hit by an Arizona Cardinals defender in the second quarter against Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Hilderbrand-US PRESSWIRE

Seattle’s first game of 2012 was extremely hard for me to stomach.  The Seahawks were given several gifts at the end of the game in pass interference calls but still somehow failed to score a touchdown in four downs from the six yard line at the end of the game.

I have serious issues with several elements of the game.  I figure the most logical way is for me to bullet them. I’m not going to focus on the few things Seattle did well since I’m sure another writer will cover that and do it more justice than I can.

• The last sequence of plays.  Two fades!  TWO FADES??!!?! to the corner of the end zone.  Not only is this a low percentage play with the best of quarterbacks, but running it twice with a rookie quarterback who doesn’t have an absolutely solid rapport with any of his receivers is ridiculous.  Seattle gave the ball back to Arizona with 18 seconds left.  The sequence of plays that would have made the most sense to me is:
  • First and goal: Hand the ball off to Pro-Bowl running back Marshawn Lynch, possibly in a two tight-end set to provide some extra blocking.
  • Second and goal: Spike the ball, stop the clock.
  • Third and goal: Attempt a pass similar to the play to Doug Baldwin (which Baldwin has no excuse for not catching).
  • Hand the ball off to Lynch one more time.
• I have had serious questions about the play calling of Darrell Bevell in the past and he has done nothing to change that in Seattle’s first game.  We should have pounded the ball early and forced Arizona to respect the run and used that to open up down-field possibilities.  Instead, Seattle attempted way too many passes and the Cardinals predictably pressured Wilson over and over again.   Unless Seattle shows serious success on offense this season, I think it is time for Bevell to go.
• Two false start penalties for Okung. This is unacceptable.
• Non-existent pass rush in the first half.
• The refereeing was terrible in all aspects, as it was throughout the NFL.  I blame the NFL instead of the replacement refs.  The integrity of the game is suffering tremendously and the NFL has the money to pay the refs.  If nothing else, the absence of the regular refs is making the refs case for them.  Their return is needed, desperately.
• Russell Wilson has clearly come back down to earth. I don’t hold that against him, but I really hope it forces the Wilson fanatics to chill out and temper their advocacy a little bit.  Ultimately, I still trust Pete Carroll in his decision that Wilson is the best option, but Wilson did not look supremely impressive today.
• Leroy Hill missed a tackle on Stephens-Howling for Arizona’s first touchdown.  Hill should have plugged the hole in the line, but instead left his feet and flew right past Stephens-Howling allowing him to get into the end zone.  In general, I was not impressed with Hill’s play and see a severe weakness at weak-side linebacker for the Seahawks.
• Seattle’s complete and total inability to SCORE A TOUCHDOWN in the red zone.

I think that’s enough for now.  I can still see Seattle going 9-7 but if this is the product that is being produced, I don’t see the Seahawks making the playoffs.  This was a division game that was needed by Seattle.  Assuming the Seahawks sweep the Rams, (maybe) split with the Cards, and (just maybe) split with the 49ers that puts Seattle at 4-2 in the division.  I think 3-3 is more likely.  I also don’t see the current Seattle team beating the Patriots or 49ers in the first half of the season.  That puts more importance on beating the other NFC teams on the schedule (Dallas, Chicago, Minnesota, Detroit, and Carolina) in the hope of having the upper-hand in a tie-break situation and getting a wild card spot.

If the first game is any indication, this will be a stressful season for fans and more likely than not result in missing the playoffs yet again.

Nov 6, 2011; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray (29) runs with the ball in the first quarter against Seattle Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill (56) at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

The Seahawks may have a big need at Linebacker right now, but that doesn’t mean they should bring back weak side linebacker LeRoy Hill. This might not be a popular opinion, but it needs to be said and hopefully more fans will begin to realize that Hill is no longer the impact player he was in 2005.

Hill was the weakest link on a defense that needs to do better if it’s going to take the next step forward and become an elite defense. By all the advanced stats out there, Hill was one of the weakest players at his position in the NFL last season. He was only an average players against the run last season, and was dreadful on passing downs. I know I keep bring it up, but the Seahawks were 32nd in the league against backs on passing down, and it is primarily the responsibility of Hill’s weak side LB position.

The think is the Seahawks seemed to notice the problem during the season. Both Matt McCoy and David Vobora saw a fair amount of playing time at Hill’s expense before being injured and ending up on IR.

Hill’s fans seem to think that he could be brought back as depth and not to be the starter, but I don’t buy that argument. Hill has never shown any willingness to contribute on special teams, and hasn’t been effective on the occasions when he was asked to do so.

I also don’t think it’s a given that Hill would accept a backup roll. He’s the incumbent starter at a position that the Seahawks seem to  have a desperate hole to fill. Even if everyone says the right things when the microphones are on, that wont mean that Hill will believe it and accept a lesser roll. He strikes me as the type of player who ‘s effort would drop considerably in that situation.

And all of this is even before we get into the off-field problem. He’s had repeated run-ins with the law since joining the Seahawks back in 2005. Even before his arrest for drug possession after the season, I was against the Seahawks bringing back Hill just for football reasons.

Ok, that isn’t much of a ringing endorsement. I just really think it’s a good idea. Vobora is a big LB who can play all three stops and is good on special teams. He’ll also play for the vet minimum, and wont complain about playing time. He’s the type of player that each team needs to have a few of on their bench.

But the real reason why I think this should happen is because when he did get on the field last season, Voroba played well too. He was starting to really cut into Leroy Hill’s playing time on the weak side, especially on passing downs. As bad as Hill was against the pass in 2012, I wouldn’t have been surprised if Vobora had eventually surpassed Hill on the depth chart had it not been for his injuries that ended his season early.

The Seahawks need to get better at LB, and bringing back Vobora doesn’t exactly make them better, but it does provide depth that simply isn’t on the roster right now. I just don’t see any reason not to make this happen

And yet, this is where the real masters do their magic. Green Bay is notorious for sitting out the first week or 2 of free agency, and then finally getting involved in this phase of the game and manage to unearth solid players who can contribute in their system. The Seahawks have also been busy in this part of free agency over the past couple offseasons; adding guys like Alan Branch and Mike Williams.

Unfortunately, it’s impossible for those of us covering the team to to get too excited over any of these signings. Alan Branch was a backup who had a difficult time getting on the field. There’s no way I could have predicted that he would end up being one of the top run stuffing DTs in the entire league.

Still, most of the players signed this late in the free agency period never matter much in the coming season. For every Mike Williams who expectedly leads his team in receiving, there’s 15 players who don’t even make the final roster of the team that signs them. Most of the players capable of making a difference for their new team are already off the market.

Dec. 18, 2011; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Kellen Davis (87) makes a catch against Seattle Seahawks middle linebacker David Hawthorne (57) during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-US PRESSWIRE

It should be noted that both Leroy Hill and David Hawthorne remain unsigned at this point. If you read this blog regularly, that shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. Both are wildly overrated by the Seattle fanbase. Hill was particularly bad in 2011, causing the Seahawks to rank dead last against backs on passing downs. Hawthorne was better, but he was still well below average against the pass. Both also have injury conerns. and are reluctant to play on special teams.

Hawthorne has garnered some interest on the free agent market, but not all that much. I expect him to re-sign with the Seahawks soon on very team friendly contract.

From what I can gather, no team has yet to show interest in signing Hill, not even the Seahawks. While I do expect him to go to training camp with a team somewhere, I don’t expect that it will be with Seattle.

Hill, who has been perpetually injury prone throughout his career, managed to stay health and play in all 16 games for the Seahawks. He finished 4th on the team in tackles, and tied for 2nd in sacks.

Despite decent numbers, Hill’s performance was considered fairly poor throughout the season. Even before his arrest, the Seahawks were looking to upgrade the position at some point this off-season. Now, with jail time likely on Hill’s horizon, it would seem an almost certainty that Hill will not be back with the Seahawks.

After a rough season, Leroy Hill's arrest means he's likely not going to return in 2012. Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

Rookie KJ Wright was the only bright spot at LB for the Seahawks in 2011. Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

KJ Wright is the only significant linebacker on the team who is still under contract for 2012. Wright was a pleasant surprise this past season, when he managed to beat out Aaron Curry for the starting job on the strong side. Wright played well over the rest of the season, and will definitely be starting in 2012. He can also play the middle linebacker position, and could be moved to that spot for next season.

David Hawthorne is a fan favorite, and one of the better run stopping linebackers in the league, though he’s not particularly good at pass defense. He’s more suited for the weak side linebacker spot, as he’s undersized for the middle linebacker role he been playing for the past couple years. Hawthorne is considered a high priority free agent for the Seahawks.

Leroy Hill was the third starter, and played on the weak side. As the one of the last remaining players from the 2005 superbowl team, Hill is popular among the fans. The problem is that his on field production down’t match his popularity. He’s spent much of his career sidelined with injuries, and has been mostly ineffective when he has been on the field. In 2011, the Seahawks ranked last in the league against running backs on passing plays. Covering those backs is mostly the job of the weak side linebacker. It’s no wonder why backups like David Voroba and Matt McCoy was eating into Hill’s  playing time. Hill is a free agent, and I’ll be surprised if he returned to the Seahawks.

David Voroba and Matt McCoy were both important backups at the start of the year, and both were lost to injuries before mid-season. I expect both back next season, even though Voroba is a free agent and will have to be re-signed. He’s a perfect fit for Carroll’s scheme, and will be a big asset as a backup and special teams player.

Heath Farwell is another free agent, and another player who saw the field plenty in 2011. With all the other injuries to the linebackers, Farwell became the primary backup for whenever one of the starters needed a break. I doubt Farwell will be back in 2012, but the Seahawks should still consider re-signing him.

Mike Morgan, Adian Moten, Malcolm Smith are a trio of rookies who the Seahawks brought in as injury replacements. All three found roles on the special teams unit, but none of them earned a chance

Allen Bradford spent most the season on Seattle’s practice squad. Bradford was a RB in college for Pete Carroll at USC, but converted to linebacker once he signed on to the Seahawk’s practice squad. He’s still learning the job, but he’s a great athlete and my gut tells me he’s on the 53 man roster next season.

Jameson Konz is a weird case. He’s a good athlete, but he’s also a man without position. The Seahawks have listed him as a FB, TE, H-Back, DE and LB. He’s spent his entire career on the practice squad with the exception of 1 game in which he got hurt and ended up on IR.

Prediction: David Hawthorne will re-sign and be moved to the weak side to accommodate a first or 2nd round draft pick who was selected to play in the middle. Voroba and McCoy will also both return, as will Bradford. Konz, Morgan, Moten, and Smith will battle it out for the final roster spot with an undrafted player who makes some noise in camp.

Will Seattle find an upgrade at QB? Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

1) Quarterback – Tarvaris Jackson played better than we thought he would, but he was a below average player at the game’s most important position.While the Seahawks may still go into 2012 with Jackson at QB, there’s no doubt that this team cannot reach it’s potential until they find an upgrade at QB.

2) Weak Side Linebacker - Leroy Hill is a popular player among fans, but he was awful in 2011. The Seahawks ranked dead last against running backs on passing plays in 2011, and much of that is the fault of Hill. While he is decent against the run, there were few LBs worse against the pass that Hill in 2011.

3) Split End – This is the wide receiver position manning in 2011 by big Mike Williams. Williams struggled all season. He finished the year with just receptions 18 for 236 yards and 1 TD. For a guy who started 15 games, those numbers are completely unacceptable. If the Seahawks are going to take the next step forward on offense, they must get more production out of whoever is playing opposite of Sydney Rice.

4) Right Tackle -  This one is tough to put on this list, because I think that James Carpenter has a bright future, but if the Seahawks are going to win in 2012 they need to upgrade this position. Carpenter will be out for the entire offseason and likely most of training camp (and possibly the first 6-8 weeks as well if they place him on the PUP list) so the Seahawks need someone at RT no matter what. While Giacomini played decently, his presence in the starting lineup meant that TE Zach Miller was used to help block way too often. An upgrade at RT would mean another target for the passing game on most passing plays.

5) Pass Rush Specialist – The Seahawk defense is built around stopping the run first. Both Alan Branch and Red Bryant are beasts against the run. The problem is that neither is all that useful against the pass. Since the Seahawks use specialists (last season is was Anthony Hargrove and Raheem Brock) to replace those two in passing situations, new starters aren’t needed. Just the specialists need upgraded, but serious upgrades must be made.

Leroy Hill is a wildly overrated player. The Seahawks ranked dead last in the league against running backs in the passing game. Covering the RB is the responsibility of the weak side (WILL) linebacker that Hill plays. Hill also missed a number a tackles, and struggled at times against the run. Until their injuries landed them on IR, backups David Voroba and Matt McCoy both saw time at Hill’s WILL LB position. Hill is a FA and I don’t expect him back as a starter next season.

David Hawthorne is a very popular player, and a one of the best MLBs against the run in the NFC. He’s also undersized and gets banged up quite a bit. Like Hill, Hawthorne also struggles in pass coverage, but not nearly to same degree as  Hill does. Hawthorne made his original impact on the Seahawks at the WILL LB spot, and seems better suited for that roll than MLB.

KJ Wright was a very solid strong side (SAM) linebacker. He made a few rookie mistakes, but overall he’s clearly a piece of the puzzle on the Seahawks. The only problem I see is that he’s playing out of position. He appears to be a middle (MIKE) linebacker, and Pete Carroll has said he like’s Wright’s ability to play both positions.  (more…)

This was one of those games where 1 play could have changed the outcome. The blown 3rd and goal play when the refs didn’t call the false start where Tarvaris Jackson get pushed out of bounds at the 1 comes to mind, as does the missed sack by Leroy Hill that set up a convertible 4th and 2 instead of  4th and 7 is another example. There’s also at least 5-6 horrible and obvious holding calls that were never called that should have help stall 49er drives. Any of those play could have changed this game, but the Seahawks just couldn’t get 1-2 of them to fall their way.

Sometimes football is like that. The 49ers won, but they are not clearly the better the team. These are 2 very even teams. Don’t let their records confuse you.

On to my game notes:

• The Seahawks loss officially eliminates them from the playoffs. It’s weird to think that there’s another game next week.
• Marshawn Lynch had another monster game, but most of it was in the first half. He finished with 21 carries for 107 yards and a TD.  (more…)

Gallery was actually injured in the 2nd quarter, suffering what Pete Carroll referred to as a “hip stringer.” He played thought the until the Seahawks final position, when he was pulled because the coaches believed there was no further reason for him to risk additional injury. At that time, Jariel King came in and played LT, and Paul McQuistan moved inside to LG.

LeRoy Hill injured his knee on game team’s final defensive play, and required help to leave the field. Reports after the game were that he was walking around on it fine, but that it was sore.

Both players are expected to play Sunday in Chicago against the Bears.

In other roster news, the Seahawks activated WR Ricardo Lockette from the practice squad, and placed CB Ron Packer on injured reserve. Parker was a special teams player, and Lockette will likely only play on special teams as well. Lockette is one of the fastest players in the NFL. He was a track star in college, winning the national 200-meters.

The Seahawks have now won 4 of their last 5 games. That 2-6 record is a distant memory, and the Seahawks can get back to .500 with a win over the Bears next week. And with that, lets jump right into my game notes:

• Marshawn Lynch had another monster game (no, I’m not getting tired of writing that.) 23 carries for 115 yards and a TD. He’s now gone over 100 in 5 straight games, and has a TD in 9 straight games. The Seahawks need to re-sign him, and soon.
• Doug Baldwin had one of the best quarters you’ll see on special teams to start the game. He had a 37 kick return, he caught a punt at the 5 to pin the Rams back deep, and then he blocked a punt that was recovered for a touchdown.
• Speaking of Baldwin, he had an outstanding game at receiver too. 7 catches for 93 yards and a TD.  (more…)