What it does share with football, and any other team one might support in any city, is what it means to the common fan. People like the ones that write at sites like this for no reason other than their love of their team and the sport in general. A team provides a shared history and culture among all residents. A bond that makes no real sense when analyzed too deeply, but is felt by all of us anyway.

Five years ago, Seattle got robbed. Through a perfect storm of economic downturn, poor political representation and being sold down the river by scumbags like Howard Schultz, Seattle lost its oldest franchise. The only franchise in the city that possessed a national championship. Today, Seattle learned that despite doing nearly everything right, it would not get a team to replace the one that was stolen.

Unfortunately, the process required taking a team from another city that probably didn’t deserve to lose theirs. Nobody liked it, but that is the playbook the NBA has established. It turned out, however, that the rules had changed since Seattle lost the Sonics. Now priority was placed on teams with 28 years of incumbency, never mind that the Sonics had 41 in Seattle. No matter how much money was placed under the NBA’s nose, they simply didn’t care.

If only Seattle got the same advantages that Sacramento did when Schultz got his panties in a bunch and threw a hissy fit that he should be humiliated by until the day he dies. When Schultz decided he was unhappy he sold the team without any notice to Clay Bennett and a cartel of carpet-baggers from Oklahoma City with the help of one, douchebag David Stern. To this day, I refuse to go to Starbucks or watch an NBA game.

I honestly feel sucker punched and my stomach is in knots after Stern’s half-assed press conference this afternoon. I am utterly and thoroughly depressed and am discovering that no amount of booze is making me feel better.  I want nothing more than to introduce David Stern to a dark basement and a baseball bat.

I’m also hoping that having another team and sport I love, the Seahawks, that I might find catharsis in some way. At least maybe writing about this might give me some relief. (It hasn’t so far.) It also makes me realize how much sports matter and the civic value they provide a city and a group of people. Seattle currently has the Sounders, Seahawks, and the perpetually crappy Mariners. Seattleites are fans of some, all, or none of these teams. Nonetheless, these teams provide a way for people to support a common cause for certain parts of the year.

Seeing games live has continued to become more and more a rich person’s event. From ticket prices to concessions, it is harder for the “regular Joe” to take his kid, wife, or whoever to games the way my dad took me to Sonics games when I was young. That’s why it was amazing that Chris Hansen and Steve Balmer were willing to privately finance (through bonds) the building of a new basketball arena. Unfortunately, the NBA prefers to strong-arm and rob cities through tax financing of new arenas. Otherwise the teams will be stolen away, a la the Sonics.

Seattle is lucky to have a great owner of the Seahawks in Paul Allen. Portland is lucky to have him as owner of the Trailblazers. He values the civic nature of owning a sports franchise. To borrow a phrase from the human being that is worth less than maggots crawling in the dog crap in my front yard, a “public trust.” I feel reassured knowing that Allen is such an owner. It also makes me feel worse about what happened with the Sonics and the ever diminishing hope of their return.

Through today’s misery, I realize the importance of teams in a city. It doesn’t matter if you have one or four or even more. They all represent something unique and special. Losing one does create a hole that can’t just be filled in with one of the other franchises. And being kicked around a league or other fans makes it even worse.

A sports team can make some of the lousier periods of one’s life a little bit better. You can get together with some friends and watch a game. If the team is successful you can share that success at least vicariously and take some pride in the fact that that team is representing you and your city. It is a way to socialize and network with other fans. Sure the players are ultimately doing it for the money and glory, but as the Seahawks players realize, the 12^th Man is part of it. Their success wouldn’t be as enjoyable without the fans behind them.

I realize this is a rambling post full of non sequiturs, most of which aren’t even football related but I appreciate your indulgence. I was hoping writing this would bring me some peace of mind, but it hasn’t. I still hate David Stern with all my soul. Same with Howard Schultz and Clay Bennett. I wish them misery and failure. There is a hole in my fan experience with the Sonics gone. Luckily the Seahawks’ success makes it a little better, but even they can’t fill it completely.

Today was a sad day for Seattle sports. Through the continued void of the Sonics, I have realized my passion for the Seahawks. The football season can’t start soon enough. And in the meantime, I sure wouldn’t mind if David Stern’s charter jet flew into the side of a mountain, wiping his existence from the planet.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I think there might be some solace to be found at the bottom of this next bottle.

January 19, 2013; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; West running back Christine Michael of Texas A&M

The Seahawks have finally made their first pick in the 2013 draft. It just took until the final pick of the second round to get here. With that pick, Seattle took Christine (pronounced Chris-TIN) Michael, a running back from Texas A&M. Chances are you’re wondering who the hell that is. Allow me to enlighten you.

According to NFL.com, Michael’s strengths include a “low center of gravity” but with a “thickness throughout his frame to take and give out punishment.” He has more speed than one would think when he is able to break open as well. Overall, Michael is a bruiser that will be a nice compliment to Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin. Both Lynch and Turbin are hard to bring down, and Lynch will occasionally level a tackler, but Michael has the ability to straight damage some defenders. Michael is also a good blocker that is able to lead the ball into the second level.

According to CBS Sports, Michael started 2012 rated by some as the “top senior running back in the country.” Attitude issues, however, took him out of the starting role, and the spotlight, which is probably a big reason he was relatively unknown and is yet another “what the what” pick by Pete Carroll and John Schneider.

Michael has had injury issues and missed the ends of both his sophomore and junior year. He broke his right leg in 2010 and the following season he tore his ACL. However, in 13 games he ran for 1,530 yards and 12 touchdowns. If he can check his attitude issues at the door and stay healthy, Michael should have an opportunity to contribute greatly in Seattle.

If Seattle starts utilizing a running back by committee approach it could be a very different dynamic on offense and make them harder to prepare for and defend. Diversity is a killer.

Another thing that I just thought of is whether or not Seattle might consider lining up Michael at full back and getting all three backs (Lynch, Turbin, and Michael) on the field at the same time. This could also give Seattle more flexibility when it comes to dealing with Michael Robinson’s contract.

This pick could also have fantasy implications as it might limit carries by Lynch.

No matter what, I think we should all get #inpcjswetrust trending because I expect a lot more unexpected picks out of Seattle for the rest of the draft.

The rankings have been updated as of yesterday so they account for all of the free agency acquisitions and releases that have taken place up to now. You will also see more daylight between teams’ highest and lowest rankings since there aren’t actually any games to help guide us.

The teams that have the biggest differences between their highest and lowest rank are:

• Rams (16) – David 9th, Micah 25th
• Vikings (13) – David 8th, Hanley 21st
• Steelers (12) – Nick 9th, Micah 21st
• Chiefs (12) – David 20th, Nick 32nd
• Falcons (11) – Diane 2nd, David 13th
• Colts (11) – Diane 8th, David 19th
• Giants (10) – Micah 8th, David 18th
• Buccaneers (10) – Hanley 12th, David 22nd
• Cardinals (10) – Hanley 19th, David 29th

As can be expected of a division that includes both San Francisco and Seattle, the NFC West had the highest average ranking in the NFL with 11.5. The NFC North is next with an average ranking of 12.75. The worst division in the NFL is, not surprisingly, the AFC West with an average ranking of 21. The highest ranked team in the AFC West is Denver (3rd overall), with the other three teams 24th or lower.

Obviously, these rankings are very preliminary and will change once the draft happens. Draft day is overall a bad predictor of how good a team will be the next season. There aren’t many teams that are a top five pick away from a Super Bowl or even division dominance. Draft picks are more of an investment in a player’s future potential that, if successful, will explode in a player’s second or third season. Teams like Seattle and San Francisco cut some dead weight, and reloaded for the following season without the need to change much. Other teams like Jacksonville, Kansas City, Oakland, and the New York Jets have further to go.

Until the next rankings are published in August, enjoy these for what their worth – conversation fodder. And if draft day is your gig, enjoy that as well. The first pick that matters to me is the 24th pick of the second round.

Dec 30 2012; Denver, CO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Brady Quinn (9) checks off in the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field. The Broncos defeated the Chiefs 38-3. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

When I heard that Seattle signed Quinn instead of Seneca Wallace or Matt Leinart, I was confused. I thought that Quinn was the least likely to be chosen.  Quinn lacks the raw foot speed of Russell Wilson. However, he does have good footwork in the pocket and is able to shuffle his feet well enough to create room.  Don’t expect Quinn to be running the ball out of the zone read option anytime soon, though.

I was comfortable with Wallace as Matt Hasselbeck’s backup. He is not great by any measure, but he has a strong arm and can make plays with his legs. He is also someone who can take care of the ball and limit mistakes.

Following the Quinn signing I had to find out more about his abilities. What did Pete Carroll see in him above Wallace, Leinart, and Thigpen? Carroll likes players who bring a unique skill set to the team. What is  Brady Quinn’s? He had flamed out in Cleveland, Denver, and Kansas City. All three teams basically said, “thanks, but no thanks.”

After doing some reading, I learned that Quinn is, in fact, very unique, at least to Carroll. In Matt Flynn, Seattle had one of the best backups in the NFL as well as a good starter. Seattle hopes Quinn will be able to share his experience with Russell, and Russell with Quinn to create a strong quarterback room.

During my research I found an interview with Quinn’s former quarterback Coach in Kansas City, Jim Zorn. In it Zorn praised Quinn for his football IQ, work ethic, and attitude. He spoke highly of Quinn’s ability to make calls at the line of scrimmage and predict what the defense is trying to do, and put the offense in a position to be successful. This carries some weight since Zorn himself was a quarterback and has coached the likes of Trent Dilfer, Matt Hasselbeck, and Joe Flacco.

While Zorn’s opinion is valuable, the fact that Quinn has not translated his skill set onto the field for an extended period of time is troubling. He has shown flashes of being a solid NFL quarterback but has yet to prove he can play consistently at a high level.

Having a solid offensive foundation in place, including an above average receiving corps, may help Quinn out. I do believe having a quarterback who is willing to talk things out with Russell Wilson will benefit both players. Flynn was not known to share Wilson’s regimen of arriving first and leaving last, which may have been a big factor in trading him. I do not believe Carroll would have signed Quinn if he felt that Quinn would be unwilling to help the growth of Russell Wilson in the film room and playing field.

My ideal quarterback situation is to have a starter who makes those around him better, and, if needed, can take games over. I believe Seattle has that in Russell Wilson. The backup must be able to competently run the offense, not make too many mistakes, and put the ball in other play-makers’ hands. In other words, play completely and comfortably within himself and the system

It remains to be seen if Quinn is a lock to be the number two quarterback behind Russell Wilson.  Josh Portis, is also a talented quarterback who Seattle likes and resigned with the team during the off-season. The NFL draft will include players such as USC’s Matt Barkley, who played under Pete Carroll for a season, and Matt Scott, who has risen up draft boards since the combine. Scott is raw as a passer, but is able to move around well, and run the same offense that was installed for Russell Wilson.

It remains to be seen whether Quinn can live up to that standard. I will be excited to see the steps he takes in preseason to better both himself and the team.

Sep 24, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) carries the ball during the 2nd half against the Green Bay Packers at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated Green Bay 14-12. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

I realize I am a little late on this but I when I heard that the NFL had scheduled Seattle to play in Green Bay for the third preseason game I was not thrilled. I realize there are a few ways to look at this, but being what I consider a “realist” (you may call me more of a pessimist - I am a Seattle fan after all) this game (potentially) has trouble written all over it.

Traditionally the third preseason game is the “dress rehearsal” for teams. It’s when all the starters start and teams, at minimum, run through their rudimentary offensive schemes. This also means that there is higher risk for an injury to a critical player. Of course, this is the exact same situation that these athletes will play in all season long, but this is preseason and there is literally nothing but “live” experience to be gained in these games.

I’m assuming all of us remember the grace and dignity with which some Green Bay players and fans handled the controversial call at the end of the game last season. If Green Bay had won, and all things stayed the same, they would have had a first round bye instead of San Francisco.* With that in mind, I’m not sure that Green Bay won’t come out extra chippy and play with what I’ll call an unnecessary edge. In other words, I don’t want Seattle players to be at risk of any cheap shots by some grudge-holding chuckle-nuts who somehow think Seattle is to blame for a call that still can’t be concretely reversed.

I may end up being wrong and the game takes place as every other preseason game has for years, but that isn’t what the NFL is hoping for. The NFL scheduled this game in prime time because it’s hoping for a knock-down drag-out grudge match before there is anything meaningful on the line. If this was the first, second, or fourth game, or even not in a prime-time national telecast I probably wouldn’t think twice. Unfortunately, the NFL is just looking for action no matter how cheap it may be.

Hopefully, both teams play hard and use the game to prepare for the regular season rather than settle any perceived grievances. Nothing would be worse than seeing a critical starter, for either team, get taken out because of some cheap block or late hit and start the regular season injured. Green Bay doesn’t have a reputation for playing dirty and neither does Seattle, so a standard preseason game is completely within in the realm of possibility. I just figured I’d air out my paranoia and give everyone a chance to talk me off the ledge.

*It was previously stated that the loss to Seattle didn’t affect playoff seeding. It did. San Francisco tied St. Louis and was therefore only ahead by .5 games at the end of the season. Green Bay therefore had to play in the wild card round and consequently travel to San Francisco for the divisional round instead of hosting.

In any backup quarterback you want someone who can keep the offense from self-destructing and put the players around him in a position to make plays without making critical mistakes in critical moments. You don’t necessary need the backup quarterback to make big plays but they need to be able to move the offense down the field.  Leinart, Wallace, Quinn and Thigpen all have been career backups and have shown spurts where they have been able to move the ball downfield, none have done it at a consistent level, which is why all four are looking for a job as a backup.

Sep 11, 2011; Kansas City, MO, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyler Thigpen (4) warms up before the game with the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

In Quinn and Leinart you get two quarterbacks who can stand in the pocket and deleiver the ball to receivers in a west coast timing offense when the running game is clicking forcing the linebackers to cheat up, creating passing lanes underneath.  In Thigpen and Wallace you get very much the same just an extra element. Thigpen and Wallace both can get out of the pocket and make plays with their legs, neither is as crafty as Russell Wilson but the threat to run the read option is there with them, while Quinn and Leinart are not able to do so.

Who gets the job at quarterback then? My guess is as good as any but I’d think Tyler Thigpen is the most likely to sign.  Seattle’s offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell spent time with Thigpen in Minnesota before Thigpen was cut and picked up by the Chiefs in 2007, his rookie year. Thigpen while with the Chiefs was able to run for 386 yards, and 3 touchdowns while averaging 6.2 yards per rush.  Thigpen is a talented passer too who is able to throw the ball downfield and find open receivers. Don’t expect him to go out and make the plays we often see from Wilson, but expect him to be able to run the same offense.  Leinart, Quinn, and Wallace could all be possibilities but the fact that Thigpen is only 28 and quicker on his feet than the rest I expect him to get the nod on Monday.

Aug 30, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Josh Portis (2) throws a pass against the Oakland Raiders at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Raiders 21-3. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Seattle made another roster move Thursday night signing former quarterback Josh Portis. Seattle signed Portis to be the 3^rd string Quarterback in 2011 backup Tavaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst.  Portis then served on the practice squad last season before being let go later in the season. With the trade of Matt Flynn Seattle needed another quarterback who knew the system and decided to go with Portis.

Is Portis the quarterback Seattle feels can be the primary backup to Russell Wilson? I believe the answer is no. Portis shares many of the same skills that Wilson does, he is mobile, he can throw the ball down field and he can avoid pressure. Portis was a highly recruited Quarterback coming out of High School he attended Florida for a year before transferring to Maryland due to a lack of playing time. He was later suspended for the 2007 season due to cheating on an exam. Portis later transferred to California (PA). The fact that he was not able to find stability with a coaching staff his entire college career is concerning to me.

The problem I have with Josh Portis is he is not a great thrower in 2011 he played in three preseason games and failed to complete 50 percent of his passes coming out at an pedestrian 41.7  percent. The guy is simply not a great passer at this point and with Seattle aiming for a super bowl this year they need a backup quarterback who can move the offense. I believe if Portis gets thrown into a game that matters he will falter.

I really do like Portis as quarterback to develop for another year and see if he progresses, but the fact that Seattle was not willing to carry him on the practice squad for the entire year and another team did not take a chance on him is telling. I fully expect Seattle to sign another veteran quarterback such as Thigpen or Leinart and maybe draft a young quarterback too. Seattle needs a veteran quarterback with experience during Matt Hasselbeck’s tenure in Seattle his backups included Trent Dilfer, Brock Huard, Seneca Wallace, and Charlie Fry all Quarterbacks who had experience under their belt.

Chris Kluwe and Brendon Ayanbadejo are two of the most vocal in their support of gay rights and stances against discrimination and bigotry by people involved with the NFL. Earlier this week, Chris Clemons posted some tweets to the ether fielding various responses. I normally don’t respond to NFL players since most of what they tweet is publicity or superficial nothingness to other players, but this caught my attention and I decided to respond. To Clemons’ credit, he did reply to me a couple times and was open and honest in his responses. He seemingly wanted to clarify what he was trying to say. Others in the Twitterverse decided that I was using my “tolerance” to bully an NFL lineman. (This mental image alone is priceless.) So it’s out in the open, here is what our series of tweets looked like:

Christopher Clemons ‏@chrisclemons91
Who on Gods earth is this person saying he’s coming out of the closet in the NFL?

Hanley B. ‏@hbonynge
I’m really not liking @chrisclemons91′s tweets on a gay NFL player coming out right now. Locker rooms need to get over their homophobia.

Christopher Clemons ‏@chrisclemons91
@hbonynge No one said anything about be a homophobic. I just think something’s should be left at home.

Hanley B. ‏@hbonynge
@chrisclemons91 I get that. Focus on business. But how does being gay mean your personal life isn’t at home the same as a straight guy?

Super Sonic Fan ‏@SuperSonicFan1
@hbonynge @chrisclemons91 such am absolutely ridiculous thing to say. #12thMan stands behind you Chris, no need to bullied by the “tolerant”

Hanley B. ‏@hbonynge
@SuperSonicFan1 @chrisclemons91 I hardly think I’m bullying Clem. If you feel bullied, Chris, my apologies. I just prefer an inclusive team.

Christopher Clemons@chrisclemons91
@hbonynge @supersonicfan1 I never said he would be abandoned. I don’t judge people for what they do. I only react off how they treat me.

Hanley B. ‏@hbonynge
@chrisclemons91 Fair enough. That’s all anybody can ask for.

In all fairness to Clemons, he seems to have seen some error and softened his stance, backtracked, or tried to clarify what he was saying. That’s fine. I understand that and was simply commenting on his tweets. I am glad to know that Clemons would not abandon a gay teammate and would only judge him on how that person treated him. As humans, being judged by our character is all any of us can ever ask of anyone else.

I do think the NFL can take a more proactive stance on this issue though. The NFL often promotes, to an exceptional level, its partnership and support of our armed services, which now accept and do not question gay service members. The NFL could follow suit in laying down a foundation of tolerance that would enable out gay athletes to feel more accepted. As many of Clemons’ other tweets demonstrate, he seems to be somewhat confused, yet open, about this issue.

His series of tweets talk about how a person’s sexuality should be left at home:

Christopher Clemons@chrisclemons91
@***** No I’m just saying its not everyone else’s business if your gay! That’s all I’m saying.

Christopher Clemons@chrisclemons91
@***** exactly! Leave your love life at home.

This is like saying a person’s ethnicity should be left at home. A person can leave their “gayness” at home about as well as Clemons can leave his “blackness” at home. A person’s identity is part of them. It doesn’t mean they will play any better or any worse. It also shouldn’t mean that his teammates treat him any differently in the locker room or on the field and Clemons’ earlier tweet seems to affirm that he wouldn’t “abandon” him if it was his teammate.

Clemons seems to be uninformed regarding the social and historical issue, though. Tweets such as:

Christopher Clemons@chrisclemons91
@***** If you didn’t do it when you were in high school or college then why wait til your in the NFL? Whoever he is he didn’t just start

Christopher Clemons@chrisclemons91
@***** I’m not one to judge anyone because that is there personal preference.

There are a couple problems here. I’ll address the second tweet first. Describing homosexuality as a “preference” is a misconception. Gay people choose to be gay in the same way that I choose to be straight, they don’t. There is no choice. We are born the way we are and our sexual orientation is no more a choice than our ethnicity. Clemons could be using the word “preference” loosely and meaning “orientation,” but it is an important distinction to make.

As for the first tweet as to why a gay athlete might not have come out earlier in his life this shows a general ignorance on the issue as a whole. First, in the big three professional sports there has never been an out gay athlete so the risks, financially, socially, and health-wise, are considerable. Many team owners are conservative and not generally sympathetic to the cause of equal rights for gay people. (We need to only look back to former Sonics part-owner Aubrey McClendon’s political contributions while the team was still in Seattle.) These owners may approach their teams purely as business and not care about a player’s sexual orientation one way or the other, as long as the player performed. Owners could also refuse to sign an out player therefore diminishing his opportunities in the NFL. An out player could also be targeted on the field for being gay by opponents. Taking unusually hard or an increased amount of cheap-shots is bad for one’s health and career. I am not saying that these things will happen but simply that they could happen, and that risk alone is enough for a player to not have come out previously. Clemons’ own worry over a gay player dividing a locker room should at least clarify this issue for him.

Christopher Clemons@chrisclemons91
@***** it doesn’t matter how good they are. That will immediately separate a lockerroom and divide a team.

Christopher Clemons@chrisclemons91
@***** I’m not against anyone but I think it’s a selfish act. They just trying to make themselves bigger than the team.

A gay person would only separate a locker room if a player’s intolerance of that player’s sexuality led them to make an issue out of it. A person’s height, weight, hair color, skin color, IQ, religion or anything else shouldn’t lead a divided locker room and neither should a person’s sexuality. Things like domestic or sexual abuse, which is common in the NFL, should be a much more divisive issue within team than sexual orientation.

A person being open about whom they are with people they go into battle with every week does not make them “bigger than their team.” If anything, it makes them more one with their team. Personally, I would be a much fiercer and more loyal teammate if I could be myself and know I was wholly accepted than if I had to pretend and hide who I was from my comrades. Players tweet daily about their religion, pray on the field, and regularly thank God in interviews because that is who the player is. I’d argue that that puts a player above the team more than a person’s sexuality.

Russell Wilson, who is a devout Christian, is a model athlete. He finishes every interview with “Go Hawks” and I’ve never heard him say anything but praise for his team in interviews. He tweets about his faith, but when it is about his team, the team comes first. That is commendable and I believe that he would have no issue with a gay teammate.

I think that the NFL could take a proactive role in educating its players on this issue and do everything it can to mitigate the risks a player would face in coming out. It should embrace and cultivate tolerance within the individual teams and across the league as a whole. This doesn’t mean that players aren’t allowed to have their own personal beliefs on the issue, it just means that players will be expected understand that their beliefs are just that, personal.

I would be proud and honored if my team had the first openly gay player in the NFL. It would be a great sign of the quality of character in regards to the city, the franchise, the individual collection of players, and, perhaps most importantly, the 12^th Man.

An ideal conclusion would be when Chris Clemons’ tweet asking

Christopher Clemons ‏@chrisclemons91
@***** @***** […] Why is this news worthy! It’s gays everywhere and just cause its a football player it big news

is a reality; a gay player wouldn’t be newsworthy.

Until that happens, though, it is newsworthy, and ignorance of that fact and the reasons for it are best left unsaid. Football is the biggest professional sport in the United States. A lot of things that happen in the NFL are big news and the NFL wants it that way. The NFL should support having the first openly gay player. It would be yet another thing that sets it apart from professional basketball and baseball.

A league full of men who have no problem wearing pink (a color that in my childhood was often derided as being “gay”) for an entire month every season should have no problem also supporting equal rights for all its players. Everyone is entitled to their beliefs and frequent and honest discussion of them is always a good thing. Beliefs become an issue when they cost others their rights.

This article is not intended to pick on or isolate Chris Clemons in any way. I do not know him personally, and I do not believe that he is homophobic or bigoted. From his various tweets today, I believe that he is open and would accept a gay teammate. I use Clemons’ tweets/statements as a stand-in for what I believe are common misconceptions and beliefs across the NFL.

There are obviously players that are much more tolerant and have no problem with homosexuality in general or with a teammate. There are also players that could, or would, divide a locker room over an out teammate. I believe it is these players that should be the issue. Not the gay ones. The locker room and field are an athlete’s workplace. A person’s sexual orientation should be as much of an issue there as in any other business. Knowing that there are gay people at my gym doesn’t stop me from using the showers or locker room. It doesn’t stop me from riding a bus, going to work, or attending a game. And when I go to a game, I want my team to be the best. Being the best means being the most cohesive which requires a tolerant and open environment. Cohesion can’t exist when players have to hide in integral part of themselves. The team whose colors I wear will be an even better team when the players feel safe being who they are openly.

Editor’s comment: The opinions expressed here are that of the author, and are not the official viewpoint of 12th Man Rising or Fansided. We understand the fact that there many differing beliefs, and we respect the diversity of opinions on this topic. 

Please be sure to keep all comments civil. Those that aren’t will be deleted. 

January 25, 2013; Ko Olina, HI, USA; Hawaiian hostesses Aureana Tseu (far left) and U

The Seattle Seahawks have stolen the stage during the offseason by signing Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett, and trading for wide receiver Percy Harvin. Seattle added these three players to an already lethal squad that includes Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, Sidney Rice, Golden Tate, Zach Miller, and of course Russell Wilson. Seattle finished the 2012-2013 season in a gut wrenching loss to the Atlanta Falcons, losing a slim lead in the last 30-seconds to a Matt Bryant field goal. A lot of hype is headed Seattle’s way after adding the trio, and some are calling them the team to beat for the 2013-2014 NFL Season.

The addition of Percy Harvin has made Seattle even better on offense. Harvin will give Seattle a much needed deep threat at the wide receiver position that they lacked during Pete Carroll’s three first years in Seattle. Harvin also gives Seattle another element in the zone-read option. He often lined up as running back during his time at Florida with Tim Tebow. Minnesota also used Harvin at running back on third down situations.  The addition of Harvin also takes pressure off of Sidney Rice, and Golden Tate, and will give Russell Wilson another weapon who will haul in a lot of receptions, and be able to gain yards after the catch, much like Golden Tate was able to last year.

On the defensive side of the ball Seattle has added defensive end Cliff Avril, and Michael Bennett who can play tackle and defensive end much like Jason Jones was able to do last year for Seattle. These two combined for 18.5 sacks last year, add that to Seattle’s total of 36 last year that is a total of 54.5 sacks.  I find it hard to believe Seattle will be able to rack up that many total sacks, especially with Chris Clemons, who led the Seahawks in sacks last year with 11.5, is recovering from an ACL injury he suffered in the playoffs, and may not be ready for the 2013 NFL season. However it is not hard to believe with the growth of rookie defensive ends Bruce Irvin and Greg Scruggs that those two can’t add to their sack total. Irvin led all rookies with eight sacks, and fellow rookie Greg Scruggs totaled just two sacks in a very limited role. I expect both players to up their sack totals next year.  I see no reason Seattle can’t get at least 42 sacks which would put them in the top half of the league.

Jan 13, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll talks to Russell Wilson (3) against the Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter in the NFC divisional playoff game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

In the latter part of the 2012 season Seattle arguably played better than any other team in the league. They dominated on offense and defense, and showed little overall weakness. A slow start in the playoff game against the Falcons led to the end of the season for Seattle, despite outscoring Atlanta 28 to 10 in the second half. Seattle is now one of the most complete teams in the NFL, with two deep threats at wide receiver, one of the best running backs in the league, and a young roster. Seattle is bringing back every starter on offense, and nine of eleven starters on defense. It is logical to think this team is only going to be better.

Some fans are calling this team the “Dream Team.” Is it true? Is Seattle the best team in the league, and the team everybody else does not want to play? Is Seattle the most talented team in the entire league? My quick answer to all three of these questions is simply, yes. I am, however, scared of a team that originally dubbed themselves the “Dream Team” (something no Seattle player has done, which I am very thankful for). The team I am speaking of is the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles, like the Seahawks, brought in big-name players to a team that went 10-6 the year before, and had one of the most lethal quarterbacks in the NFL in Michael Vick. They had a seasoned coach in Andy Reid.

The Eagles decided to add to an already potent roster and brought in All-Pro corner back Nnamdi Asomogha, former Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Babin and veteran defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins. Philadelphia also added former first round picks Ronnie Brown and Vince Young. The talented roster, along with these new additions, formed what was supposed to be the “Dream Team,” as Vince Young famously called them.

What happened to this so called Dream Team? A 11-5 NFL football team, ended up going 8-8. Poor coaching and management of the team by Andy Reid is the simple answer. Andy Reid made the mistake of hiring Juan Castillo, who coached the offensive line, to become his defensive coordinator. I failed to see the logic in this at the time and still do.

Dec 18, 2011; Philadelphia, PA, USA;Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Juan Castillo during warmups prior to playing the New York Jets at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles defeated the Jets 45-19. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Reid also tried to buy himself a championship team, something you can’t do in the NFL He added a lot of high priced guys who did not fit with his or his staff’s system. Injuries to Michael Vick also led to the demise of the Eagles’ season but that should also be blamed on Reid. He failed to give his franchise quarterback a stable offensive line to protect him. I highly doubt this fate will be Seattle’s. The Seahawks go into 2013 with the same coaching staff besides defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, who became the head coach in Jacksonville. Pete Carroll replaced him with Florida defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who worked as Seattle’s defensive line coach from 2009-2010.  As long as Seattle stays with the system they have run under Carroll, I see no reason why the defense should suffer with the arrivals of Avril, Bennett, and Dan Quinn.

The 2007 New England Patriots also used free agency to improve an already talented team who went 12-4 the year before. The result turned into a 16-0 regular season and a loss in the Super Bowl to the New York Giants.

The Patriots’ first move in the offseason before 2007 was trading for Miami Dolphins wide receiver Wes Welker, giving up a 2^nd and 7^th round draft pick to acquire the veteran pass catcher. The Patriots continued to boost a wide receiving group that lacked explosiveness and signed free agent wide receiver Donte Stallworth.  New England finished off by adding Randy Moss. The end result was a 16-0 season and both Brady and Moss shattered the touchdown record for their respected positions on the football field.  Moss was the biggest risk as many felt he played lazy and uninspired football during his stint with Oakland. Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick was able to keep the talented wide receiver happy. All three wide receivers contributed greatly to the season. Moss finished the season with 98 receptions, 1493 yards, and 23 touchdowns. Welker had 112 receptions, 1175 yards, and 8 touchdowns. Donte Stallworth finished his season with 46 receptions, 697 yards, and three touchdowns.  Spending in free agency can work if you have a good coach, stability at the quarterback, and a solid franchise. The Patriots clearly had that. The Eagles, well they are still looking.

So will the Seahawk’s season end in flames like the Eagles’, or will it end in record breaking success like the Patriots. I feel somewhere in between. I do not believe Russell Wilson will throw for 50 touchdowns, or that Harvin will haul in 21 touchdown receptions, or even 112 receptions. The team is too balanced for that to happen. Nor do I believe they will go 16-0 at the moment. I do believe, however, they can achieve something the 2007 New England Patriots were not able to, and that is a Super Bowl. I do believe this Seattle team is the Dream Team and team to beat for the 2013 NFL season.

This could be a common occurrence with the Seahawks this season, maybe more so than with other teams, if NFL owners vote in a new “head lowering” penalty for running backs .  Pete Carroll has already said the Seahawks are going to remain a “run first” offense.  He may want to change his mind on that one after the first few games if things go the way I’m thinking they could go with this new running back “head lowering” rule.  If you haven’t heard, Roger Goodell proposed a new rule in which running backs will be flagged if they lower their head to use the crown of the helmet like a battering ram.  This essentially means running backs will have to take on hits standing up or risk a penalty.

I was listening to the “Mike & Mike” show this morning on the way in to work, and they had former Dallas Cowboys Great Emmett Smith on the show to give his “NFL Hall of Fame running back” perspective on the new rule.  He brashly said it will make it impossible to play the position of running back.  He claimed there is no way a runner who sees he’s about to have a collision is NOT going to instinctively lower his helmet and his whole body to protect himself.  Smith added, when you are punished for hitting tacklers with your helmet the end result is you’re going to see a lot of guys just step out of bounds rather than try to get more yards.  He thinks it will eventually turn the NFL in to something that resembles “touch football”.   Will this still be “football”?  I say “no”.  Running backs will more resemble quarterbacks at the end of a play, taking a slide to avoid a stand-up hit or meekly squirting out of bounds before the big hits we all know and love.

Now, to be fair, an NFL team of experts, coaches, & former players looked at all the film from last year and only found five instances of this helmet lowering that would have been called under the new rule.  So, while there might be a lot of latitude a referee can give backs on this rule, or there might not be.  The panel admitted it could be very difficult for a referee to fairly call this kind of thing in the heat of a game.  This rule is made for inconsistency in how it’s called, and could be affected by the referee’s angle to the play, his view of the play through other players, the weather, how the other player reacts, and a million other variables.  If NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell decides to push this rule hard, it could really put a crimp on the running styles of the hard-nosed, punishing running backs like Lynch.  A quick review of some “Beast Mode” highlights reveals Lynch does often use his helmet and shoulders and a healthy forward lean to blast people out of his way.  Is this going to make him a magnate for yellow flags?  How could it not?  You could even say Lynch is the kind of runner this rule is designed to punish…errrr…protect.  If there is one rule they could have come up with (other than making the QB scramble illegal) that could put the brakes on a potential Seahawks championship season, this is it!

For other teams with finesse style runners this probably wouldn’t be an issue.  Teams with backs that run in a style more like Walter Payton, Eric Dickerson, or Barry Sanders will get a break because that style runner very rarely takes on a defensive back.  Teams with backs like Earl Campbell, Jerome Bettis, and yes, Marshawn Lynch could potentially lose some important plays, first downs, or critical scores.  Remember the Seahawks were a HALF GAME away from winning the NFC West title.  One bad call can make that difference.  This WILL affect coaching strategies.  Worse case; I think it’s possible that coaches will get tired of all the laundry thrown at their running backs and probably will move away from the running game as an important force in their offenses.  The NFL will evolve into something like the Canadian Football League, where passing becomes the dominant type of play.  That will be too bad.  I think it will wreck the game as it has come to be known and loved.  The diversity of schemes that combine running and passing is what makes the NFL interesting to watch.

The next question is; will the fans revolt?  Will the NFL be on a path to a slow death because fans will slowly find other things to do than watch a league full of guys running around trying to avoid getting hit?  Will the game become something so foreign to our senses that it becomes a laughing stock?  A quick look at the controversy created by the “defenseless receiver” rule should give guidance here.  There were a lot of cases where a legitimate hit was flagged and great defensive plays called penalties.  The hit Cam Chancellor put on 49ers tight end Vernon Davis comes to mind…  That was a great, legal (as it turns out) hit that should have been called an incompletion and brought on the 49ers punting team  if memory serve me.  The penalty turned it into a 1^st and 10 for San Fran.  The Hawks ended up losing that game by a touchdown.  If victories are seen as not legitimately won, the loss of fan interest could put a serious dent in the NFL’s credibility and viewership.  But then the NFL has survived and thrived amid controversial calls for decades, so maybe it’s nothing to worry about.

Last but not least, will this rule, if passed, affect how Pete Carroll and John Schneider evaluate running backs in the upcoming draft?  Might they hedge their bets that sending Marshawn Lynch to ballet school won’t turn him into a finesse  runner and go after one in the draft?  It seems advisable to have a “change-up” back anyway, but maybe this puts a little more urgency into that kind of pick.  I’m thinking a running back with lots of speed and not a lot of brawn, and the ability to avoid pursuit may be high on more than a few teams draft boards.

In the end it looks like the NFL is changing so as not to appear unconcerned, and to avoid the avalanche of lawsuits that will surely materialize if they don’t “do something” now that they know there is a serious problem.  Here are some things about this rule to consider moving forward:  Will it change the game so much that they destroy the game?  If they do nothing can the game survive anyway?  Will the running back become extinct?  Will they have to make more changes to keep the game interesting?  Who knows?  Finding the answers to these questions may become more interesting to watch than the actual games.  One other thing Emmett Smith said is that people who haven’t played running back at a professional level have no idea what they’re talking about.  Sorry Emmett, but THAT’S WHAT WE DO HERE!

Feb 22, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The Seahawks just became the latest team to nab an ex-basketball player to play Tight End in the NFL. Darren Fells signed a 3 year contract Tuesday with the Seattle Seahawks. Fells is 27 years old and has been playing basketball internationally. The Hawks are looking to find another gem off of the basketball courts after seeing the success of past basketball players like Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates and Jimmy Graham.

Fells was planning to hold a Pro day but after visiting the Seahawks his Pro Day was not needed. The Seahawks were impressed enough to sign him before he left Seahawks Headquarters. Fells was a High School All-State Tight End in California but chose basketball over football in College and hasn’t played since. He has played basketball all over the world but never has been able to make it into the NBA and so he chose to go pro in a completely different sport.

Fells being 6’7 and 280 pounds could be a huge target in the redzone paired with either Zach Miller or Anthony McCoy. The question has to arise as to whether or not the Seahawks could be planning on using Fells in place of Miller who has an 11 million dollar cap hit in 2013. The Hawks don’t want to lose Miller but if he isn’t willing to restructure his contract they may have no choice but to cut him to save money and use it elsewhere.

As the 2012 season progressed it was obvious that Russell Wilson grew more and more comfortable using his Tight Ends over the middle. In 2013 Wilson will likely use his Tight Ends even more and the Seahawks will look to use Double Tight End sets even more. Darren Fells could be used in jump ball isolation plays using his size and vertical abilities.

Again Pete Carroll and John Schneider have shown that they are willing to look everywhere and anywhere to find whatever pieces they need to make the Seahawks a Super Bowl contender. Even though Fells has not played since High School the Seahawks front office has earned the right to sign whoever they think will fit their system.

Feb 2, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck at CMT Crossroads Concert at the Sugar Mill. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The 2003 Seahawks season was a good one that ended somewhat comically and somewhat tragically. It was their first trip to the playoffs since the 1999 season, they went 10-6 in the regular season and finished second in the division to San Francisco, earning a wild card berth. It was the second playoff season of Mike Holmgren’s tenure and first of five straight. The season ended with a memorable playoff match up with Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers; Mike Holmgren’s former team, and Matt Hasselbeck’s former mentor.

The season also featured consistent play  that was aided by one of the better draft classes in franchise history.  Marcus Trufant, Ken Hamlin, and Josh Brown who led the team in points were all drafted that season.

In the wild card round, the Seahawks had to travel to Lambeau Field, a place where no visiting team had ever won in the postseason. There was some confidence and swagger to the Seahawks going in to that game.  Many people thought that there was a chance that they could pull off the upset.

I remember this game clearly because I was living in Madison, Wisconsin at the time, and was watching the game in a house with a group of Packer fans. The Seahawks took the early lead in the game but that would soon change. In all, there were ten lead changes (including tied scores). The final touchdown of  regulation was scored by Shaun Alexander with a 1-yard TD run. Ryan Longwell missed a 47-yard field goal attempt for Green Bay that sent the game in to overtime.

Things were looking good. The Seahawks won the coin toss, and the official asked Hasselbeck if the Seahawks wanted to return or defer.

Hasselbeck infamously answered, “We want the ball and we’re gonna score.”

Well, Seattle did receive the ball, but they only managed a three-and-out. Then the defense held Green Bay to a three-and-out. On the third drive of overtime, Hasselbeck completed two 6-yard passes, one to Darrell Jackson, and one to Koren Robinson for a first down. A few plays later on a 3rd and 11 pass, Green Bay corner back Al Harris picked off the ball and ran it 52 yards for the game winning TD.

Green Bay would go on to give up a big lead in a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round. That game was highlighted by Donovan McNabb’s game-saving 28-yard completion on a 4th and 26 play in the fourth quarter.

By The Numbers:
Regular Season Record: 10-6 (NFC Wild Card 5th Seed)
Playoff record: 0-1
Points for: 404
Points against: 327
Differential: +77
Turn overs forced: 28
Turn overs allowed: 29
Differential: -1

Week 1: Ernie Conwell TE New Orleans and former Washington Husky. Conwell was not a factor with only 4 catches for 38 yards. The Seahawks opened the season with a 27-10 victory.

Week 8: Jon Kitna QB Cincinnati. Kitna beat his former team 27-24. This was a back and forth game that was decided by Kitna throwing a game winning, 53-yard TD pass to Chad Johnson. Were it not for three Hasselbeck interceptions, and two lost Seahawks fumbles, things may have been different.

Week 9: Tommy Maddox QB Pittsburgh and XFL champion. Both teams played turnover-free football. The Seahawks won after scoring 14 4th-quarter points. 23-16.

Week 10: Bruce Smith DE Washington. In Bruce Smith’s final season, he recorded one of his last sacks against the Seahawks. However, the Seahawks won the game 27-20.

Week 12: Jamal Lewis RB Baltimore. Lewis ran for 2,066 yards that year. 117 of those yards came against the Seahawks. It was the one of the five times the Seahawks faced a running back on his way to 2,000 yards (Davis twice, Jamal Lewis, Chris Johnson, and Adrian Peterson).

Week 14: Randy Moss WR Minnesota. 8 receptions, 133 yards, and 2 TD for Moss in this game.  It was the most lopsided loss of the season for the Seahawks.  34-7. Coincidentally, the week before, the Seahawks beat the Cleveland Browns by the same score.

Offensive Standout: Matt Hasselbeck. He distributed the ball well and gave the team a chance to win every week.
Defensive Standout: Marcus Trufant. In his rookie year, Trufant had two interceptions, one fumble recovery, 74 tackles, 9 assists, and an impressive 20 passes defenced.
Telling Stat of the Season: -1 turnover margin.
Notable Draft Picks: Marcus Trufant DB, Ken Hamlin DB, Seneca Wallace QB, Josh Brown K, and Taco Wallace WR (he was a bust, but got fifteen minutes of fame because his name is Taco).
Super Bowl Champion: New England 32, Carolina 29*
*This was the year that He Hate Me from the XFL played in the Super Bowl

Aug 30, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins (97) along the sidelines during the second quarter against the New York Jets at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles defeated the Jets 28-10. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Rumor has it that Cullen Jenkins will be visiting the Seahawks on Monday. Jenkins met with the Giants last week to possibly fill their need for a Defensive Tackle after cutting Chris Canty recently. Jenkins Signed with the “Dream Team” Eagles after the Lockout two years ago. He became a Cap Casualty when the Eagles decided to go in a younger direction.

This could be a solid replacement for the unrestricted free agent Alan Branch. Jenkins is a good run stuffing Defensive Tackle who had 4 sacks last year. Jenkins was known to be a strong leader in the locker room which any team would desire. Rumor has it that his contract requirements will not be nearly as high as they were two years ago.

Seattle needing a big body run stuffing tackle to create some push on 1st and 2nd downs. Jenkins would be a great addition to an already strong defense. Seattle showed at the combine last week that they will definitely be looking at the defensive line this offseason and Jenkins could be a good fit, if they can sign him at the right price. Seattle has to be planning for long term with all of their contracts these days because they will have to shell out a lot of money in the next few years, due to their draft success the last few years. So depending on the Jenkins financial requirements the Hawks could look to get a cheaper version of Jenkins in the draft.

Jenkins will meet with the Seahawks on Monday and then meet with the 49ers later in the week. There is also talk that he could return to the Packer which he won the Super Bowl with in 2011.

Dec 23, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated San Francisco 42-13. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

I just got back from a weekend of skiing and finally feel like I can look back at the Seahawks’ 2012 season without feeling too large a pang of disappointment. Sometimes it takes stepping away to gain some perspective. The only football I watched was the third quarter of the NFC Championship game and had to walk away because I saw two teams Seattle could certainly beat.

If someone had asked me nine months ago how I’d feel if Seattle were to go 11-5 with a playoff win on the road I would have taken it in a heartbeat. However, winning makes a person greedy and leaves them craving more. Once it was apparent that Pete Carroll and John Schneider stacked all of that talent and potential onto their roster, and that a playoff game was possible, even with a team that had some significant weakness, I set my sight on an even further horizon. When Seattle wasn’t able to advance, the loss left the city, and myself, in somewhat of a state of shock. The emotional whiplash that took place in the fourth quarter of the game in divisional game gave me hope and then took it away.

All cities are unified when their sports teams do well. It’s one of the great things that sports teams bring to communities. I believe that Seattle is a little different from cities like Atlanta, New York, San Francisco, and Miami. Every team has their true fans, but Seattle itself seems to suffer when the Seahawks don’t do well (everyone is used to the Mariners sucking). It’s easy to lose sight of that when the team has a few rough years but is obvious when look at the incredibly civic pride and enthusiasm that takes place when the team succeeds. In that regard Seattle is like a Cleveland, Kansas City, or Green Bay. Labeling Seattle fans fair weather is ridiculous and ignorant. Fair weather fans don’t cause seismic activity last time I checked.

The Seahawks over 2012 reminded Seattle why they stuck with a team that had been disparaged and struggled for the last six years. The team from South Alaska that was always too small, too hurt, too slow, too whatever became big, strong, loud, and a force unto themselves. Win or lose, a team was going to remember that they played Seattle last Sunday. Watching that and experiencing it with a great community of 12^th Men made it that much hard to realize it was over. Even my dad who can be very jaded and reserved when it comes to sports (game 7 of the 1993 Western Conference finals between the Sonics and Suns is still very much remembered) couldn’t help but get excited at what just might be.

I bring up these seemingly random aspects of the 2012 season because they stand out the most when I look back on this season. Seattle became a team that would walk up to anybody and punch them in the mouth. Led by a calm, cool, and incredibly talented quarterback, a team comprised of many castoffs and unknowns turned into a wrecking ball with the 12^th Man as the crane that swung it. The connection between the team and fans in Seattle can’t be overstated. From completely open training camps to showing up at Children’s Hospital every week the connection is real. That is what I love. I realize that I’m not an actual player on the team, but to feel part of it is either the greatest marketing gimmick ever or proof of a true community-franchise connection. I choose to believe it’s the latter in this case. (Every article I write, I have to go and take out any “we’s” and replace them with “Seahawks.”)

Fortunately, Seattle doesn’t have many free agents going into the off-season which means that many of the personalities and people that the make up this great team will be back. And they will be hungry; hungry to prove to themselves and the 12^th Man that they are good enough to win a Super Bowl. For that, I am just as excited as I was this season.

Jan 13, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) warms up before the NFC divisional playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Please Welcome David, the Newest voice here at 12th Man Rising. We are very glad to have with join our staff. Now on to his first article:

Watching the Divisional game vs. Atlanta from home, I tuned in early to watch the end of warm-ups and catch the result of the coin toss.  For me, the football game always starts with the coin toss, and I usually consider it a success if the Seahawks start the game kicking off.  That gives them a chance to make up a deficit by potentially scoring first in the second half.

The downside of this result is that they risk giving the other team momentum if the defense allows a score.  In the case of Sunday’s Divisional loss to Atlanta, the Seahawks began the game kicking off to the Falcons, who marched down the field and settled for a field goal.  While that was not a totally bad result, the rest of the first half was full of other, worse results.

It got so bad in fact, that in the first half, the Seahawks put up zero points on two red zone drives, and fumbled away another promising drive.  At halftime, the Seahawks trailed 20-0.

At this time, knowing that they would get the ball back and the first chance to score, I said to my wife, “The Seahawks have a good defense, so there’s a chance.  “If we outscore the Falcons 28-7 in the second half, we win by one point: 28-27.”  She laughed at the time.  I’ll admit, my doubt was pretty high, too.

At about the 11-minute mark, with the Seahawks down by two scores, the laughs had faded.  Seattle fans were on social media, slowly showing signs of belief.  Friends and family members were calling.  Even my brother who used to not watch football called me and said that he was watching.  With ever brightening texts, tweets, phone calls, and facebook posts, Seattleites were checking-in with each other, focused on an the amazing game.  The Seattle Times reported that, by the last drive, 87% of active TV sets in the Seattle area were watching the game.  The Seahawks had overcome their mistakes and judgment lapses, and had fought for the lead with 31 seconds left.  My father actually called me to celebrate the win.  He wasn’t alone.  Seattle erupted in celebration…but just a tad too soon.

In an instant it was over.

After the kickoff, the Falcons used the final 25 seconds to complete two passes and kick a game winning 49 yard field goal.  Though the Seahawks got the ball back with six seconds left, they failed to advance within field goal range on their first possession.  As a result, they ended the season with an interception on a desperation pass that made it to the end zone.  The year of “almost good-enough” ended accordingly, and it hurt.

The loss hurt in ways both new and familiar.  On one hand, it hurt that we came so close, and didn’t win the championship, something that I have never witnessed a Seattle team accomplish.  On the other hand, the fact that the Seahawks had come back from such long odds validated them.  They are a good football team in position to make another run at the title next year.  Most of all, it just hurt that the season was over.

This was one football season, and one football game, that I really did not want to see end in defeat.   All year, the team delivered and competed in every game down to the last pass of the season.  They never lost anything but a close game.  Above all else, it was an honest privilege to watch the rapid blossoming of Russell Wilson’s play.  He proved this year that he is good enough to lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl win.  He just hasn’t yet.