Ernest Jones' mantra has gone on for most of the season. He has an NSFW catchphrase that often gets droned out so small children do not hear something they shouldn't. The Seattle Seahawks linebacker doesn't care, though. He knows two words are all he needs to get his point across.
Those words? "F*** you." And he doesn't mean it toward a reporter asking him a question, or seemingly anyone directly. He is speaking to all of the doubters that the team, and, specifically, quarterback Sam Darnold, have had for as long as anyone can remember.
Being interviewed by the NFL Network's Stacey Dales after Seattle defeated the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship game, Jones said at the end of the quick talk when asked about Darnold, "Ohhhh, like I said, f*** you!"
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones continues his support of quarterback Sam Darnold
If one had never heard Jones say the curse word or understood where his intent was coming from, one might assume that the linebacker didn't really care for the quarterback, or that he was speaking to Darnold. That would be quite strange, though, and it is obvious that Jones simply means he stands behind his quarterback fully.
That mentality has been one of the most important aspects of this Seahawks team. In more recent seasons, the team had a quarterback (Geno Smith) and a wide receiver (DK Metcalf) who could lose control of their emotions. Smith, especially, would lash out at teammates if he felt a mistake had been made.
Darnold doesn't do that. His poise helps him and the team succeed, and that is a must. A narrative has been written about the quarterback for most of his career that he can't win big games, and he will force mistakes that get his team beaten.
Arguably, that has happened a couple of times this year, but the same thing happens to any player. Sam Darnold's ability to quickly forget the past and keep trying to excel is what has helped him improve. To the point that he is on the verge of leading the Seattle Seahawks to a championship.
Of course, anything can happen in Super Bowl LX. Perhaps the New England Patriots find a way to bait Darnold into too many interceptions. At least, Seattle is so well built that it can withstand an underperformance in one area but still get a victory as a whole. Even if Darnold fails, which is not the expectation, one can be sure Ernest Jones and the rest of the team will support him.