The Seattle Seahawks Week 1 game, the contest that would open the NFL season, was always set up to put the focus on their opponent, the New England Patriots. The Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini drama was going to be a massive talking point. Head coach Mike Macdonald's team? Not as much.
But this week, the Patriots made a trade many anticipated would be coming for most of the offseason. New England sent the Philadelphia Eagles a 2028 first-round draft pick and a 2027 fifth-round choice in return for mercurial wide receiver A.J. Brown. Not a bad deal for the Pats, but overall, not great for Seattle.
The NFL got a gift with the trade, though. Instead of national pundits focusing on the Vrabel situation, which they most certainly will still do, they can also discuss how Brown will improve New England, a team that was destroyed in the Super Bowl last season by the Seahawks.
Patriots trading for A.J. Brown further diminishes talk about the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1
Seattle hasn't made the same kind of splash move this offseason, but likely didn't feel the need to. The roster was loaded even after the team lost free agents Kenneth Walker, Boye Mafe, and Riq Woolen. Macdonald's squad can still likely contend for another title, though maybe some ground has been lost to the Los Angeles Rams after they dealt for edge rusher Myles Garrett.
Maybe this is the way it should be, though. Clearly, after winning a title, Seattle is going to be the hunted team, but with a young roster, the internal hunger is likely there to repeat as champions, and then again. Feeling a bit disrespected might only help their cause.
And the disrespect won't be manufactured, either. Ahead of the season opener on Wednesday, September 9, at Lumen Field, one can assume that what most people outside of the Pacific Northwest will be discussing is whether Russini might give an interview about what did or didn't happen with Mike Vrabel, or how A.J. Brown will fit in New England.
What will be talked about far less is how well Devon Witherspoon, Nick Emmanwori, and the rest of the Seattle Seahawks defense will cover Brown and the rest of the New England Patriots offense. Instead of Mike Macdonald getting praise, likely more will be speculating on Vrabel's problems.
But that's fine. Drama sells, and the Seahawks are not a team with a lot of drama. Seattle will likely keep winning a lot of games, which is what truly matters to 12s.
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