John Clayton providing a juicy rumor thingy mabob:

"Q: Any truth to the rumblings that Osi Umenyiora is unhappy in New York? If so, what type of compensation do you believe it would take to land him?

Matthew in Vermilion, Ohio

A: Great timing on this question. He is unhappy because the organization talked to him about a contract extension but nothing has happened. Also, remember that he's a plaintiff in the Tom Brady case. He spent two hours at the bargaining talks Thursday. Owner John Mara told him to meet with team management. He will. If he's not satisfied, maybe there will be a trade. Don't be surprised if Seattle gets involved. It's also not out of the question for him to get a contract extension. This could be one of the most interesting stories at the start of free agency."

John Clayton's Mailbag

What are your thoughts? I think this can be a great move since Osi Umenyiora (29) can provide Seattle with an excellent DE similar to Raheem Brock (33) but younger and better. We saw what Julius Peppers brought to the Bears defense last year, could Umenyiora provide the same spark to the Seahawks?

Not sure how many of you were clamoring for Mike Reilly last year but now he is here in Seattle. He is a Central Washington Grad with prototypical size. We just signed him off the Rams waiver. I think he should be good competition to make the roster against Teel. As Mike Sando points out, he was with the Packers when the Queen worked there so this might be more than an extra arm.

Mike Reilly signed off the waivers (sorry real link here, wrong in place for humor purposes.) 

Here is his wikipedia page.

According to the article, John Schneider is the next Seahawks General Manager. I am excited because of the model that he has used in Green Bay to build a team through the draft and not getting expensive free agents with one or two year peak. Now let's see how we do in finishing putting together our staff. I am excited to see who we get on staff and how we do in the draft. 

Brian edit: John Clayton broke the news this morning on 710ESPN.  There has been no official confirmation from the team yet.

This video brandishes the 12th man as the 9th best homefield advantage in the NFL. Obviously we concur. This is a good antidote Brendan Scolari trolling fanpost about Julius Jones where average is good and mediocre is best. Everytime I leave Qwest Field I am screaming just to hear myself speak. What are some of your experiences at Qwest Field? Are you ready for tomorrow's home opener? Are the Bronco's ready for the 12th Man?

News out of Oakland Tom Cable got angry at an assistant who was not so polite to Sir John Marshall and what ensued is sketchy but the assistant Randy Hanson had to go to the hospital with a jaw injury.  While Tom Cable denies he punched Hanson, the story of flipping the chair and Hanson hitting a cabinet is just as bad. Looks like the Raiders are continuing their bad men approach from the 70s. Also, thankfully John Marshall has a big bodyguard, Tom Cable because we all know Oakland is a rough town.

In Danny O'Neil's Seahawks Blog , he finishes his observations of Training Camp practices with an interesting note.


"Changes on Tapp: Seattle showed one of the first signs of new wrinkles on defense, using a nickel package with three down lineman -- including Cory Redding who moved inside to tackle -- and defensive end Darryl Tapp lining up without his hand down, faking a blitz, and dropping back to cover the tight end."

What do you guys think of this? I would like to know who was on the other side but I think it is interesting using Tapp as a decoy and in coverage. He does have more INTs than Leroy Hill. I hope this means this is the end of the undisguised  3rd and long 6 or 7 man blitz that John Marshall rewarded to opposing offenses.

According to Mike Sando in his NFC West Blog he states:

"Jordan Babineaux will challenge Brian Russell for the starting job at free safety. Babineaux is focusing on one position -- safety, not corner -- and the team hopes that helps him. Ruskell also pointed to an improved maturity level with Babineaux. They would like to get more range at the safety position."

I am not sure we were really rooting for Babineaux to become safety but this is an interesting development. Also in the segment, it mentions that Mike Wahle is not doing so well so Max Unger can challenge for the starting left guard.  Sando also mentions that the Seahawks are making Max Unger learn all positions of the interior line. Enough also with those chips?

Continue reading this post »

According to the depth chart on seahawks.com , it is interesting to see Kevin Hobbs ahead of Kelly Jennings. Is this a sign of things to come? What do you guys think of the CBs? Kevin Hobbs adds significant size compared to Kelly Jennings but will that size translate on the field?

I feel like Kelly Jennings is not as bad as Brian Russell made him look but he also lacks the ability to make a play on the ball. I do think this is Jennings make or break year if he makes the team.

So I was reading the Seahawks section of the Ultimate Standings on ESPN while listening to Ed "Too Tall" Jones song "Can't Stand the Heat" and of all people it quotes Misfit from Fieldgulls! 

"We have a committed ownership that wants to put forth a winning product year in and year out," writes Misfit74 at fieldgulls.com. "It's not like we're the Lions or Bengals." 

Congrats you are famous. BTW listen to the Ed "Too Tall" Jones song, it is delicious.

I am constantly baffled by the people who seem to think that Rob Sims is awful. They seem to argue that he whiffs in pass protect but when he is in, Matt Hasselbeck has the best passing stats of his career. I actually think he is great at pass protect and just ok at run blocking. Am I insane? People with access and understanding of the information necessary to prove or disprove my point, please post. 

According to KJRAM.com Julian Peterson could be released. He was apparently asked to take a pay cut and refused.  Maybe Aaron Curry will be a member of the 4-3 West Coast Defense. I personally believe that Julian Peterson brings such physical freakness that releasing him would be a major mistake. Julian Peterson was our only LB to play in all the games last season. I have serious doubts about Hills ability to play through minor injuries. What are your thoughts on the situation?