It amazes me sometimes how one writer can say something off the cuff, another will expound on it, and then how many of the Seahawks faithful will go running up the mountian to ask Sando if it's true.

Case in point: On Feb 25th, John Czarnecki makes this comment on his blog:

"It must be comical to head coach Mike Holmgren and his coaching staff that the Seahawks are preparing to pay Chargers guard Kris Dielman, an unrestricted free agent, more than the $6.5 million that Steve Hutchinson received last year to leave Seattle for Minnesota."

The next day, Doug Farrar takes it to the next step on Scout.com:

"On Sunday, FoxSports.com’s John Czarnecki reported that the Seahawks are preparing to offer Chargers guard Kris Dielman a contract that would pay the 26-year-old lineman somewhere in the neighborhood of $6.5 million per year."

And so it begins. Seahawks fans everywhere react to the headlines, getting the impression that Czarnecki has some special inside information about the Seahawks being in serious pursuit of Dielman. And so, the Guru is approached. His response?

"I did see John Czarnecki's blog item about the Hawks possibly throwing big money at Kris Dielman...The Seahawks are among the teams with interest in Dielman, but I have no idea whether the team is prepared to pay that kind of money to him. I do know that Steve Hutchinson got $7 million per season. I previously listed Dielman as a guy the Seahawks might target in free agency. As for a specific price, I would not know. Any projections could be premature given that Seattle has a new contract negotiator."

Sounds all too reasonable...

Here's what I think happened: Everyone and their dog knows that the Seahawks are interested in Dielman. Everyone and their neighbor's dog knows that most teams, including the Seahawks, have ample cap space this year. To put it simply, I think Czarnecki realizes and assumes that everyone knows this, and he can write the aforementioned bit without actually "reporting" anything.

Given these cap conditions, if the Seahawks are interested in him, we can assume they had better be prepared to pay more then they would have paid Hutch. In fact, that is what he was writing about -- the irony of the situation, not some breaking news on a pending contract offer.

Having said that, what stock should we put in these FOX blogs, anyway?

Sample 1: John Czarnecki
Sample 2: ??????????????



[Comments taken in SeahawkBlue Forums]

Labels: Bloof, free agents, Rumors

It's not too often that the people who write the stories can become the story. But once in awhile, you recognize and appreciate the persons that act as a faithful conduit for the information and insight you avidly consume.

In the Seahawks fan cyber-universe, Mike Sando is widely regarded as being among the best in the business. Not being content with delivering regular stories in Tacoma's fish wrap, he has used his blog to become the motherload of bright, honest and deep Seahawks information. Maybe Seth from Seattlest put it best, describing Sando as a 'Seahawks Monster':

"This man covers the Seahawks like Cookie Monster eats cookies. Sando's got Seahawks crumbs flying out of his mouth, cascading down his front, like C.M., he probably has his own Seahawks covering song...or movie.

In the past week, Sando's provided on his Seahawks Insider blog:

--An Excel spreadsheet displaying the results of 13 different Seahawks mock drafts.

--Another spreadsheet showing--just for fun--every pick in the 1996 draft.

--A PDF file showing upcoming public appearances by Seahawks players.

--A revealing chat with Titans coach Jeff Fisher about drafting defensive backs (which is what the Hawks are expected to do).

Last week, Sando posted an Excel spreadsheet of the Seahawks roster...sortable by position, by draft number, even by height. Unfortunately, the blog's been redesigned and we can't find that post.

Note: this isn't the place for smartest-guy-in-the-room commentary. Sando keeps his opinions to himself and simply provides information. An avalanche of information. This may be the best blog of its kind anywhere."

I tend to agree. I can't think of anyone that even comes close.

Which leads me to another worry -- will someone this effective stay in this position? I can't help but think of the ESPN.com's Senior NFL Writer, John Clayton. Although he got his start covering the Steelers in Pennsylvania, it was his work at the same company, the Tacoma News-Tribune, that became his springboard to a career on the national stage.

Will Sando follow suit? Recent developments make me wonder. For example, ESPN2's Cold Pizza has been spending the recent offeason taking a five minute look at an NFL team each day. Who do they call on to be the Resident Seahawks Guru? Who else.

In case you missed it:

http://www.dropshots.com/videolink.php?userid=88103&cdate=20070225&ctime=200306&showVideo=1

Sure, he was a stiffer than The Watchdog at a petting zoo, but he was good for his first try.

But why does this feel like he's getting ready to ride off into the sunset? He just cleaned up this town. Now it seems like he is getting ready to hop on his white horse and find his next big adventure, ala Clayton.

Add to this his recent blog entry regarding the rare and special access given to him at the NFL combine, it appears the national stage is ready and waiting for him.

I bet he's here one more season. After that, we'll have a huge empty cookie jar in Seahawks land.

bloof@seahawkblue.com

[Comments taken in SeahawkBlue Forums]

Labels: Bloof, Mike Sando

The San Diego Union-Tribune, as noted by Mike Sando, has reported this morning that the Seattle Seahawks have granted permission to the San Diego Chargers to talk to Jim Mora about filling their recently vacant head coaching job.

What happened to "coaching the defensive backfield is where his heart is"? What about his contract? Why is the front office allowing this? This is disappointing to many Seahawks fans.

Personally, if Mora is interested in any kind of legacy, it's not smart to jerk around his home town like this.

Join in the disgusted commentary that's already started by clicking the link below!


Bloof@seahawkblue.com


[Comments taken in SeahawkBlue Forums]

Labels: Bloof, Front Office, Jim Mora Jr

The "What I Learned From" series, my weekly personal pet post from 12 Seahawks Street, has been resurrected for Seahawk Blue's Front Page. Now that I've cooled off a bit, had a little vacation, I finally feel sober enough to relate the token bits I gathered from the entire 2006 season.

1. As a fan, it's a little easier to accept a painful season-ending loss when you know your team played their guts out, and the referees let the players play.

2. Single most surprisingly regrettable decision of 2006? Putting Leonard Weaver on IR.

3. Jerramy Stevens' performance in the last two games has restored my faith in second chances.

4. There is a missing dimension in the Seahawks offensive backfield. It has a good running threat. It has a good blocker. But receiver? There is no legitimate threat. Mack Strong can catch a swing pass, but it rarely amounts to more than a one or two yard gain. If Seattle could plug the right person into the RB group this offseason, it would open up the playbook and the field to Hasselbeck and Alexander more than any other acquisition, by giving the opponents' linebackers another dimension to worry about.

5. Grant Wistrom must be a heckuva guy in the locker room, because his performance/cost ratio baffles me.

6. Are Marcus Tubbs and Floyd Womack the same person? They play half the time, they are injured or missing for the other half. Are they ever on the playing field simulataneously? They look different, but so do all of the Klumps.


7. I will never get tired of punking the Rams. Especially with a backup quarterback.

8. We knew this season was going to be tough, didn't we? But not this tough. F***.

9. We are now unofficially past Shaun Alexander's prime. I think he has a lot left in the tank, but from here to every end zone for the rest of his career is where he will either establish himself as a Hall of Fame running back, or just one more of the many good ones.

10. Matt Hasselbeck has established himself as not only being in control of the offense, but also as one tough SOB. Pink argyle sweater or not, the team should respect him, and it appears they do.

11. Walter Jones is mortal.

12. Chris Gray must have nude pictures of a coach somewhere.

13. Boulware and Hamlin are not good for each other. I've watched too many snarky cop duo movies to know that two uptight guys never get done with the crime scene investigation, but two freelancers never do anything right and end up blowing up buildings instead of solving murders. You need to have one freelancer and one uptight guy, so they can can save the world with their respective talents and entertain audiences while they irritate each other. On this case, we have two freelancers, and they are burning down my effing house.

14. I still miss Amber Lancaster.

15. We are now a place where good players want to play. What a change.

I learned a few more things, but it's just boring stuff Alba wrote about already.


Bloof@SeahawkBlue.com


[Comments taken in SeahawkBlue Forums]

Labels: Bloof, What I Learned

I swear I wrote this two years ago...

According to Adam Schefter on NFL.com, Mack Strong concluded Pro Bowl practice today with the confirmation that he is indeed returning to add one more fabled season to his chronologically-defiant career.

What gets into this guy? After 12 years of pounding linebackers into submission, he makes it to Hawaii. After 13 years, he thinks he's Superman, flies over defenders in a single bound, and does it again. What will he do for this, his 14th year? Burn through safeties with his laser beam eyes?

He will always be one one of my heroes, for his workmanlike approach, his humble team spirit, and his balls-out toughness. At his core, he is a lot of what this team is all about.

On a more realistic note, Strong did struggle at times last season. In fact, he may have gone to the Pro Bowl by reputation and default. Partly due to injury, mostly due to being friggin' older than Methusaleh, he will need to share some of his playing time if he's going to make it through a season without becoming a handicap.

But in any case, Mack Strong, I celebrate your career, even before it is done.

[Comments taken in SeahawkBlue Forums]

Labels: Bloof, Mack Strong

I'm having a lot of trouble getting excited about this Super Bowl. It's not the nauseating thought of Prince grabbing headlines and other body parts when we should be enjoying a football game. It's not the droll Colts vs. Bears matchup, even though it's pretty unexciting to me.

It's the memories of last year, coming back to haunt me. Seeing the Seahawks outplay the Steelers, and then losing by the difference of a few screwy referee blunders still chokes me up. I refrained at the time from flaming out on the internet about it -- I was just glad the Seahawks had such a great season -- but still I had a heavy heart. Not just because of the miscarraige of justice in this game, but because of what was happening to my dear, beloved sport of NFL football.

You remember the playoffs last year, right? One disputed, pivotal, game-changing referee blunder after another. Like a teenager's prom night zit, the travesty of the Super Bowl was merely a continuance of what was becoming the abysmal but established norm. It just happened to come to a head - again - on the biggest night of these player's lives. The NFL had a bad acne problem, and no amount of wishing was going to make it clear up. They needed a ProActiv Solution to their problems, or the NFL was going to lose all credibilty.

But I'm not writing this to vent hostility about last years' Super Bowl. That would be pointless and accomplish nothing. What I did want to say is that our loss was not in vain.

Check out this bit from John Clayton:

"According to the Times, officials called 876 fewer penalties this season, an average of 3.5 fewer a game. Only 11.9 penalties were called in each
game, and the number dropped to single figures in the playoffs. Overall, that's a good thing. Fewer penalties mean more action, and it led to one of the league's most competitive seasons and clearly one of the closest playoffs in NFL history."

Have you noticed this yourself? Football is the main topic after games. It's not about the lousy refs or blown calls. Mike Peiera is not breaking down video in midweek, stammering through some horrid explanation of how they screwed up.

Football is back. The refs are letting the players play, and I love it.

But I'm still sad. Sad it had to be our team that took the brunt of the injustice. But at least it appears to have had a purpose. I just can't seem to enjoy it yet.


[Comments taken in SeahawkBlue Forums]

Labels: Bloof, Referees, Seahawks, Super Bowl

It's part blog. It's part editorial. It's part soapbox, part pulpit. It's a place to be heard, published, and syndicated. It's a way to explore your creativity and show off your wit. It's a sounding board, a launch pad, and an opportunity.

Labels: Bloof, How-To, Members, SeahawkBlue

Maybe you've noticed, but the Front Page it is strangely deviod of content. Would you like to contribute?


First you have to meet some very basic qualifications:

1. You've got to have some love for the Seahawks. Your passion is what will make your work readable, and if your are a devout member of #12, you will most likely also know your stuff.
2. You must have a proven ablilty to write entertaining, stimulating, and informative content.
3. You need to use the spelling and punctuation they taught you in school.
4. Avoid sounding like you're in love with yourself.
5. Have a point. Don't take to long to develop it.
6. You must be able to keep things rated PG and be willing to submit to an occasional edit.
7. You need to send me an email requesting access: bloof@seahawkblue.com

Other than that, just HAVE FUN, and

GO SEAHAWKS!!!

Labels: Bloof, How-To, Members