Super Bowl Update

By Kshell

The Seattle Seahawks once again showing how they don't really care about team distractions as they just signed future hall of fame wide receiver Terrell Owens. As Owens famously would say better get your popcorn ready. The Seahawks on Monday signed Owens to a one year deal worth one million. Pete Carroll is showing once again he'll bring in guys who are hungry and ready to compete. Owens who has played previously for the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals hasn't played in an NFL game since 2010. Owens was last seen being cut by an Arena  Football league team and has always been known to be a team cancer in previous stops. The Seahawks are taking a gamble and if Owens isn't buying into what Carroll wants he'll be cut just like previous players have.

Terrell Owens coming to the Seahawks is a bit of a shock for those who remember his stunt he pulled on the Seahawks during a Monday Night Football game back in 2002. When the Seahawks were going to take on the 49ers two years ago I actually talked about that incident plus some other famous games . For Owens while he was with the 49ers he also danced on the Dallas Cowboys star at midfield before joining the Cowboys later on. What the Seahawks are getting in Owens is a six-time pro bowl wide receiver and five-time first-team all-pro. Owens has led the NFL in receiving touchdowns three times in his career and has gone over the 1,000 yard mark nine times in his career. For his career he has played in 219 games making 201 starts. He has recorded 1,078 receptions for 15,934 yards(14.8 YPC) with 153 touchdowns. He has 39 carries for 251 yards(6.4 YPC) for three touchdowns. Owens has made the pro bowl with the 49ers, Eagles and Cowboys and played in one super bowl with the Eagles. In that Super Bowl loss playing on one leg he caught nine passes for 122 yards showing how special of a talent he really is. There is no doubt that T.O. despite all his other stuff that he pulls along with Randy Moss was the receiver of the 2000's.

The reality is the Seahawks aren't signing that T.O. just like when they traded for the greatest receiver of all-time Jerry Rice they got him at the end of his career. Owens was last seen in the NFL playing for the Cincinnati Bengals back in 2010 where he played in 14 games making 11 starts. During that year Owens caught 72 passes for 983 yards(13.7 YPC) with nine touchdowns. Owens at the age of 37 proved he still had game. Unfortunately for the Seahawks Owens is going to turn 39 years old this December and hasn't produced a 1,000 yard season since 2008 or made the pro bowl since 2007. Owens at this point in his career doesn't appear to be worth the head ache. He still is 6'3" 226 pounds and if anything is another guy brought in to push the youngsters. Owens will provide competition and can't afford to be a problem in the locker room as Carroll has shown with anyone that he'll cut him. Carroll is bringing in Owens because he feels Owens can still be a decent player in this league. However, if Owens attitude or more importantly his production isn't up to par he won't make this roster.

The Seahawks earlier also brought in Braylon Edwards. Edwards who has played for the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers. Edwards back in 2007 caught 80 passes for 1,289 yards(16.1 YPC) for 16 touchdowns at the age of 24 years old. It had appeared Edwards was ready to join Owens and Moss as an elite wide receiver in this league. Instead he has never found the magic despite his 6'3" frame. Recently he was cut by the 49ers last year after catching only 15 passes for 181 yards(12.1 YPC) in nine games. Edwards like Owens was brought in to compete for a roster spot. In 2007 if someone told me the Seahawks would have Owens, Kellen Winslow and Edwards I'd think this would be a really talented roster but an explosive roster as well. I doubt both Edwards and Owens make this team. Better chance neither makes this roster than both making the roster.

In the end I don't mind these moves actually. If either guy can find his old form then the Seahawks picked up a solid receiver for nothing like they have the last two years with Mike Williams in 2010 and Doug Baldwin in 2011. If either guy shows he has no game Carroll will cut him like he has already done with Antonio Bryant who was signed then immediately cut a few days later. Carroll is constantly bringing in players and constantly cutting even more players until he finds the roster he likes. That is the thing I like about the Seahawks I feel like we are maximizing our 53 man rosters better than anyone. The Seahawks may not have the best talent but they don't have scrubs on their roster either. All said and done if you survive cut day you still must compete or Carroll will still show you the door. Owens and Edwards might find their pro bowl ability once again or they might end up getting cut before week one. I like that the Seahawks are taking chances on guys and aren't afraid to cut bait if this doesn't work out. As a Seahawks fan I hope Owens is making us all say the phrase "get your popcorn ready". This was a risky signing by the Seahawks but a very solid move when all said and done.

By Kshell

The big surprised on Montlake was the fact that Chris Polk who graded out to be a second or third round pick went undrafted. Another Washington Huskies player in Jermaine Kearse went undrafted as well. For Polk and Kearse both record setters at Washington this was tough to see. Both were brought in during Tyrone Willingham's last recruiting class which was ranked 14th in the nation. Both guys were part of the turnaround of Husky football leading them to back to back bowl games. Both running back Polk and wide receiver Kearse were signed immediately. The Philadelphia Eagles signed Polk while the hometown Seattle Seahawks signed Jermaine Kearse. Kearse most figured would go undrafted after a disappointing senior season while Polk was a huge shocker. Polk left after his junior year and apparantly teams were concerned with his injuries which is why he was undrafted. Still despite what the combines say the eye test has to show that Polk is a performer on the field. Polk can flat out get the job done when the Huskies needed him to the past three seasons as well as Kearse.

For Polk he is going to a good situation with the Eagles who were impressed with him during the draft process. Although Polk has had three surguries already in his career he has yet to miss a game the last three seasons. After getting hurt his true freshman year Polk as a redshirt freshman in 2009 rushed for 1,113 yards with five touchdowns. In 2010 Polk ran for 1,465 yards with nine touchdowns. He was also named Holiday Bowl MVP as the Huskies upset the Nebraska Cornhuskers 19-7. As a senior Polk ran for 1,488 yards(5.1 YPC) with 12 touchdowns. He also caught 31 passes for 332 yards with four touchdowns. For his Husky career he finished with 4,049 yards rushing(5.1 YPC) with 26 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 79 passes for for 683 yards with four touchdowns all in just 40 career games meaning he averaged over 100 yards rushing per game in his career.  Polk will leave behind a strong legacy as he and Kaufman are the only backs to ever rush for over 1,000 yards three straight seasons. Polk was first-team all freshman selection and honorable mention all Pac-10 in 2009, second team all pac-10 in 2010 and the first Husky offensive player to be on the first team all Pac-12 team since Reggie Williams in 2003 when he was selected in 2011. The Eagles are going to be getting a very fine player in Polk who has a major chip on his shoulder much like Arian Foster did.

The Seattle Seahawks signed the former Husky standout wide receiver Jermaine Kearse. Kearse was a big play receiver for the Huskies and Jake Locker's favorite target in 2009 and 2010. Kearse  as a true freshman, caught 20 passes for 301 yards (15.0 YPC) and two touchdowns. As a sophomore, he broke out with 50 receptions for 866 yards(17.3 YPC) with eight touchdowns. Then as a junior he continued his improvement with 63 receptions for 1,005 yards(16.0 YPC) with 12 touchdowns. He was  named to the second team all Pac-10 team those two years. He had plenty of big games his junior year in the Huskies 41-20 win over Syracuse, Kearse had nine receptions for 179 yards with three touchdowns. Later in the year, he set a Huskies record against Oregon State, catching four touchdown passes in the 35-34 double-overtime win. He had nine receptions for 146 yards with four touchdowns that game. Then in the Apple Cup he had six receptions for 178 yards with two touchdowns, including the game winning touchdown. As a senior with more talented receivers in the fold and a new quarterback in Keith Price his production fell off. Kearse finished the year with 47 receptions for 699 yards and seven touchdowns. He was named honorable mention all Pac-12 but a memorable game in his final game. In the 67-56 Alamo Bowl loss Kearse caught five passes for 198 yards with a touchdown which was an 80 yard bomb.  Kearse has big play ability and is hoping to pull a Doug Baldwin and make the Seahawks roster.

For these two the news of not getting picked had to be a disappointment as they left behind a legacy at the University of Washington. I think Polk will make the Eagles roster and actually become a key member on a very talented team. For Kearse his odds are long but the Seahawks receivers aren't exactly studs either. Last year Doug Baldwin who put up less numbers than Kearse did in college made the Seahawks roster as an undrafted rookie. Hopefully both Kearse and Polk make an impact on their teams. Either way they were both great Huskies and their names are at the top of the record books for a reason. They were a big reason why the Huskies went from 0-12 to back to back bowl appearances.

By Kshell

The Seattle Seahawks made a bold move in this years NFL draft that shocked all the prognosticators. The Seahawks first of all traded their 12th pick overall in the draft to the Philadelphia Eagles for the Eagles 15th pick overall, 4th rounder(114th overall) and 6th rounder through the Colts(172nd overall). Then the Seahawks took troubled OLB Bruce Irvin out of West Virginia University. Irvin is considered the best pass rusher in this entire draft but has had some off the field issues. He also appears to be as of right now a one dimensional player. Most people had Irvin projected to go into the second round although Rob Rang had him going to the Baltimore Ravens with the 29th pick. In fact several teams coveted Irvin who offers an elite skill set which could make this Seahawks defense very dangerous.

The major negative on Irvin is his poor rap sheet. Irvin was ruled ineligible to play high school football and served time in Juvenile while in high school before dropping out and getting his GED. He also had to attend Mt. San Antonio junior college in 2009 where all he did was earn first-team all-american status recording 72 tackles, 21 for loss and 16 sacks. After he signed with the West Virginina Mountaineers he had a monster year in 2010. In 2010 Irvin recorded 14 sacks and earned second-team all-big east. In 2011 he recorded 8.5 sacks and was first team all-big east. Irvin is 6'3" 245 lbs who runs a 4.5 40 which Pete Carroll says is closer to 4.4 actually. Irvin also had the fastest shuttle time at 4.03 seconds he is a fast freak of nature. Some have said his ceiling is Von Miller while his floor is a nickel pass rusher. Either way he is a guy who is going to rack up sacks for the Seahawks and fill a role. Carroll has also known him since he was in high school and feels like he can mentor him so the off field issues won't be a problem. Carroll is banking on Irvin to be on his best behavior and be that beast pass rusher the Seahawks have lacked since trading away Julian Peterson.

Last year the San Francisco 49ers were mocked for "reaching" for Aldon Smith out of Missouri. Smith was taken 7th overall in the draft by the 49ers. This past season Smith started zero games for the 49ers as well so when you hear that you think he was a bust. You couldn't be more wrong either as Smith recorded 14 sacks, forced two fumbles and even recorded a safety. Smith was half a sack away from the rookie record set by Jevon Kearse. Smith is a specialist for the 49ers and they used him to get to the NFC championship game. He was also arrested very recently for a DUI so like Irvin might have some character issues. In today's pass happy NFL the most important thing in this league to be successful is having a good passing offense which the Seahawks addressed with  Matt Flynn and a good passing defense. The Seahawks have a great secondary ranking 11th against the pass. The Seahawks however needed a pass rusher as their leading sack man was Chris Clemons who had 11 but will be turning 31. After Clemons? Leroy Hill with just four sacks. The facts are the Seahawks needed more pass rushers and even if that's all Irvin does much like Smith does for the 49ers this pick is worth it.

I know I preach not to trust Seattle sports but I do trust Pete Carroll and John Schneider until they do me wrong. In the draft they haven't so far. In their first draft in 2010 they took pro bowler safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor(5th round). They also took two year starter at left tackle Russell Okung and nickel corner Walter Thurmond. The following year they took all rookie selection Richard Sherman in the fifth round who emerged as a starter. Also took starters James Carpenter, John Moffitt(3rd round) and linebacker K.J. Wright(4th round). That doesn't include Doug Baldwin who they signed off free agency who went undrafted. Baldwin this past year started one game while catching 51 passes for 788 yards and four touchdowns. Add it all up the Seahawks in the last two years through the draft have had eight impact players. They also acquired an extra fourth and sixth round pick in the process a point that keeps being ignored. These two know what they are doing especially in the draft.

The Seahawks moved back and acquired some picks while grabbing the guy they wanted. Sure most pundits had Irvin slipping to the second round so why not wait until then you ask? Obviously Carroll and Schneider heard through the grapevine that somebody else liked Irvin a lot. In fact seven or more NFL teams had Irvin in their top 15 so the Seahawks didn't want to risk it. As for the character issues? I can care less to tell you the truth. The Seahawks with this pick did something that the Tim Ruskell era Seahawks wouldn't have done. They swung for the fences and ignored "character" issues. Facts are in the NFL not all these guys you root for are "good" guys in fact most are scum. Carroll unlike Ruskell isn't trying to build a community service all-star team he is trying to win a Super Bowl championship which this team deserves! Irvin is an elite pass rusher who was misused in a 3-3-5 and still recorded 22.5 sacks in two seasons there. Even if he is one dimensional he is elite at that skill. I love this pick and I'm excited for what Carroll has up his sleeve in the later rounds where the Seahawks in recent years tend to excell at.