King Crowns Seattle Champs
The Seattle Seahawks will win the NFC West division according to Peter King. King released his first “power reankings” of the 2010 season. I despise power rankings, they are a complete waste of time, much like assigning grades to various teams drafts the day after the draft concludes.
According to King,
“11. Seattle. I don’t love the division, so it’s logical to give Turnaround Team of the Year to Pete Carroll and the Seahawks. “I know one thing we will do,” he said to me a month ago. “We will increase competition at every position on the roster.” Charlie Whitehurst, Leon Washington, LenDale White (laugh if you must, but he’ll be a factor because Carroll will know how to press his buttons) and a slew of other role players will see to that. I say Matt Hasselbeck has one more sound year in him, and he’ll have weapons enough to edge the 49ers and Cards for the division.”
But as much as I despise power rankings, I do have to agree with King on his prediction of Seattle winning their division in 2010. Seattle made some wise selections in the draft last month and acquired some smart players through trades and free agent signings which will contribute right away. The torch passes from Arizona to Seattle in 2010.
Seattle, A Miserable Sports Town
Well according to Forbes it is, and it’s not just due to the Seattle Seahawks.Forbes.com issued a list last week of America’s most miserable sports cities, and Seattle was firmly entrenched at number 1. The index was created by adding the number of postseason appearances by a respective city’s teams and compared that with the number of championship titles actually won. There was a complicated formula which utilized a point system for appearing in championship games and losing, as well as subtracting points for cities that had franchises relocate elsewhere. Cities which were used in the comparison needed to have a combined total of 75 seasons of their respective teams.
Seattle received low marks in the scoring for only having one championship, (NBA Supersonics) losing a team, (the Supersonics), losing the Super Bowl and compiling a poor overall team record by the Seahawks in the past few seasons.
While Forbes might have rated Seattle as the most miserable sports city, Seahawks fans are among the leagues most passionate and one only has to watch a Seattle home game on any given Sunday to see that. Pete Carroll has the Seahawks moving in the right direction and it won’t be long before Seattle returns to the post season. And if Buffalo ever loses the Bills to Toronto, Buffalo should rapidly replace Seattle at #1.
Seattle a frontrunner for OG Pitts
The Seattle Seahawks have emerged as a possible front runner for veteran OG Chester Pitts. Fox Sports Houston reports that the Minnesota Vikings contacted Pitts last week but according to Pitts himself his best opportunity might be in Seattle.
Pitts turns 31 this summer and has started every game in the past 7 seasons for the Houston Texans but is currently rehabbing from microfracture surgery on his knee.
Pitts is currently not football ready but he stated he should be ready to go by training camp. If healthy, Pitts would be a significant upgrade for Seattle’s offensive line.
Seahawk’s Williams addresses off field issues
Seattle Seahawks newly signed free agent wide receiver Mike Williams addressed some of the off field issues which have plagued him the past few years. In an interview on ESPN 710 in Seattle, Williams commented on his days in Detroit, and eating issues among other things.
Williams played for Carroll while at USC, but he has failed to elivate his game to the next level in the NFL. After a few unsuccessful seasons in Detroit, after being a first round draft choice, he was released. Williams was then picked up by the Tennessee Titans where his weight reportedly skyrocketed to 270 pounds. Williams confirmed that in the radio interview, “The most I got to was 269, 270.”
Williams went on to say, “I hate to say it,but it was good eating like steaks, pasta, stuff like that.” He went on to say that he has lost about 40 pounds. The weight loss coupled with a new found passion for the game led to high praise from Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll after Seattle’s rookie camp this past week. “To see Mike come out and be effective for the second straight camp, that’s a really good sign for him. He’s definitely in a place where he’s really competitive.,” said Carroll.
Williams basically blamed the Lions organization for his lack of production in the NFL. “Some inflicting bad habits, as well as being with an organization that didn’t really have a plan for me, to say it nicely.” Williams did go on to say he was grateful for the Lions and the city of Detroit, though it wasn’t exactly clear what he was grateful for.
This is Williams thrid opportunity to catch on with an NFL team. He has a good opportunity to make some noise in Seattle with WR’s Deion Branch and T.J. Houshmandzadeh out of camp this offseason with minor surgeries limiting their participation. Williams too, might have an extra incentive to finally turn his career around. He is now married and his wife is expecting a child.
Seahawks to Hill- “Stay Home”
The Seattle Seahawks told LB Leroy Hill to stay away from the Seahawks second mini-camp this offseason. At this point, the Seahawks front office actions must raise a few questions. Hill , 27, is entering his 6th season in the NFL but has had a string of off field problems surrounding him.
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Hill has been a starter for Seattle and has logged 375 tackles and 14 sacks during his career. However, this is the second time the Seahawks have told Hill to stay away from off season workouts and head coach Pete Carroll told the media once Hill’s current problems are resolved, “we’ll see where it goes”.
Hill had recently resolved a marijuna charge with a plea deal and then less than a week later, was arrested on domestic violence charges. With Hill due nearly 6 million in salary in 2010 coupled with his inability to stay out of trouble off the field, Hill might be looking for work elsewhere in the league this season.
