Projo Pats Blog

After they reached the second round of the NFC playoffs last season, and with Mike Holmgren on his farewell tour before ending his distinguished coaching career, the Seattle Seahawks were thought to be a Super Bowl contender entering this season. Instead, Seattle limps into Week 14 with a 2-10 record, and likely to finish with their worst record since 1992, when former London Monarchs star Stan Gelbaugh was the regular quarterback.

And while the Seahawks have had a lot of problems on offense, due to injuries throughout the season to many of their top players, the defense has been just as bad, something that has been a surprise to head coach Mike Holmgren. The Seahawks are 30th out of the NFL's 32 teams in total defense, surrendering 386.7 yards per game. That compares to 15th last season. The Seahawks defense is also worse off than any other in the league when it comes to getting off the field; opponents are averaging 34 minutes and 23 seconds with the ball each game. (That should work well for the Patriots' offense, which is sixth in the NFL in time of possession.) Seattle is dead last in the league in pass defense, surrendering 265.2 yards per game and allowing opposing quarterbacks to amass a rating of 99.3. Of all regular starting quarterbacks in the NFL, only three -- Tony Romo, Philip Rivers and Kurt Warner -- have higher ratings on the season. The Seahawks are a comparatively respectable 22nd in defending the run, giving up 121.5 yards per game.

Seattle is also 31st in the league in total offense (31st in the passing game and 21st in the running game), so it's been pretty much a statistical wasteland for this team.

THE LOSING CONTINUES: Before going to school with a sixth grader in Issaquah, Wash., as part of the NFL's Play 60 physical fitness campaign, Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck lost to the boy in a video game pitting Hasselbeck's Seahawks against the 49ers.

AND NOW, FOR PLAN B: As bad as the present is for the Seahawks, they might have some issues with the future, as well. Former Atlanta Falcons coach Jim Mora Jr. has an agreement to take over the team after Holmgren's retirement, but there are rumors that Mora will renege so that he can coach the University of Washington. Mora's Wikipedia page has been updated to say that he will be announced as Huskies coach today.

HOBSON TO CINCINNATI: While the Patriots announced the signing of Rosevelt Colvin, the Cincinnati Bengals added Victor Hobson, another veteran linebacker whom the Patriots were thought to be considering (Bengals.com). Hobson, a former Jet, was with the Patriots through training camp but did not survive final cuts.

SO LONG, PLAX: There was anticipation that the Giants were either going to suspend Plaxico Burress or place him on the non-football injury list; turns out they did both yesterday (New York Daily News). That's a brilliant move, writes Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, because it means that Burress will have to appeal both decisions if he wants to recover any money that is owed to him for the remainder of the 2008 season. Sal Paolantonio of ESPN reported yesterday that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to try to clear the air after Bloomberg harshly criticized the league and the Giants over the Burress case.

A CIRCUS ENVIRONMENT: Tom Coughlin addressed the Burress case in front of a media throng today that served notice (in case there was any doubt) that this distraction won't be going away for the Giants (N.Y. Daily News).

HE REMEMBERS: Richard Collier, the Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman paralyzed by a gunman just before the start of the season, told the Orlando Sentinel that he can recall all the events of the night that his life changed forever, and that he has been through all the scenarios in his head, trying to decide if things could have been different. A 32-year-old man has been arrested and charged with shooting Collier in retaliation for a fight the men had in April. Collier was shot 14 times after a night out with a teammate; he has since had his left leg amputated.

REASON FOR FEAR: Collier's story, along with the revelations that Giants wide receiver Steve Smith was recently robbed at gunpoint outside his home in Clifton, N.J., remind us again why so many pro athletes feel the need to carry protection (N.Y. Daily News). Of course, as Burress demonstrated, protection isn't always what it's cracked up to be.

THE BREAK THEY NEED? Maybe the NFL's suspension of Minnesota Vikings defensive linemen Pat Williams and Kevin Williams for the rest of the regular season (due to a violation of the league's steroid policy) will help make the Lions' first win of the season a little more achievable this weekend (Minneapolis Star Tribune). One thing's for sure: It gives some new hope to the Bears and the Packers as they try to knock Minnesota out of the top spot in the NFC Central, which almost certainly will not get any wild-card berths this season.

MORE NEWS FROM SUSPENSION TUESDAY: Deuce McAllister's punishment in the StarCaps case could mean a sad end for one of the best and most popular players in New Orleans Saints history (ESPN).

NOT THE FINAL WORD: ESPN's Chris Mortensen indicated this morning that all six players suspended by the league in the case will be filing for injunctions. But the Minneapolis Star Tribune report cited the risk that by seeking an injunction, the Williamses might save a regular-season game but end up missing a playoff game.

TIRED OF WAITING: Jets coach Eric Mangini showed his frustration yesterday over the slow development of rookie linebacker Vernon Gholston, who didn't distinguish himself in New York's loss to Denver (N.Y. Daily News).

SCHAUB'S RETURN: Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said that he is planning on starting Matt Schaub this week against Green Bay, after the Texans quarterback missed four games due to injury (Houston Chronicle).

IT'S ALL OVER: The Jacksonville Jaguars today will place cornerback Rashean Mathis on injured reserve because of an MCL sprain (projo.com).

 Tags  Football Today Matt Hasselbeck Seattle Seahawks

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