There’s just one practice this afternoon, and I’ll have a full report later today. Here are some links to check out this morning.
Ryan Divish provides an interesting profile on defensive end Darryl Tapp, who says he understands the criticism that he has not played up to his potential.
Bucky Brooks of NFL.com says the Seahawks are optimistic they can regain the NFC West crown.
Art Thiel of Seattlepi.com says the addition of defensive linemen Colin Cole and Cory Redding could be the difference from Seattle being another mediocre defense to regaining respectability on that side of the ball.
John Boyle of the Everett Herald reports that T.J. Duckett is looking to carry more of the load this season.
Clare Farnsworth of Seahawks.com offers this report on Tuesday night’s practice.
Steve Kelly, columnist for the Seattle Times, talks to linebacker Aaron Curry about the waiting game before finally signing with the Seahawks eight days after training camp began.
KJR’s Mitch Levy and Hugh Millen talk with Matt Hasselbeck in this audio link.
Wide Receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh continues to give the Seahawks more national exposure. He sits down for an interview with Jim Rome in this video link.
Photos from NFC West training camp, including some pretty good Seahawks pictures courtesy of Rod Mar, formerly of the Seattle Times.
The New York Jets are reportedly gauging interest in running back Thomas Jones, as rookie Shonn Greene has impressed so far during training camp, and have placed a call to an NFC West team according to this report from The National Football Post.
A rumor earlier this season suggested the Seahawks should trade Deion Branch for Thomas to bolster the team’s running back situation, but the team has maintained it’s happy with the guys currently in camp.
Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian profiles Oregon State product Joe Newton, who is competing for the No. 3 tight end spot on the Seahawks roster.
Greg Bishop of the New York Times, who used to work for the Seattle Times, offers this interesting take on NFL players and divorce, reporting that according to polls, studies and anecdotes, the rate of divorce in the NFL is between 60 and 80 percent.
San Francisco 49ers
Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports that quarterback Shaun Hill and the 49ers offense are seeing a lot of blitzing from the team’s defense.
John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle profiles defensive tackle Khalif Mitchell. The undrafted free agent out of East Carolina is fighting for a roster spot.
According to Dan Brown of the San Jose Mercury News, quarterback Alex Smith is unwilling to revive the feud between himself and former 49ers head coach Mike Nolan. The two will meet again this weekend when San Francisco plays Denver. Nolan is the Broncos defensive coordinator.
Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee writes that Michael Crabtree is fast becoming the scapegoat for everything wrong in NFL, noting that unsigned Buffalo first round draft pick Aaron Maybin is blaming the Crabtree negotiations for his waiting game with the Bills.
Arizona Cardinals
Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic writes that cornerback Bryant McFadden has brought Pittsburgh’s mentality with him to Arizona.
More McManaman: Former Seahawks receiver Jerheme Urban’s role with the Cardinals is expanding.
Darren Urban of azcardinals.com writes that the preseason designation has taken some of the luster out of the Cardinals upcoming game at Pittsburgh on Thursday night.
More Urban: Daily battles between Larry Fitzgerald and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie make both of them better.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that linebacker Will Witherspoon has benefited from the switch back to his old position of weak-side, outside backer from inside backer now that St. Louis has James Laurinaitis.
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Marc Bulger says his arm is strong.
Jim Rome has to be one of the lamest sports interviewers ever. Jeez.
Thanks for the Hasselbeck audio link Eric! Enjoyed listening to it!
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Nice to hear Jerheme Urban is doing well, even if it’s in Arizona.
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From day 1, I felt letting go of Urban was a big mistake. I was proven correct.
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http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/114151-source-jets-shopping-thomas-jones?eref=sihp
posted up on Si.com
i want to see the brothers in our bacfkield!
give them forsett and next years 2nd round pick!
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No way I’d trade a future 2nd round draft pick for Thomas Jones. That’s what teams do who get themselves into trouble – trade good, future high picks for older good players. Looking at his age and the position he plays, Thomas Jones is nearing the end of the line. There are always exceptions to rules, but there’s no way I’d make an exception in this case.
If the Jets are interested in Branch, I’d have no problem sending him to New Jersey for a future draft pick of our own.
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Nice article by Thiel on Redding and Cole. I agree these new D lineman will shake things up and potentially make the whole defense look better, including LBs and DBs.
However, I really think he should have included Red Bryant in that article, since Red is basically a new player after being injured all last year. Red could be a more athletic and disruptive DT than Cole, while being bigger than Redding. I think he will give Cole a run for his money while also possibly making it unnecessary for Redding to slide over to DT very often. I am just really jazzed about watching all these new D linemen!
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Forsett and a 2? Pass.
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we already have 2 number 1 picks next year so that going to be a lot of money on draft picks.
thomas jones put up over 1,000 yards and double digit touchdowns last year
the core of the team is getting older and i think they have a chance to do big things in the next 2 years!
i would act on it!
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If you think Forsett and a 2nd RD pick for Thomas Jones is a good idea, you probably also:
1. Smoke too much hippie lettuce
2. Still wish the Delorean concept car would’ve caught on
3. Have bought a John Tesh cd
4. Thought the Colts were crazy for picking Manning over Leaf
5. Have ordered a snuggie, sham-wow, slap chop, or mighty putty
All joking aside, that’d be way too much potential/unknown/future talent to give up for a guy that is nearing the end of his NFL career.
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Regarding my post, I just want to go on the record as saying that I love infomercials and the products in #5 are my favorites. It’d be a lie to say I haven’t been tempted to buy one or more of said products, especially at 3 am after coming home from the bars…
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Dover,
Surely you jest…Forsett AND a 2nd(!) rounder? Why not throw Matt in there as well, just to make sure they go for it? I’m glad Ruskell has more sense than that…We’ve got enough older players on the roster already (especially on O), we’re going to NEED every high draft pick we can get to restock the cupboard. As it stands right now, by the end of the season we will need a good S, a replacement for Big Walt, and a stud on the interior of the line. (much as I love Unger, he can’t do it alone, and even IF Sims turns out to be a beast, we still need one more quality player in there…
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While I am jacked that we have two 1st round picks next year, I also know that we are like most teams in the NFL in having only three picks in the first 3 rounds (extra #1, no #3). I like the idea of stockpiling early picks, or at least not giving up young guys that will (hopefully) be core guys for at least a 1/2 decade.
I respect that Jones would improve our RB position and that would be nice to do for this and next year, I’m just not willing to pay that kind of future price to make it happen now.
I am so jacked for Saturdaynight!
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TJ! TJ! TJ! TJ!
Yeah, BOTH of them. Both Duckett and Housh are going to rock the house this year. The Duckett article is a good read.
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Thomas Jones got most of his yards running behind LG Alan Faneca and top 5 draft pick D’Brickashaw (his real name…) Ferguson. I’d trade JForce and a #2 for those guys and bring back SA running to the left side and it would be more productive by far. I think Sims will be good this year and Walter will be Walter. Therefore the run game will be good enough to move the chains and force defenses to respect play action so that all that receiving talent can do it’s thing.
Good enough is good enough.
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Hello, this is the last post that I have been able to read. Th newest 2 are just blank pages. Training camp Day 13: Hawks going green? I see nothing when I go there. Is anyone else having this problem? Eric……explanation?
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Hey, at least you could get on for a day. I couldn’t.
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