Morning links: DB coach Gray headed back home

The Austin American Statesman is reporting that Seattle Seahawks secondary coach Jerry Gray is head back to his Alma Mater, the University of Texas, returning as the defensive backs and assistant head coach.

Gray spent nine years as a player in the NFL and 14 years as an assistant coach, and was well-liked among the defensive backs because of his knowledge of the position.

He becomes the third assistant coach to leave Pete Carroll’s staff, so I wonder how much the uncertainty of a potential lockout is making NFL assistant coaches look to the college ranks even more, although Grey returning to his roots I would suspect certainly played a large role in his decision.

However, with Will Muschamp taking the head job at Florida, perhaps Gray could be considered as a possible successor to Mac Brown if he ever decides to retire.

Lindsay Jones of the Denver Post reports that the Denver Broncos are close to signing Jim Mora as the team’s defensive coordinator, bringing him back to the league after a one-year absence. Fox reportedly considered Mora for as his defensive coordinator when he had a vacancy in Carolina in 2003. Makes sense because Fox is a 4-3 guy and Mora has ran mostly 4-3 in his career. And Denver is close enough that he can easily get back and forth to Seattle and his family.

Mike Williams says he’d like to shed a few pounds and get faster during the offseason.

Dave Boling of The News Tribune says an improbable finish has the Seahawks off to a good start in Pete Carroll’s first year.

Liz Mathews of ESPN 710 Seattle provides audio from the Seahawks locker room, including conversations with Matt Hasselbeck, Mike Williams, Lawyer Milloy and Russell Okung.

Doug Farrar of Sportspressnw.com says labor issue loomed large during the locker clean out for Seattle players.

Art Thiel of Sportspressnw.com says the Seahawks forecast for the near future is cloudy, with a chance of no season.

John Sarceno of USA Today has this quote from Lawyer Milloy in the aftermath of Seattle’s 35-24 loss to Chicago on Sunday: “We didn’t blitz all day. That’s it. You’ve got to ask the defensive coordinator (Gus Bradley) why.”