It didn’t take long for Bovada.lv to release odds for the 2013 Super Bowl. In somewhat of a surprise, the Green Bay Packers, not this year’s champion the New York Giants, are the favorites to win the Super Bowl at 6 to 1, followed by New England (7/1), New Orleans (8/1), Philadelphia (12/1), Pittsburgh (12/1), Houston (12/1), Baltimore (14/1) and then the Giants (15/1).

The Seahawks once again get little respect, and can be found way down the list at 60 to 1.

Also of interest for Seahawks fans, Bovada gives the Arizona Cardinals the best chance of landing quarterback Peyton Manning once he inevitably hits free agency in March, giving Manning 2 to 1 odds of playing for Arizona in game 1 of the 2012 season. The Cardinals are followed by Washington (5/2), Miami (3/1), the N.Y. Jets (7/2) and Indianapolis (7/1).

The Seahawks do not appear on the list.

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I first talked to Cortez Kennedy on the day the Seahawks drafted him. I reached him by phone at his Arkansas home, where a party was under way. Over the next 11 seasons, I’m not sure I ever got a really good quote out of him. He was always a mannered gentleman and cooperative, but he was so humble and eager to avoid attention. Especially in the early 90s, he played defensive tackle as few ever had. He was well-deserving of his Hall of Fame honor. Here’s my column on it for the Trib:

By Dave Boling

For much of his career with the Seattle Seahawks, Cortez Kennedy stood head and shoulders above the NFL’s corps of defensive tackles.

Because of his level of dominance, that head and those shoulders will now be cast in bronze and placed in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer.

The Hall selection committee got this one right on Saturday afternoon by recognizing Kennedy as not only an elite defender, but a player who helped change the game as a force of destruction from the interior line.

It goes beyond that with Kennedy, though, as a player for whom fans could root without reservation.

Those of us who have followed Kennedy since he arrived in 1990 have heard endlessly that ‘Tez,’ as they all called him, was a Hall of Fame teammate, a Hall of Fame guy, a Hall of Fame father, a Hall of Fame friend.

He was considered larger than life as a player (which is saying a great deal given his ample girth), but at the same time may have been the most humble man on the team.

You would ask him to analyze a play in which he overpowered two 300-pounders and then ran down a back from behind, Kennedy would always say: “Just playin’ Seahawks football.”

The man never voiced a complaint about the team’s inept offense nor chronic losing. He deserves a spot in the Hall for that alone. Read more »

The Seattle Seahawks announced another addition to the team’s 80-man roster, signing running back Tyrell Sutton to a future contract.

Seahawks general manager John Schneider is familiar with Sutton; he was in Green Bay when the Packers signed the running back out of Northwestern as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2009.

Sutton was released during final cuts, and signed with Carolina, where he remained until being released at the beginning of the 2011 season.

Sutton played in 16 games for the Panthers, starting one game at fullback. He finished with 25 carries for 139 yards, averaging 5.6 yards per carry.

At 5-8 and 211 pounds, Sutton is described as a tough runner who has excellent hands as a pass catcher out of the backfield.

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While disappointed his team didn’t make the playoffs, Seattle head coach Pete Carroll overall was pleased with the progress his young team made this season, even though the Seahawks finished 7-9 for a second straight year.

Still, when asked where he thought his team needed to improve at a season-ending press conference this week, Carroll said he wanted to add speed at linebacker, increase the team’s ability to pass rush off the edge and from the interior of the defensive line, and add a playmaker on offense

“You’re always looking for touchdown makers on offense,” Carroll said. “You always want to get guys that can score. So if there’s a wide receiver in the draft that would be cool, if there’s a big- time running back that would be cool.”

That said, here’s a position-by-position look at how the Seahawks graded out at the end of the year.

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We’ll get started at 12:45 p.m.

The Pro Bowl drought for the Seattle Seahawks is over.

For the first time since 2008, a Seattle player will travel to Hawaii to play in the annual NFL all-star game.

With the Pro Bowl team announced this afternoon, Seattle second year pro safety Earl Thomas has been voted onto the team. Thomas was named as an alternate in his rookie season last year.

Thomas is second on the Seahawks in tackles with 92, has two interceptions on the year and anchors a secondary that ranks fourth in the NFC in total pass defense.

Thomas is the first Seattle safety voted to the Pro Bowl since Darryl Williams made the team in 1997.

The Seahawks also have five players who are alternates: cornerback Brandon Browner (first), safety Kam Chancellor (first), fullback Michael Robinson (first), running back Marshawn Lynch (second) and punter Jon Ryan (third).

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Keep on believing, Seahawks fans. The playoffs are still possible, thanks to a big second half in today’s 38-14 victory over the Bears in Chicago.

With the win, the Seahawks have a 7-7 record, the same as the Bears and Giants. However, Seattle has now beaten both teams so they own the head-to-head advantage, and first tiebreaker, should the teams finish with the same record.

The Hawks can’t catch the Falcons, who are 9-5 and own a win over Seattle, so it helps Seattle if the Falcons earn the top wild card seed in the NFC. The second wildcard, and …

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Well, that was an offensive slugfest. The Seahawks beat St. Louis 30-13 Monday night in an ugly game, but it’s a win and Seattle will take it.

Special teams were big for Seattle — the Seahawks returned a block punt for a TD, had a couple long kick returns and downed a punt at the 6-yard line — and the offense rode Marshawn Lynch in the second half. He topped 100 yards for the fifth time in the past six games.

With the win, Seattle stays in playoff contention. The Seahawks have a tough road ahead — they essentially …

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