SportsNation Blog Archives
Seattle Seahawks
The good news for Aaron Curry? Being drafted by the Seahawks guaranteed he would never be the most famous linebacker bust in the history of a franchise that selected Brian Bosworth (left).
But Curry gave it a shot. The fourth overall pick in 2009, Curry is headed to the Raiders for a seventh-round pick that could become a fourth-round pick based on playing time.
Did the Seahawks bail too soon on Curry?
- "Really surprised. He was considered a really 'safe' pick coming out of Wake because he was so mentally in tune to the game and scouts loved his instincts. Crazy how fast perceptions change in the NFL. Sometimes I think teams make judgments way too fast and miss opportunities to develop talent due to such an overemphasis on 'Win now.'" -- SN commenter presslay
How soon is too soon?
49ers quarterback Alex Smith is offering a lesson on the value of patience so far this season, but was it reasonable for the Seahawks to move on from Aaron Curry after two-plus seasons?
Will a change of scenery help?
The Raiders are no strangers to reclamation projects, but is Curry the kind of talent who can make the most of a second opportunity?
Was a better ex-Seahawks LB out there?
Not all picks flop for the Seahawks. Lofa Tatupu was a second-round steal in 2005, but after making 88 tackles last season, he's still looking for work.
Aaron Curry or Brian Bosworth?
Curry was the higher pick coming out of Wake Forest, but did the combination of first-round investment and public persona make Bosworth a bigger bust coming out of Oklahoma?
The first game of the NFL season kicks off in a little more than 24 hours, and we'd be lying if we said we weren't at least a little excited. Pro football can be a messy affair at times -- see the entire labor battle during the offseason -- but it's a glorious sport at its heart. Most every team's fan base has something to look forward to this weekend, although Colts fans may be dreading a future without Peyton Manning after the news that he'll miss at least his first game with a neck injury.
- Rank: Is Peyton Manning still in the MVP race? | Which are football's best teams?
- Vote: Which teams are the favorite to win each division?
Best game?
There are a lot of good matchups in Week 1 of the NFL's 2011 regular season. Steelers-Ravens, for example, could be a preview of a future AFC playoff game.
Colts without Manning?
Peyton Manning is out for an undetermined amount of time. This could be a prime opportunity for other teams to break Indianapolis' stranglehold on the AFC South.
AFC East
The Patriots responded to their 14-2 record last season by signing or trading for several marquee names. Are they good enough to beat the Jets?
AFC North
The Steelers fell just short of winning the Super Bowl last season, as their vaunted defense wasn't able to stop Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.
AFC South
Peyton Manning took a pay cut in order for the Colts to keep some of their key players, but is it enough for Indianapolis to win the AFC South?
AFC West
There's a brewing quarterback controversy in Denver, with Kyle Orton delaying the seemingly inevitable succession of Tim Tebow to the starting job. Can the Broncos compete with Orton?
NFC East
The Eagles made a number of humongous moves this offseason, including trading Kevin Kolb and signing Nnamdi Asomugha. Are they the team to beat in the NFC East?
NFC North
Aaron Rodgers led the Packers on an incredible run to a Super Bowl title last year. Are they the favorites in the NFC North once again?
NFC South
The Saints looked to make another deep run at a Super Bowl, but were stunned by the lowly Seahawks. Are they still an elite team?
NFC West
Speaking of the Seahawks, they won the NFC West despite a 7-9 record. Will they sneak into the playoffs once more?
It's a good time to be a productive free agent wide receiver in the NFL. Santonio Holmes already got his $50 million to sign with the Jets, and Sidney Rice followed suit, signing a four-year, $41 million contract with the Seahawks. Rice did good things in Brett Favre's first season with the Vikings, but he'll face a big challenge in Seattle -- talented wide receivers tend to disappear from the face of the Earth once they sign with the Seahawks (see: T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Deion Branch). Will Rice avoid that fate?
More moves: Donovan McNabb | Albert Haynesworth | Kevin Kolb | Santonio Holmes | Matt Hasselbeck | Johnathan Joseph | Reggie Bush
- "That's a lot of cash for a receiver with ONE good season...ah well, good luck to ya Sid...but I don't expect you to do much in Seattle...." -- SN commenter tyslink
More moves: McNabb | Bush | Kolb | Holmes | Hasselbeck | Haynesworth
How good is Rice?
Sidney Rice was injured for much of last season, but he recorded over 1,300 yards and scored eight touchdowns in 2009.
Is Seattle a WR tomb?
The Seahawks have had one thousand-yard receiver in the past six years (hello, Bobby Engram!). Will we ever hear from Rice again?
Did the Seahawks overpay?
Rice is an injury risk and really only had one elite season. Wide receivers seem to be at a premium these days, however, and the deal could prove to be a good one.
Who'll throw to Rice?
Charlie Whitehurst and Rice's old teammate, Tarvaris Jackson, will be competing for the starting QB job in Seattle. Who will win out?
We can understand if you don't want to take the time to grade your tech-support help on the other end of the telephone, but when we're talking about the dollars and emotion you've invested in sports, we think it's worth the effort. It's time for ESPN The Magazine's Ultimate Standings, in which SportsNation grades organizations on everything from ticket prices and stadium experience to the talent on the field, court or rink. Which team will end up on top this year? It depends on what you say.
Take part in the 2011 MLB survey
2010 MLB Ultimate Standings
1. Los Angeles Angels (Overall: No. 3)
2. Tampa Bay Rays (Overall: No. 6)
3. Colorado Rockies (Overall: No. 13)
4. Minnesota Twins (Overall: No. 14)
5. Atlanta Braves (Overall: No. 15)
Take part in the 2011 NFL survey
2010 NFL Ultimate Standings
1. New Orleans Saints (Overall: No. 1)
2. Indianapolis Colts (Overall: No. 4)
3. Green Bay Packers (Overall: No. 9)
4. Arizona Cardinals (Overall: No. 19)
5. Baltimore Ravens (Overall: No. 20)
Take part in the 2011 NBA survey
2010 NBA Ultimate Standings
1. Orlando Magic (Overall: No. 2)
2. San Antonio Spurs (Overall: No. 7)
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (Overall: No. 10)
4. Dallas Mavericks (Overall: No. 24)
5. Oklahoma City Thunder (Overall: No. 25)
Take part in the 2011 NHL survey
2010 NHL Ultimate Standings
1. Pittsburgh Penguins (Overall: No. 5)
2. Detroit Red Wings (Overall: No. 8)
3. Washington Capitals (Overall: No. 11)
4. San Jose Sharks (Overall: No. 12)
5. Chicago Blackhawks (Overall: No. 16)
2. Is Matt Hasselbeck still the answer at QB for the Seahawks?
Matt Hasselbeck has been synonymous with the Seattle Seahawks for a long time, and the team doesn't seem to be in a hurry to end that association. Pete Carroll said in a press conference that retaining Hasselbeck will be their No. 1 priority during the offseason. The Seahawks made a surprising run in the playoffs with Hasselbeck as their starter, but is it time for Seattle to look elsewhere?.
- "I agree with this 100%. Hasselbeck has showed he still has it in him, and with a good offensive line he could potentially be dangerous. Whitehurst is not ready to be a full time starter on a team that is ready to be back at the top with a few key moves. Draft a QB like Mallet or Locker and let them learn under Matt. With a solid o-line, Matt can be successful and he is still by far the best QB this team has. " -- SN commenter dirkrobert185
Which quarterback do you trust?
Matt Hasselbeck had a lower QB rating this season than Chad Henne, but he outplayed Drew Brees last week. Are you taking him over Jay Cutler?
Are you buying Marshawn Lynch?
Lots of running backs move the pile; Marshawn Lynch moved the ground with a memorable run last week. But is he the best RB in this game?
Should Seahawks kick to Devin Hester?
Pete Carroll says he has no choice but to kick the ball to Devin Hester, who returned a punt for a TD when the teams met earlier this season.
Is the clock a home-field advantage?
Many people will tell you that the safest bet in football is going against a West Coast team playing at 1 p.m. ET. Will the early start hurt Seattle?
- Pick 'Em: Which team is your favorite to win the Super Bowl?
- Rank 'Em: Did the Seahawks move up in the rankings? | Who's the best QB remaining?
- Vote: Jets-Patriots | Ravens-Steelers | Packers-Falcons | Seahawks-Bears
Ignore for a second that the Seahawks have zero Pro Bowlers. Cast aside their regular-season record of 7-9. Overlook the fact that their uniforms are honestly a little ugly. On Saturday, they beat the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints and advanced to the next round of the playoffs.
We're not going to call this the greatest upset of all time, but it's got to be in the conversation. It definitely had one of the greatest runs of all time, as Marshawn Lynch delivered a 67-yard run that left Saints defenders cast about like bowling pins. We saw one YouTube dub that compared Lynch's run to acquiring an invincibility star in Super Mario Brothers. In a coming weekend that features two big-time rivalry matchups (Jets-Patriots, Ravens-Steelers) and one exciting contest of young teams (Packers-Falcons), it seems like Seahawks-Bears actually has a good chance to provide the most excitement.
- "The multiple hail marys, the incredible run by Lynch, the solid-as-ever SB Champ Drew Brees throwing for over 400 yards... and losing. In an honest showdown, to the biggest underdog in playoff history, headed by an older SB vet who came to prove that he isn't a has-been. Games like that don't happen every day. I know I wasn't about to turn it off." -- fisquid
- "Seahawks playoff game the highest rating in two decades. Their week 17 game was the highest rated Sunday night game in approximately 10 years. NFL maybe you want to schedule them for a prime time game at least once" -- MGramling15
The NFC West was its usual underwhelming self this season -- really, not much else needs to be said save for the fact that the top two teams in the division were both 7-9. The Seahawks ended up at the head of this motley crew, but that's not a terribly impressive accomplishment. What grade would you give each team in the NFC West? Cast your vote now!
AFC Grades: East | North | South | West | NFC Grades: East | North | South
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have struggled to find a decent quarterback since Kurt Warner retired. They didn't find the answer at QB this season.
San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco was the pick to win the NFC West in some circles, but their general haplessness led to Mike Singletary's in-season firing.
St. Louis Rams
The Rams were a "good" bad team in Sam Bra dford's first season -- a losing squad that showed flashes of excellence.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks were a much different team at home than on the road -- 5-3 as opposed to 2-6. Not great, but enough to win the NFC West.
2. Was Sunday the most damaging win in Seahawks history?
The Seahawks earned a home playoff game by beating the Rams to finish 7-9 and win the woeful NFC West. But that playoff game against the Saints also means the Seahawks will pick no better than No. 21 in the draft. With a loss Sunday, they would have picked No. 8. Is that a trade the team really wants to make? Power Rankings.
- "i doubt the 'hawks can go far in the playoffs, but i do think these guys do have some building blocks for next season and could be one of the better teams in the league." -- SN commenter jdr136
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