Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

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November 19

Tacoma News Tribune

"Is T.J. Houshmandzadeh experiencing buyer's remorse? The Seattle Seahawks receiver says he does not regret his decision to sign with Seattle as a free agent during the offseason, even though they are virtually out of the playoff hunt for a second straight season with a 3-6 record. Houshmandzadeh's other choices included the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle's opponent this week, who sit at 8-1 and lead the NFC North, and a return to his former team in Cincinnati. The Bengals are now 7-2 and leading the AFC North. Houshmandzadeh said all three teams offered about the same amount of money, and his decision ultimately came down to choosing between Minnesota and Seattle. What made the deal for the ..."

Hutchinson still a leader, but just for other team

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November 19

Tacoma News Tribune

"It's been almost four years since Pro Bowl offensive guard Steve Hutchinson got away from Seattle to Minnesota, and it's still a sore spot for Seahawks fans. And Vikings running back Adrian Peterson had no problem pouring salt in the wound Wednesday. "I'm doing a dance right now because we got him and y'all don't," Peterson said when asked about Hutchinson during a conference call with Seattle-area reporters. "He's the ring leader of the offensive line. It's still funny to me how y'all let this guy go. But he's a leader. He gets the job done. And he's a beast. That's the way I explain how he is on the field." Peterson should know. He's widely considered the best back in the league right ..."

On second thought: T.J. Houshmandzadeh's flirtation with Minnesota

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November 19

Seattle Times

"T.J. Houshmandzadeh visited two teams in free agency, first coming to Seattle and then heading to Minnesota. Seahawks coach Jim Mora kept a Breitling watch as collateral, the Vikings used a ruse to get rid of a limousine designated to take Houshmandzadeh to the airport. Houshmandzadeh felt comfortable with Vikings coach Brad Childress, thought owner Zygi Wilf was "super cool" and counted running back Adrian Peterson among the assets. "They had a great run game," Houshmandzadeh said of Minnesota. "They had a great offensive line and the offensive line is the backbone of every team, but when it came down to it I felt like the quarterback situation -- which kind of makes a receiver go -- it ..."

Hindsight is 20/20, but Vikings are 8-1

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November 19

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Many things appealed to T.J. Houshmandzadeh about the Vikings as they courted the free-agent wide receiver last winter. Houshmandzadeh loved the Vikings' top-notch ground game that featured Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson and a solid offensive line that would open up things for the pass. He felt extremely comfortable with Vikings coach Brad Childress and wide receivers coach George Stewart. Heck, Houshmandzadeh even thought owner Zygi Wilf was "super cool." But one thing bugged the veteran. "When it came down to it, I felt like the quarterback situation -- which kind of makes a receiver go -- it was a better situation here so I did what any receiver would do," Houshmandzadeh said. ..."

Dockett downplays Hasselbeck incident

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November 19

Arizona Republic

"Cardinals defensive end Darnell Dockett said he didn't intend to hurt Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck last Sunday by pushing his elbow into Hasselbeck's throat after a sack. "I would never hurt Matt Hasselbeck," Dockett said Wednesday. "I have a lot respect for guys who come in, play week-in, week-out, broke ribs, play hurt. I take my hat off to him and I would never try to do that. It's kind of disappointing what the coach thinks." Seahawks coach Jim Mora complained about the play on Monday. "I don't want to be labeled as a dirty player," Dockett said. "I play aggressive. I'm going to play the game hard, no matter what." Dockett said he talked to Hasselbeck after the game and said ..."

Julius Jones won't play this week against Vikings

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November 18

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Seattle Seahawks running back Julius Jones will miss this Sunday's game at Minnesota due to his bruised lung, but could be back next week, coach Jim Mora said Wednesday. Jones was injured in the first quarter of Sunday's 31-20 loss at Arizona and spent one night in a Phoenix hospital, but is back with the Seahawks attending meetings as the team prepares for this week's game against the 8-1 Vikings. "He says he's feeling good, but he won't be available Sunday," Mora said. "We'll see how he progresses. Hopefully (he'll be back) next week. We have to be careful though." Second-year back Justin Forsett will start in Jones' place after rushing for a career-best 123 yards on 17 carries against ..."

Seahawks' new tandem creating a ballcarrier 'buzz'

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November 18

Tacoma News Tribune

"With starting running back Julius Jones likely out with a bruised lung for this week's game against Minnesota, the Seattle Seahawks will turn to the running back tandem of Justin Forsett and Louis Rankin to carry the load Sunday. And if last Sunday's game against Arizona is any indication, the Seahawks should be just fine, as they get a chance to evaluate the two young runners who may provide a glimpse into the future for the team's ground game. After Jones went down in the first quarter against the Cardinals, Seattle's running game, which had been struggling to find any cohesiveness all season, suddenly kicked into high gear with the infusion of Forsett and Rankin. Seattle churned out 164 ..."

Carlson catches on fast in transition to life in NFL

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November 18

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"As a senior at Notre Dame, John Carlson earned an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as one of 15 national finalists for the prestigious Draddy Award, which recognizes athletic and academic achievement. The Litchfield, Minn., native is proud of the honor, but admits he won't mind if he ultimately doesn't use the money. "I'd like to keep playing football as long as I can," he said, laughing. That shouldn't be a problem, judging by the start to his NFL career. Carlson set several Seattle Seahawks receiving records as a rookie last season and has established himself as one of the league's top young tight ends. A second-round draft pick, Carlson established team records for tight ends in ..."

Sound familiar? Seattle GM's poor decisions hurt franchise

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November 18

Seattle Times

columnist Steve Kelley

"Once upon a time in Seattle a new general manager was hired to run one of the city's professional sports franchises. This GM was extremely fortunate, because he inherited a team that was knocking at the door of destiny. Players already were smartly put in place by his predecessor, and all the GM had to do was tweak the roster and put his mark, ever-so-subtly, on his new team. The right coach already was on the sideline, a coach who had the team's respect, the league's respect and understood what was needed for the team to get to the championship game. In the GM's early years, his team won big in the regular season. It won the conference championship on a weekend game that still lives in ..."

Seahawks game at Minnesota will be another reminder of the Steve Hutchinson fiasco

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November 18

Seattle Times

columnist Danny O'Neil

"Free agency was days away and the youngest of Seattle's six Pro Bowlers on offense was about to enter the marketplace when the Seahawks caved. They upped their offer to guard Steve Hutchinson, increasing the $6 million a year average they'd been sticking with to about $6.4 million. Too late. The NFL's free-agent marketplace was on the brink of an explosion. Hutchinson would be a prime beneficiary while the Seahawks took the business end of the stick. Four years later, it remains the most volatile of all Seahawks topics. Some fans are still gnashing their teeth, others insist it's well past time to get over it. Seattle lost its Mr. Mean from an offensive line that was considered one of the ..."

Holmgren rumors heat up in Cleveland

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November 18

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Former NFL great Jim Brown told a luncheon group in Cleveland on Tuesday that Browns owner Randy Lerner was "meeting with one of the great football minds in this country" to discuss a front-office role with the franchise and later intimated that he was speaking about Mike Holmgren. But a source close to the former Seattle Seahawks coach told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that Holmgren won't make any decisions about his future until after the season ends. You can read the whole story here in the Plain Dealer. I'll stick with my previous take on this situation. Holmgren is smart. He'll test the waters and see what might be available. He'll let people know that he's interested in various ..."

Mora files 17 complaints with NFL after Hawks' loss to Cardinals

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November 17

Tacoma News Tribune

"After reviewing video of his team's 31-20 loss to Arizona, Seattle Seahawks Jim Mora had a long list of concerns he submitted to the league's officiating office on Monday for their consideration. Seventeen to be exact. Among the gievances: an Arizona pass play directed to Larry Fitzgerald which resulted in a pass interference call on cornerback Marcus Trufant. Mora thought the call should have gone the other way. "The one where Fitzgerald grabbed him by the facemask and pulled his head down?" said Mora when asked about the play. "Yeah, I questioned that one. We'll see what they say." Also on Mora's list was an incident that occurred late in the second quarter after Seattle quarterback Matt ..."

What's going on around here? Mora wonders

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November 17

Tacoma News Tribune

"After reviewing video of his team's 31-20 loss to Arizona, Seattle Seahawks Jim Mora had a long list of concerns he submitted to the league's officiating office on Monday for their consideration. Seventeen to be exact. Among the gievances: an Arizona pass play directed to Larry Fitzgerald which resulted in a pass interference call on cornerback Marcus Trufant. Mora thought the call should have gone the other way. "The one where Fitzgerald grabbed him by the facemask and pulled his head down?" said Mora when asked about the play. "Yeah, I questioned that one. We'll see what they say." Also on Mora's list was an incident that occurred late in the second quarter after Seattle quarterback Matt ..."

Julius Jones bruised but not broken

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November 16

Seattle Times

"Julius Jones suffered a bruised chest, coach Jim Mora said, and not a broken rib as he initially thought after the game. Mora clarified the injury during his radio show on KIRO-FM Monday morning. The bruised chest caused bleeding into Jones' lungs, and he remained in Arizona last night at the hospital after the team left. "It wasn't a rib. It's a bruise causing bleeding in his lungs," Mora said, according to a summary on the team's official Web site. "It doesn't appear to be anything real serious. It's serious obviously or he wouldn't be in a hospital, but it's something he'll recover from quickly."

Seahawks RB Jones fractures rib

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November 16

Tacoma News Tribune

"Seattle Seahawks running back Julius Jones fractured a rib during the first quarter of a 31-20 loss to the Arizona Cardinals Sunday. Seattle head coach Jim Mora said Jones would spend the night in a local hospital as a precautionary measure. "There's an issue there, but he's not in any danger," said Mora. "We're going to play it safe.""

Seahawks on the road to nowhere

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November 16

Tacoma News Tribune

"Let the rebuilding begin in earnest for the Seattle Seahawks. Faced with the uphill challenge of beating NFC West Division rival Arizona on its home field to hang on to a sliver of hope for the playoffs, the Seahawks fought gamely but ultimately were overpowered by a more talented team, losing 31-20 at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday afternoon. With the loss, the Seahawks drop to 3-6 on the season and a full three games behind division leader Arizona (6-3). Essentially, the Seahawks are four games behind the Cardinals because Arizona swept the two-game season series against Seattle for a second straight season. After a 4-12 campaign last season, the Seahawks appear headed for a ..."

'Housh' lets his hands do the talking

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November 16

Tacoma News Tribune

"Ask and you will receive. Each week, Seattle Seahawks receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh asks the coaching staff to dial up his number more often, and on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, they obliged. Houshmandzadeh was targeted 17 times, hauling in nine catches for 165 yards, including a 53-yard strike on a go-route from Seattle's 1 that helped set up an 11-yard touchdown run by Justin Forsett. After his performance, Houshmandzadeh is eighth in the league in receptions with 50 for 582 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 11.6 yard a catch. Houshmandzadeh and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who had struggled as a pitch-and-catch battery early in the season, seemed to be in sync on Sunday, ..."

Little man plays big for Hawks

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November 16

Tacoma News Tribune

"Some Arizona defenders after the game said that the difficulty in dealing with Seattle running back Justin Forsett was not so much in tackling him, but in finding him. The 5-foot-8 Forsett, in his second season out of California, was a big man for the Seahawks on offense in a 31-20 loss to Arizona on Sunday. He led all rushers with 123 yards and also caught five passes in his most extended span of play, coming in as a replacement for injured starter Julius Jones (broken rib). Especially on draw plays or screens, the diminutive Forsett can hide behind blockers before jetting into open spaces. It's not known how long Jones will be sidelined, but it is unlikely opponents will overlook Forsett ..."

Cardinals show Seahawks what they'll need for 2010

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November 16

Tacoma News Tribune

"Now the Seahawks need to start playing for the future. The 31-20 loss to Arizona on Sunday leaves the Seattle Seahawks at 3-6 while the NFC West-leading Cardinals moved to 6-3 with a sweep of the Hawks. What the numbers mean for Seattle is that the remaining seven games are the start of the 2010 preseason. They will play to win, of course. The fans deserve that. And the limited roster size precludes too much lineup euthanasia. But where available, the kids need to see more action, and the veterans need to understand they're auditioning for their jobs next year. Coach Jim Mora can't say that. Such things are against coaching bylaws. "We're not counting ourselves out of anything," Mora said ..."

Forsett gives Hawks' run game some upside

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November 16

Seattle Times

columnist Danny O'Neil

"For more than two years now the Seahawks have been running in place. They've re-signed former MVP Shaun Alexander, recycled Hall of Famer Edgerrin James and burned through veteran T.J. Duckett for good measure. And after all that, it wasn't until Julius Jones suffered a broken rib in the first quarter of Sunday's loss in Arizona that Seattle started handing the ball to the 5-foot-8 afterthought from last year's draft: Justin Forsett. The result? Forsett rushed for 123 yards against Arizona, a defense that ranked No. 4 in the league against the run entering the game and just four weeks ago held the Seahawks to 14 yards rushing, the lowest game total in franchise history. "I was impressed ..."

No more promise for Seahawks in 2009

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November 16

Seattle Times

columnist Steve Kelley

"They promised us so much more this season. They told us last season was an anomaly. They talked confidently about a new system and a new attitude and a return to the elevated place they'd occupied for most of this decade. This season was supposed to be about a seamless transition from former coach Mike Holmgren to new coach Jim Mora. These Seahawks were going to win games on the road. They could go into a place like University of Phoenix Stadium and beat a team as good as the Arizona Cardinals. At the very least — the very least — they would compete with the Cardinals for the NFC West championship. Those were the promises of spring and summer and early fall. Now for the real story. "The ..."

Seahawks can't hold the lead, fall to Cardinals 31-20

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November 16

Seattle Times

"Matt Hasselbeck stood behind a podium after spending a good chunk of Sunday's game on his back. Still sweating from an afternoon of survivalist quarterbacking, he insisted those two broken ribs and sore shoulder didn't feel any worse after being sacked four times by Arizona's defense. In fact, he felt quite a bit better about his offense's performance. "It was more fun to be out there," Hasselbeck said. "I felt like offensively, it felt like we were more in the zone." The fun stopped somewhere short of satisfaction, though. Eleven points short, actually. Seattle lost 31-20 at Arizona in a game that offered plenty of encouragement for the Seahawks but absolutely no closure. After spending ..."

Cards' defense stingy in red zone

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November 16

Arizona Republic

"The Cardinals defense gave up 472 yards against Seattle on Sunday, but it was stingy in the red zone. The Seahawks scored a touchdown on just one of four possessions inside the Cardinals 20. In a key sequence, Seattle had to settle for a field goal after having first and goal at the 1 in the fourth quarter. "We just missed some opportunities," Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. "Especially with the kind of offense they have, you've got to score touchdowns when you can, and we didn't do that." Seattle running back Julius Jones was expected to spend Sunday night in a Valley hospital after suffering a broken rib. He left the game in the first quarter, but the Seahawks remained ..."

Cardinals take down Seahawks

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November 16

Arizona Republic

"There are switches at University of Phoenix Stadium that cause the field to slide and the roof to open (allegedly), but this season no one could locate the one that made Cardinals play efficiently at home. Until Sunday. The Cardinals found it after trailing the Seahawks by two touchdowns midway through the second quarter. Turns out it was next to the panic button, which might have been pushed had the Cardinals lost for the fourth time in five home games. Down by 14 points, the Cardinals responded with an offensive explosion and just enough defensive plays to win 31-20. The victory improved the Cardinals' record to 6-3 and kept them two games ahead of the 49ers in the NFC West standings. ..."

Win possible, technically

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November 15

Tacoma News Tribune

"Fantasy football is popular, so let's engage in a little. Certainly, to think the Seahawks have much of a chance to beat the Arizona Cardinals today seems somewhere out there beyond realistic. The Cardinals stomped the Seahawks into the Qwest Field turf just a month ago, winning 27-3 while sacking quarterback Matt Hasselbeck five times and limiting the rushing attack to 14 yards on 11 attempts. An NFL offense should be able to get 14 yards if it ran nothing but 11 quarterback sneaks. But that's how thoroughly the Cardinals dominated. And that's why they may be inclined to take this game for granted. That means the best chance the 3-5 Seahawks have today is if the Cardinals fall asleep on ..."

Can Seahawks cover Fitzgerald?

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November 15

Tacoma News Tribune

"For all of the talk about Larry Fitzgerald's imposing physique and jumping ability, strong hands might be the most valuable asset of the best receiver in the NFL. "He's got long arms, and he's got very strong hands, very big hands," said Seattle defensive backs coach Tim Lewis. "It's hard to play around him. It's hard to play through him, so unless you're in the perfect position, he's going to make you pay." The Seahawks, too many times on the receiving end of his big plays, are acutely aware what he can do, even when they think they have him covered. In his past five games against Seattle, Fitzgerald, 6-foot-3, 220-pounder, has 41 receptions for 547 yards and four touchdowns. Last season, ..."

Locklear returns to lineup for Seahawks

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November 14

Tacoma News Tribune

"For the first time this season, the Seattle Seahawks will start the entire offensive line that was projected to begin the season at the end of training camp. Seahawks coach Jim Mora said Sean Locklear will start at left tackle against Arizona on Sunday. Out since the Sept. 20 game against San Francisco with a high ankle sprain, Locklear shared first-unit snaps with Damion McIntosh during practice this week. Mora said he wanted to see Locklear make it through practice showing no ill effects from the injury and return the next day without experiencing any soreness. Mora said Locklear alleviated those concerns this week. "He had a good week," Mora said. Mora said he chose to start Locklear ..."

Winfield aiming for Nov. 22

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November 14

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Vikings Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield, sidelined since for the past month with a fractured right foot, said he hopes to return against Seattle on Nov. 22. Winfield suffered the injury Oct. 18 against Baltimore and has been limited in practice this week. He was officially listed Friday as out for Sunday's game against Detroit. "I've been out the last couple days running on it, testing it," Winfield said. "It's good going forward, but I still have a little problem cutting. But I say next week I should be OK." Winfield said it has been frustrating to miss games, but he understands the healing process. "A lot of guys try to come back from injuries real early, and something else ..."

Key to stopping Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald is pressuring QB Kurt Warner

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November 12

Seattle Times

"Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald stands 6 feet 3 with spring-loaded legs and a gift of grab as strong as Spock's Vulcan nerve pinch. He's a handful by just about any measure. "Unless you're in the perfect position, he's going to make you pay," said Tim Lewis, the Seahawks' secondary coach. Costly is probably the right term for Seattle's recent coverage of Fitzgerald. His receiving-yards total has hit triple digits each of his past three games against the Seahawks — all Arizona victories, by the way — and just last month he caught 13 passes in the Cardinals' 27-3 victory in Seattle. There is one surefire way to keep Fitzgerald from getting his hands on the ball, though, and that's to ..."

Predicting quarterback success resembles a coin toss

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November 11

Seattle Times

"The first half of Seattle's cautionary tale about NFL quarterbacks took place Sunday at Qwest Field when Detroit's shaggy-haired rookie with a shotgun for an arm showed how far he has to go to become an adequate passer. The second half of the story comes Sunday when the Seahawks travel to Arizona to face the division-leading Cardinals and Kurt Warner. He is 4 years older than Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck and he has been cut loose by two NFL teams only to end up in Arizona, where he piloted his team to the Super Bowl last season, the third time he has played on the sport's biggest stage. Matthew Stafford and Warner are the bookends of the quarterback debate, the youngster who is not quite ..."

Are Seahawks in Holmgren's near future?

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November 10

Tacoma News Tribune

"News arrives that the Cleveland Browns are interested in hiring Mike Holmgren to run their franchise. Holmgren's most recent team, the Seattle Seahawks, are 3-5 and apparently going nowhere under a general manager in the final year of a five-year deal. An obvious topic seems to have ripened. Let's lay some preliminary groundwork on the debate: Should the Seahawks make moves to lock up Holmgren to replace Tim Ruskell before other teams can land him? Some background. Ruskell helped the Seahawks reach the Super Bowl in his first season, but the team has won just seven games in its past 24. Many factors are involved, but he's paid to captain the ship. And it's foundering. Holmgren committed to ..."

Seahawks want to run – but they'd rather win

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November 10

Tacoma News Tribune

"Seattle Seahawks coach Jim Mora preached balance offensively before the season started. But with his team's struggles in establishing a consistent running game, you might see some more games with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck flinging it 51 times downfield, as he did in Seattle's win over Detroit on Sunday. "Our No. 1 objective is to win," Mora told reporters during his Monday news conference. "Whether it's our first year or our 10th year, it's to win. It's to find ways to move the ball downfield and put it in the end zone, put it through the uprights. "You know, you're stubborn to a point, but not to the point of hurting your football team." Seattle offensive coordinator Greg Knapp has been ..."

Released Chiefs' running back isn't Seahawks solution

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November 10

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Before it even becomes a discussion, let's end this one. Yes, the Seattle Seahawks running game needs help. But, no, the Seahawks do not need Larry Johnson, the former Kansas City Chiefs standout who was released Monday morning. Johnson was cut Monday after Chiefs management ran out of patience. Johnson criticized Chiefs coach Todd Haley two weeks ago, then used a gay slur first on his Twitter page and then to a group of reporters. Johnson is a two-time Pro Bowl running back in 2005 and '06, but has a history of off-field problems that include assault charges and contract conflicts."

The method to Mora's madness

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November 10

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"OK, it wasn't so much madness as just being mad. But Seattle Seahawks coach Jim Mora sent a message to his team in the first quarter of Sunday's eventual 32-20 victory over Detroit. Trailing 14-0 after two turnovers on two plays, a frustrated Mora saw his team gain just 9 yards on its next possession to face a fourth-and-1 from his own 38. Admitting afterward that it was the wrong football move, Mora went for it ... and saw Julius Jones stuffed for no gain. The decision led to a Detroit field goal and a 17-0 deficit, but it's worth noting that Seattle went on to outscore the Lions 32-3 the rest of the game. What was he looking for? "Maybe a spark, maybe not backing down, maybe I'd had ..."

Yes, it was only Lions, but team shows spark

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November 9

Tacoma News Tribune

"So, it's come to this for the Seattle Seahawks – delight about a come-from-behind win over one of the epically awful teams in the NFL. It didn't quite inspire storming the field or tearing down the goal posts, but, in a way, you can understand at least an enormous sigh of relief with a 32-20 defeat of the Detroit Lions at Qwest Field on Sunday. As the Seahawks walked off, the PA system played a tune that urged all to: "Celebrate good times … come on." That's because nobody has recorded a song with lyrics: "Whew, we almost all lost our jobs in the first half of this stinker." The boos from "The 12th Man" had to have been the loudest since they've been playing in this stadium. And ..."

A win is a win, after all for Seahawks

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November 9

Tacoma News Tribune

"He'd had enough. A season's worth of frustration led Seattle Seahawks coach Jim Mora to make a curious decision to go for it on fourth-and-1 from his team's own 38. It was still early, with the Seahawks down two touchdowns to the Detroit Lions, a team that had lost 15 straight road games. It was the way they fell behind that had Mora's blood boiling. Seattle committed turnovers on its first two plays, with the Lions cashing in for touchdowns both times, so Mora made what appeared to be a desperate effort to swing the momentum. It didn't work. Seattle running back Julius Jones was stuffed for no gain, and the Seahawks turned the ball over on downs. Detroit wound up with a 41-yard field goal ..."

Hawks pick up pace, pick off Stafford five times

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November 9

Tacoma News Tribune

"Heading into Sunday's game against Detroit, the Seahawks had a total of three interceptions, tied for worst in the NFL But the Seahawks' fortunes changed against the Lions. They grabbed five interceptions in the game – two by linebacker David Hawthorne, bringing his season total to three, and one each by safety Deon Grant and cornerbacks Marcus Trufant and Josh Wilson. The Seahawks' five interceptions tied the third most in franchise history. Seattle had a franchise-record seven interceptions against San Diego on Dec. 13, 1998. Wilson returned his interception 61 yards for the clinching score with 22 seconds remaining. Asked what he changed to help his defense make more plays defensively, ..."

A little anger spurs Hasselbeck

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November 9

Tacoma News Tribune

"Even after an 11-year career in which he has played more than 140 NFL games, Matt Hasselbeck hasn't stopped learning. The Seattle Seahawks' 32-20 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday at Qwest Field offered a prime example. It's difficult to imagine a worse start for Hasselbeck and the Seahawks. On Seattle's first offensive play, Hasselbeck dropped back, looked to his left and fired a bullet of a pass – directly into the hands of Lions free safety Louis Delmas, who returned it 29 yards to the Seattle 2. That set up an eventual Matthew Stafford touchdown pass to Brandon Pettigrew. "I was a little bit confused on how they were lined up," Hasselbeck said. "I think they might have had just 10 ..."

Tatupu's job in good hands with Hawthorne

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November 9

Tacoma News Tribune

"During an ugly, sloppy football game best forgotten, Seahawks middle linebacker David Hawthorne had a day to remember against the Detroit Lions. As flags were dropping for such inexcusable mistakes as too many men on the field and not enough men on the line, Hawthorne continued to reveal an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time. On an afternoon struggling rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford got little help from his hands-of-stone receivers, Hawthorne displayed the surest touch on the field. A backup middle linebacker starting for the injured Lofa Tatupu, Hawthorne has emerged as one of the few pleasant surprises of an otherwise frustrating first half of the season ..."

Seahawks overcome ugly start to beat Lions

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November 9

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"After spotting the Detroit Lions a 17-point lead following their worst start since, well, three weeks ago against Arizona, the Seahawks fought their way back for a 32-20 victory Sunday at Qwest Field. It took five interceptions by Detroit rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford and a record-setting passing day by Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck, but in the end the Seahawks avoided disaster in improving their record to 3-5. Josh Wilson's 61-yard interception return with 22 seconds left sealed the deal as Detroit's No. 1 draft pick struggled through a rough day in the Qwest Field din. The Seahawks' season seemed on the brink of going completely under until Seattle's defense began forcing turnovers. ..."

Hasselbeck sets franchise records in pass-happy win

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November 9

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"It wasn't Matt Hasselbeck's prettiest game. Wasn't his proudest moment. Won't likely even be a Sunday remembered beyond next week. But when the Seattle Seahawks needed to find a way to win a game they simply couldn't afford to lose, Hasselbeck put things on his sore shoulders and passed his club to a 32-20 victory over the Detroit Lions. Hasselbeck completed a franchise-record 39 passes and threw for 329 yards, his highest total in two years, in a dink-and-dunk day that did just enough to beat a 1-7 Detroit club. Seattle coach Jim Mora concluded "very early" that the Seahawks weren't going to succeed by running the ball, a point upheld by the day-long total of 51 yards rushing on 18 tries. ..."

There's winning ugly, and then there's this

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November 9

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"The problem with looking into the mirror, which is what the Seahawks were ordered to do last week by coach Jim Mora, is that the task left little time to look at the scouting report. The Seahawks missed the fact that they were playing the Detroit Lions. Falling behind 17-0 in the first quarter Sunday, the Seahawks assumed they were up against the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins. Somebody apparently scrounged up the Lions' dental records and passed them around the sideline. By the second quarter, the Seahawks finally agreed on the proper IDs. The fact that they recovered to prevail 32-20 does not change the notion that the afternoon fit the seldom-used phrase, "Bad win." Those in the NFL who ..."

How about a show of hands, Detroit? Big surprise? Only the gullible got their hopes up

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November 9

Detroit Free Press

columnist Drew Sharp

"How many of you foolishly took the bait, believing that surreal first quarter of Lion excellence on both sides of the ball was proof that not only might the Lions actually win on the road, but dominate as well? File this latest edition of criminal eye slaughter under the category of "Shouldn't You Have Known Better?" The Lions blew this one. There's nobody to blame but Matthew Stafford. Dropped passes or missing offensive weapons weren't the problem. It was the rookie quarterback misfiring, failing to take advantage of the bountiful opportunities an equally inept Seattle team provided them. Stafford finished with five interceptions, clearly the worst game of his young professional ..."

After building early 17-0 lead, Stafford looks like a rookie again

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November 9

Detroit News

"The youth movement is under way, for better and for worse. Sparked by big plays early from their rookies, the Lions did something they've rarely done Sunday. Then they did what everyone expected them to do, coughing up an early 17-0 lead and extending their road losing streak to 16 games with a 32-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks before a crowd of 67,003 at Qwest Field. "I've had some of these tough losses before," said linebacker Larry Foote, a Super Bowl champion in Pittsburgh last year who now finds his new team sitting at 1-7, tied for the worst record in the NFL with four others. "They all feel the same, you know? It's terrible. ... I'm at a loss for words right now." But while the ..."

Is Curry the one who got away?

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November 8

Detroit Free Press

"It was the day before the NFL draft in New York. Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford and Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry were part of a clinic for kids in Central Park, but they knew what was going on in Detroit. The Lions were negotiating with Stafford's agents to make him the No. 1 pick -- apparently using Curry as leverage. Curry had said he would take less money to go first overall, and he seemed to be the people's choice. When the Lions unveiled their new logo and uniforms that week, fans chanted "Curry!" and "Don't draft Stafford!" Stafford shrugged it off. Curry embraced it. "It was touching to see that the fans would like to see me there," Curry said. "It's past just me wanting ..."

Seahawks shoring up the interior

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November 8

Tacoma News Tribune

"The mention of San Francisco running back Frank Gore galloping 80 yards untouched into the end zone still brings shivers to Seattle Seahawks defensive line coach Dan Quinn. "That one is going to haunt me until I die," Quinn joked about Gore's 207-yard performance against Seattle on Sept. 20. "But that happened. You can't take it back. It's one of those things where you'll never forget it. It will always keep you sharp because you don't want that to happen to you." The game served as a turning point for Seattle's run defense. Seattle hasn't allowed a 100-yard rusher since that game, and the team is ranked No. 10 in run defense, allowing an average of 101.3 yards per game. Take away the San ..."

Lions easy prey for Seahawks

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November 8

Tacoma News Tribune

"Although the Qwest Field crowd's reputation as a valuable "12th Man" does not appear in danger of withering anytime soon, the prospect of having to watch the struggling 2-5 Seahawks duel the bumbling 1-6 Detroit Lions might cause the numerical reference to dip slightly. Maybe to 11.75 or 11.5. Not that their loyalty should be doubted. But this game hardly can be expected to become an instant classic. As coaches (especially those with losing records) like to say, there are no bad wins. Any win in the National Football League is hard to come by, they repeat. So, to beat Detroit today would be reason for a Seahawks celebration. Fans don't want context, they want wins – something to cheer ..."

Lions hope to minimize threat of Seahawks' rabid fans

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November 8

Detroit News

"It'll be 25 years ago next month that the Seattle Seahawks held a retirement ceremony for arguably the franchise's most valuable player. Back in December 1984, they retired the jersey No. 12 in honor of the "12th Man" tradition of boisterous fan support at home games. On Sunday, when the Lions visit Qwest Field, a prominent Seahawks fan will raise a No. 12 flag prior to kickoff as they have for every home game the last six years. And Julian Peterson, one of three current Lions players who came to Detroit from Seattle in the offseason, says the Seahawks' home-field advantage is very real. "They take serious pride in that," said Peterson, a Pro Bowl linebacker who spent the past three ..."

Seahawks earn gold star for attendance

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November 7

Tacoma News Tribune

"Friday was a first for the Seattle Seahawks. For the first time this season, everyone on the team's 53-man roster participated in practice as the Seahawks continue to get healthier seven games into the 2009 campaign. Seahawks head coach Jim Mora said it probably has been more than a year since the team had everyone on the active roster practicing. "It is kind of a milestone day," he said. "Now what we need to do is turn that into productivity on Sunday." This certainly bodes well for Seattle, which will try to end a two-game losing streak and has lost five of its past six games. The Seahawks got some more good news Friday - offensive tackle Sean Locklear, who has missed the past five ..."

Lions' Big 3 to play on Sunday

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November 7

Detroit Free Press

"For the first time in more than a month, the Lions will trot out their starters on offense Sunday. Over the past five weeks, the team has missed -- at various times -- its starting quarterback, its most dominant receiver and its starting running back. Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Kevin Smith played in only the first three games of the season together before injuries slowed them down. At Seattle on Sunday, that triumvirate should be ready to go. "Really, the last time they were all healthy together on the field was the first half of the Washington game (in Week 3)," said coach Jim Schwartz. Since then, Schwartz said, "Somebody's been limited or somebody's been missing. They are a ..."

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