New Seahawks Jerseys Unveiled…..And They Look Terrible

WHAT THE HELL IS THAT, NIKE?!!! There is nothing constructive that I can say to describe how terrible these new Seahawks jerseys are. You can see more here, but you really don’t want to. Everything sucks. The number font, the blinding green, it all is just AWFUL.

I don’t know how the Seahawks’ Super Bowl run led by Matt Flynn’s 7,500 yard, 65 TD, 1 INT (off a drop from our occasionally stone-handed TEs) performance can be taken seriously in crap like this.

If this is the nonsense the team APPROVED of, then Seattle must draft LaMichael James. It’s like James never left Oregon with those wretched uniforms on display.

The NFL World Explodes as Roger Goodell Lays Sledgehammer Down On the New Orleans Saints

Oops. Wrong Bounty.

In the span of about a half-hour we’ve now had the craziest day of the NFL offseason. The first post will detail the punishments for the New Orleans Saints, who were found to have implemented a bounty system in which former DC Gregg Williams paid Saints defenders to injure opposing players. Obviously this had minimal success, as they had great trouble stopping Marshawn Lynch and any 49ers offensive player in the last two playoffs. Nonetheless, they needed to be punished if not for the system itself, but for getting caught, as obviously other teams who had Williams on their staff hid this well enough.

Well anyone expecting Roger Goodell to be kind to New Orleans doesn’t know that Roger Goodell likes to use his power stick. The list of bans and penalties include:

- An entire season for head coach Sean Payton.

- An indefinite suspension for bounty hunting mastermind and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. It will be reviewed after 1 year.

- An 8 game suspension for Saints GM Mickey Loomis, effective at the start of the regular season.

- Assistant head coach and linebackers coach Joe Vitt is gonzo for the opening 6 games.

- Forfeiture of their 2nd round picks for the 2012 and 2013 drafts.

- A $500,000 fine.

- Suspensions and fines for certain Saints players who took part in the bounty (whether they’re currently with the team or not) to be determined later.

DAMN! That’s some justice. Evidently the Saints have long been lying to the NFL about their bounty system (something the NFL has been investigating) and that probably is one of the bigger reasons they’re getting such a harsh sentencing. This is an unprecedented move by the league and commissioner Roger Goodell.

There are so many ramifications out of this. New Orleans is the site of the next Super Bowl and the Saints have been one of the best teams in football for several years. This is as damaging a blow they could get. Keep in mind that they only just recently barely kept QB Drew Brees, who was in the last year of his contract before he got franchised. Would he want to bolt given the impending meltdown of this team?

As for Gregg Williams, he should be out of football forever. If not for being an overrated defensive coordinator, it’s this system he’s used everywhere he’s been. You could argue that for multiple teams clearly participating in this that NO’s punishment is too harsh, but someone needed to be the example for the consequences of an organized “injure the other guy!” system like the one that’s been used in New Orleans for the last several years.

There’s no way back for the Saints. I’d be shocked if they made the playoffs this year and wouldn’t be surprised if that organization, which has tried so hard to become relevant contenders in football, fell apart after this scandal. It’s inevitable that the Saints will collapse from within as a result of today’s events.

A simply stunning day in the world of sports and for the NFL. Now it’s a wait and see through the rest of this offseason to figure out what will become of the New Orleans Saints as a football franchise and the rest of the league if there are any other allegations of using a bounty system.

Peyton Manning to the Denver Broncos

Yesterday the Seattle Seahawks entered Flynnsanity (if we get to go nuts over Jeremy Lin puns, then I sure as hell have the right to do it with Flynn), and have done so without paying some stupid contract like Arizona has with Kevin Kolb. I’m pumped, excited, and most importantly less concerned about Tarvaris Jackson starting all 16 games in 2012. I’m sure the media will focus on this pretty big….. Wait, hold on a minute, I’ve just seen the headline involving Peyton Manning to the Denver Broncos. Uh oh, move over Flynnsanity, because America is about to see Tebowmania move over for Peyton Manning.

With Manning seemingly headed for Denver barring a miracle (divine intervention!), Tim Tebow is not only being shipped, but apparently Broncos management gives nary a rat’s ass what they get for him:

Peyton Manning has reportedly chosen his team and he will be the next quarterback of … the Denver Broncos. CBSSports.com’s Mike Freeman confirms that Manning’s pick is Denver and that a contract “is a formality” at this point.

Freeman also reports that the Broncos will attempt to trade Tim Tebow and “do not care” what they get for him. Over the weekend, my colleague Ryan Wilson put together a list of teams that could potentially make a move for Tebow; it’s a pretty prescient post that you should read.

Chris Mortensen first reported the news of Peyton to Denver, noting that Manning has told his agent Tom Condon to “open negotiations” with Denver. .

Manning has, at this time, informed the other teams of his decision. It’s a stunning decision, really. Earlier today we mentioned that Manning was “dealing directly” with various teams. But it seemed as if the Broncos had fallen behind in the race for Peyton. Instead, John Elway was able to close the deal and land one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.

Bold emphasis mine. This pretty much confirms John Elway has zero confidence in Tim Tebow being anything resembling a competent starting QB. It’s hard to argue that he will, as he played terribly as soon as opposing defenses figured out his game and that you can’t let him run around the field as he pleases. Strangely enough–almost entirely because of the health status of Peyton Manning–I wouldn’t trade Tebow. At least try and let him learn from the master instead of giving up on him that quickly. Also, trading Tebow means that once again we’re going to start this merry-go-round of coverage on Timmay and it will take up all of sports talk. Congratulations Denver, you keep finding ways for me to make me think you’re one of the most insufferable franchises in football.

Denver is clearly putting all of their eggs in one basket by signing Peyton Manning. I’ve long said it’s a risk given the injury he has, so if it works they’re immediate playoff contenders, but if not then even if Tebow is terrible with his new team, it’s a pretty big bust for the Broncos.

 

Seahawks Find a Way to Lose in the Offseason

With the 11th overall pick on the line, the 7-9 Kansas City Chiefs and 7-9 Seattle Seahawks were a coin flip away from knowing their order in the 2012 NFL Draft. The Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers battled for 8th overall with their coin flip, and the ‘Fins managed to win their game of chance. As for the Seattle Seahawks? Well in true Seattle fashion they lost. And not just with any coin, a special commemorative one!

The 2012 NFL Draft order is finalized: the Dolphins and Chiefs won coin tosses (against the Panthers and Seahawks, respectively) on Friday morning in Indianapolis to secure the eighth (Miami) and 11th (KC) picks in the draft.

The Panthers will now select ninth in April, and the Seahawks — losers to the Chiefs — will select 12th. The coin tosses took place early in the morning, utilizing specially-designed, commemorative coins. There were no media present (or allowed, for that matter), but the teams streamed the flip live on their various websites.

Are you serious, NFL? You wasted nearly 2 months determining draft order to make a special coin? This could’ve been finished with a regular NFL game coin! This isn’t the Super Bowl, it’s placing terrible football teams in high spots to get Not Andrew Luck and Not Robert Griffin III.

Anyway, the Seahawks not getting 11th overall hurts their bargaining position for obvious reasons if they want to trade down.

This toss was pretty significant, considering the likelihood the Hawks would try to trade down. The difference between the 11th and 12th pick is roughly a late fourth round pick’s worth if you’re going by the Jimmy Johnson Trade Value Chart. That said, not all teams use that chart and if there’s a player at 12 that some team wants, all ‘trade value’ becomes an afterthought. It’s about supply and demand, really.

I blame Charlie Whitehurst.

I’ll wait until mid-April to really guess at who the Seahawks could get, but I’m 99% certain it won’t be a quarterback and I’m 100% certain I don’t want another year of drafting a non-skill position player in the 1st round.

Seahawks Re-Sign Vaunted Cornerback Kelly Jennings

Kelly Jennings.

Six seasons, two interceptions, zero Pro Bowls, renewed contract. Who’s up for a terrible terrible year of DB play? I AM! I AM!

Seahawks Re-sign Brandon ME! BANE!

This is a big big big signing. Seattle’s defensive tackle depth is not really good and Mebane can disrupt the pass and the run, whereas Colin Cole can help stop the run and look like a fool trying to force pressure through the middle.