No Respect? He's to Blame!

For as long as I can remember, Seattle fans have complained about not getting the respect and attention of the national press, and even after completing the best season in franchise history, leading to home field advantage and a first round playoff bye, it still seems to be a major issue.

Well, in order to solve a problem, you have to first identify the source, and I believe the responsibility for the underwhelming esteem held throughout the NFL for the Seahawks organization squarely rests on the shoulders of this one man.

STEVE LARGENT.

Yes, you read it right, THAT Steve Largent.

Oh sure, he racked up yardage and receptions while playing for the Seahawks alright. Broke a few records too. Even tried to cover up his true nature by winning the Man of the Year honors a time or two.

But the true character of the man was unfortunately revealed once he hung up the cleats and walked away from the game.

The organization did the right thing by Steve. Ring of honor. Retired his jersey. Even helped get him into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

But what did this selfish individual do in return?

Did he get a job with ESPN? Sports Illustrated? Fox?

NO, this self centered former Seahawk great goes and runs for Congress of all things, under the thinly veiled guise of "helping the constituents of his home state of Oklahoma".

So, instead of positioning himself as one of the premiere talking heads in a network landscape full of nattering nabobs of negativety, Steve takes the "easy" way out and runs for public office.

Can you imagine if it were Steve Largent sitting there between Boomer, TJ and Steve Young? Can you imagine the education that he could have provided to the football masses explaining intricacies of the game, such as Washington is a part of the United States, and Seattle is a vibrant city with more than coffee, rain and grunge music.

Can you imagine ANYONE sitting in a studio and spewing the half-baked, uninformed, based on things that happened 20 years ago garbage opinions if they had to look across the table into the steely blue eyes of the ONE AND ONLY #80?

Can you imagine using his intellect and nack for public speaking to call out on the carpet all the donut eating free buffet trolling hacks from east coast media outlets for not paying attention to one of the up and coming premiere organizations in the NFL?

No, Steve Largent pretends he had a "higher calling" and instead snubbed the opportunity to be the face of the franchise within the hostile confines of the national media, choosing instead the safer, less contentious floor of the US House of Representatives.

So don't let NFL Films sell you a bill of goods on this guy, showing his awesome moves, great hands and outstanding character.

When Steve Largent stopped at that proverbial fork, with two divergent paths jutting out into the forest, we all KNOW which one he chose.

Of course the Seahawks get no respect.

And for that, I blame Steve Largent!