Because They Said So: Great Toilet Reading!

Because They Said So is a regular round up of Seahawks news from other sources. We gave it this name because we bloggers have no media credentials and we have to take these people's damn word for it.


Wow, all the fishwrap writers are giving it both barrels now. Every newspaper within 500 miles of Seattle is publishing magazine-worthy feature stories for their special section season preview. So instead of the usual bulleted list of odd little gems, today's BTSS is a compilation of the best full-length articles I can find.

Rather than hurry through them while your boss is looking over your shoulder, I highly recommend printing these articles alongside/underneath your weekly sales reports, putting them together in a manila folder, and spending some quality reading time with them in the shitter. That way you get to take a moment to really appreciate some of the best Seahawks-related articles of the year, and simultaneously let the boss think that you are really so into your job that you bring your work in the can.

HOT TIP: Bring a highlighter and make some meaningless marks on the report, just to make it look good.

TOILET-WORTHY STORIES:

• My favorite article has to be Walter Jones: The Greatest Seahawk Ever. Damn near brought a tear to my eye. There have been a lot of Walt stories over the years, but this takes the cake.


• Are the Seahawks rebuilding or reloading? Check out Hawks Enjoy Best of Times
.

• Frank Hughes takes a look at Seattle's advancing DEEEEE-fense.


• A nice background piece on Brian Russell.


• Art Thiel discusses the impact of Jim Mora.

NOT QUITE AS IMPRESSIVE, BUT A GOOD READ ANYWAY:

• DJ Hacket is ready for prime time.


• Shaun Alexander is ready to run.


• Spend 15 minutes with Rod Mar in a Big Walt photo shoot. Cool.


• Are you a die-hard Seahawks optimist? Wanna get pissed off? Read this.


• Wanna feel better afterward? Read this.

Damn, all this has me foaming at the mouth for the season opener.

Don't forget the toilet paper.

Because They Said So: We took one from Texas

Because They Said So is a regular round up of Seahawks news from other sources. We gave it this name because we bloggers have no media credentials and we have to take these people's damn word for it.

Yeah, I took a break from blogging. But I'm back, and so is this feature.

• You've probably already heard the Seahawks acquired former first round pick Jason Babin in trade for discouraged safety Michael Boulware. Did you know Babin is a rancher? Did you know what he thinks of his opportunity in Seattle? King5 shares a moment with the new defensive end:

Seems like a GREAT move. I love it, man." Babin, generously listed at 6-foot-3, 267 pound, said with a big smile Monday night after his first Seattle practice. "Got a team that's got a chance at Super Bowl. Can't want anymore than that."

• As if there wasn't enough reasons to hate Steve Kelley, he writes a nice article about the most overrated Seahawks player. Don't get me wrong, I respect Chris Gray. I just wish he would get out of the way so a young, strong, althletic guard could take his place, even though he will make some mistakes along the way.


• George Bush blesses Hasselbeck and Strong. What else is there to say?

I want to thank Matt Hasselbeck and Mack Strong. These are champs. (Applause.) These men are champs on the field and they're champs off the field. And they set such a fine example for people who look at the Seattle Seahawks and they look at these players and say, gosh, I'd like to be like them. And I thank you for being such good family men, setting such a good example for the kids here. And I'm honored to have the jersey. (Applause.)

Tip o' the hat to Enjoy the Enjoyment

Because They Said So: Back to Work!

Because They Said So is a regular round up of Seahawks news from other sources. We gave it this name because we bloggers have no media credentials and we have to take these people's damn word for it.

• Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe covers the Seahawks' offseason. Nice artice, suprisingly accurate and insightful for an East coast fish wrap. Among the good things were some quotes from Matt Hasselbeck I haven't seen anywhere else, regarding how he expects Deion Branch's receptions to go way up this season:
  

  "You'd watch one of our practices and it was almost unfair, Darrell Jackson was catching almost every ball," Hasselbeck said. "It's how the [West Coast] system was designed and you look back at those who played there in Green Bay and San Francisco: Robert Brooks, Sterling Sharpe, Antonio Freeman, Jerry Rice. I think there are certain plays Mike Holmgren likes to call because it reminds him of good plays when he was coaching in Green Bay and San Francisco. He loves to say, 'Z-in.' He doesn't love to say 'X-in' as much."

  
  Nice. Can you say "sleeper fantasy pick?"
  


• DJ Hackett may play the field after this season. According to Seahawks.net via Field Gulls, Hackett's agent told Sirius Radio he will likely "play out the season and entertain offers from other teams when free agency begins next March (though he sees the Seahawks as a viable future choice)." Sounds like a smart move. This is most likely to be a breakout season for Hackett, and he couldn't ask for better timing. I just hope he can get by in the meantime on his meager $1.3 million RFA salary.

That's all for now. I gotta get back to work(ing out some baby batter after seeing that Amy Miller picture one too many times.)

Because They Said So: Merrill Hodge Brain Damage!

Because They Said So is a regular round up of Seahawks news from other sources. We gave it this name because we bloggers have no media credentials and we have to take these people's damn word for it.

• Seahawks blogger Dan Lucero of MVN takes a great ride on Merrill Hodge's ignorance about the Seahawks' secondary.
• From the 'Worth a Chuckle' department: A Broncos blogger ranks Jay Cutler over Matt Hasselbeck. Heck, that may even be worth a giggle.
• Surprise, surprise--According to the USA today, Shaun Alexander was the ninth highest-paid player in the NFL last season at $15,125,000. If that surprises you, then consider how he was topped by Vikings LG Steve Hutchinson, who was ranked at #4, and paid a cool $16,588,080.
• Deep in the bowels of the Seahawks' depth chart is the 4th or 5th string RT Kyle Williams. He's a longshot to even make the practice squad, but there is a nice feature about him on WeAreSC.com. He seems to be a hard worker who makes the most of his opportunities.

Oh, and meet my fantasy librarian Nikki Cox. I'd like to look something up in her Dewey Decimal system!

Because They Said So, Fourth of July Edition

Because They Said So is a regular round up of Seahawks news from other sources. We gave it this name because we bloggers have no media credentials and we have to take these people's damn word for it.

It's that wonderful time of year where there are more Coronas in my fridge than good Seahawks topics. I just wish I could keep that ratio going through training camp. Nonetheless, here are some things of note:

• The Seahawks have signed four year contracts with two of their rookies, guard Mansfield Wrotto and linebacker Will Herring, chosen in the fourth and fifth rounds respectively. I'm trying not to yawn, but it's hard. The most intrigue I call possibly pull out of this is that Wrotto was essentially acquired in trade for Darrell Jackson, and is a project at best, in the process of converting from defensive tackle in college. If and when things go wrong this season, I expect this trade to be brought up by the old 'fire Holmgren' crowd.


• Matt Hasselbeck is out of shape. I know it's a couple of weeks old, but Art Theil reports that, while Hasselbeck's shoulder surgery is ahead of schedule, he doesn't have his football strength yet:
  

  "Right now I'm not strong. I'm trying, but I have a lot of training to do. In order for me to be successful and play a full season, I gotta be strong. I'm way ahead of my rehab, but where I am physically is more like March. I'm way behind."

  Maybe he's got a little jellybelly going on. But he's going to have to train hard this offseason to get back into shape, or it's going to be a long year for him.


• Michael Silver of SI.com ranks the top NFL owners. Of course, it's chock full of East coast bias. Paul Allen shows up strong at #12. But at least Silver brought home a paycheck.

Now if you'll excuse me, my Coronas are lonely.