It Can Be Done

I hope the Seahawks — coaches, players, everyone — have been paying attention and taking notes. There’s no good reason to be 0-2 against the Panthers next season. No. Good. Reason.

ajh

MoneyLynch Retires

Looks like Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is retiring, based on an image he posted to Twitter, showing him hanging up a pair of his light green cleats. I like the symbolism. I think it’s a good decision, for him and the team.

AJH

I’ll Always Be A Fan

Through the ups and downs, the highs and lows, I will always be a Seahawks fan. Even when the coach is Dennis Erickson. Even when your quarterback is Jon Kitna. Even when you were the St. Louis Rams of your day. Seattle has been lucky to have an owner who rescued the team, landed a terrific general manager and coach, and gathered up players with such amazing talent. Hopefully, next season we won’t get off to such a rocky start and instead end up with home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

ajh

Josh Norman, Republican?

“Why? Why would you want anything in life that is easy? Shoot, man, if you don’t go for it head on, then how can you say you are the best at anything? I think that is the way we are in our society. We want things the easy way and stuff to be given to us. We don’t want to work for it. We want things to be handed to us. And I don’t think that’s the way it should be done. I think the way it has been set up is the right way.”

— Carolina Panthers corner Josh Norman
on having to play the Seattle Seahawks in the playoffs

 

 

Seahawks punter Jon Ryan pulling down the ball after a low hike before what was supposed to be a punt and then trying to make a play out of it was awkward, very awkward. Ryan ended up breaking his nose after landing head first during the play. Seattle was lucky to escape with a win against the Vikings during brutally cold conditions in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh/The Associated Press)

Seahawks punter Jon Ryan is a Canadian from the province of Saskatchewan. He was born in the city of Regina. So it wasn’t surprising to hear that on Tuesday he showed up for a match between the Everett Silvertips and the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League. I was there working, at Xfinity Arena in Everett, but didn’t have a chance for much downtime. I do love the fans, though. They’re a great bunch. Ryan was there despite having busted up his nose during a wild playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings two days prior.

ajh

 

A Wacky Wild-Card Weekend

I’ve gathered up some imagery of today’s newspaper coverage of yesterday’s games, primarily focusing on the Seahawks-Vikings game.

ajh

Boy, Got That Right

The Olympian warned me to “BUCKLE UP.”

The Yakima Herald Republic noted the “WILD RIDE” of this up-and-down season.

I should have listened. I thought it was going to be easier. But then I’ve never played in an NFL game, let alone a playoff game — outdoors in Minnesota, in the winter, when it’s six below zero.

ajh

Playing on the Frozen Tundra

I am catching up on today’s papers, highlighting the front pages revolving around the Seahawks-Vikings playoff match up in Minnesota. I’m keeping a sort of digital scrapbook.

The weather was a major part of the story line. At kickoff, the field temperature was -6°. Yes, six below zero, and the frigid conditions clearly played a key factor in the game. Six below made the game the third coldest in NFL history and the coldest ever hosted by the Vikings.

Playing on the frozen tundra wasn’t easy, for either team.

Seattle had never played in a below zero game before. Russell Wilson looked uncomfortable at times.

The comeback by the Seahawks was reminiscent of last year’s NFC Championship game against the Packers.

It’s still hard to believe the Seahawks won the game, given how poorly they played for most of the game.

“I didn’t think any game could compete with the crazy comeback last year in the NFC Championship, but today’s in Minnesota did.” — a thought from earlier today I posted on Twitter

And these are just some of the Minnesota papers.

“Go figure.”

ajh

The 12th Man

I wonder how many ’Hawks fans will be there. They travel well. Gonna be fun to watch.

ajh

Two Rookies, Fifty Years Apart

The Seahawks’ Tyler Lockett is only the second rookie in NFL history with at least five receiving touchdowns, a kick return touchdown and a punt return touchdown. The other is a fella named Gale Sayers, who did it when my parents were still in high school, in 1965. For anyone doing, or not doing, the math, that’s 50 years ago! I don’t know anything about Sayers. I’ll have to look him up on the Google. I know Lockett is a special player, but this is a remarkable feat.

AJH