If anyone is interested, the comedy podcast Crime in Sports did a 3 hour episode on Irvin that was pretty mind blowing. There is much profanity and it's not for everyone, but I quite enjoyed listening to it. It's hard to believe he wasn't kicked off the team after stabbing a teammate (for not giving up his place in line for a haircut) and so, so many other terrible things. But talent trumps all, and did even more back then. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wrong-thing-the-right-way-the/id1082678396?i=1000512187329
I respect Michael Irvin the player. I have little to no respect for Michael Irvin the person. We have JS & MM setting the culture in Seattle, and Dallas has Jerry Jones......and nobody else really matters. I know which option I'd take, every day of the week, and twice on Sunday's. Jerry just won't 'self scout', as he's terrified he'd see ineptitude and ignorance (he would). So just keep pretending Jerry. The NFC thanks you for it. Of course, when you're rich enough you can just goof around with a NFL team for kicks and giggles, what does he care about what other people think?
Rob Rang had an interesting article on seahawks.com today that I expect will cause some disquiet amongst Seahawks fans. He postulated that perhaps the answer to the o-line issues isn't free agency or the draft (although he was fine acquiring through both). He was suggesting the answer might simply be......patience. Let the new coaching staff develop the young talent we've already acquired. Level them up to their fullest capabilities. I expect nobody wants to hear that, but I do think it is a big part of the equation. If you can't develop the talent you bring in......through draft, trade, or FA......then what are we doing? We've seen several Seahawks lineman have their best seasons elsewhere, and if we fix nothing else, we have to fix that.
Lately, I have become unsure about what I thought I knew about professional football, but I am pretty sure that Michael Irvin's problem is forgetting that the elephant in his room fired the coach that made it possible for him to be on 3 Superbowl teams.
With respect to the Seahawks, I have to agree that they are now getting very interesting.
I will always remember Reggie White, drafted by Philly, was defensive player of the year one year, and was not resigned at about age 31. Went to Green Bay, won a Superbowl, and won NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
It appears that defensive ends can have a longer lifespan in the NFL.
I also don't think that the Seahawks are done yet, and that the o-line is coming next.
Lastly, I am interested in Darnold, who showed flashes of exceptionalism, something that doesn't exist with Geno, as has been pointed out repeatedly. Geno is and always has been Geno; no better and no worse.
Darnold has a much better pedigree and higher ceiling. Quarterback is the hardest position to learn and many great qbs were late-bloomers, like Kurt Warner.
Weather isn’t everything. If it were, no one would want to live in Austin. My mother was from Pittsburgh. I have many happy memories of summer visits to my grandparents and cousins. We saw the Pirates at Forbes Field many times, including this game:
Nice! I loved going to baseball games as a kid. It was so easy, no metal detectors or any difficulty, and bleacher seats on Wednesday afternoon were a buck! Yeah, I know, a buck isn’t what it used to be to be, but It’s insane what it costs now. I go to one Seahawks game a year. I just can’t justify the cost of season tickets.
The ‘65 Dodger club somehow won 97 games and the World Series. The only .300 hitter on the team was, believe it or not, Don Drysdale. His 7 HRs were fourth on the team. Jim Lefebvre (remember him?) and Lou Johnson led with 12; Willie Davis hit 10. Sandy Koufax, Drysdale, and Claude Osteen started *123* games! Koufax and Drysdale combined for 644 IP and 47 CG.
nicknamed "the Left Arm of God", is an American former baseball pitcher who played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers from 1955 to 1966. Widely regarded as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, Koufax was the first three-time winner of the Cy Young Award, each time winning unanimously and the only pitcher to do so when a single award was given for both the leagues; he was also named the National League Most Valuable Player in 1963. Retiring at the age of 30 due to chronic pain in his pitching elbow, Koufax was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1972 at the age of 36, the youngest player ever elected.
One of the best baseball nicknames! There’s a video somewhere from the 1963 WS of Mickey Mantle striking out against Koufax and walking away visibly shaking his head. Reputedly, he was asking how anyone could hit that ——ing ——.
Re arms, the players called Roberto Clemente’s right arm “El Bazooka.”
My parents weren’t exactly rolling in it back in 1965, but my father took me, one of my brothers, and a cousin to Forbes Field. I wonder what a ticket cost?
It was probably much more reasonable than today. There was no players union, no free agency until Curt Flood, and many players needed jobs in the offseason back then to make ends meet. Now we have contracts in the hundreds of millions.
Don't bring ageism into SSJ! Many of your people here are older than Michael Irvin, and 1995 is a blur of years for me that went from the1970's to the 2020's. Otherwise, I am and always believed Demarcus was elite and mature. He's borderline HOF, and he has many years to go in the universe I foresee. I think he's a monster when healthy. Maybe it's because of Dallas, you know? They get lots of media, whether deserved or not, and they seem to be a big group of Karen's. I was going to use another word, but it slips my aged mind.
Edit: Entitled was the word that slipped my mind, but isn't a Karen an entitled person to a T?
Agreed, I like to say out loud, "I am 19" and it kind of puts a little spring in my step. You are only as old as you tell yourself. Reality can be bent. But then when I try to jump or stand on one foot, I fall back into thinking I am an old man. Crap! ha, ha.
I really like what I’ve seen of D Law on tape. He kind of reminds me of… Kam. Yeah, totally different position, but they are both masters of anchoring their feet at exactly the right time and place, and exploding from the turf straight into and through their opponent. It’s an innate skill, not something that a player ages out of. As long as he’s healthy and on the field, he’ll make an impact, play after play.
A lot of players just fly into opponents in the hope that they won’t just bounce off. Other players gently wrap up and pull their opponents down. Kam would thrust from the turf and wrap at the same moment. Ain’t no bouncin’ off. Nothing gentle or pulled. Nobody’s breaking a Kam tackle or forgetting the force of contact.
D Law has that intensity, but uses it to push pass protectors and run defenders aside. And there’s no quit until the target is on the ground or the ball is out.
We got a winner. He’s gonna be fun to watch. With him next to Big Cat, Murphy, and Mafe, why blitz? And when a surprise blitz does come, the offense will already have its hands full. Should be glorious.
Nailed that Sea. Love this post. Coach Mac already one of the lowest blitz. Agree with that group and don’t forget JReed/Hall aiding. Will be awesome to watch. Thank you
Mickey, Mickey, we all know that the Cowboys will never even sniff a SB until the owner Jerry Jones fires the GM Jerry Jones, the talent evaluator Jerry Jones and the head coach Jerrry Jones. You should live so long!
Irvin's shtick is coming from a place of weakness, loss and a false victim-y vibe, as in, aren't things tough enough for us, now you gotta leave and make it harder?!
I wonder how much of this resentment is driven by the top heavy nature of NFL compensation. The pay difference between great, good, and average seems a lot higher than the one between average and bad.
I know I would every day be stewing and thinking is this person really worth twice as much as me?
Thinking of Russell Wilson on the broncos as an extreme example
I am all in on the D front. I feel like we are 1-2 picks away from Legion of Boom 2.0. The offense on the other hand, got a ways to go.
But overall, I am excited to see what the Hawks can do this year. Standing pat wasn't good enough, 10-7 is fine, but no playoff appearance means we just get the worst pick of all non-playoff teams. Not a great place to be if you want to pull yourself out of mediocrity.
Sure we don't know how this will play out, but its better than rolling out the same team again.
I've come around on the Lawrence signing -- a little risky given the injury/age but there have been highly productive edge rushers well into their '30s, and Lawrence was unquestionably a top 10 edge for several years. And started 2024 like a house on fire, on a pace for 13 sacks, 17 tackles for loss and 21 QB hits. With his reputation as a locker room leader, perhaps he also teaches Mafe and Hall a thing or two. I've come around on this one after having been negative given age/injury history.
Dallas is its own circus and it's hilarious to read their ex-players so worked up, thanks for sharing with us hicks tucked away in the Pacific Northwest
I'm quietly coming around to all our signings. Went back and watched film on Cupp last year. He's still got a lot in the tank and he's smart, which is something JS mentioned first on a list of what they ate looking for. I like Lawrence a lot, hoping he's still got it. Sam Darnold looks like a different player than his first few teams in the NFL. Even Mark Sanchez was commenting that he got a software update and was not the same player he used to be. I think we will see these new players gel and before we know it, we're looking at a decent team. Now, if we can find a couple of starters and few good backups in this draft I'll be stoked.
Geno is 7 years older and last couple of years he’s had a more stable environment. Darnold now gets that environment. But what were you saying about Geno just 5 years ago. “Failed everywhere he’s been. An ok back up but not a starter. Can’t win” etc etc etc. we’ve struck pay dirt multiple times before. Kreig, Hass (Moon was already good). Geno. Maybe we’ve got another leader from a failed or non existent past. Will Geno have a better year? Maybe. Can Darnold be at Geno level in a couple of years? Maybe.
Michael Irvin needs to lay off the crack rock. From where I’m sitting, and looking through my glasses (rose colored) the Hawks are contenders! 12 wins this year.
Indeed, the Cowboys are dysfunctional and will remain so as long as Jones is the owner and thinks he can make better decisions than actual football people like JS. Jones is effectively the GM, and even if the Cowboy’s GM in name only knows better, he knows he better keep his mouth shut. The Jets have the same owner problem. I hope whoever buys the Seahawks is an involved owner, but in a way that respects football people making critical decisions.
This could be an awesome story:
Underdog Hawks advance to NFC Championship Game with Lawrence sacking Dak Prescott for a Safety in Overtime....
Love it
If anyone is interested, the comedy podcast Crime in Sports did a 3 hour episode on Irvin that was pretty mind blowing. There is much profanity and it's not for everyone, but I quite enjoyed listening to it. It's hard to believe he wasn't kicked off the team after stabbing a teammate (for not giving up his place in line for a haircut) and so, so many other terrible things. But talent trumps all, and did even more back then. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wrong-thing-the-right-way-the/id1082678396?i=1000512187329
This is the kind of content that keeps bringing me back to Seaside Joe. Keep up the great work!
I respect Michael Irvin the player. I have little to no respect for Michael Irvin the person. We have JS & MM setting the culture in Seattle, and Dallas has Jerry Jones......and nobody else really matters. I know which option I'd take, every day of the week, and twice on Sunday's. Jerry just won't 'self scout', as he's terrified he'd see ineptitude and ignorance (he would). So just keep pretending Jerry. The NFC thanks you for it. Of course, when you're rich enough you can just goof around with a NFL team for kicks and giggles, what does he care about what other people think?
Rob Rang had an interesting article on seahawks.com today that I expect will cause some disquiet amongst Seahawks fans. He postulated that perhaps the answer to the o-line issues isn't free agency or the draft (although he was fine acquiring through both). He was suggesting the answer might simply be......patience. Let the new coaching staff develop the young talent we've already acquired. Level them up to their fullest capabilities. I expect nobody wants to hear that, but I do think it is a big part of the equation. If you can't develop the talent you bring in......through draft, trade, or FA......then what are we doing? We've seen several Seahawks lineman have their best seasons elsewhere, and if we fix nothing else, we have to fix that.
Michael, Michael, Michael.
We all know that as long as Jerry Jones is the GM of the Cowboys, they have no chance of getting to the Super Bowl, let alone win it.
That’s just science.
Lately, I have become unsure about what I thought I knew about professional football, but I am pretty sure that Michael Irvin's problem is forgetting that the elephant in his room fired the coach that made it possible for him to be on 3 Superbowl teams.
With respect to the Seahawks, I have to agree that they are now getting very interesting.
I will always remember Reggie White, drafted by Philly, was defensive player of the year one year, and was not resigned at about age 31. Went to Green Bay, won a Superbowl, and won NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
It appears that defensive ends can have a longer lifespan in the NFL.
I also don't think that the Seahawks are done yet, and that the o-line is coming next.
Lastly, I am interested in Darnold, who showed flashes of exceptionalism, something that doesn't exist with Geno, as has been pointed out repeatedly. Geno is and always has been Geno; no better and no worse.
Darnold has a much better pedigree and higher ceiling. Quarterback is the hardest position to learn and many great qbs were late-bloomers, like Kurt Warner.
I'm definitely paying attention.
“Seattle is Seattle, but it is not Dallas…”
No question. On the other hand, Pittsburgh is a great town. DK will love it there.
Pittsburgh is a great football town, but the weather is brutal in the winter and sweltering in the summer. He can have it
Weather isn’t everything. If it were, no one would want to live in Austin. My mother was from Pittsburgh. I have many happy memories of summer visits to my grandparents and cousins. We saw the Pirates at Forbes Field many times, including this game:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN196506250.shtml
Nice! I loved going to baseball games as a kid. It was so easy, no metal detectors or any difficulty, and bleacher seats on Wednesday afternoon were a buck! Yeah, I know, a buck isn’t what it used to be to be, but It’s insane what it costs now. I go to one Seahawks game a year. I just can’t justify the cost of season tickets.
The ‘65 Dodger club somehow won 97 games and the World Series. The only .300 hitter on the team was, believe it or not, Don Drysdale. His 7 HRs were fourth on the team. Jim Lefebvre (remember him?) and Lou Johnson led with 12; Willie Davis hit 10. Sandy Koufax, Drysdale, and Claude Osteen started *123* games! Koufax and Drysdale combined for 644 IP and 47 CG.
nicknamed "the Left Arm of God", is an American former baseball pitcher who played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers from 1955 to 1966. Widely regarded as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, Koufax was the first three-time winner of the Cy Young Award, each time winning unanimously and the only pitcher to do so when a single award was given for both the leagues; he was also named the National League Most Valuable Player in 1963. Retiring at the age of 30 due to chronic pain in his pitching elbow, Koufax was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1972 at the age of 36, the youngest player ever elected.
One of the best baseball nicknames! There’s a video somewhere from the 1963 WS of Mickey Mantle striking out against Koufax and walking away visibly shaking his head. Reputedly, he was asking how anyone could hit that ——ing ——.
Re arms, the players called Roberto Clemente’s right arm “El Bazooka.”
That was some pitching staff. Koufax! Yikes! Was he incredible early on in his career. Un-hitable.
My parents weren’t exactly rolling in it back in 1965, but my father took me, one of my brothers, and a cousin to Forbes Field. I wonder what a ticket cost?
It was probably much more reasonable than today. There was no players union, no free agency until Curt Flood, and many players needed jobs in the offseason back then to make ends meet. Now we have contracts in the hundreds of millions.
Don't bring ageism into SSJ! Many of your people here are older than Michael Irvin, and 1995 is a blur of years for me that went from the1970's to the 2020's. Otherwise, I am and always believed Demarcus was elite and mature. He's borderline HOF, and he has many years to go in the universe I foresee. I think he's a monster when healthy. Maybe it's because of Dallas, you know? They get lots of media, whether deserved or not, and they seem to be a big group of Karen's. I was going to use another word, but it slips my aged mind.
Edit: Entitled was the word that slipped my mind, but isn't a Karen an entitled person to a T?
I was born in the 50s, but you’re only as old as you feel. This morning I was feeling octogenarian.
Agreed, I like to say out loud, "I am 19" and it kind of puts a little spring in my step. You are only as old as you tell yourself. Reality can be bent. But then when I try to jump or stand on one foot, I fall back into thinking I am an old man. Crap! ha, ha.
I really like what I’ve seen of D Law on tape. He kind of reminds me of… Kam. Yeah, totally different position, but they are both masters of anchoring their feet at exactly the right time and place, and exploding from the turf straight into and through their opponent. It’s an innate skill, not something that a player ages out of. As long as he’s healthy and on the field, he’ll make an impact, play after play.
Nice. Thanks for that. Hadn’t watched him. Boy that be awesome. And one reason love Kam. He did things legally. Violent legally. So good.
A lot of players just fly into opponents in the hope that they won’t just bounce off. Other players gently wrap up and pull their opponents down. Kam would thrust from the turf and wrap at the same moment. Ain’t no bouncin’ off. Nothing gentle or pulled. Nobody’s breaking a Kam tackle or forgetting the force of contact.
D Law has that intensity, but uses it to push pass protectors and run defenders aside. And there’s no quit until the target is on the ground or the ball is out.
We got a winner. He’s gonna be fun to watch. With him next to Big Cat, Murphy, and Mafe, why blitz? And when a surprise blitz does come, the offense will already have its hands full. Should be glorious.
Nailed that Sea. Love this post. Coach Mac already one of the lowest blitz. Agree with that group and don’t forget JReed/Hall aiding. Will be awesome to watch. Thank you
Mickey, Mickey, we all know that the Cowboys will never even sniff a SB until the owner Jerry Jones fires the GM Jerry Jones, the talent evaluator Jerry Jones and the head coach Jerrry Jones. You should live so long!
Irvin's shtick is coming from a place of weakness, loss and a false victim-y vibe, as in, aren't things tough enough for us, now you gotta leave and make it harder?!
When you think about the opportunity for MI to be gracious and realistic...like, c'mon dude just do the minimum, respect the man and move on!
I wonder how much of this resentment is driven by the top heavy nature of NFL compensation. The pay difference between great, good, and average seems a lot higher than the one between average and bad.
I know I would every day be stewing and thinking is this person really worth twice as much as me?
Thinking of Russell Wilson on the broncos as an extreme example
Sea Side Joe bitch slap of Michael Irvin 🤣🤣🤣
Very un-SJ. I was a bit shocked and thought someone may have infiltrated his post.
I am all in on the D front. I feel like we are 1-2 picks away from Legion of Boom 2.0. The offense on the other hand, got a ways to go.
But overall, I am excited to see what the Hawks can do this year. Standing pat wasn't good enough, 10-7 is fine, but no playoff appearance means we just get the worst pick of all non-playoff teams. Not a great place to be if you want to pull yourself out of mediocrity.
Sure we don't know how this will play out, but its better than rolling out the same team again.
I've come around on the Lawrence signing -- a little risky given the injury/age but there have been highly productive edge rushers well into their '30s, and Lawrence was unquestionably a top 10 edge for several years. And started 2024 like a house on fire, on a pace for 13 sacks, 17 tackles for loss and 21 QB hits. With his reputation as a locker room leader, perhaps he also teaches Mafe and Hall a thing or two. I've come around on this one after having been negative given age/injury history.
Dallas is its own circus and it's hilarious to read their ex-players so worked up, thanks for sharing with us hicks tucked away in the Pacific Northwest
Looking at what now 33 yr old Van Noy has done past 2 years gives me hope for DLaw.
I'm quietly coming around to all our signings. Went back and watched film on Cupp last year. He's still got a lot in the tank and he's smart, which is something JS mentioned first on a list of what they ate looking for. I like Lawrence a lot, hoping he's still got it. Sam Darnold looks like a different player than his first few teams in the NFL. Even Mark Sanchez was commenting that he got a software update and was not the same player he used to be. I think we will see these new players gel and before we know it, we're looking at a decent team. Now, if we can find a couple of starters and few good backups in this draft I'll be stoked.
Agree other than two things:
- I think Geno is alot better than Darnold and with more help on the OL, could have had a major year for us (but I hope I'm wrong about Darnold)
- that help on the OL 🤣
Geno is 7 years older and last couple of years he’s had a more stable environment. Darnold now gets that environment. But what were you saying about Geno just 5 years ago. “Failed everywhere he’s been. An ok back up but not a starter. Can’t win” etc etc etc. we’ve struck pay dirt multiple times before. Kreig, Hass (Moon was already good). Geno. Maybe we’ve got another leader from a failed or non existent past. Will Geno have a better year? Maybe. Can Darnold be at Geno level in a couple of years? Maybe.
Hope is the coolest thing about this terrible horrible period between when we almost made the playoffs and when we get to start the dream again!
Michael Irvin needs to lay off the crack rock. From where I’m sitting, and looking through my glasses (rose colored) the Hawks are contenders! 12 wins this year.
My first thought reading first paragraph from SJ today. Then I saw his pic.
The pic confirmed it for me ;)
Seem a little wild eyed?? (More than normal…)
And in a better position than the Cowboys.
Indeed, the Cowboys are dysfunctional and will remain so as long as Jones is the owner and thinks he can make better decisions than actual football people like JS. Jones is effectively the GM, and even if the Cowboy’s GM in name only knows better, he knows he better keep his mouth shut. The Jets have the same owner problem. I hope whoever buys the Seahawks is an involved owner, but in a way that respects football people making critical decisions.