I would not underrate this game. Everyone who makes it to the NFL is a high level athlete. If the rams are playing backups - those guys have a ton of incentive to play well and put what they can do on tape (for their next team or paycheck).
Stafford to Jimmy G is a downgrade. And the skill guys especially Puka who is amazing. But I’m not sure how much else has been downgraded.
A 53 man roster can only rest so many guys. Not like preseason.
Anyways, every game in the NFL is tough! I would be very happy with a win.
DO: Kick the absolute crap out of the Rams. In particular, I’m looking forward to watching Leonard Williams take out his frustration over not making the Pro Bowl roster on whomever is in front of him. He absolutely had one of the best seasons this year of any D lineman. And I’ve read he’s pissed about it. It’s all the Rams fault Leonard. Go get ‘em!
I’m missing Seaside Jay’s pick for hits and misses today. 😟
You’re probably right. I just wish JS would sign him. Even if it’s a bit higher than John’s perceived value of him. I might change my praise/pressure opinion on him if he doesn’t get him signed.
Came here to point that out. Jones going to free agency. My guess is Hawks are either low balling (“we only have $5 mil in cap”) and Jones wants that FA. Says he wants to be here but might have been blowing smoke.
Jones has also said—correctly—that the NFL is a business and who knows what will happen. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for him—he will understandably want to optimize that.
EJ’s agent must have chatted with him, as his last interview was far less effusive in his wish to stay in Seattle. Lots of time between the end of the season and FA so I’m still optimistic. He solves a big problem for MM, so JS will want that check mark early in the offseason.
There have been an inordinate number of bad teams for some time now. The salary cap was supposed to fix this—that it hasn’t is one of its many failures. The cap actually encourages bad football because there’s no financial penalty for putting a bum team on the field. At the same time, the cap helps ensure that there won’t be any great teams.* What the cap is successful at is lining the pockets of the likes of Jerry Jones and Jimmy Haslam while putting players in a permanently weak negotiating position.
* As historically awesome as the LOB was, the 2013 Hawks wouldn’t have stood much of a chance against—say—the 70s Steelers.
The cap doesn't encourage bad football, the franchise system encourages bad football - This ensures every team maintains a level of profitability regardless of on field performance, so teams can be bad in perpetuity (i.e. Browns, Bears) with the Owners knowing they are always going to have a stable club they will turn a profit on in the end, and safe from any fear of bring knocked out of the league.
I'd also argue that the Cap doesn't prevent great teams. We saw the Pats dominate for nigh on 20 years in a way even great pre-cap era teams kind of didn't. Smart coaching, drafting, financials and crucially player buy-in helped them work around the cap. Whilst the Cap still allows teams to go bananas in spending to try and make a 'super' team (i.e. whatever the Browns have been trying recently), it's not financials making them bad but just bad decisions.
We can even watch the supposed Cap crippled Cardinals (The Murray deal was supposed to sink them for years, and it hasn't), the supposed Cap crippled Rams (the fallout of their SB push was supposed to sink them for years, and it hasn't), and the soon-to-be Cap crippled 49ers (i'd put strong money on them being just fine in a year or two). Whilst the Saints seem to live in a weird cap hell.
Whilst the leagues ideal scenario would be every team either 9-8 or 8-9 to embody the true 'any given sunday' motif, it's just not going to happen - sports doesn't work that way. There will always be 2 or 3 win teams and 13 win teams. What the NFL does seem to manage well, bar a few exceptions, is a fairly regular rotation of the top and bottom teams over 3-to-4 years. For my complaint above of the franchise system, the ability to take time to invest in young players, have down years and build back up, does pay off in the end. Even when we talk about the Pats era they themselves had certain waves and crests. It's also allowed the best players to be spread out across the league in a way you don't see in other sports (such as Watt being the best DE in Pit, Henry staying in Ten for as long as he did, Bowers establishing as the #1 TE in LV).
Basically - the structure of the NFL i find very interesting. The Cap has both good and bad sides, but doesn't make teams bad or good, and frankly i think the importance/pressure of the cap is heavily overblown by fans and media vs those actually working in the NFL. For a lack of penalty to being bad, point fingers at the franchise system not the cap.
I think the 70s Steelers would get absolutely monstered by even the modern Panthers! Massive massive advances in training, overall player fitness and strength levels, huge changes in pace and complexity of both offence and defence. I think the Steelers team would be run off their feet by the 4th Qtr and somewhat comprehensively beaten. That said, there could be a fun off-season SSJ article in here comparing the best Hawks teams of old and how a game would play out between them.
The Pats dominated in the cap era because of Tom Brady. The 1974-1979 Steelers had 9 HOFers; the 1960-1967 Packers had *13*. That’s not possible today.
All due respect to one of the greatest defenses in history, the 70’s Steelers playing under modern rules would be completely outclassed, maybe even in the SEC. Chop blocks, horse collars, hits to the head, roughing the QB, unnecessary roughness, tightened pass interference, all the things that made them ruthless would draw flags today. So today, 50 years later, they’d just be smaller and slower than even the worst teams, most likely would just get blown off the field against today’s athletes. (40’s times are AI estimates):
Mean Joe Green 6’4” 275, 4.9
LC Greenwood 6’6” 245, 4.8
Ernie Holmes 6’3” 260, 5.1
Dwight White 6’4” 255, 4.9
The Steel Curtain would be mismatched even against Seattle’s 2024 OL, too small and too slow.
Jack Ham 6’1” 225, 4.8
Jack Lambert 6’4” 220, 4.8
Andy Russell 6’2” 225, 4.8
Their outstanding linebackers would today be slower and smaller than all TE’s and most RB’s as well. And over 100lbs lighter than any pulling guard.
Mel Blount 6’3” 205, 4.6
JT Thomas 6’2” 196, 4.5
Mike Wagner 6’1” 210, 4.7
Glen Edwards 6’0” 185, 4.7
Had forgotten how big that secondary was, good size even today. But would they be fast enough? Even Sherm would have been considered lightning-fast in the ‘70’s….
If the 70s Steelers and 60s Packers played today, they’d all be taking advantage of advanced conditioning, bodybuilding, nutritional, and mental health techniques and practices. These guys would be great players in any era.
The point remains that the salary cap makes it impossible to retain a team with 9-12 HOFers over 6-8 years even if you could build one. There are other factors—expansion, for example—but the cap is the biggest obstacle.
I do agree the team records in the cap era are different than pre-cap, given the whole thing is designed around parity.
But, essentially everyone was under the same rules in both eras, and there were some pretty bad long-term franchises in both eras. The good ones adjust to the new rules and the not-so-good ones stay not-so-good. For example Seattle got to a position of good-to-great with a change in ownership (IMHO) rather than because of a change in cap rules. Although his ownership period coincides pretty much with the cap era, he was by far the wealthiest owner and arguably could have bought success if still in the pre-cap era.
Pre-Paul Allen W/L record: .403 and four playoff years, no SB's
Post-Paul Allen W/L record: .526 and 13 playoff years including 3 SB's and one ring
How Paul Allen changed EVERYTHING (other than the city, thank god), is a lesson for all NFL owners
Hoping Leo gets to double digit sacks, and Spoon gets his first pick of the season. And a win would be very nice. Above all, come out of the game healthy so everyone can have a building offseason, not a rehab offseason.
Sign EJ John. Don't can whether that's now, prior to FA, or during. Just get him signed. Minimize the salary cap hit in the first two years I'm sure Earnest will want some term given how much he's bounced around lately. I'd be fine with a 4 or 5 year deal if it's backloaded.
They could not reach an agreement and they’re not negotiating, he’s heading for FA. I agree they should sign him but I’d rather have the hawks be able to match any other offer he receives.
This is more like a preseason game, and my hopes are a win and no injuries only reverse those for priorities. I'd bench Geno, DK, JSN, Witherspoon, and Leonard Williams. And Maybe E. Jones.
Jake BOBO TD!! Did you see all the love he got from everyone?! Lockett even ran to get the ball for him. Didn’t see metcalf in any frame. Hmm maybe he’s jealous?
Thinking how Leonard Williams is going to play after being snub. 🐅 May the 12s be with you and Go Seahawks!
Maybe Big Cat will play like Forest Whitaker in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”.Lol
Are they sitting any starters on defense?
I would not underrate this game. Everyone who makes it to the NFL is a high level athlete. If the rams are playing backups - those guys have a ton of incentive to play well and put what they can do on tape (for their next team or paycheck).
Stafford to Jimmy G is a downgrade. And the skill guys especially Puka who is amazing. But I’m not sure how much else has been downgraded.
A 53 man roster can only rest so many guys. Not like preseason.
Anyways, every game in the NFL is tough! I would be very happy with a win.
Go hawks
I suspect they all be looking to pad stats. It’s a lot of money.
I hope we see some of the 2nd string players a bit more. I’d like to see McIntosh get more carriers, the TE we drafted etc
DO: Kick the absolute crap out of the Rams. In particular, I’m looking forward to watching Leonard Williams take out his frustration over not making the Pro Bowl roster on whomever is in front of him. He absolutely had one of the best seasons this year of any D lineman. And I’ve read he’s pissed about it. It’s all the Rams fault Leonard. Go get ‘em!
I’m missing Seaside Jay’s pick for hits and misses today. 😟
Did anyone see that the Seahawks and Ernest Jones have paused extension talks? What the heck is going on…
It’s not hard to guess: Jones has a much different perception of his market and value than John Schneider does.
You’re probably right. I just wish JS would sign him. Even if it’s a bit higher than John’s perceived value of him. I might change my praise/pressure opinion on him if he doesn’t get him signed.
Came here to point that out. Jones going to free agency. My guess is Hawks are either low balling (“we only have $5 mil in cap”) and Jones wants that FA. Says he wants to be here but might have been blowing smoke.
Jones has also said—correctly—that the NFL is a business and who knows what will happen. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for him—he will understandably want to optimize that.
EJ’s agent must have chatted with him, as his last interview was far less effusive in his wish to stay in Seattle. Lots of time between the end of the season and FA so I’m still optimistic. He solves a big problem for MM, so JS will want that check mark early in the offseason.
I understand fully it’s a business. Talk cap on here myself a bunch. And I also said he wants that free agency, being his first opportunity to get it.
Also, there is a chance this is Geno's last game. Just like there was a chance last year it was Pete's last game.
I am glad I got to watch Pete ball one last time in its entirety. And really enjoy it.
I will be watching and rooting on this team closely tomorrow, especially Geno, just in case this is the last time he puts on the Hawks jersey.
There have been an inordinate number of bad teams for some time now. The salary cap was supposed to fix this—that it hasn’t is one of its many failures. The cap actually encourages bad football because there’s no financial penalty for putting a bum team on the field. At the same time, the cap helps ensure that there won’t be any great teams.* What the cap is successful at is lining the pockets of the likes of Jerry Jones and Jimmy Haslam while putting players in a permanently weak negotiating position.
* As historically awesome as the LOB was, the 2013 Hawks wouldn’t have stood much of a chance against—say—the 70s Steelers.
The cap doesn't encourage bad football, the franchise system encourages bad football - This ensures every team maintains a level of profitability regardless of on field performance, so teams can be bad in perpetuity (i.e. Browns, Bears) with the Owners knowing they are always going to have a stable club they will turn a profit on in the end, and safe from any fear of bring knocked out of the league.
I'd also argue that the Cap doesn't prevent great teams. We saw the Pats dominate for nigh on 20 years in a way even great pre-cap era teams kind of didn't. Smart coaching, drafting, financials and crucially player buy-in helped them work around the cap. Whilst the Cap still allows teams to go bananas in spending to try and make a 'super' team (i.e. whatever the Browns have been trying recently), it's not financials making them bad but just bad decisions.
We can even watch the supposed Cap crippled Cardinals (The Murray deal was supposed to sink them for years, and it hasn't), the supposed Cap crippled Rams (the fallout of their SB push was supposed to sink them for years, and it hasn't), and the soon-to-be Cap crippled 49ers (i'd put strong money on them being just fine in a year or two). Whilst the Saints seem to live in a weird cap hell.
Whilst the leagues ideal scenario would be every team either 9-8 or 8-9 to embody the true 'any given sunday' motif, it's just not going to happen - sports doesn't work that way. There will always be 2 or 3 win teams and 13 win teams. What the NFL does seem to manage well, bar a few exceptions, is a fairly regular rotation of the top and bottom teams over 3-to-4 years. For my complaint above of the franchise system, the ability to take time to invest in young players, have down years and build back up, does pay off in the end. Even when we talk about the Pats era they themselves had certain waves and crests. It's also allowed the best players to be spread out across the league in a way you don't see in other sports (such as Watt being the best DE in Pit, Henry staying in Ten for as long as he did, Bowers establishing as the #1 TE in LV).
Basically - the structure of the NFL i find very interesting. The Cap has both good and bad sides, but doesn't make teams bad or good, and frankly i think the importance/pressure of the cap is heavily overblown by fans and media vs those actually working in the NFL. For a lack of penalty to being bad, point fingers at the franchise system not the cap.
I think the 70s Steelers would get absolutely monstered by even the modern Panthers! Massive massive advances in training, overall player fitness and strength levels, huge changes in pace and complexity of both offence and defence. I think the Steelers team would be run off their feet by the 4th Qtr and somewhat comprehensively beaten. That said, there could be a fun off-season SSJ article in here comparing the best Hawks teams of old and how a game would play out between them.
The Pats dominated in the cap era because of Tom Brady. The 1974-1979 Steelers had 9 HOFers; the 1960-1967 Packers had *13*. That’s not possible today.
All due respect to one of the greatest defenses in history, the 70’s Steelers playing under modern rules would be completely outclassed, maybe even in the SEC. Chop blocks, horse collars, hits to the head, roughing the QB, unnecessary roughness, tightened pass interference, all the things that made them ruthless would draw flags today. So today, 50 years later, they’d just be smaller and slower than even the worst teams, most likely would just get blown off the field against today’s athletes. (40’s times are AI estimates):
Mean Joe Green 6’4” 275, 4.9
LC Greenwood 6’6” 245, 4.8
Ernie Holmes 6’3” 260, 5.1
Dwight White 6’4” 255, 4.9
The Steel Curtain would be mismatched even against Seattle’s 2024 OL, too small and too slow.
Jack Ham 6’1” 225, 4.8
Jack Lambert 6’4” 220, 4.8
Andy Russell 6’2” 225, 4.8
Their outstanding linebackers would today be slower and smaller than all TE’s and most RB’s as well. And over 100lbs lighter than any pulling guard.
Mel Blount 6’3” 205, 4.6
JT Thomas 6’2” 196, 4.5
Mike Wagner 6’1” 210, 4.7
Glen Edwards 6’0” 185, 4.7
Had forgotten how big that secondary was, good size even today. But would they be fast enough? Even Sherm would have been considered lightning-fast in the ‘70’s….
Here are Seattle’s 2013 skill position players:
Russell Wilson 5’11”, 204, 4.55
Marshawn Lynch 5’11” 215, 4.48
Michael Robinson 6’1” 240, 4.57
Doug Baldwin 5’10” 189, 4.48
Golden Tate 5’10” 199, 4.42
Zach Miller 6’4” 256, 4.89
So much more speed today than 50 yrs ago….
If the 70s Steelers and 60s Packers played today, they’d all be taking advantage of advanced conditioning, bodybuilding, nutritional, and mental health techniques and practices. These guys would be great players in any era.
The point remains that the salary cap makes it impossible to retain a team with 9-12 HOFers over 6-8 years even if you could build one. There are other factors—expansion, for example—but the cap is the biggest obstacle.
I do agree the team records in the cap era are different than pre-cap, given the whole thing is designed around parity.
But, essentially everyone was under the same rules in both eras, and there were some pretty bad long-term franchises in both eras. The good ones adjust to the new rules and the not-so-good ones stay not-so-good. For example Seattle got to a position of good-to-great with a change in ownership (IMHO) rather than because of a change in cap rules. Although his ownership period coincides pretty much with the cap era, he was by far the wealthiest owner and arguably could have bought success if still in the pre-cap era.
Pre-Paul Allen W/L record: .403 and four playoff years, no SB's
Post-Paul Allen W/L record: .526 and 13 playoff years including 3 SB's and one ring
How Paul Allen changed EVERYTHING (other than the city, thank god), is a lesson for all NFL owners
A greater fear would be losing to the Giants and Drew Lock. Oh wait, we did that.
Hoping Leo gets to double digit sacks, and Spoon gets his first pick of the season. And a win would be very nice. Above all, come out of the game healthy so everyone can have a building offseason, not a rehab offseason.
Sign EJ John. Don't can whether that's now, prior to FA, or during. Just get him signed. Minimize the salary cap hit in the first two years I'm sure Earnest will want some term given how much he's bounced around lately. I'd be fine with a 4 or 5 year deal if it's backloaded.
They could not reach an agreement and they’re not negotiating, he’s heading for FA. I agree they should sign him but I’d rather have the hawks be able to match any other offer he receives.
This is more like a preseason game, and my hopes are a win and no injuries only reverse those for priorities. I'd bench Geno, DK, JSN, Witherspoon, and Leonard Williams. And Maybe E. Jones.
Jake BOBO TD!! Did you see all the love he got from everyone?! Lockett even ran to get the ball for him. Didn’t see metcalf in any frame. Hmm maybe he’s jealous?