Matt Hasselbeck, Greatest SeaHawk QB Ever

When Mike Holmgren traded for Matt in 2001, I was stoked. I had heard good things about him. He was smart, he had an edge, a little gunslinger mentality and very confident. Heck, the guy was behind Brett Favre, not a bad person to learn from, at the time at least, but that is another blog post. At the time Trent Dilfer was doing what Trent Dilfer did, he didn’t lose games but he didn’t win them either. I liked Trent but he wasn’t gonna get the Hawks over the top.

To me, Matt was finally the QB we needed, from the beginning he won and that is what we all wanted, a winner. Matt and Shawn led the Hawks to our first Super bowl, 4 straight NFC West Championships and several play-off wins. He has been a steady force at the most important position in football. Although injuries have slowed Matt down and sometimes, his gunslinger gets him and the team in trouble. Matt, is the best QB the Seahawks has ever had, Period.

Now, I read blogs, twitter, Facebook and every other outlet of news or opinions. All I hear is how Matt stinks and should be benched and not giving any consideration next year when he becomes a free agent. I disagree. Is Matt’s skill level not the same as it was? Yes. However, He still is better than more than half the QB’s in the league. Yes, the Hawks need a QB for the future and yes, the future is very soon. I don’t know if Charlie is the answer or the future, he isn’t better than Matt, I do know that. I also know careers do end and his is coming. However, until that future gets here, this should be Matt’s team and Job. He has earned it.

Give Matt some respect; he did after all bring the Seattle Seahawks back to a winning franchise.

Dear Brett

I have tried to avoid blogging about you but I can’t stand it anymore. I am tired of listen to all the apologists mumble while they have your johnson in their mouths.

Are you one of the greatest QB’s of all time? Yes, for right now. Are you the toughest QB of all time? Undoubtedly, well at least in the modern era. After all you do wear a helmet. Are you the biggest self absorbed, egomaniacal, pompous jerk ever to grace the football field? Absolutely! You are no better than those clowns from the Jersey Shore. I wonder if you even have had the common courtesy to thank ESPN for all the ball massaging you have received.

Today, you called a team meeting telling them that they need to make sure whatever goes on in the locker room stays in the locker room. You’re joking right? After all you are the king of “leaking info” to the press. How about every time you thought you might have become irrelevant during the off season, You texted “leaked” some teammate that you are going to retire and ESPN sent the entire press core down to redneck Ville just to make sure it isn’t so. I don’t just blame you. ESPN is just as fault. Hell, we thought John Madden was in love with you. ESPN has him beat by a mile.

News Flash Brett Favre, Most football fans hate you. Do us all favor. After this season just keep you mouth shut and show up to all the off-season crap or don’t. If your done just disappear, because after the last two years you have definitely ruined your legacy.

Tiger

Look, I know it’s been awhile. Decided I needed to back to school and get educated again, something new. Well I now I am back, just in time for football. Yeah Baby, football. But that is for a later blog. Tonight it is about Tiger.

Are we surprised he is playing the way he is? I for one am not. That guy has been through more in the last nine months than most athletes will go through in their whole career and after as well. Most these athletes are far worse than Tiger Woods. Don’t get me wrong what Tiger did was bad, Real Bad. However, if we step back and look at, let say the NBA. These guys are famous, almost celebrated adulterers and lead the world in illegitimate kids and other, under the radar activities. The majority of those clowns make Tiger look like a Angel. Tiger screwed up and he is paying for it. He has owned it and is trying to move on. The reason behind his play, horrible for him average for the rest of the field is simple. ESPN.

Yes, I said what most of us think these days. These ass clowns in Bristol think they have all the knowledge. They may have all the money but knowledge they lack. They have glorified Tiger to this almost Greek like God status, they and many others have done the same. Tiger maybe the greatest golfer our generation will ever see. He is however, just a man, one man, not a God not a hero not a role model just a man. A man who made some mistakes. I think the pressure he already puts on himself to be the best is plenty enough, we as spectators should just sit back smile and watch when he does something all these wanna bees wish they could. I think Tiger should call this season done, focus on the at home issues and practice like he used to. Go back to keeping everyone at arms lengths. Tell ESPN and the other networks that they are no longer allowed to mutter your name until he decides they can. Clean up your house and come back next year and lay it on them Tiger. We don’t care what you did anymore; we just want to see you do what you do, again.

Where are the real fans

I have to say it was a good weekend of football. First the Cardinals get waxed and then the Cowboys go and get spanked. You have to love when that happens. I mean really how many people do you know who are Cowboy fans and have never been to Texas. More than half these quacks are from places like LA, Phoenix, Oregon and Mexico. Well I guess Mexico covers the first Two. Either way I am so happy they got beat, they didn’t even show up. Good, we don’t have to listen to those fans for another 5 months.

The Cards though they are a different story, this team that has a long history of being a loser finally starts winning and what comes with winning? Fans and true there are those that have really been around since they moved here from St Louis. You know the Dave McGinnis and Joe Bugle days. Funny thing about Phoenix AZ, there are more people who are not from here but have transplanted. I meet folks from NY,WA,CA, Chicago ….you get the point. These people, some have loyalty most don’t. Maybe because the team they used to love or where they are from sucks and really have no sense of pride. I am a Seahawks fan, never will I root for another team. I lived in Washington DC for 8 yrs and never once did I call the Skins my team. I write this because I have a friend who is from CA. Is and has been as longs as I’ve know him a Cowboy fan. So I thought. HE WAS WEARING A CARDS JERSEY. What the EFF! That’s what I mean this team's fans suck always have and will. Two lucky years and a healthy Kurt Warner, who by all accounts is about to retire. It’s all coming to an end. We will then see how many TRUE fans there really are.

As much as I hate them. The Steeler nation stay's true. Redskin fans stick by their team even though the owner has completely ruined a great franchise. I can say this with great conviction. Football is better when the Cowboys and the Cards are golfing.

Seahawks and Coaches

I was thinking when they announced Jim Mora JR was going to be the next head coach after Holmgren left I was baffled. Why? He had one good year with Atl. and that was when Vick was new and as our secondary coach he wasn't very good. Yet after listen to all the hype and interviews with him and his staff I got sucked in and believed that we would return to our rightful spot atop the NFC West. Well a year later one win more than the previous year. I was back to being skeptical, maybe one more year under this system. When they fired him it took me a few days to really register. I am happy. I like this move to Pete Carroll, say all you want about his barely over .500 record but he does win. Outside of the Jets he got the Pats to 3 playoff games in three years. He will be just fine. Other football teams have been courting him for a few years now so obviously he can do something right. I HOPE.

Not surprised one bit

Am I surprised that McGuire is coming out now? Nope, don't really care either. I want all my players juiced up. I want 450ft moon shots, guys throwing 100+ mph. Tempers that will blow at any giving moment because someone just brushed them off the plate or they are crowding the plate. Boring is the 3-2 game, 50 visits to the mound and all that stepping out of the box crap. Have you ever been to a game when someone hits a bomb and the crowd doesn't go into a frenzy or when a pitcher puts a guy on his back for all his antics at the plate and not get a rush? NO of course not. We don't pay ridicules amounts of money to not be entertained. Everyone should get of their high horse because you all cheered while it was going on.

Should Mark McGuire get into the Hall of Fame? Not really sure yet but if they continue to keep Pete Rose out then they should keep all the players who "cheated" out.

That includes A-Rod when he's done, R.Clemens, B.Bonds and a few more that I really can't think of right now. If your name was on that list and you might have a shot at the HOF think again. I guess after it is all said and done. Who gets in and who doesn't really boil's down to how much did the media forgive. Don't be a Dick and you might just get in.

Why does it hurt so bad?

Happy and sad all at the same time. Happy that the season is done for my beloved Seahawks. (Pitchers and catchers report soon).Sad because it means only a few more weeks of football. I feel I have to rant about the season that was. Being that I live in AZ and have to listen to all the nonsense that comes out of Cardinals camp. The season was a long one just as last year was.

I went into this season all amped up and ready for the return back to the top as NFC West champs. Saw no reason why not, after all 2008 was a season of unthinkable amount of injuries that no team could endure. Every O-lineman was coming back. The receiving corp was healthy and better with the addition of T.J. Houshmandzadeh. M.Hasselbeck was healthy, A highly touted rookie LB and a new head coach.

All that ended early into preseason as I watched the O-line fall apart AGAIN. Mike Wahle retires, Walter Jones hurts, all season. Rookie starting at guard, linemen moved around brought in, cut etc…This line has slowly declined ever since Hutch left.

It seemed as though my fears were all for not after the 28-0 drubbing of the Rams in the season opener. Little did I think the Rams were that bad. Outside a few bright spots and the Jacksonville game this team, even in winning (5-11) looked bad.

I went back and looked a Matt Hasselbeck’s numbers and notice beside last year in which he was hurt. His numbers were not all that off. Sure worse than before but after being placed in a new system much different from what he has been in his whole career. I would argue that he did fine. 293/488 comp/att 3029 yds 17/17 TD/Int Passer rating 75.1. Sure down the stretch he played awful, I even suggested to my fellow hawk friends it was time for him to pass on the raines but after doing some more looking that is the last place I would start. Our offensive line is beat up and can’t really run block Who’s know if W. Jones will be able to come back and even then, if the Hawks plan to zone run he’s need to move to right tackle or be traded. With Max Unger anchoring the line at center and a core of young linemen if they can stay healthy will be fine in the future. What we need is a running back that will keep the defense honest. Justin Foresett has shown that he can get it done when giving the carries problem is Jim Mora’s waffling about who should get the plays. Julius Jones is done why he kept going back to him I don’t know. With the 6^th and 14^th pick in the upcoming draft I think the Hawks should go after a RB like CJ Spiller out of Clemson big and fast. If not there are plenty of backs coming out this year that would fit into this scheme.

We need to revise the secondary, I like Deon Grant but his time has come. Hopefully Taylor May’s will be around when we pick. Franchise free safety enough said. Both our corners are fine. A full year starting will be tremendous for Wilson, Trufant is a Pro-Bowler. Lucas and cast will be fine as a nickel package. In the end the Seahawks need to switch to a 3-4 defense they have all making of one just do it and if Bradley doesn’t want to send him packing. D-line- L.Jackson and D.Tapp DE, B.Mebane NT, A. Curry and L.Hill OLB’s and L.Tatupu and D. Hawthorne as our MLB’s. Makes sense doesn’t it?

The Seahawks are better than 5-11 but the window might close if they are not careful and none of us wants to go back to the late 80’s and 90’s.

I love it!

There are very few professional teams I absolutely despise. NY Yankees, Arsenal Gunners, Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Steelers. Most of all the Steelers. I have more disdain for them the franchise, the fans, shoot I can’t even stand the city. Have you been there? I have and it sucks. I know you might say well I’m just a scorned fan. Damn right I am. You watched that Superbowl but I won’t get into that tonight. This will be a happy post.

You watch the game last night. Wow! The Cleveland Browns. Really, the Browns, the one win Browns. The Steelers were completely dominated. That is so awesome. What happened to unleashing hell Mr.Tomlin? You have an overrated QB, 2 overrated WR’s. Troy P. goes down and this team falls apart. I love it. Five straight loses and a return to the play-offs gone. The Browns! Losing to the Raiders was bad but the Browns, It’s just too good to let slide. I’m pretty sure right now there are a few fat, hairy mullet wearing steeler fans crying in there Bud and that’s just the women. Who knows what the men are doing. The Browns can it get any better. Next week I hope. Number 6.

John Daly

John Daly, What comes to you mind when you hear that name? I think for most who follow golf like myself it’s more of sad because you know he has the talent and for all his antic’s he is a really good guy. I have heard a few interviews of him not talking golf so much but just his travels through life. Wow! This guy has some major issues.  Let’s see. I will start with some good. John Patrick Daly “zero to hero to zero to somewhere in-between”.  1991 Daly wins the PGA tour championship. One of four major’s, not only that he did after only playing in two other major in the previous 6 years and in those major’s he was cut and finished tied for 69th place. I remember that day because I had just begun to play golf and thought if this guy could do it, I surely could. I mean look at him he is a big slob. He didn’t fit the mold of what we pictured PGA professionals looked like. Well, he has all the talent needed to succeed at this game. Me on the other hand not so much. I guess a plus 10 isn’t to bad but not nearly as good as him. Which get’s me to this. Daly not only has the talent but he went on a few years later and won the 1995 British open. That alone is something special. 3 more other PGA event’s scattered over the next 15 years.  In that time John Daly managed to implode or explode either way it wasn’t good. His personal life although had some good time’s. Birth of children etc... He also went through four wives. FOUR.  Shoot one of them severed some prison time for drug issues. He has stormed off courses, thrown his clubs (who hasn’t at one point in their life) played drunk with a smoke hanging from his mouth, been banned from the PGA tour and too many more to even go on about. In end though we all seem to wait for his return and see what he does next. Why I don’t know but we all do it. Maybe, because we like this guy. There is something that just draws us to him. Maybe, because he is just like us in way a normal guy with normal problems.  So today when I read this article about Daly has lost 185 pounds and is looking forward to playing golf this year on the tour, writing a book about his crazy life and hopefully a movie. I don’t know about you but I can’t wait.

Jay Cutler

If you would have asked me in the beginning of the football season I would have told you Jay Cutler is the best young QB in the game. 9 games in and I still stand by that. Crazy you say, maybe I don't know what I'm talking about and the way he is playing this year you would have every right to call me stupid.

Cutlers stat line this year. QB rating 76.0 TD's 14 Int's 17. 62.4 pass completion percentage. Not the best not even great but lets look at who is throwing to. Devin Hester is his supposed number one. Really, Is it me or he really a overrated punt returner at best. Johnny Knox young rookie with speed and a good future as a #2. Matt Forte is a RB with good hands but seems to be in a sophomore slump. Earl Bennett is in his second year and is still trying to figure out the game. a few other none factor WR's. His only true weapon is the TE Gregg Olsen. Olsen is a stud, a real good TE and a chance to be a force for a long time but he is still a TE.

Cutlers line is also a big reason why he is have such a season. Five of the nine games this year I have been able to watch. Rarely does Jay have time, it maybe the reason Forte is having such a sub par year. That line just stinks.

If you had to start a NFL franchise which young QB would you take. Ryan,Rivers,Romo,Rogers,E.Manning,Flacco or Cutler

Let' look at this years stats and some other factors.

J.Flacco-12 TD's 7 Int's 90.7 QBR 65.3 pass pct. D.Mason T.Heap.W.Maghee,R.Rice. Solid line.

M.Ryan- 14 TD's 12 int's 78.8 QBR 59.7 pass pct. R.White, T.Gonzales,M.Turner. Solid line.

T.Romo-14 TD's 6 int's 93.5 QBR 60.4 pass pct. We all know what he's got.

P.Rivers-16 TD's 6 ints 97.9 QBR 62.2 pass pct. A.Gates,LT,Sproles,V. Jackson. Great Line

A.Rodgers-17 TD's 5 int's 101.8 QBR 63.9 pass pct. G.Jennings,D.Driver,R.Grant. The horrible line.

E.Manning-15 TD's * int's 89.5 QBR 60.0 pass pct. Handful of talented Recievers. K.Boss.Two real good backs.

The entire above are considered to be the future of the NFL. I left out Sanchez and Stafford because they really haven't got enough under them to be considered.

Here are Cutler's Career stats

Passing Stats (Regular Season)YearTeamGGSW-LCmp.Att.Cmp.%YardsAvg.TDInt.LongSackedSack
Yards LostQB Rating2006Denver552-38113759.1%1,0017.39571138588.52007Denver16167-929746763.6%3,4977.52014682715388.12008Denver16168-838461662.3%4,5267.3251893116986.02009Chicago994-521133862.4%2,3537.01417681911476.0Totals:464621-259731,55862.5%11,3777.36854937042184.7

Here are Cutler's Career stats

68 Td's 54 Int's 84.7 passer rating pretty darn good for a guy who played NFL football with type 1 diabetes for a year Basically a rookie in 2007 .2008 had no defense to help out his cause.2009 no one to throw to. I believe next year Jay will have a break out season. A little more age is receiver’s belt's more than likely his line will be improved and the run game will come back to Chicago. He has one of if not the strongest arm's in the league. Fire for winning is strong he is his biggest critic. Year five will be his best, only to get better.

So with all of that nonsense I would take this kid hands down to start my franchise. When your that good sometime you believe you can do anything with a football . Harness that energy and watch him roll into the HOF.

All I would ask is that if he has problems he airs it out with the team in house and to me first.

Thursday night football

Happy to see football back on during the week. I not just talking about the NFL either. Yes the UFL. It may not be the king and it may not be on a big network(VS) but it has some names it might just recognize.
Tonight the NY Sentinals took on the Florida Tuskers. What is a Tusker. maybe a pig I don't could really make out the emblem on the helmet.Anyway, Brooks Bollinger is the QB for Fla. Micheal Pittman is the RB. Pittman wasn't he running in the NFL last year. I remember him being pretty darn good when he was healthy. Keary Colbert was one of the Receivers. Colbert USC product never got good chance in the NFL. NY had a few names I recognized.
UFL, Wow it was pretty good football for being second fiddle. It's the now defunct XFL with all its gimmicks it just football and that's good enough. I Kept flipping back and forth from the Bears-Niners game. which seemed pretty sloppy and overall boring. Millions of dollars and just as many turnovers, False starts, Dropped passes in one half as I saw in a whole game.
Good thing about this league is that it kept it simple, low pay, 8 games, and on day's not traditionally own by the NFL and College. I for one will keep watching, Why because it's FOOTBALL.

Are they for real

Seahawks are 3-5 and 2 Field goals away from being at least .500. I still ask myself are they for real. They seem to be in a division full of pretenders, well except the rams they are not fooling anyone right now.
After a shaky start to the game today against Detriot. 17-0 first quarter and everything just seem to be going wrong. Two plays two turnovers and a failed 4th and 1. Just as I was yelling at the TV. Hasselback kept his cool and proceeded to go 15 for 15 and they went into half trailing by 4. As it turns out they second half went as the first ended with the Hawks rolling onto victory.
I still left ill to my stomach because it should never been that close. I watched the Cards dismantle the Bears, who by the way are pretenders themselves. The Cards cant win at home this year but seem to whoop everyone's butt away from U of Phx Stadium. Which by they way is the worst name for a stadium that's not even in Phoenix. Pink Taco bid the highest but for some reason the normally greedy owners decided that it wasn't good for them. Anyway, The Niners are finding out you have to pass the ball and really haven't recover from that Atalanta game.
So 3-5 doesn't seem so bad when the division leader sits at 5-3 and have to play them next week. I know I am being optimistic but if they play like they did for 3 quarters today things might turn around.
Here my other pretender teams.
Everyone in the NFC east except for the Eagles.
The Giants have lost 4 straight and the Redskins can't score more than 17 point's and Romo will come back to earth. The was a reason why he wasn't drafted. Plus they are coached by Wade Phillips.
Denver 6-1
Pittsburgh 5-2

You like to pick games?

So like I said in my first post that I get a lot of info from the Sports Junkies. Again, they didn't disappoint. If you are like me and you like to pick games. You should check out Provenplays.com. It free and its pretty damn cool. You can follow my picks if you like I go by ZonaDonk.

World Series Champs

Is me or does this years champs feel more like a hostile take over. I mean the Yankees history is storied not one team in MLB can even get close to them. They have by far the greatest line up of players ever to grace the diamond. Ruth,Mantle,DiMaggio,Berra the list goes on forever. I would be wrong to leave Jeter off that list, I must admit though I cant stand him but I do recognize how good that guy is.
This team is so far different from the teams that won all those championships. C.C. Tex and Burnett salaries are higher than 19 teams whole payroll. That's three players. I didn't even include A-Roid, Jeter, Matsui , Damon. The Yankees spent over a billion dollars the past few years. A BILLION. So to me all they did was buy this Championship. They will never be included in those great teams of the past except from the Yankee fan base. 27 rings but the last one was bought.

Why has baseball become so hard to watch?

So we are in game 5 in the fall classic and I have watched about all of it and wonder why I am struggling to enjoy this once wonderful time of the year.
Growing up and watching Met's pull out a squeaker over the Bosox's or even better watching Kirk Gibson do the impossible. But mostly watching the M's struggle all year long even with the likes K.Mitchell, Jeffery Leonard, M.Langston,heck even Omar V. graced the Kindome. I also had the pleasure of having SF giants fans in the family. I would have to listen about how great Will and Jack Clark were.
Now nearly 20 some odd yrs later I believe baseball has lost it luster maybe not for everyone but for me. I will not claim to be a purest, far from it I just think all these other things that go in the game that makes it so hard to watch, But will get back to that in a sec.
I used to lie in Washington DC metro area. I was able to go these park to watch games being played. Camden yards, the Vet, Yankee stadium and Shea. never made to Fenway but I hope to one day visit. Oh I should forget RFK the home of the Nats for a few. All of the parks great in each of there own special way some how gets ruined by their fans not all of them but a good 75% of them more in NY and Philly.
Yes the Yanks raise the rings none since 2000 I might add and you have the highest payroll in the world. Philly has the World Champ label right now after a long futile run of nothings. With all of that being said these two teams play great baseball. When it's being played. How many time does the catcher have to walk out the mound. How many times do the batters have to step out and do some ridicules move before settling in. and why does Jeter lean after every pitch he doesnt swing at. Why Icirho step out after every pitch and adjust his whole body.

I just want to be able sit down watch a game where the pitcher is dealing and the batters are swing no trips the mound from everyone. The game is already 1hr to long. MLB needs to put a limit on all these extra crap that goes on. Catcher gets one visit every 3 inning. Pitcher comes out no matter the count. Manager comes out no matter which one it is 1 visit a game per pitcher. Batters get one step out an at bat. you step any more its a strike. speed up the game. let us enjoy it again.

Also while I am on this little rant I gonna say what i am sure has already been said. This Yankee wins the world series with a team of all-stars. They all want championships I understand that why not to Boston or LA why NY. MONEY that's why. I really could care less if the Philly's win. But to see the Yanks lose is far better. I guess only time will tell if the greatest bought rings will head back to NY.

Introducton

Hello to my fellow sports fans. I decided to start a blog today while I as driving home from work. Being that is about an hour each way I have alot of time to listen to sports talk and other media outlets. I myself grew up in the Great Northwest. I am a die hard Seahawk and Mariner fan. My heart was broken when the Sonics left town but as things go the Sounders join the MLS and my hockey team the Canucks are still around to keep me busy watching, listen and debating with anyone who will listen to me.

I live hear in Peoria, AZ just outside of Phoenix and about 20 miles from U. of Phoenix Stadium where the Cardinals play. Needless to say I am none to happy they are doing well but that's for another post. I have lived all over this country and even spent sometime in Europe. I am a fan of just about all things sports, I may not be as in tune with some but follow just the same.

My posts will be light hearted and goofy. Almost always about some sort of sport. There isn't much I won't take a side-on and will always be willing to listen to opposing views.

I would like to give a small shout to four guy's in DC. The Sports Junkies 106.7 the Fan. I have been listening to them since 1998 and they are the best radio show out there for sports and all other things stupid and fun. You can also find their blogs on MASN.com. I also listen to Brock and Salk 710 ESPN radio in Seattle.

Enjoy or don't but read anyway, you just might smile.