Burleson’s Exit Could Open the Door to Excellence

I can stay silent no more.

When Nate Burleson was signed away from the Minnesota Vikings by the Seattle Seahawks and former General Manager Tim Ruskell, it was an obvious “stick-in-the-eye” type move after the disastrous “poison pill” fiasco with pro-bowl lineman Steve Hutchison. The Hawks gave Burleson a 7-year, $49 million back loaded contract to come to Seattle. At that time, he only had one 1,000-yard season on his resume (and that was playing opposite all-world receiver, Randy Moss). Four years later, Burleson’s 1,000-yard resume is the same. He never reached his full potential here – or so the argument goes. Some may lament his exit from Seattle but for me, it’s indicative of what new head coach Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider what to bring back to Seattle: excellence.

It really doesn’t matter how good he was in the locker room – he didn’t produce consistently on the field. The “threat of the big play” is only a real threat when you make a big play more than twice a year. And please spare me the local boy stuff because nobody cares; this is the NFL, not Pop Warner.

After the Hawks were shredded by Frank Gore and the San Francisco 49ers in September last year, I wrote this. And, unfortunately, nothing changed the rest of the season. When a big play happened, Burleson, most likely, wasn’t even on the field. I say good riddance he’s gone and, clearly, Carroll and Schneider had no intention of keeping him around – I’m sure it’s a HUGE relief to get out from under that contract; let someone else pay for mediocrity (does anyone else find it ironic that the Lions signed him?). He should play second or third fiddle to a legitimate Number One receiver. Somehow, the Hawks – under Ruskell – got so screwed up that they believed Burleson could be the Number One receiver they so desperately needed (and still need).

Deion Branch came here and signed a giant contract; he isn’t a Number One-type guy. TJ Houshmandzadeh isn’t a Number One guy, either. Deon Butler – no matter how much of a “feel good story” he is – will never be a Number One. Name any receiver the Hawks have put on the field over the past five years; not one Number One guy in the bunch. We don’t need another non-Number One guy making Number One money: goodbye Burleson.

Allowing Burleson to walk unimpeded out the door to Detroit is a good sign for the Seahawks. Hopefully, it’s a sign of things to come: Coach Carroll and Schneider will not cling to mediocre. Now, let’s sign Brandon Marshall or draft Dez Bryant and get our passing game out of the doldrums.

Seahawks lose ‘must win’ game to Cardinals

The Seattle Seahahawks made it much harder on the Arizona Cardinals then they did in week six when they lost by 24 points. Nonetheless, Seattle came up short and suffered their sixth loss of the season, 31 -20.

Early in the 4th quarter with the Seattle Seahawks driving, they were forced to settle for a field goal after three attempts from the one yard line. The Arizona Cardinals responded with an 80 yard drive capped by a Beanie Wells touchdown run to take their first lead of the game.

On their third down play from the one on that pivotal drive, the Seahawks elected to throw a fade to wide receiver Nate Burleson. Burleson, who did not catch a pass in the game, could not come down with the ball opening the door for Kurt Warner and an explosive Cardinals offense. The Cardinals took advantage of the opportunity.

After Wells touchdown run, the Seahawks were stymied near midfield and punted. The Cardinals responded with an 85 yard drive, ending with quarterback Kurt Warner hitting Larry Fitzgerald for a touchdown leading to the final outcome.

The loss means the Seahawks are now three games behind the NFC West division leaders. For all intents and purposes, the Seahawks hopes for post season play evaporated with the loss.

The game started well for the Seahawks, forcing three-and-outs and holding Warner in check while taking a 14-0 lead. At halftime the Seahawks held a 17-10 advantage. However, the Seahawks managed only three second half points and watched the Cardinals finish the game with 14 unanswered points.

For the game, Wells had 85 yards rushing to go along with two touchdowns. For the Seahawks, Justin Forsett, taking over for an injured Julius Jones, rushed 16 times for 113 yards.

After the Fitzgerald touchdown, the Seahawks tried desperately to get back in the game down the stretch. Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck hit wide receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh down the middle getting the Seahawks into the red zone. Unfortunately for Seattle, Hasselbeck’s shuffle pass intended for Forsett was intercepted by Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson and the game ended with the Cardinals taking a knee.

With the loss, the Seahawks fell to 3-6 on the season, while the Cardinals improved to 6-3 and took a commanding lead in the NFC West.

Game notes: Warner’s touchdown pass to Fitzgerald was the 200th touchdown pass of his career…Warner finished the game with 29 completions for 340 yards and two touchdowns…Seahawks tight end John Carlson caught his first touchdown since week one against the St. Louis Rams…Seahawks wide receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh caught nine balls for 165 yards…Julius Jones left the game in the first half with a chest injury.

Hey, Republicans: The NFL is a Business

Rush Limbaugh is no longer part of the team of investors hoping to buy the National Football League’s St. Louis Rams. Good riddance. Maybe now Republicans and conservatives can reflect and understand the term ‘picking your battles’ is an adage that doesn’t just translate to a successful marriage.

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Huskies Win a Thriller, Sleeping Giant Awakens

Last Saturday, when the University of Washington Huskies battled the Notre Dame Irish in South Bend, Indiana, I was forced to watch the overtime session at Costco. The beautiful thing about it was about 40 people were watching with me. Washington alumni, interested college football fans and generally inquisitive people all formed a large huddle around a 60-inch Panasonic flat screen. We all walked away dejected but I kept thinking, “Would people have stopped their busy lives to watch the Dawgs last year? What about the year before or the year before that? No, no, I don’t think so.”

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Seahawks Beaten by Colts

The Indianapolis Colts stayed unbeaten and quarterback Peyton Manning moved into a tie with Fran Tarkenton for most career passing touchdowns along the way, thoroughly dispatching the Seattle Seahawks, 34-17. The Seahawks put together only one sustained drive in the entire game when it mattered. That drive stalled in the red zone, forcing Olindo Mare to provide the Seahawks their only points of the game until late in the fourth quarter.

The Colts led 21-3 at halftime.

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