Written by BobbyK
Although the season has been over for almost three weeks, there is still hope for one final victory prior to Super Bowl LI.
Tomorrow we learn if Kenny Easley, Godfather of the Legion of Boom, will become the latest Seahawks player enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August.
While most content on this blog is focused on what may happen in the future, today is appropriate for looking back at a Seahawks draft nearly 36 years ago.
The date was Saturday, April 28, 1981. The Seahawks had a decision to make with the fourth overall pick. The choice was between two defensive backs, Kenny Easley and Ronnie Lott.
“We went back and forth,” said former Seahawks coach Jack Patera in an interview last spring. “There wasn’t a whole lot that separated the two.”
Easley had been a four-time all-conference selection and three-time consensus All-American at UCLA. Lott was coming off a brilliant senior campaign at USC and was taken by the San Francisco 49ers four picks later.
Former safety Eugene Robinson had 57 career interceptions and his vote for best of all-time at his position was Easley and Lott. Robinson emphatically added, “No matter what era.”
The biggest criticism of Easley’s Hall of Fame candidacy is he only played seven seasons. Put into context, current Seahawks safeties Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas are seven-year veterans.
Would Chancellor or Thomas be considered for the Hall of Fame if they retired today? It’s possible for Thomas and not likely for Chancellor.
A difference in comparing seven-year careers is Easley did not need a rookie season to develop. He took the league by storm from day one and was AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year 1981 and played at a high level until his final professional game in the Pro Bowl.
Thomas started as a rookie in 2010 but didn’t become a force until his sophomore campaign.
Thomas shared a story of his rookie struggles with former Texas Longhorns teammate Kenny Vaccaro after he had been benched by the New Orleans Saints in 2014. The story was printed in The New Orleans Advocate on January 28, 2015.
“He was real down on himself and I was telling him the story of when coach [Pete] Carroll almost benched me,” Thomas said. “We played the Giants my rookie year. We got blown out and I was giving up touchdowns left and right.”
Chancellor did not start a game as a rookie while serving as backup to veteran Lawyer Milloy.
Although Thomas and Chancellor are seven year veterans, they have not dominated the way Easley did in an equal amount consecutive seasons.
Team success isn’t supposed to be Hall of Fame criteria but numbers indicate chances of being inducted are greater if players were part of championship teams. Thomas and Chancellor were part of Seattle’s only Super Bowl victory.
The flip side is neither player has won an NFL Defensive MVP Award and the Hall of Fame is supposedly about individual greatness – not team success.
Opposing offensive coordinators learned early in his rookie season they had better account for number forty-five. Similarly, Easley had to be accounted for through his final game which was a Wild Card loss to the Houston Oilers on January 3, 1988. He was only 28 years old.
While plenty of Hall of Fame players lasted 10+ seasons, many did not dominate the way Easley did in seven consecutive years.
Earl Campbell and his eight-year career is an example. By his seventh season, Campbell was a shell of his former self, merely averaging 3.2 yard per carry and rushing for only 468 yards in 14 games.
Lynn Swann played nine years but averaged less than a catch per game as a rookie in 1974 and his career concluded in 1982 with only 18 receptions and no touchdowns.
Do some players get “credit” from Hall of Fame voters for having played in the NFL even if they did not impact games early in their careers like Swann or in their twilight years such as Campbell and Swann? There is no arguing the Hall of Fame credentials of Campbell or Swann, but it isn’t correct to insinuate each were more dominant than Easley for any seven consecutive years of their careers.
Tomorrow we find out if Kenny Easley gets his overdue call into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and joins Lott in safety immortality. It would also be fitting if Thomas and Chancellor continue to play at a high level to eventually join Easley in Canton.
Although their season has been over for almost three weeks, there is still hope for one final Seahawks victory.
Great article Bobby, to be a rookie defensive MVP is truly an astounding fact, I’m just disappointed I was born in 1987 so I could not witness his greatness firsthand. I think with 2-3 more seasons at high level play Earl is a shoe I for the hall, not as sure about Kam though for many reasons, he has not been nearly as durable, the hold out is still a cloud, and it took him longer to establish himself. There is no denying that Kam is the current physical leader on the defense and a key player for us currently.
I was born ’95 so my favorite Seahawk was Lofa Tatupu xD
I watch as much old film as I can but I know it’s not the same…
Oh. My. God. Kenny, you make me feel so old lol! Dude, I GRADUATED HS in 1995!
Man, I cant hardly relate to someone that doesnt remember the pain of watching Knox nearly break through with Defense and Dave Kriegs guts, despite having no payroll….or watching Cortez Kennedy destroy the world and an offense that couldnt cross midfield…Cheering Chris Warren on to 154 yards and a victory in NE that would hand them Drew Bledsoe and change the fortunes of both clubs forever…
Watching old film wont put you there, through living (and mostly dying) with the fortunes of this perpetual underdog team in South Alaska…
Youre a good dude, and I appreciate your contributions to the blog though. Just teasing you a bit…
Hey, man it’s all good. The first season I really remember we went to the super bowl so hahah
Can’t quite relate to the sheer depression eras of Seattle football 😉
Put him in the Hall! Long overdue.
Good article. Those two players mentioned are very much aware of the legacy that is before them. That will continue to fuel them in the years to come. For that reason, I would not be so quick to find replacements for them. In reality, their unique talents are hard to replicate, which does make them HOF candidates.
I hope he gets in. A 1st team All Pro 4 years in a row (and Defensive MVP in 1984). How many players have ever done that that aren’t in the HOF. Also on the NFL’s all 1980’s defense team. I believe every other memeber of that squad is in Canton.
Just checked, Kenny Easley is the only defensive player on the NFL’s All Decade 1980’s team not in the HOF.
WOnderful writeup BObbyk!
I do think mentioning–and in fact discussing thorughly–that his career was cut short because his kidneys were blown out from team doctors giving him “handfuls” of high-strength ibuprofen (over 20 pills at a time!) so he could play through injuries is the only thing missing from your piece. I understand you may have wanted to focus on the positives, but this is central to Easley, the Seahawks, and his HOF Candidacy. I passionately believe this should have been included.
And his final season was not played to a high standard–its why Seattle tried to trade him. He couldnt cover the same ground, andwas in the Pro Bowl solely on his past exploits. The truth is he was a shell of his former self, much like Earl Campbell. He has even said as much. Paul Moyer has said in books that Easley was no longer getting up at 5 am to go play gold before practice in training camp that year, that he was falling asleep in team meetings, etc and just seemed sick and worn out.
To me, this just shows what a true warrior Easley was–and is–and highlights what a special player he was. He deserves the HOF all the more for playing through that season despite kidney failure.
On another note, Steve Kelley of the Times wrote And Open Letter to Kenny Easley, years after his career ended and his lawsuit against the Seahawks (and John Nordstrom) was still wending its way through the courts. Its one of the finest pieces I have ever read, and Steve Kelley’s finest hour, in my opinion. It used to be available online, but hasnt been for awhile–funny thing, that…I always suspected Allen pressured the Times into not having available in the archives. I strongly feel that piece should be readily available. I have held the Seahawks treatment of Easley against John Nordstrom and Ken Behring ever since reading that letter, and nothing has happened to change it.
Again, the ugliness of Nordstroms and the Seahawks behavior to Easley only heightens his candidacy for the HOF, IMO, and I am really counting on Easley getting in. I cant wait to read the article you write commemorating his induction!
Thanks, STTBM. I did write about the kidney issue in a four-part series for Field Gulls last spring. I didn’t want to rewrite things I had already written (link for the four below). For a previous story, I also interviewed guys who played with/against Easley in 1987 and they said he was still playing at an extremely high level (not to the ’84 level, but still high – not like Campbell in his seventh). He did get second team All-Pro in ’87. For example, I corresponded with Alonzo Highsmith who was a rookie RB for the Oilers in the last game Easley ever played in on Jan. 3, 1988 (Wild Card). He talked about how their RB coach had been talking all week about Easley and they have to account for him at all costs. That’s still a player playing at an extremely high level, not Cambell-like. I spoke with others who played with and against him in ’87 (Jacob Green, Dave Krieg, Dan Reeves, Larry Lee, etc.) and everyone to a man said he was still playing at a high level. Many news reports have incorrectly insinuated through the years that he missed games due to injury in ’87, too. He did miss games, but not due to injury. He was on strike, leading the union. That’s a big difference than being hurt. He had slowed down, but he was still one of the best. Campbell had slowed down and was no longer a player teams had to account for anymore.
http://www.fieldgulls.com/seahawks-nfl-history/2016/3/17/11223406/kenny-easley-the-enforcer-part-iv-hall-of-fame-candidacy
Ok, good points Bobbyk! I was going on comments from Dave Wyman and Paul Moyer in a book they wrote, and my own vague memories of my Dad wondering aloud what was wrong with Easley during his final season. He was no longer SuperHuman…
He was, without a doubt, the most feared man in the secondary of the 1980’s. Like Lawrence Taylor, he had to be gameplanned for. Teams by 1984 had begun using motion to move him to one side of the field, then running the play–run or pass–to the side opposite Easley. And Easley STILL made plays!
I did read your four part series on Field Gulls, just had forgotten the exact content. I enjoyed that series immensely! Thank you for your writing and I appreciate the spotlight being shined on such a deserving figure!
My favorite story about him was from Todd Christensen, the late HOF TE of the Raiders. Todd said he was at the Pro Bowl with Easley, and guys were faking injuries to get out of practice because Easley was roaming the field so ferociously that he was just annihilating any WR who got near the ball. He said everyone was scared of Easley, his intensity even in Pro Bowl practice was insane. Christensen said he had a pick, a sack, and a fumble and like 13 tackles, but after the game, he was stalking up and down the locker room in a rage…Christensen asked him what was the matter, and Easley growled out “I missed two tackles…two damned tackles!”. Christensen said he was the biggest stud at the game, and the obvious respect that this player from the Hated Raiders had for Easley was really cool to hear….
Ronnie Lott says Easley was better than him. If that doesnt put him in the HOF, nothing will…
Well done BoobyK!
I had front row (100 level in Kingdome-speak) seats for most of Easley’s career. He’s my all-time favorite NFL player, period. He was unique with his range, closing speed, reaction time and devastating hits. IMO the only thing Lott was as good as Easley at was how hard they both hit.
My best friend growing up was a devout 49ers fan (I know, I can’t explain it either) and I remember playing scrap football in the street with him – me as Easley, him as Lott. The only Seahawks jersey I’ve ever owned is #45.
Thanks for taking me back to that era. I’m honored and privileged to have been a witness to such greatness.
Here’s to Kenny’s well-deserved induction into the NFL HOF!
The organization’s original “Tone Setter” without question. Those years, 1983 to 1988, were pretty special for a classic underdog team that had dawgs filtered through that defense. I remember being at a game against Cleveland, at the Kingdome, circa 1984, and a Browns receiver was trying too catch a deep sideline pass, and in a blur, almost superhuman like, Easley shot across and blew him up with a hit that you could hear in the rafters, made the entire dome gasp, and then erupt. As much as I love Kam, he’s close, but Easley was the original Enforcer. He was also one of the freakiest athletes to ever wear a Seahawks uniform. Largent used to boast that he’s never seen a more talented athlete.
Great write up, BobbyK.
Kinda stirs up thoughts in my head again that I would really love to see Seattle extend Chancellor this offseason. Players of this caliber are really rare, and if he can give it a few more years, even if his violent style of play leads to injuries that make him miss a few games each season, IMO, it’s entirely worth it. Easley’s career was cut short, Kam looks like he can still very much give it a go for a while.
Great article BobbyK, Thank You!!
As a lifelong fan, I can honestly say from watching games live in the 80s that my favourite Seahawk of all time is Kenny Easley.
Without a doubt, Easley deserves to be in the Hall of Fame as arguably the greatest safety to ever play the game. I’m sure even Ronnie Lott would agree.
Easley actually changed the way offences attacked the Seahawks and was so good they were forced to isolate & scheme heavily to try to counter his impact. I’ll never forget his 4 pick sixes in ONE GAME vs KC!
His competitiveness, toughness, athleticism, and downright ferocity were unparalleled and ironically were probably partially responsible for his shortened career.
Here’s my favourite Easley story. I hope it can be accessed, it speaks volumes about the man:
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=I_Wi9Uzx3DsC&pg=PT167&lpg=PT167&dq=kenny+easley+probowl+story+todd+christensen+easley+played+cornerback&source=bl&ots=ksgzE-uNrM&sig=H4RlYWA33ff-sWS72kPOfoX4ebk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjF8a_auvTRAhUkIcAKHf1wCOcQ6AEIHDAB#v=onepage&q=kenny%20easley%20probowl%20story%20todd%20christensen%20easley%20played%20cornerback&f=false
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=I_Wi9Uzx3DsC&pg=PT167&lpg=PT167&dq=kenny+easley+probowl+story+todd+christensen+easley+played+cornerback&source=bl&ots=ksgzE-uNrM&sig=H4RlYWA33ff-sWS72kPOfoX4ebk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjF8a_auvTRAhUkIcAKHf1wCOcQ6AEIHDAB#v=onepage&q=kenny%20easley%20probowl%20story%20todd%20christensen%20easley%20played%20cornerback&f=false
Not trying to infringe on copyright but let me know if the link works
Cool. Thanks!
Thanks for posting that! I own that book, its a fun read and has lots of interesting stories in it; some funny, some glorious, and some terribly sad.
Still think its funny but awful that Wyman refused to name an all-Hawks punter lol! “They are just a punter”…Punting is underrated, just like long-snapping; you dont pay any attention until it falls apart.
AGREED! I remember back in 2012 being roundly chastised for writing on this site that I thought the LoB was “overrated”. What I meant was they are good, but they are NOT Kenny Easley. As good as the LoB is, Earl has always had difficulty tackling in the open field and Kam has had issues in coverage. Never, ever would those comments be made about Easley! He was a “GAME CHANGER”!
Personally, at this point, I think Earl is borderline HoF, and I doubt Kam will ever be inducted. Richard, on the other hand, will make it in.
IDK, I think if Kam can last two more years playing at least 12 games a season at his current level, he’s in the HOF. Lott has said the only player he has ever seen to rival Kenny Easley was himself and Kam Chancellor. Thats HOF material…
Earl is a tough one. He didnt play well overall the first month of this season, and has always had issues with open field tackling–often from poor form. But everyone saw how Seattle’s defense collapsed without him this year. Earl just takes away so much from offenses, Im not sure another single player in the NFL forces offenses to adjust the way Earl does. Without him, the LOB just doesnt exist.
Perhaps playing together will hurt their HOF candidacy, but I think all it will take is a couple more years of playing at a high level and one more SB win, and they are both shoe-ins.
I can see both making the ring of honor one day, but they both have to get more All Pro and Pro Bowls to have a shot. They also need perhaps 3-4 more years of high end production.
Great Article Bobby!
I think Earl showed how good he was when he got hurt. Like Sherman, teams just avoid him.
2 or 3 more years at All Pro level, and he will probably get into the HOF. But harder for safeties to get in. It will help if the Hawks D remains one of the 2 or 3 best for the next 3 years. He is young enough to play 6 or 7 more years at a high level.
Kam is a better player than his stats, great leader, and the most intimidating player in the game. How many safeties knock out guards? But he is seen as poor in coverage, even though that is not his primary role. I think a lot depends on how long he lasts and can play at a high level.
I think Sherm gets in if he has 2 or 3 more pro bowl years, but he also needs at least 10 more ints.
All great players, but none at the level of Easley.
Great piece Bobby!
Never got to watch Easley (before my time), like with Largent, just old VHS tapes. Not much I can contribute to the convo, but loved the timely read.
Great work again, BobbyK. As a young fan I didnt get to see these guys real-time. It gives me a lot of perspective!!
Having watched Kenny Easley play for the ‘Hawks in the Kingdome and followed him throughout his time in the NFL, I strongly believe, even though his career was shortened, that the man was one of the best to have ever played his position and is definitely HOF worthy.
Safety is a really difficult position to crack, because much of what they do is preventative (Earl), or measured in pure physicality (Chancellor). The counting stats don’t tell the whole story. They don’t show that Chancellor can decleat an OLman on the edge, or make a hit over the middle that changes an entire game-plan. The stats can’t see Earl’s tame affect a QB, or how much ground he covers before making a play-saving tackle near the LOS.
Much better is their reputations and the impact those who watch closely can see they make.
The same is true for Marshawn Lynch — his numbers are fringe-worthy HoF, but his talent and his impact are unquestionably special. I think he’ll make it based on that.
I think Earl may get in if he keeps locking down this defense for another five years. I think Chancellor had a much harder climb, but again, his talent is special, and hisbinoact undenyable. I really hope he can play at an elite level for three more seasons to give himself a shot.
Earl’s *range*
For a slap-shot iPhone texter like myself I hate that I can’t edit my comments here. I always regret something…
Chancellor’s *impact*
Holy Buckets! Bobbyk getting some serious love for his efforts to get Easley noticed for a HOF induction. From Dave Boling at the Tacoma News Tribune:
“Easley began hearing from Frank Cooney, a Hall of Fame selector and a member of the committee on senior candidates. And, as Cooney became more involved, he received research information on Easley from Bob Kaupang, a history teacher in Minnesota who had taken on Easley’s candidacy as a personal project.
Kaupang had conducted interviews with countless players and coaches who cited Easley as a dominating force and defensive icon of his era. The case they constructed for Easley was obviously convincing.”
Freaking awesome! I had no idea his writing would be so influential. Bobbyk, I am so happy to hear this! I am proud to have met you and I hope that this may help launch a second career for you as well as catapult Easley into the HOF!
Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/dave-boling/article130480959.html#storylink=cpy
Thanks for posting, and a double tip of the hat to Mr. Kaupang.
I think Earl should make it, if he truly is this vital to one of the best defenses in NFL history. Of course voters may not see it that way. Kam is one of a kind, but I don’t think he will end up in the hall. If Bobby Wagner continues to put up seasons like the one he just had, he might be someone in consideration down the road.
In draft news, Corey Davis just had ankle surgery and won’t run at the combine. Some people had risen him up enough to be on par with Mike Williams, but this setback will probably hurt him. Maybe Seattle has a shot in round 2, but I doubt it.
Garrett Bolles keeps rising (shocker!), although some think his height will end up below 6’5″ which would turn some teams off.
If he’s 5′ 9′ we should still draft him, hope he slides.
If the greatest knock on an OT is his height….. he will be gone by pick #20
Many have Corey Davis their #1 rated WR. I love his game and think he’s a top 20 pick, easily. Might have been the top receiver last season if he was in that draft. He gets open better and runs better routes than Williams. He’d be an excellent Seahawk!
Im well and truly intrigued by this open letter from Steve Kelley which I sadly never had occasion to read. Though not available on-line, is there anyone out there able to recall any part of it or at least pass along the jist of it by paraphrasing? Cheers!
I haven’t read it since finding and helping get rid of old newspapers at my Grandmas in the nineties and seeing it and appreciating it all over again. He absolutely bagged on the Team for not admitting their guilt and taking care of him, and let Easley know how much some people appreciated his sacrifice; He was our Gladiator, fallen but not Dead.
Kelley was often a Hack, with no conscience or memory of his own hypocrisy;but in this piece he found his Redemption. Wish to heck I still had my newspaper clipping…
Easley a beast the Lawrence Taylor of DB should be in.
Easley transcended the sport…. and could still play today in the modern NFL. Just as LT (Taylor) revolutionized the NFL at LB/LEO/DE, Easley changed the perception of what a safety (SS) could and couldn’t do.. which is everything from tackling RBs to covering TEs …. sacks, picks and fumbles. It is heartening to know he is still alive to see the day, when many other players never got to see their name go into Canton.
I think this is THE guy Seattle will zero in on. Not only is he built like a Seahawk corner, looks like one, plays like one, and has the production Seattle would like in a 1st round corner prospect, but this guy is just spewing Seahawk verbiage. Tell me he doesn’t sound like one.
There’s a lot of corners even if they miss out on him, but after listening to this, Im not sure they’d want to.
Rasul Douglas interview-
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=bLwAjPPXqqQ
To top it off, the backstory too.
JUCO product, took a bus to practice from 8 miles away, was one of 7 kids raised by just his grandma, and sometimes would only have $1 a day to eat. From one of the worst parts of NJ and met a guy in little league baseball that mentored him and kept him off the streets/out of trouble. Did I mention he’d spend his weekends in the bowling alley? 😉
W.Virhgina DC Tony Gibson describes him as ‘a kid that just keeps fighting.’
Definitely very Seahawky.
Interesting that Daryl Worley who was at WVU with Douglas… he was 6-1 and 204lbs with 33.5 inch arms (!!!) and ran a 4.48 but lasted until the middle of the third round.
Which makes me wonder how long Douglas will last even if he runs a 4.4.
Definite star quality potential there. Hard to work out where you’d need to take him if you had to have him.
Yeah, I’m liking this kid more and more as a potential Hawk. That one practice he had late last week where he was making play after play, his physical profile, knack for making plays on the ball. Just seems like a guy that would fit a lot of what Carroll looks for in his “all about the ball” philosophy.
I wanted Seattle to pick Worley; was bummed we didn’t. Wonder if the guy we got instead will turn out to be worth it? Wasn’t that Odhiambo?
He’s a top 50 talent for me. Currently. Doesn’t mean he’ll be taken there, but I’m not convinced he gets outta round 2.
Definitely won’t get out of round#2…
I think when all is said and done he will go in the back end of the first round. Or early second. he is that good.
your remarks sound great but his NFL draft profile seems to indicate he is pretty slow:
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/rasul-douglas?id=2558168
His 40 will probably determine if Hawks are interested, anything higher than 4.5 and hes out imo
The combine will be telling for this CB class.
Keep in mind the Hawks haven’t targeted speedy 40 times at CB in the past. Sherm topped out at 4.53 for example. They seem to value length, height and explosion over long speed in their corners.
I hate those profiles man! Look at all those negatives on every singke guy.
It might not be Douglas, but some of these talented CBs are going to drop in this draft. I’m amazed how many good ones there are in one class. The Hawks might double up if the position isn’t adequately addressed in free agency, but it’s good to know a talent like Rasul may be there in round 2 or 3
They should double dip definetly.
I think the run on corners will start a little bit later as well. Teams know how deep it is and won’t panic, knowing therthery can get a good one.
Easley is long overdue for the HoF. He was amazing! I saw him play in person many times and he popped out every game.
Cortez Kennedy has always been my favorite Seahawk and he is the best Seahawk to ever play. Easley did for the secondary what Tez did for the defensive line.
I do think Earl and maybe Kam might make it one day. They need more season and more numbers before it’s assured.
I wasn’t around to see him either, so am grateful to BobbyK for giving us a glimpse of how special he was.
Also, found some interesting quotes from Easley himself back in 2002 regarding the HOF:
Easley isn’t in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and might never be, because he played only seven seasons. But he considers himself a Hall of Fame player and is sure he also would have the recognition if he had played free safety — as he did as a three-time All-American at UCLA.
“I came here and they put me at strong safety, which limited my ability to use my natural abilities to run and make plays from the free safety position,” he said. “If I had played free safety, I could have impacted the game far more than I did.
“I don’t know why (former coaches) Jack Patera and Chuck Knox didn’t play me at free safety,” he added. “I don’t blame them. I blame Ken Easley. I’ve always stood up for what I believe in, and I didn’t stand up and say, ‘I want to play free safety.’ ”
http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Seahawks-NFL-Beat-Easley-unloads-after-15-year-1098516.php
Leonard Fournette: Sitting out of bowl game wasn’t my decision
“To be honest, it really wasn’t my decision,” Fournette told NFL Now Live. “My coach brought me into the office. He told me ‘You have a lot on the line.’ He didn’t want me to play. I cried like a baby. It was hard for me. That was my first time not really traveling with the team and I couldn’t play in a game with my brothers. I’m going to miss them.”
Later in the interview, Fournette reiterated the point, saying “my coach made (the decision) for me.”
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000782619/article/leonard-fournette-sitting-out-of-bowl-game-wasnt-my-decision
That’s a good coach. Shame there aren’t more in college football like him.
Great coach even going back to USC. Damn good recruiting skills too.
He’s Fred Flintstone. Looks and sounds just like him.
I remember when LSU played Florida in the regular season.
Fournette was told he wasn’t playing due to injury. Then the Florida players got into the faces of the LSU players during pre-game. Fournette jumped in and got involved. He immediately walked into the locker room and swapped street clothes for his uniform. He played the game and nobody was stopping him.
Every time I see a mock draft with Fournette dropping out of the top-10, I close the tab immediately.
Interesting story from Mike Silver on Julio Jones trade. I didn’t know about the Belichick part:
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000782417/article/falcons-julio-jones-gamble-opposed-by-bill-belichick-paid-off
I know some dont like him because of ‘stiff hips,’ or because he doesn’t fit the mold of what they think a safety is or should be, but Obi Melifonwu still intrigues me. He’s not Kam Chancellor, he’s not Byron Jones. There’s no one like him. His size, athleticism (if he does at the combine what we think he will), and hybrid ability are just too rare.
I don’t care if he’s a ‘big nickel type’ either. With spread concepts coming into the NFL, there’s a reason nickel packages are on the field close to 70%.
Difference makers. In a nutshell that’s why you draft in the 1st place.
Not saying he’s a lock for Seattle to draft, but would it shock us if they did?
I agree Vol if the Hawks don’t take him I think the Falcons or Pats will. If he performs as expected at the combine I dont see how a guy with that physical profile gets out of round #1
I think Obi is who the Hawks select first. I have been having this strong feeling about him since the Senior Bowl. Douglas in the second would be fantastic. They could also take another corner later, which I think they will probably do. This class is so deep at corner. they might like a slot guy too being satisfied with the length they already have for now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziA6XntO134
Lane, Jerome WR 6’3″ 220 Akron
Third-team All-MAC pick. 62 receptions for 1,018 yards and six touchdowns. 16.4 average
Could finally be the big bodied receiver the Seahawks could use. Looks to be late round pick so ideal for this years draft as well.
Great write up Bobbyk!
Really hoping Easley gets in. He and the RB Curt Warner were my favourite players when I first started watching football and along with Largent were the reason I became a Seahawks fan.
I think longevity is the only thing that has kept him out of the HOF to date. As you pointed out if you asked the players in his era he would be a lock. The was an intimidator and tone setter in the back end like no other.
Kenny Easley is my favorite Seahawk of all time, heck my favorite player of all time. I think I watched every game he played as a Hawk either live or on tv and he was always around the ball making plays. I believe he was in a class by himself as a player and could just do everything. I have a signed Kenny Easley jersey and it was one of the presents I ever received. Easley belongs in the HOF and Lott was right he was a better player than him.
I want to thank BobbyK for championing Easley’s induction to the HOF. It is great to see BobbyK get some recognition of that.
And he is in..JUSTICE!!