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Friday, May 16th, 2008
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 08:08:52 am
Did you think about retirement before you came back this year? “You always think about it. You just have to make sure you are ready to come back in and give it all the work and effort that goes into the whole season. It is not something you take lightly. You have to put in the work, and it is tough both mentally and physically.” What was the thing that swayed you? “I just felt like I have a little bit left. I am not quite ready to hang it up.”
Categories: Interviews
• 23 comments
Thursday, May 15th, 2008
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 07:40:49 am
I was talking last night to my neighbor, who happens to be an attorney, and the conversation ultimately led to Lofa Tatupu's arrest for DUI. He said he had been listening to KJR read some of the details of the police report, but he said he got to work and couldn't hear the rest of it. So I filled him in, and told him about the part where the arresting officer forgot to read Tatupu his Miranda Rights at the location where he was arrested (McDonald's). Once he realized it on the way to the police station, the officer pulled over to the side of the road and read him his rights. "I can almost guarantee you his arrest gets thrown out," my neighbor said. "We have a saying in the business, 'You can't admit fruit from a poisoned tree.' That is way more than a technicality." Take that for what it's worth but it may make it easier for the Seahawks to skirt the issue if it never becomes an issue for procedural purposes.
Categories: Legal system
• 50 comments
Wednesday, May 14th, 2008
Posted by Darrin Beene @ 12:25:24 pm
Press release from the Seahawks:
Categories: Answers to your questions
• 15 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 09:50:16 am
In an effort to get some insight into the depth behind Lofa Tatupu, Julian Peterson and Leroy Hill, I spoke with linebackers coach Zerick Rollins: How are the players behind the main guys going to shape up? “I think it is still too early to tell. I think we have some guys who are looking good right now. Wesly Mallard has done some things, I think Will Herring is a good player. And Lance Laury, this is his third season, it is time for him to grow up and be a player for us. He has all the potential to be able to do that. We are counting on him as well.”
Categories: Interviews
• 7 comments
Tuesday, May 13th, 2008
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 04:39:56 pm
"I want to apologize to my family, teammates, the Seahawks ownership and organization, and the fans for making a poor decision and putting myself in a bad situation. I take seriously my role as a leader on this team, and in the community, and because of that I'm disappointed and embarrassed by the level of poor judgment I used last weekend. Thankfully, nobody was hurt. This will never happen again, and I hope through hard work on and off the field to begin earning your respect and trust again."
Categories: Legal system
• 66 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 04:29:26 pm
According to the NFL's drug policy, Lofa Tatupu faces a possible fine of one-half of one-seventeenth of his base salary, which is $520,000. So he could be fined about $15,000. The cap is $20,000 if his base salary was higher. He will only face a suspension if he has a second offense.
Categories: Legal system
• 5 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 04:26:40 pm
Here is a link to the police report of Lofa Tatupu's DUI arrest on Saturday morning: http://media.thenewstribune.com/smedia/2008/05/13/16/tatupu.source.prod_affiliate.5.pdf
Categories: Legal system
• 2 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 03:49:11 pm
From: Jon Scott Fox, Fox Bowman & Duarte Dated: May 13, 2008 Re: Lofa Tatupu DUI Charge
Jon Scott Fox and Bill Bowman of Fox Bowman Duarte are representing Lofa Tatupu regarding the DUI arrest that occurred on May 10, 2008, in Kirkland, Washington. Jon Scott Fox stated: “Lofa intends to handle this situation in a manner consistent with his reputation for integrity and leadership. We understand that Lofa fully cooperated with the police investigation and conducted himself as a gentleman throughout the incident. We will issue a further statement once our investigation is complete.”
Categories: Legal system
• 8 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 03:44:58 pm
The copies of the police report I was sent are images rather than text, so I am unable to post them on the blog. That being said, here are some details: Lofa was driving a 2006 Hyundai Accent with three other passengers in Kirkland. He was going what the officer thought was at least 50 in a 35, and when the cruiser whirled around to chase him, the officer said he was going 60 and Lofa was pulling away. It sounded like Lofa was weaving in and out of traffic, and he eventually pulled into a McDonald's and into the drive-thru lane. The cop pulled up behind him and asked him why he was driving so fast. He said his friend had to go to the bathroom. The cop said his friend was not going to find a bathroom in the drive-thru lane. When he backed him out, he had him do three field sobriety tests.
Categories: Legal system
• 17 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 02:12:18 pm
Here is the link to the recently concluded online chat we had from 1-2. Thanks to Audible for suggesting posting the link.
Categories: Miscellaneous
• 3 comments
Posted by Darrin Beene @ 12:43:28 pm
Frank just called me with this. He said he's trying to get a police report, and he'll have more details later. Anyway: According to a report on KJR 950-AM, Seahawks middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu was arrested late Friday – or one day after the team's minicamp ended – on a DUI charge. The report when on to say Tatupu's blood alcohol level was .15.
Categories: Answers to your questions
• 28 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 11:12:25 am
I spoke with Bruce DeHaven about the kicking competition between Olindo Mare and Brandon Coutu. Here is the transcript of that interview: All the really good kickers in the league have to have a sense of self-confidence, almost arrogance. So anybody that is good enough to win this job probably is petty confident they are better than the guy who was here before him. One of the things I liked about Brandon was his confidence that he is mentally tough enough to kick them. Olindo is a very confident guy. He has a lot to base that on. On whether other factors come into final decision besides just talent: I would really rather not address that. I really hope to evaluate them based on how they kick. At the end of camp, which one was the most accurate. Which had the strongest leg. Which performed better under pressure when we had them compete against each other. Now, at the end of that, if there is consideration for age money, experience, that is a decision somebody else would make. I am hoping to make the decision based on who is the better kicker.
Categories: Interviews
• 3 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 09:05:45 am
I am having an hour-long all-Seahawks chat this afternoon at 1. Again, to participate in the chat, the link is right here: http://wwwb.thenewstribune.com/discussions/discussion.php?id=98.
Categories: Programming Note
• 4 comments
Monday, May 12th, 2008
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 01:25:07 pm
With the Rams' mini-camp ongoing, here is a story about how Josh Brown is faring in St. Louis. Also, I'll put a reminder up tomorrow morning, but I am doing a News Tribune chat from 1-2 tomorrow afternoon. There was some confusion when I did a chat from the Super Bowl, because the chat is a different site than the blog. If you want to participate, this is the link to the site: http://wwwb.thenewstribune.com/discussions/discussion.php?id=98.
Categories: Former Players
• 20 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 11:31:09 am
Here is a post in a University of Hawaii fan blog that says the Seahawks are interested in defensive tackle Mike Lafaele, though it does admit the Seahawks don't have room at the spot right now. Here is the whole post.
Categories: Street free agents
• 4 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 05:51:26 am
After a Mother's Day Weekend hiatus, the blog is back up and running. Here is an interview I did with kicker Olindo Mare last week. It is interesting because there is some kicking esoterica in there that I think most people don't realize and/or think about: On Competition against Brandon Coutu: There is no reason for me to be a jerk to him off the field or even on the field. I am going to let what I do on the field speak for itself. I am not going to change anything. Oh Josh Brown: He had a great career here. It is tough. No matter where you go it is the same. It was the same when I went to Miami and it was the same with Karney when I went to New Orleans. Karney was always a guy who I looked up to. Obviously not in his prime. It was hard for me to go there. But unfortunately I got hurt. I am not going to come in here and say it is my goal to come in here and be better than Josh Brown was or to reminisce on what he did or what I did five years ago. His time was over, my time was over there, it is time for me to make name for myself here.
Categories: Interviews
• 10 comments
Thursday, May 8th, 2008
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 01:22:30 pm
Matt Hasselbeck met with the media on this final day of mini-camp. Here were some of his quotes: Disappointed in Engram for taking a stand like this? "You know, in Bobby's case not really. He's one of those guys I almost put him in the same category as Walt, Chris Gray. They've been doing it so long they know exactly what it takes to get ready. A lot of the plays that we run are for them. If you watch the cut-up and we run that play 100 times, 97 of them have gone to Bobby -- that kind of thing. So it's an opportunity for the Logan Paynes and the Jordan Kents and the Ben Obomanus, it's a chance for them to run Bobby's plays.
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 12:19:28 pm
It was a very short final session, only 70 minutes long. There were some drills for half the period, then the sides came together to run some plays. WR Logan Payne had some nice receptions from Seneca Wallace, otherwise there was nothing that really stood out. Mike Holmgren gathered together everybody who was still healthy afterward and gave a speech that was greeted by cheers. I spoke with Payne for a little afterward, and he sounded excited about his opportunity, especially after coming out of Minnesota, which mostly ran the ball. He said he does not have a feel for who is ahead in the competition but thinks that the front office has done a good job of mixing and matching receivers with different attributes. He said he has been working in the slot some. I asked him if that was what he saw as his future. He said the coaches have all the WRs learning all the different positions, so he doesn't really know what his future spot will be. Matt Hasselbeck also talked. I'll post some of that interview once it is transcribed.
Categories: Minicamps
• 3 comments
Wednesday, May 7th, 2008
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 07:51:23 pm
I forgot to mention this yesterday, and it doesn't really paint me in a good light, but it is a pretty humorous and telling exchange. During Holmgren's meeting with the media yesterday, I asked him what Chris Gray's position was. He said Gray would play backup center and backup guard. Now before I tell you my next question, I have to say that I was trying to find out Holmgren's plans for Ray Willis, and if they planned on using him at right guard once he gets healthy. But what I asked was, "So you are not going to groom any young guys at right guard?" He looked at me like my brain had froze and quipped, "Groom somebody? In my last year? I'm done grooming. Let somebody else groom." Touche.
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 02:57:18 pm
This was part of Mike Holmgren's session with the media on Tuesday. He was asked about the tight end position and the running backs: “I am not sure. I don’t think it has been long enough. I really have to see more it and certainly we have it see them in pads. We drafted John Carlson but Will Heller is having a heck of a camp. I like Putzier, I like what he is doing. He is playing nicked up a little bit. Alcorn is good. The tight end position, we have some choices there. It will be an interesting battle in training camp. The running back position, Julius and Mo (Morris) will both play. I have to kind of see how we are going to use Duckett. That is what I am looking at right now; Fullback, halfback. He has been a halfback but I would like him to move into fullback a little bit. Curran, I like Curran. He is kind of a bowling ball with legs. He is a tough guy, a smart guy. If he shows well on special teams, who knows? And then Leonard (Weaver), I expect to take the next step. He was pretty good for us down the stretch last year. I expect him to take the next step this year. (Owen Schmitt) is eager and he is smart and he is tenacious. In a brief period of time you saw what you saw on film. I suspect if you put the pads on, that will be a better situation for him than at mini camp in shorts. When you have players like that, the short thing is okay, but when you really get a chance to bang into people, you really show what you can do.”
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 01:30:57 pm
I don't know what is going on but it seems to be getting colder the further we get into May. Today's practice was unbelievably cold with a brisk wind whipping across both practice fields. I think everybody is probably a little sluggish at this point, both because the weather is so depressing and because fewer players are practicing everyday, which means more reps for the guys who are healthy. Today, Courtney Taylor was out with an injury, as was Deion Branch, Will Herring, Patrick Kerney, Rocky Bernard, Marcus Tubbs, Ray Willis, Chris Spencer, Walter Jones, Zac Alcorn, Mike Green and Rob Sims. Bobby Engram also was not here, as expected, continuing his statement about his contract displeasure.
Categories: Minicamps
• 9 comments
Tuesday, May 6th, 2008
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 10:37:55 pm
Here is my story for tomorrow's News Tribune: KIRKLAND – The Seattle Seahawks are not going to renegotiate wide receiver Bobby Engram’s contract, despite Engram’s displeasure with his current salary.
Categories: Miscellaneous
• 39 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 03:53:50 pm
Right guard Rob Sims had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee today. Mike Holmgren said that he expects Sims to miss four to six weeks, which would put him out of the team's two June mini-camps. However, Holmgren said, he expects Sims to be back for the start of training camp. The only players Holmgren said would not be ready for the start of training camp are Deion Branch and Marcus Tubbs, though he sort of hedged on Chris Spencer. That's one to keep an eye on.
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 01:33:03 pm
Besides Bobby Engram and the regulars who are missing this camp, TE Jeb Putzier was the other player missing. He was walking with a slight limp. The beginning of practice was very sloppy. Matt Hasselbeck threw an interception to Marcus Trufant, then he fumbled a snap, then a play just broke down. Gil Haskell rather than Mike Holmgren was the one who jumped all over the offense. With Rob Sims out, the offensive line is now, right to left, Locklear, Wrotto, Gray, Wahle and Pork Chop.
Categories: Minicamps
• 16 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 01:08:42 pm
Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said Bobby Engram dropped off a letter on his desk this morning to explain why he was skipping this mini-camp. Holmgren said he had not yet read the letter so didn't know what exactly it said or what Engram wants. Holmgren did say he had an inkling that this was coming, and that Engram told him after the weekend mandatory camp that there was a chance he would not be here this week. Holmgren said this is the business side of things, and sometimes these things happen between players and management. But, he said, he expects Engram to be there for training camp, which obviously is mandatory.
Categories: Minicamps
• 22 comments
Monday, May 5th, 2008
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 10:50:53 pm
This is the story I wrote for tomorrow's News Tribune: KIRKLAND – Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Bobby Engram skipped Monday’s voluntary veteran mini-camp because he is upset about his contract, according to a source.
Categories: Minicamps
• 58 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 02:54:30 pm
I spoke with Olindo Mare and special teams coach Bruce DeHaven this afternoon about the competition for the rights to replace Josh Brown as this year's kicker. I asked DeHaven if the decision is made in a vacuum, where all things are equal, or whether Coutu's future and potential are taken into account. Bruce said for him, he likes to do it in a vacuum. Who hits the most kicks. Who has the best leg on kickoffs. Who handles the pressure the best. He said of course it doesn't always work that way, and front-office concerns (salary) are taken into account. But that is not his department. He tries to see who had the best camp, and he gives his input there.
Categories: Minicamps
• 7 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 02:12:01 pm
After his visit with the Bengals, former Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander is visiting the New Orleans Saints, according to NFL Network's Adam Schefter. Here is the link to his story.
Categories: Former Players
• 13 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 01:26:21 pm
It was a beautiful day in Kirkland, and much less hectic with all the rookies, undrafted college free agents and tryout players no longer in camp. Also missing were Rob Sims, who sat off to the side for the first time and apparently will have his knee scoped, Walter Jones, Chris Spencer, Bobby Engram, Mike Green, Patrick Kerney and Rocky Bernard. Ray Willis was back at practice.
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 01:12:00 pm
The Seahawks signed Texas Tech wide receiver Joel Filani and defensive tackle Kevin Brown, and they waived wide receiver Travis Brown and defensive tackle Kelly Talavou. Brown was one of the players the team brought in for workouts. None of the others were at today's first day of voluntary veterans' camp. Filani is from Texas Tech. He spent part of last season in Minnesota. Sunday, May 4th, 2008
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 12:51:51 pm
This was the last practice where the rookies were involved, and John Carlson and Lawrence Jackson and Owen Schmitt and the others were hustling into the building afterward to get their stuff and take showers before their flights home. Jackson, Carlson and Red Bryant all echoed similar sentiments: They were rusty, they learned some new things, the players are all much bigger and faster than college and the speed of the game presents issues. But they said they were happy to meet their teammates and get a feel for what they have to do. Carlson spoke about how complex Holmgren's offense is. He is heading back to Notre Dame instead of back to Litchfield, MN. Jackson is going back to LA to work out at USC's facilities until they get back here in two weeks, and Bryant is heading back to Texas.
Categories: Minicamps
• 11 comments
Saturday, May 3rd, 2008
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 08:11:25 pm
I spent a good part of the practice watching a competition between rookie kicker Brandon Coutu and veteran Olindo Mare. It wasn't apparent that it was a competition until we realized that general manager Tim Ruskell and VP of player personnel Ruston Webster were monitoring it, as well as special teams coach Bruce DeHaven and assistant John Jamison. Mare looks very smooth. He must have kicked about 20 straight without missing one kick. He didn't look pressed at all, just stepped up and booted them through, right down the middle. He went out to 38 yards.
Categories: Minicamps
• 18 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 02:28:59 pm
My good friend Scott "Short Bus" Johnson of the Everett Herald was kind enough to send me some Ryan Plackemeier quotes, since I missed Plack yesterday. Here is what Plack told Short Bus about new long snapper Tyler Schmitt: RYAN PLACKEMEIER:
Categories: Quotes
• 7 comments
Posted by Dave Boling @ 02:16:32 pm
Sorry it's been a while, troops. Gonna see if I can remember how to operate the old weblog ... First impressions out of minicamp (some of which are targeted for the column in the Sunday Trib): It’s incalculable how much more quickly Julius Jones hits the hole than Shaun Alexander. He’s not very tall, of course, but he’s studly sturdy and gets up to speed in a couple steps. He will not be backfield dancer. He also catches the ball. Shaun Alexander will not be missed. Mike Wahle is powerful and can move, giving them a pair of athletic guards who will help some of the new elements of the running game. With new line coaches, Rob Sims should get back on a quick learning curve.
Categories: Minicamps
• 10 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 01:28:33 pm
The team was going to hold this morning's practice at the Renton facility, but it switched and held it at the Kirkland facility -- I think because of the rain. It was a brisk day, with rain early on and then dissipating as practice went on. Along with the guys who did not practice yesterday, Howard Green, Corey Williams and Anthony Russo did not practice. Not sure yet what their injuries are. Friday, May 2nd, 2008
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 06:03:33 pm
It was a two-hour session that had a lot of passing drills. Nate Burleson struggled some, had three or four dropped balls over the course of the two practices. Free agent Travis Brown had a blatant dropped ball while wide open in the middle of the field. I thought Jordan Kent looked pretty good, as did Courtney Taylor and Ben Obomanu. Hugh Millen had a funny observation about the tight ends: If you took their names and numbers off their jerseys, would you even know who is who? (or is that whom?) They all look essentially the same, between 6-4 and 6-7 and weighing about 250-260 pounds. Will Heller stands out because he is 6-6, 270, but everybody else, including John Carlson, looks essentially the same. Somebody asked earlier how Jeb Putzier looked, so I watched him specifically this practice. He looked pretty good, and Matt Hasselbeck commented afterward that he obviously is a veteran, knows what he is doing and is in the right places.
Categories: Notes from practice
• 10 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 02:40:15 pm
The biggest thing is that Rocky Bernard was no where to be seen. He was the only player. Mike Holmgren said that he was not practicing because he had surgery on his foot, which was new information, though he didn't really say why he was the only player not out on the field. Holmgren re-iterated that he expected the legal issues to play themselves out and for the situation to go away. Also not practicing were Patrick Kerney, Mike Green, Deion Branch, Marcus Tubbs, Chris Spencer and Will Herring and Walter Jones.
Categories: Notes from practice
• 20 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 10:07:10 am
These players are not officially on the roster, but they are getting tryouts with the team during this mini-camp: WR P.K. Sam (Florida State)
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 09:59:37 am
The Seattle Seahawks have re-signed veteran tackle/guard Floyd Womack to a one-year contract, the team announced this morning. Womack, drafted by Seattle with the third of three fourth-round choices (128th overall) in the 2001 NFL Draft, has played in 76 games with 32 starts. He played in 14 games with one start last year for the Seahawks. To make room on the roster, the team released defensive tackle Jonathan Lewis, who signed as a free agent on January 15.
Categories: Unrestricted free agents (UFAs)
• 18 comments
Thursday, May 1st, 2008
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 04:57:58 pm
For those who want all things Seahawk, here are some inner workings of the organization. Here is the release: The Seattle Seahawks have promoted Dave Pearson to Vice President/Communications & Broadcasting, the team announced today. Pearson enters his 11th season with the club, spending the first six years as the Director of Public Relations before assuming the role of Director of Communications & Broadcasting in 2004. In 2007, Pearson and his staff were awarded the Pete Rozelle Award, given to the top media relations staff in the NFL, voted on by the Professional Football Writers of America. He is responsible for shaping the team’s public image and serves as the liaison between the local and national media and the Seahawks’ front office, coaches and players. He also oversees all team publications, website content and the Seahawks broadcasting department. Pearson started his career as an intern with the Seahawks in 1989 before being hired by the Houston Oilers the following season. He worked in Houston for two seasons before heading west to become the Assistant Director of Public Relations for the Los Angeles Rams in 1992. He returned to Houston before the 1994 season as the Director of Public Relations before moving back to Seattle in 1998. A native of Tacoma, he graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a media relations and interpersonal communications degree. He and his wife, Beth, have two children; Allie and Chase.
Categories: Front office
• 3 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 12:35:24 pm
3 Reggie Hodges
Categories: Seahawks Roster
• 25 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 10:16:47 am
The beat writers met this morning with new running back Julius Jones, who certainly seemed like a nice guy. He said he visited Tennessee, then Detroit then Seattle in free agency, and by the end he just wanted the courting to stop. He said he was kind of inclined to sign with Seattle from the very beginning for a number of reasons: First, they win, and he wanted to continue to win. Second, he had some of his biggest games in Seattle, including 198 yards and three touchdowns in his rookie season in 2004, which he said played a role in his decision because he plays well at Qwest.
Categories: Answers to your questions
• 22 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 08:59:14 am
Here is the link to a pretty cool story about Owen Schmitt's hometown high school in Wisconsin holding a pep rally in his honor before he leaves for mini-camp. One glitch: Schmitt never actually played football at that high school. He played in Fairfax, Virginia. Oh well, it's a good reason for joy in these tough economic times.
Categories: Off the field
• 5 comments
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Seahawks Insider
Frank Hughes took over the Seahawks beat and Seahawks Insider blog in July. Hughes covered the Sonics for The News Tribune from 1997-2007. Frank also contributes to ESPN.com, KJR-AM radio and Pro Sports Exchange. In 2005, Frank co-authored "Slick Watts's Tales from the Seattle SuperSonics." Frank lives in Seattle with his wife, two sons and yellow lab. News Tribune columnist Dave Boling and sports reporters Ryan Divish and Darrin Beene also contribute to the Seahawks Insider blog. Category
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