Where do we start? The old
cliché, of course is to start at the beginning. But where is that?
Ultimately, when discussing
the Seahawks, that goes back to 1976. Or maybe it was earlier, when people originally
brought up the idea of professional football in Seattle. Perhaps we should start
at some specific milestone, a readily recognizable event that shaped team history.
Maybe it was when Paul Allen bought the team and rescued it from relocation
to California. Maybe it was when Mike Holmgren was hired, or when Tim Ruskell
was brought on board. Who knows?
One thing is certain, though.
We have not reached the end. Maybe that is the most important thing to remember.
This may not be a beginning, but it certainly isn't the end.
The off season can be a
difficult time for someone who doesn't have a real passion for scouting and
drafting college kids, or signing free agents. Those who can dig into those
subjects have my utmost respect, but I just can't do it. Call it a mental block
of sorts.
Running a sports team is
a continuous act. It involves a lot of little beginnings and ends, little individual
stops and starts that add up to the continuum that is the life story of the
team. Fans would be well to recognize this and learn to live with it.
Sports fans can be very
moody creatures. Football is probably the worst sport for this, because the
relatively small number of games in a season heightens the effect of anything
that happens. When big news about one's team hits, it can set off all manner
of hyperbolic reactions. Losing a Pro-bowler to another team in Free Agency
can do that. The whole Steve Hutchinson situation played out like what is wrong
with, and right with, professional sports these days.
The good side says that
free market economics worked. Hutch got to shop around and get a great contract
to play football.
The bad side says that free
market economics worked. Another team was able to snatch one of our best players.
One could argue that the
Seahawks haven't made very good use of those pesky tags designed into the collective
bargaining agreement. A few years back, they promised not to tag Pete Kendall
and he flew the coop to Arizona. Then came the Walter Jones saga, with consecutive
use of the franchise tag over several years that kind of defined the Seahawks
bargaining strategy during the time.
Franchising Shaun Alexander
for the 2005 season seems to have worked, since he finally signed a long term
deal this off season, but there were some disturbing quotes in the media during
that saga that had fan support of Alexander and the team sharply divided.
The Seahawks tried the transition
tag this time, and got bit by a team with a lot of cash and some creativity
in writing contracts. Steve Hutchinson is now a Viking.
Fan reaction (as witnessed
by the responses on Seahawks.net) seems to be reflective. Yes there are some
who howled "He's the best guard in the NFL!" But after some cooling
off time, most have responded with "Yes, but he is only a guard, after
all." Purportedly, the voice of reason wins out. Steve was probably worth
a $49 million contract, but not a guaranteed $49 million contract.
As usual, the exit interview
casts some light on the move. Some are willing to give Hutch the benefit of
the doubt about the 'poison pill' inserted into his offer sheet which required
that he be the highest paid lineman on the team or the entire contract would
be guaranteed. Not this writer. His agent works for him. When his agent does
something, Hutch is at the very least complicit.
Like so many athletes these
days, he parted with the ever popular, "They didn't like me enough"
line. Balderdash. They may not have liked you enough to assuage your ego, but
there was plenty of team and fan support. You'll get your money, but you'll
be playing on a team with a rookie owner and a rookie head coach. Best wishes.
Most teams in that situation take a year or two to gel.
Marquand Manuel went where
he could probably start, and definitely will get more playing time. Joe Jurevicius
went to play his last couple of seasons in his home town. You went for the money,
Steve. Hey, for some people, it's all about the benjamins, right?
Meanwhile, without a lot
of fanfare and league wide notice, the Seahawks have something pretty special
going on. Three consecutive playoff appearances, including two consecutive division
championships, and a conference championship, prove that the Seahawks are a
team to be reckoned with in the NFC, and likely will be for a few more years.
As fans, our outlook has changed. It is no longer a question of whether we will
make the playoffs next year. We all pretty much expect that. The question these
days is: how far will we go in the playoffs?
Yes, losing Steve Hutchinson
is a small ending of a sort. However, the eternal optimist in me has to say
it just might be a new beginning for the Seahawks. Not that we are really beginning
anything. Really, we are just continuing on with our recent success.
That's the most important
thing.
Steve Utz writes occasionally for Seahawks.NET. Send your feedback to Steve
at: sutz12@comcast.net