Oct 19th 2008 8:13PM by Shane Bacon (author feed)
Filed under: Buccaneers, Seahawks
Who isn’t excited for a little Seattle and Tampa Bay battle at Raymond James?

The Buccaneers are on the up-and-up, sitting at 4-2. They might even be the best team in the NFC (key word — might). The Seahawks are the worst team in the most pitiful division in football, desperately needing a win to avoid dropping to 1-5.

Tune in around 8:15 pm EST to enjoy a little Sunday night football, now with less John Madden! We’ll also be updating everyone on that little baseball game, so that’s reason enough to swing by and say hello.

It’s Sunday Funday here at the FanHouse.Continue Reading

Oct 19th 2008 11:55PM by Adam Gretz (author feed)
Filed under: Buccaneers, SeahawksIf you watched Sunday night’s game between Tampa Bay and Seattle, you might agree it was the most lopsided ten point game in the history of ten point games. At any point did you have the feeling Seattle was going to find a way to get itself back into the game? I mean, sure, they were close here and there, and just needed a break or two to make it an entirely different game, but the Seahawks couldn’t get out of their own way offensively.

In the end, the Buccaneers won it 20-10, though it felt like so much more.

First, it’s important to point out the Seahawks registered only seven first downs, and had only one in the first half — which came on the games opening possession. Seneca Wallace, getting the start for Seattle, was bad. Very bad. He finished 12 of 23 for 73 yards and an interception, while struggling to complete four and five yard passes. Of course, it didn’t help that Gaines Adams spent much of the evening running around the Seattle backfield causing all sorts of chaos.

Before some garbage-time yards at the end of the game, Wallace was in danger of having a higher passer rating than his total passing yards. As a team, the Seahawks were out-gained 402-176. Seriously, 176 yards of total offense. They had 170 on kickoff returns, including 140 from Josh Wilson.

Oh, and before I forget … I wonder what Julius Jones thinks about the aging Buccaneers defense right about now?Continue Reading

Oct 17th 2008 7:45PM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Seahawks, NFL Coaching, NFL RumorsWe have all been waiting years for this. And now that Matt Hasselbeck has gotten his pesky back out of the way, Seneca Wallace can start at quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks.

Okay, not really. Well, yes really. (That’s right. I have successfully confused myself.) Anywho, the point is that Seneca is healthy enough to start for the Seahawks, Hasselbeck is already ruled out and Charlie Frye is still Charlie Frye. So Wallace gets the nod.
Seneca Wallace will start at quarterback, coach Mike Holmgren said, as long as nothing happens with regard to Wallace’s injury before Sunday’s game at Tampa Bay.

“He looked OK,” Holmgren said. “But more importantly, probably, is that he feels OK. It’s going to be his ball game I believe unless something happens in the next two games days. And I’ve got confidence in him.”
Yeah, as you can see, everyone is really enthused. As they should be — Wallace isn’t exactly Hasselbeck in his health and/or prime, but he’s definitely not Charlie Frye. And that, immediately, is a tremendous plus for the Seahawks.

I’ve personally always thought that Seattle should have used Seneca at wideout, even if it didn’t work out well when they finally did, but this is his best role. At least considering that he’ll give the ‘Hawks a better chance to win than Frye. And yes, the Mike Holmgren Farewell Tour just keeps getting more exciting and enjoyable for the old feller.

Oct 17th 2008 9:00AM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: 49ers, AZ Cardinals, Bears, Bengals, Bills, Broncos, Browns, Buccaneers, Chargers, Chiefs, Colts, Cowboys, Dolphins, Eagles, Falcons, Jaguars, Jets, Lions, Giants, Packers, Panthers, Patriots, Raiders, Rams, Ravens, Redskins, Saints, Seahawks, Steelers, Texans, Titans, Vikings, NFL Gambling, NFL Media Watch

Nothing like a week of mediocrity (8-6) mixed in with a season of, um, worse than mediocrity. And, such a stellar record brings our season total to 39-47-1. Simply. Stunning.

Stunning enough, in fact, that this particular column has been referred to as “Brinson’s Bad Picks” (which, in hindsight, is a much cooler name than anything else I’ve been able to offer).

The Titans are the “best” team in the NFL. The Chiefs are one of the worst. Larry Johnson is out. This should be easy.

Wow. I’m torn. On one hand, I have tremendous team crush on the Bills. On the other, Philip Rivers is your early season MVP. So, yeah. However, the Chargers are just better and they are favored on the road, so I see no reason to mess with what’s worked so well thus far into 2008.

It’s unconventional and stupid to take a team favored by 10 on the road. But not as unconventional and stupid as taking the Bengals.

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Oct 15th 2008 6:10PM by Adam Gretz (author feed)
Filed under: Buccaneers, Seahawks, NFC SouthMaybe this isn’t a big deal. It’s probably a very innocent, perhaps accurate, observation made by Seahawks running back Julius Jones. I probably wouldn’t even bother to point it out had I not made a post earlier today giving some love to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers run defense. But here we go anyway.

This Sunday night, Jones and the Seahawks are traveling to Tampa Bay for a contest with the leaders of the NFC South. And Jones is looking forward to playing them because, you know, they’re old. From Roy Cummings of the :”They’re smart players and what you have to do with those guys is kind of beat them athletically,” Jones said. “I know a couple guys are up there in age and that’s how we’re going to try to get around those guys - beat them athletically.” Isn’t that another way of calling the Bucs defense old? Sure seems like it. Wonder if DeAngelo Williams thinks the Bucs are old. Kind doubt it. Continue Reading

Oct 15th 2008 12:10AM by Sportz Assassin (author feed)
Filed under: Redskins, Seahawks, NFC East, NFC WestRedskins head coach Jim Zorn was the first Seattle Seahawks quarterback and played there for nine seasons. He also spent nine of the last 11 years as an assistant coach in Seattle.

Now you see why he went back to his roots to help out his current team. Today Washington signed three former Seattle Seahawks to fill in for injured Redskins.

The biggest name was running back Shaun Alexander. The Redskins signed the former MVP to back up Clinton Portis, who is having his own MVP-type season. Not only will Alexander rejoin Zorn but his former running backs coach in Seattle, Stump Mitchell. I’m not that thrilled of the signing, but I don’t think it could hurt.

The Redskins also signed punter Ryan Plackemeier to replace rookie Durant Brooks. Plackemeier spent the last two seasons in Seattle but was, himself, cut after a poor showing in Week 1 of this season.

Last but not least, the Redskins added safety Mike Green. Green, the final pick of the 2000 draft, spent the last two seasons in Seattle. He missed all of 2006 with a lisfranc fracture and was a backup in 2007. He will replace Reed Doughty, who was placed on injured reserve.

Oct 15th 2008 11:58AM by Sportz Assassin (author feed)
Filed under: Redskins, Seahawks, NFC East, NFL FansRedskins fans around the country are buzzing about the addition of running back Shaun Alexander. Needless to say, most of the buzzing isn’t good.

Alexander’s name is bigger than his game right now. The former MVP has been out of work all season and couldn’t even catch on with his hometown Cincinnati Bengals — the worst rushing team in the NFL.

The Redskins aren’t asking Alexander to come in a dominate. They just need him to take on the Ladell Betts role of backing up Clinton Portis, the NFL’s leading rusher. Betts will miss the next couple of weeks with a knee injury. Third stringer Rock Cartwright can also contribute but his main role in Washington is as a kick returner.

Alexander will see the ball. The question is now how long will he be around Redskins Park?”Shaun is the kind of guy who is smart enough to understand the situation,” [Redskins head coach] Jim Zorn said. “Clinton understands the situation. We said it could be temporary or it could run the full season. We are not going to put some sort of limitation on where we are at in four weeks, two weeks, however long it takes Ladell to get back.”It seems as if the “situation” is in the realm of temporary. Unless Alexander shows some of his old form and becomes a productive part of the offense, he will take his veteran minimum salary and go home when Betts is healthy.

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Oct 13th 2008 7:00PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Buccaneers, Raiders, Seahawks, NFL Fans, NFL Media WatchMidway through last night’s beatdown, Al Michaels nonchalantly noted that John Madden wouldn’t be in Tampa for next week’s Seahawks-Bucs game, and awkwardness promptly ensued.

It came out of nowhere, especially since Madden is, ironically, the Brett Favre of the broadcast booth, having called 476 straight games over a 28-year television career. But at 72, and as someone who refuses to step foot on an airplane, Madden makes his way to venues via the aptly named Madden Cruiser.

Which means for this current stretch — games in Jacksonville, San Diego and Tampa Bay on consecutive Sunday nights — the Cruiser would log 4,782 miles in just 14 days.

Interestingly, it wasn’t Madden’s idea to take a bye week, but NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol. Still, Madden didn’t dismiss it out of hand: “I wasn’t reluctant as much as I was ‘let’s wait and see how it goes,’” Madden said in a telephone interview Monday. “Last year we had a couple of tough (trips). I still enjoy the travel, but you’d like to be home once in a while. I’ve got five grandchildren. It’s a quality of life issue. The 49ers and the Raiders not being good also has hurt, because you never get a home game. Even when L.A. had a team, I’d get to be home. When you see the grand kids, it’s like they’ve grown two feet. So I’d like to check in once awhile, and this is a good chance to do that.” So, to recap: this is all Al Davis’ fault. If the Raiders weren’t so unwatchable, maybe Madden would get to call a home game more than once a decade. Thanks, old man. Thanks, for nothing.

Oct 12th 2008 11:25PM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Packers, SeahawksDid you know that Matt Hasselbeck, once upon a time, backed up Brett Favre? It’s true — he drafted by Green Bay and learned under the Great One and Mike Holmgren for two years before heading to Seattle with his coach.

So there was something oddly bizarre about not seeing the ‘Beck sit this one out, while his would-be successor for holding Favre’s clipboard — Aaron Rodgers — fought through several injuries for the second straight week to attempt and lead the Packers to victory. Which, as you can see from the title, he did.

And it was one of those MUST WIN-wins (a phrase that needs to die, and quickly, unless we’re speaking of elimination games), and Rodgers did what he needed to, “rushing” for a touchdown and throwing for two more. Both were Favre-like, in that they were, individually, a long bomb to Greg Jennings and a one yarder to John Kuhn. (Who? Exactly.)

Meanwhile, Charles Lester Frye wasn’t much like anyone worthwhile, completing 12 passes for 83 yards, even though it included two touchdowns. Koren Robinson was his leading receiver with 23 yards and Keary Colbert pulled in a five yard catch in the end zone, his only of the day. So, yeah, you could say everything’s coming up Seattle these days.
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Oct 10th 2008 6:50PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Seahawks, NFC West, NFL InjuriesThe news continues to get worse for the Seahawks. Currently 1-3 and fresh off a 44-6 throttling at the hands of the Giants, they’ll host the Packers on Sunday and there’s a good chance they’ll do it without Matt Hasselbeck.

The Seattle quarterback missed part of the preseason with a sore back, and he’ll be a game-time decision against Green Bay after injuring his knee last weekend. Which means Charlie Frye could get his first start since that forgettable season-opening effort 13 months ago in Cleveland, when he was still considered the Browns’ quarterback of the future. Sort of. (Here are the gory details, just in case you, um, forgot.)

Probability suggests Frye would fare better against the Packers than he did against the Steelers last year, but, well, I’m still skeptical. Unfortunately, Seneca Wallace, who started four games in 2006, isn’t available, either; he’s nursing a sore calf.

On the upside, head coach Mike Holmgren thinks Koren Robinson and Bobby Engram will start. But — and this probably goes without saying, even though he made a cameo last week — Deion Branch is listed as questionable. Typically, this means a player has a 50 percent chance of suiting up for the game, but this is Branch we’re talking about. He might as well be on injured reserve.