SB Nation Seattle - The Daily Drip

The 12th Man Podcast: Previewing Seahawks vs. Packers

2012-09-20T20:01:31Z

Every Thursday during the football season, our sister site Field Gulls - the SB Nation Seahawks blog, and Sports Radio KJR team up to talk all-things Seattle Seahawks. After a one-week hiatus due to Jason Puckett's Aspen adventure, the guys were back this week to discuss the last two games against the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys, as well as preview the upcoming showdown with the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football.

You can listen to, or download, the podcast after the jump.

In addition to breaking down games, Danny, Scott and Jason, discussed whether or not the Seahawks truly had an elite defense, Russell Wilson's performance thus far, Pete Carroll's offensive philosophy, and the importance, or lack thereof, of having an elite QB and its bearing on winning a Super Bowl.

You can download the podcast at Sports Radio KJR's website, or at Field Gulls. Or you can listen to it right here.

De'Anthony Thomas Featured On Sports Illustrated Cover

2012-09-19T13:03:31Z

De'Anthony Thomas is having quite the year for the Oregon Ducks. Many around the nation believe he is the fastest man in college football, and hopes for a Heisman Trophy remain high in Eugene.

As the Ducks begin Pac-12 play this weekend, Thomas will take the field knowing he has accomplished something very few college athletes have done: appear on the front cover of a Sports Illustrated issue.

Here is what SI's cover looks like this week:

If you subscribe to their digital edition of the magazine, the cover is an animated one.

Through three games this season, Thomas has 13 rushing attempts for 228 yards and four touchdowns. He has 11 receptions for 154 yards and three more scores. DAT also has seven punt returns for 93 yards. Oregon has used him sparingly against their weak out-of-conference schedule, although that will likely change this weekend as the No. 22 Arizona Wildcats come to town.

For more on Ducks football, be sure to check out Addicted To Quack.

Golden Tate Believes Big Hit On Sean Lee Was Legal

2012-09-18T19:16:46Z

Golden Tate earned a flag for a violent-looking block on the Dallas Cowboys' Sean Lee on Saturday, and the Seattle Seahawks receiver doesn't think he was in the wrong. Tate went on Dave "Softy" Mahler's show on KJR in Seattle to discuss the block, and in the interview transcribed by Sports Radio Interviews, he explained his understanding of the rules and why he believes he'll be in the clear from further punishment.

"I don't think I hit him as hard as it looked, to be honest. I felt fine. The comparison I gave was any time you hit a baseball bat square, you don't really feel it that much, or hitting a perfect drive. That was the feeling I got, kind of. It didn't hurt me, my neck feels fine, I'm not very sore today. So I made it out of that one safely."

Video replays of the block show Tate running out to the left flats as a receiver, then quickly turning and throwing a block on Lee, who doesn't appear to see the receiver reversing field to make a play after Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson took off toward the left side of the field. Tate appears to hit Lee right under the helmet.

"I didn't think I was leading with my helmet and I think I purposely aimed lower than I think anyone else would have because I didn't want to get head-to-head contact and I had no interest in hurting him. So no, I didn't lead with my head. I didn't think so."

Lee didn't even seem to have much problem with the block, saying it was part of football. Dallas owner Jerry Jones, however, was not as impressed with the play, saying that he believed the NFL would come down with a penalty.

Check out more Seahawks coverage at Field Gulls or hit up SB Nation's NFL hub.

NFL, Referees Remain At A Stalemate

2012-09-18T16:16:44Z

With each passing week of the 2012 NFL season, it seems the replacement referees appointed by the league are are doing a progressively worse job understanding the rules and evaluating plays in live action. Seattle hasn't felt the brunt of the effects of the NFL Referees Union lockout at this point -- the Seahawks have had a few bad calls go their way but they were also awarded an extra timeout in Week 1 with under a minute to go -- but many teams across the league have been negatively affected. The bad news is that there doesn't appear to be an end in sight.

A memo that was obtained by the Baltimore Sun says that the NFL refused to negotiate over its offer on referee pensions. "According to the memo," as Ryan Van Bibber explains, "negotiators for the NFL offered an additional $1 million per year over a seven-year term to the total compensation package for officials. The prior collective bargaining agreement increased compensation for officials at about $1 million per year, excluding retirement benefits, according to the memo. The league's offer came with the condition that officials agree to "freeze and terminate" their current defined benefit pension plan. The NFLRA countered with a willingness to reduce the $1 million annual compensation increase if the league was willing to negotiate over retirement benefits and other issues. A divide of $250,000 for the 2012 season separates the two sides, according to the NFLRA, but the matter of retirement benefits appears to be the biggest sticking point."

Still, the two sides, according to that article, haven't spoken since September 1st. It's gone on long enough, the two sides need to get this thing done, before these replacement refs really alter a team's season.

Updated Cascadia Cup Standings

2012-09-15T22:47:47Z

Following the 1-1 draw between the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders at Jeld-Wen Field, all three teams have played four Cascadia Cup games. Portland entered the day with a three point advantage and they maintain it, but the Timbers having to go on the road twice and both of the Whitecaps remaining games taking place at home, the cup is still within reach for all parties involved.

Standings are after the jump.

TEAM	W	L	D	POINTS	GD
Portland Timbers	2	0	2	8	+2
Seattle Sounders	1	1	2	5	+1
Vancouver Whitecaps	0	2	2	2	-3

The Whitecaps clearly have the toughest road to the cup, but with the aforementioned home-field advantage it's too early to rule them out completely. Portland is in control of their own destiny, but their away form on the season makes hanging on to the lead a tougher task than it might seem. Seattle is in a fairly decent position, but a win today would have made things much easier.

In any case, it looks like things will be going down to the wire once again.

Oregon Recruit Thomas Tyner Rushes For Only 644 Yards And 10 TDs

2012-09-15T06:22:24Z

The Oregon Ducks have to be salivating at 2013 recruit Thomas Tyner's performance so far.

Tyner obliterated the Oregon high school football single game rushing record as he led Aloha to an 84-63 victory over Lakeridge. Tyner played a small part in that victory, rushing for only 644 yards and 10 touchdowns in the game.

Thomas Tyner finishes with 644 yards and 10 TDs on 38 carries. Both all time state records #opreps
— Mike Richman (@mikegrich) September 15, 2012

He is ranked as the top prospect in the state of Oregon and the sixth best running back in the nation according to Rivals.com.

Tyner more than doubled his total yardage for the season. Before tonight, the high school senior had 40 rushing attempts for 600 yards and seven touchdowns - averaging a preposterous 15.0 yards per carry.

Look beyond the jump for a link to a rather entertaining twitter feed to the madness.

Seriously, read this article and look at this twitter feed.

But it also looks like Tyner might have been able to score more if it wasn't for a normal man's injury.

Tyner leaves game with what looks like cramps. He might be human after all #opreps
— Mike Richman (@mikegrich) September 15, 2012

Oregon Football All-White Uniforms For 2012 Revealed?

2012-09-12T23:10:56Z

The Oregon Ducks have always been at the forefront of college football fashion, and they've started 2012 no differently. They went with green jerseys and yellow helmets and pants for their first game of the season against Arkansas State, with the yellow helmets an offshoot of their metallic helmets at the Rose Bowl. They went back to that metallic tint for their second game of the season against Fresno State, and also utilized grey helmets.

When Oregon goes on the road, they figure to be mandated to wear white jerseys as part of the road uniform getup. So what will the Ducks choose to wear for this occasion? Check it out after the jump.

What Oregon's 2012 all-white Stormtrooper look appears to be (via @scott_baarstad): twitter.com/Scott_Baarstad…
— The Solid Verbal (@SolidVerbal) September 12, 2012

Those are pretty sweet-looking, as almost everything Oregon does tends to have that nice little flair. But the all-white uni is a concept the Ducks popularized years ago, and they continue to throw out that combo with a fresher look each time.

Talk about the potential new all-white Oregon unis with Ducks fans at Addicted to Quack.

Seahawks' Michael Robinson Among NFL Players To Support Gay Rights

2012-09-12T21:54:00Z

Gay rights is a hot political issue, and it has generally been a taboo subject in NFL circles. That has changed in recent years though, as more players like Chris Kluwe of the Minnesota Vikings have opened up on the subject.

OutSports has profiles on 27 players who openly support gay rights and gay NFL players in the locker room. Michael Robinson of the Seattle Seahawks is one of those players who openly supports and "embraces" gay rights. Find out more about his statements after the jump.

Robinson did point out he was uncertain about the locker room dynamics of a gay football player, so it wasn't a ringing endorsement, but he does seem relatively open to the idea like a host of other NFL teammates. Click here to read about all the varying viewpoints by all 27 NFL players in support of gay rights.

Talk about Robinson's stance on gay rights with Seahawks fans by hitting up Field Gulls.