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Friday, May 20, 2011
The "History of the Franchise" series goes green. The Seattle Seahawks are one of the youngest franchises in the NFL today and are the only ones to switch from the AFC to the NFC. Even though the Seahawks will probably go down in history as the worst playoff team ever, but the past has served Seattle well. Especially the past decade.
Mike Holmgren helped build the Seahawks into a serious Super Bowl contender. After leaving Green Bay in 1998, Holmgren helped bring QB Matt Hasselbeck and a since of hope to Seattle. In nine season as Seahawks head coach, Holmgren went 72-56 in the regular season and 3-4 in the postseason. He also helped the Seahawks win four straight NFC West titles (2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007). 2005 was no doubt Holmgren's best year as the Seahawks head coach. All in that season, the Seahawks posted their best record in franchise history (13-3), set a team record with eleven consecutive wins, and won their first playoff since 1984. Holmgren also molded former Brett Favre back up Matt Hasselbeck into a Pro Bowl QB. Also, the NFL's MVP that season, Shaun Alexander, was in Seattle's backfield. After winning the 2005 NFC Championship Game, Holmgren became only the fifth coach in NFL history to take two different teams to a Super Bowl. In Super Bowl XL, the Seahawks lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-10. The game was poorly officated and referee Bill Leavy has taken responsiblity for that. If the Seahawks had won Super Bowl XL, Holmgren would of become the first head coach to win a Super Bowl with two different teams. In 2008, Holmgren decided that to be his last year as the Seahawks head coach, naming Jim Mora Jr. as his successor. Despite never winning a championship in Seattle, Holmgren did more then any coach has in their franchise history. That is why he is their greatest coach ever.
Despite only being around for a short time, the Seahawks have had many great players. To me Shaun Alexander is their best ever. The Seahawks acquired him after trading for the 19th pick in the 2000 Draft, probably one of the smartest moves in franchise history. Alexander's rookie season was nothing to be proud of, seeing limited playing time behind Ricky Watters. The following season, after Watters injury and eventually retirement, Alexander started to show the hall of fame status that he would come to deserve. On a Sunday Night Football Game against the Oakland Raiders, Alexander rushed for a franchise record 266 yards on 35 carries. Alexander started all 16 games in the 2002 season for the first time in his career. During that season he set another franchise record rushing for 16 touchdowns, which also led the NFC. In 2003, Alexander had another productive season getting elected to his first ever Pro Bowl. Despite all the great success Alexander had as a Seahawk, 2005 was no doubt his best year. During that season, Alexander broke the record for the most rushing yards in franchise history. Alexander wasn't done with setting milestones just yet in 2005. He also became the first player to score 19 rushing or receving touchdowns in only 10 games against the San Francisco 49ers. During a divison clinching game against the 49ers, Alexander rushed for 100 yards for the ninth time that season, breaking Chris Warren's franchise record. After all these great milestones, Alexander won the NFL's MVP, the first ever Seahawk to win that award. Even though the Seahawks lost Super Bowl XL, it can not over shadow the fact that Alexander had a terrific season. After the 2005 season, Alexander did not have that much success. Some blamed it on the fact that he appeared on the cover of the video game Madden 2007. Despite the string of injuries Alexander had over his career, he deserves this honor for his MVP season in 2005. Click here to look at Alexander's stats.
I like to call this guy "Mr. 100." He was also my hero considering he was a skinny tall white guy just like me. I had a serious hope of playing football because of Steve Largent. That didn't go as planned... but I digress. Largent was taken in the fourth round of the 1976 Draft by the Houston Oilers, but was traded to the Seahawks after four preseason games. This was also be known as one of the dumbest moves made by the Oilers, don't worry Titans fans I won't be covering that. Largent wasn't going to out run many people, much like yours truly, but he was sure handed. In 13 years with the Seahawks, Largent was voted to seven Pro Bowls, the first Seahawk to be chosen for that honor. When Largent retired in 1989 he held ever wide recieving record known to man. Then a little known guy from Mississippi called Jerry Rice came along and destroyed all those records. Despite this, Largent is still one of the greatest WR's of all time and no doubt the biggest draft steal in Seattle Seahawk history. Click here to look at Largent's stats.
Like I have mentioned earlier, the Seahawks haven't been around for long but did make one of the biggest mistakes in draft history. Brian Bosworth was slected by Seattle in the 1987 supplemental draft. Bosworth signed the biggest contract ever for a rookie and a Seahawk. This guy was a disaster on day one. Before the Supplemental draft, Bosworth wrote a letter to all NFL teams that he would not show up to training camp or wouldn't play for them at all. The guy was upset he didn't get his name called in primetime. Who cares? Just shut up and play. After he was signed by the Seahawks, Bosworth sued the NFL to let him wear his college number of #44, but lost and had to wear #55. See how much of a disaster this guy was? The worst thing about it, he hadn't hit the field yet. During his rookie season, Bosworth played well in the 12 games he started, but became known for his outspoken personality and appearance. Before a Monday Night Football game against the Oakland Raiders, Bosworth basically stated that he would destroy Bo Jackson. Yeah, that just didn't happen. Jackson rushed for 221 yards and three touchdowns. That fateful night, Bosworth became known for this play. In 1988, Bosworth was forced into early retirement due to a shoulder injury, which was probably the best for the Seahawks. Even though the Seahawks did use only a pick in the Supplemental draft on Bosworth, they did pay him an insane amount of money and he did not live up to the billing. That is why he is the biggest draft bust in Seattle Seahawks history. Click here to look at Bosworth's stats.
Most know Paul Allen as the co-founder of Microsoft. I found it out after I googled his name, so don't think I'm smarter then you. Allen had experince as the owner of a sports teams after owning the Portland Trail Blazers since 1988. In 2010, Forbes magazine named the Trail Blazers the 14th most valuable franchise in the NBA. Now back to football. Allen basically saved football in Seattle after Ken Behring threatend to move the team to Southern California. By buying the team, Allen helped get the Seahawks their new stadium. One of the loudest in the whole NFL, Qwest field. Maybe more importantly, he helped bring in guys like Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander who eventually brought them to win the 2005 NFC Championship Game. In January of 2011, Allen won the Seattle Sports Commission Sports Citizen of the Year award, which eventually was renamed the Paul Allen award. If not for Allen, I could be talking about the Los Angeles Carnivores instead of the Seattle Seahawks. Allen is a true hero in the eyes of the Seattle Sports fan and his purchase of the team is the Seahawks defining moment.
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