Grip on Sports: The acquisition of left tackle Brown is the answer to a few Northwest prayers
A GRIP ON SPORTS • If the NFL really is our national religion these days, then Seahawks fans are singing the hallelujah chorus this morning. Read on.
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• Moses wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. It seems as if Seahawk fans have been clamoring for a competent left tackle for just as long, though it’s probably closer to 40 months, not years.
No matter. Now they can see the promised land.
Duane Brown is big enough to be his own country. And good enough – a three-time Pro Bowler – to satisfy the clamor for improvement at the offensive line’s most important position.
Then again, there are probably 50 guys in the NFL that could have done that for Seattle. It’s just Brown is near the top of that list and the only really good left tackle the Hawks were able to corral before today’s trade deadline.
It took a steep price – cornerback Jeremy Lane and two draft picks – but Brown, 32 and the longest-tenured Texan with nine years of experience, wanted out of Houston.
He held out the early part of the season, seeking a new contract. And he was upset with owner Bob McNair’s recent inmates/prison comments.
Now he’s out of that particular “prison.” Seahawks general manager John Schneider explained to reporters the team wants to give Brown the money he wants, and will be reworking his current contract to make it fit within the Hawks’ salary cap parameters.
All that is back-pew murmurs. The sermon Hawk fans want to hear concerns Brown’s talent and how he can improve a Seahawk offense that scored four touchdowns against his former team just a few days ago.
But that was an aberration this season. The running game has been in purgatory all year and Russell Wilson has been nearly martyred multiple times each contest.
But now the Hawks have their messiah up front.
Can I get a hallelujah?
• Luke Falk will start for the Cougars this Saturday. Mike Leach said so.
So on Senior Day, in a key game against another Pac-12 North contender, the guy who holds just about every conference passing record there is, will start at quarterback against Stanford.
Isn’t it odd that should be news?
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WSU: It’s news, of course, because Tyler Hilinski relieved Falk last Saturday night in Arizona. He sparked the Cougar offense – though also helped UA by throwing four interceptions. So the first question at Mike Leach’s press conference was about who would start. As is Theo Lawson’s first story. … Theo also has a first look at Stanford, a story about a donation in Jack Thompson’s name and a story about Hercules Mata’afa and an award for college football’s best defensive lineman. … The Times’ Stefanie Loh has the Falk and Mata’afa news and also writes about the half-million dollar donation in Thompson’s name. … Stanford received low grades for the tough win at Oregon State.
Elsewhere in the Pac-12, with Florida firing its coach, former Eastern quarterback Jim McElwain, the people in Eugene are a bit antsy they may lose first-year coach Willie Taggart. John Canzano’s column won’t calm them … Maybe a bowl bid would help, at least in the short term. … The Ducks still aren’t sure when quarterback Justin Herbert will return. … Washington has lost a lot of players to injury this season, which is not good, but the news yesterday about Daniel Te’o-Nesheim was truly heartbreaking. … Utah has problems on both sides of the ball. … Colorado’s quarterback problems seemed to be ironed out. … Arizona’s certainly have, in a Pac-12 record way. But where are the fans? … California didn’t grade out well against the Buffaloes. … Cory Hall has graded out well, at least to the Oregon State players. … Is Josh Rosen tough enough? That question seemed to irk UCLA’s Jim Mora. … USC seems really happy with the Arizona State win. Maybe too happy? … This college basketball season seems a bit off at the start.
EWU: The 11th-ranked Eagles return to action this week, hosting 19th-ranked Weber State in a crucial Big Sky game. The loser in this one may not even make the postseason, while the winner hopes to make up ground on conference-leading Northern Arizona, who travels to Missoula. Jim Allen has his first look at the Wildcats. … Jim also takes an early look at Shantay Legans’ basketball team and its start. … The Eagle soccer team hopes to win the conference postseason tournament. … Around the Big Sky, Montana may not have its quarterback this weekend. … Idaho State isn’t happy with the loss at Montana State. The Bobcats step out of conference this Saturday. … Southern Utah hosts North Dakota sporting a high ranking.
Seahawks: The biggest news is the Brown trade, of course, but the win over Houston is still fresh enough in most people’s minds to warrant a few thoughts. … How is Earl Thomas’ hamstring?
Sounders: We went over yesterday after the Sounders’ match, why it is bad for the higher-seeded team to open a two-leg MLS series with a scoreless draw. And then Portland did the same thing against Houston.
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• We will be answering the door tonight wearing our Dodger cap. And crying, of course, if they are losing. That should scare the little ones. Until later …