Things Can Only Look Up In Seattle Seahawks Eager To Escape Falling Tiles, Other Misfortune

What next?

The franchise that couldn’t play in the Kingdome because of falling ceiling tiles still can’t shake the stigma that the sky is falling around it. What else can go wrong?

From the car accident that left defensive tackle Mike Frier paralyzed to the fatal shooting in which wide receiver Brian Blades lost his cousin, the Seattle Seahawks opened training camp Sunday with a quiet dinner and plenty of puzzled faces.

“I don’t know,” quarterback Rick Mirer said. “I think in a lot of ways so many things have gone wrong it’s scary to think what could happen next. It’s got to change. It’s got to get better eventually. We’re just trying to hang on to get that far to let it get better.”

Even the excitement of a new training camp was doused by owner Ken Behring’s threats to terminate the Kingdome lease by Feb. 1 unless King County guarantees significant capital improvements. Satchel Paige used to advise people not to look over their shoulder because someone’s always trying to get you.

During the past 14 months, the Seahawks have been caught, passed, stepped on, stumbled, fumbled and cried many a tear. They continue to ask themselves when the spiral will stop. They pray that training camp can reverse the misfortunes.

“With the kind of adversity we’ve gone through, we’ve got guys who rally around and who really care,” free safety Eugene Robinson said. “They tell you adversity builds character. I tend to think so, but I’m like, ‘Now, we sure have our hands full of it. I think we’ll be fine.”’

Robinson is a symbol of hope.

Four months after suffering an Achilles tendon tear - a career threatening injury to most athletes - Robinson ran around the Seahawks’ practice field twice a day during the off-season and felt no pain. He’s back, an amazing accomplishment for the 32-year-old consummate professional.

Hope is a new offense orchestrated by a new coach (Dennis Erickson), with new receivers (unsigned Joey Galloway and Ricky Proehl), and maybe a new tight end (Christian Fauria). Hope is a defense that’s added some aggressive hitters (linebackers Winston Moss and Tyronne Stowe) and a scheme that will allow their defensive tackles (Cortez Kennedy and Sam Adams) to charge through offensive lines.

Reality, though, is a 14-month cloud that’s not only dogged this franchise, it’s even permeated the supposed safe confines of the Kingdome.

Aside from Frier’s accident and the Blades’ shooting, other lowlights include:

Free-agent cornerback Nate Odomes suffers a season-ending knee injury before the season starts.

Tom Flores not only loses his job as coach but as the general manager of the team.

In December, backup halfback Lamar Smith is involved in a one-car accident. Halfback Chris Warren, a passenger, is wrongfully charged with vehicular assault.

Left tackle Ray Roberts breaks his leg and requires an additional operation because the screws holding the bones together loosened.

Erickson and backup cornerback Orlando Watters accept guilty charges for driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Linebackers Rod Stephens and Rufus Porter, center Ray Donaldson and kicker John Kasay all leave via free agency.

“We’ve got to put those things in the past,” Erickson said. “Obviously, the early distractions have been dealt with. Mike Frier is out of the hospital and is rehabbing. My situation (the DUI and alcohol counseling) has been dealt with. Everyone will be behind Brian Blades. We just have to do the things that need to be done.”

As emotional as it might be, maybe Blades’ scheduled arrival to training camp next week will be a rallying point. He’s a team leader. His teammates care about him.

“I hurt for him, I think about it and I pray for him,” Robinson said. “I can’t imagine what he goes through at night with no one around, in the solitude and the quietness. I can’t imagine what that feels like. I ache for him, his family. He’s a brother on this team. We’re tied in here with him.

Defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy propelled his career into greatness following the loss of one of his best friends - Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle and former University of Miami teammate Jerome Brown. Blades vows to dedicate this season to his lost cousin, Charles, who was one of his best friends.

“We’ve got a good cast of guys on this team who care,” Robinson said.

Mirer believes the prescription to solve the team’s bad cycles is early season victories. A two-game winning streak that opened last season gave the team the taste of success.

“We have a lot of guys who haven’t won a lot,” Mirer said. “When you’re 2-14 like we were a few years ago, you have guys who have seen that but they haven’t had the winning seasons. If we get a little momentum, it might get real good.”