starting quarterback
Russell Wilson to start week 3
Was Wilson ever really considered for the role of Qb1? Credit: Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE
According to 710AM and ESPN Pete Carroll is set to announce Russell Wilson as the starter for week 3.
There have been plenty of reasons to believe Wilson should get a shot with the #1 Offense in a game, with his first two games being lopsidedly better than Matt Flynn’s. The big question was whether he could do it against the a starting defense. I’m obviously glad to see this. My last post was one in support of letting Wilson start. But that’s not why I’m happy today. I think it shows Pete Carroll really was and remains serious about this being an “open competition”. That supports his stated philosophy of “always compete”, and it will elevate the level of play by all the QB’s involved. I don’t have a dog in this hunt, Wilson or Flynn. I simply want to see the best man win a fair and hard fought competition. Now I can go into the season not wondering “what Wilson would have done if he was given the chance”.
Russell Wilson is not Charlie Whitehurst. He is a uniquely skilled and gifted athlete as well as a born leader. If any rookie deserves a starting job this season other than Luck and RGIII, it’s Wilson. If not for about an inch and a half, he would have been selected with them in the first 3 picks, and not necessarily third. He’s proven that he can play with the big guys, even with his limited vision over the linemen. He’s a play maker and a dynamo. If he’s the eventual starter I pity the defenses playing against Wilson, Lynch, and our two tight end sets. This could be the game changer we’ve been waiting for.
Tags: featured, football, matt flynn, News, nfl, Pete Carroll, Quarterback battle, Russell Wilson, Seahawks, Seahawks starter, Seattle Seahawks, starting quarterback, week 3 starter
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Matt Hasselbeck Still the Starter
Every year we go through this. I think most teams in the NFL go through the same process with the exception of the Colts and the Patriots. In most cities (especially ones who didn’t make the playoffs last year) the back up QB is the most popular guy on the team.
Hasselbeck’s popularity in Seattle has always been a sensitive subject. From the time they brought him in, and he was the cocky unproven kid from Green Bay to his Pro Bowl caliber Super Bowl season. His 17 interception season under dufus coach Jim Mora has not helped his cause going into this season, and his up and down performance concerning weeks 1 and 2 have left many fans frustrated to say the least.
Fact: Matt Hasselbeck is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the NFL. He learns from failure by turning it into experience. He shoulders the blame of every loss because he is the leader of his team. He has run 3 different offenses in 3 consecutive years, but has never used that as an excuse. He had one of the biggest cry baby receivers in the NFL to deal with last year. A receiver who consistently threw his teammates and quarterback under the bus. Yet Matt never mirrored the same behavior. He exemplifies the character Seattle fans have grown to expect out of our players.
I know Matt threw 3 picks last week in a disaster of a game in Denver, but he wasn’t the only guy who had a bad game. Was it Matt’s fault that we were called for 2 penalties in the Red Zone on the first drive of the game which cost us a touchdown? Was it Matt’s fault that the Walter Thurmond fumbled the punt? Matt came into the game trying to compensate for the mistakes of his teammates. In this game he failed, however, he looked like the only one who wasn’t willing to give up… ever.
I will take my chances with Hasselbeck this year. Whitehurst has yet to throw a single pass in the regular season. If the Hawks reach a point in the season when they are eliminated from the playoffs then I would throw Whitehurst in. To be honest, I was a little surprised he didn’t see some time last week in the waning minutes of a game that seemed to be over long before it actually was. But anytime there is something to play for, I would rather take my chances with Hasselbeck. Nobody is more committed to this team right now than the aging quarterback in the last year of his contract trying to win the affection of a city that has never truly appreciated him. For his sake and ours (the fans) I hope he can pull it together for one more year.
Tags: Charlie Whitehurst, football, Matt Hasselbeck, nfl, Opinion, quarterback, quarterback controversy, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, starting quarterback
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Michael Vick Deserves a Second Chance
Yesterday, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid announced Michael Vick would be the team’s starting quarterback. Vick will take the snaps this Sunday instead of Kevin Kolb, who suffered a concussion in the opening week but has since recovered.
In Kolb’s absence, Vick played well enough to lead the Eagles to a victory in week two. Against the Detroit Lions last Sunday, Vick completed 61.7 percent of his passes and threw for 284 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also added 37 rushing yards on eight attempts.
Now that Michael Vick is a starting quarterback in the National Football League, people from all over are openly protesting his promotion. Their reasons for protest are obvious – and somewhat justified – but Vick deserves this opportunity in Philadelphia.
People don’t have to be radical, crazy, or members of PETA to be angry at Michael Vick. A lot of lingering resentment comes from dog owners and average people, still upset at Vick for his participation in the dog fighting case.
Michael Vick, however, deserves a second chance. What he did was wrong, illegal, and probably immoral on some levels, but he still should be given a new opportunity.
As a society, we’re fond of giving second chances. We like to see people recover from mistakes. We’re willing to forgive and forget, in most cases.
For whatever reason, Vick’s situation seems a bit different.
Vick was given an opportunity in Philadelphia and he made the most of it. As a backup, he led the Eagles to victory and impressed the coaching staff enough to earn a promotion. Like second chances, our society generally believes hard work should be rewarded; Vick has worked his tail off to get to where he is now.
Vick was punished for his crimes. He lost all of his previous endorsement deals, eventually filed for bankruptcy, endured public backlash, and served a federal prison sentence. He has already paid his dues and deserves a shot at redemption.
He may not deserve everyone’s forgiveness, but we cannot prevent him from playing in the National Football League. As one of the more gifted athletes of our generation, Vick belongs on the field every Sunday.
We should hope he has changed through his ordeal; Vick needs to show he has matured and become a better individual. His post-suspension accomplishments have been hard-earned and well-deserved.
Give him a break. Leonard Little and several other athletes also committed heartless crimes, and Vick deserves a chance to redeem himself like they did.
Shaun Dolence: dolencesm@gmail.com
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Tags: bankruptcy, dog fighting case, football, Kevin Kolb, Michael Vick, National Football League, nfl, Opinion, Philadelphia Eagles, Seahawks, starting quarterback, suspension
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