Catch the Dang Ball!

If there is anything I hate seeing in football more then a FB draw on third and long or a 15 yd fade route on third and short, it is wide receivers dropping passes that hit both their hands. It is way to common in the NFL. It is so frustrating to watch a beautifully thrown ball hit a receiver only to fall harmlessly to the ground as an incomplete pass. Wide receivers should not drop passes. For a professional athlete whose job is to catch passes, dropping passes like that hit both your hands are inexcusable.

As a Seahawk's fan I have been forced to watch more then my fair share of these catching blunders. From the four seasons of Koren Robinson to the receiving disaster in the divisional playoffs against the Bears (although the NFL only credited four drops anyone that watched it knows there were way more), the Seahawks have a nasty history of pass dropping receivers. Numerous promising offensive drives halted by some receiver with brickhands. 

NFL wide receivers  have spent years honing their craft to become one of the best in the world. They have practiced the wide receiver skill set countless hours (unless they are converted college QB or something weird like that). Unlike other positions, such as quarterback or running back, wide receivers have a much more limit range of responsibilities. Of course they are required to do thing like block defensive backs on running plays or act as diversions to open up other receivers, but when you get down to it they have only one primary responsibility, catch the ball when it is thrown to them. This aspect of their job is so important it is right in the name, receiver. When they fail to hold on to a catchable ball, it is downright infuriating.

I dont know what needs to be done to make these world class athletes start playing better. Maybe the receivers need to spend more time on catching drills or the coaches need to issue bigger punishments for dropped passes. Whatever it is it needs to happen soon. I am sick of seeing million dollar athletes fail to complete the most important thing they get paid for.

Farewell to a Legend: Gil Meche

Definitely some kind of baseball person.

It is the dawning of a new era today and, much like the years before it, it will be one filled with uncertainty.  Much like the dinosaurs and Cleopatra, a controversial legend has been taken from us before their time, never again to peddle the greatness that made them so famous to the general populace.  Indeed, life may never be the same from this point forward, with the whole world plunging into a time of great darkness not unlike Medieval Europe.  Yes, today was a day that will live in infamy.  Today was the day that Gil Meche retired.

Some may remember Gil Meche for what he actually was: a mediocre starting pitcher paid a lot of money at one point.  I prefer to remember him as something else, something that defined the Mariners for years and years: a hilariously bland and nondescript pitcher.

A Few Tidbits from Around the Web

Its that time again. Time for me to share a few tidbits from around the web with you the reader. So without any kind of long intro here they are:

• Watch NBA player Darko Milicic score two for the wrong team.
• Because it will never get old, watch the greatest Seahawks run ever.
• The Raven Steelers rivalry has been getting lots of hype this week as players from both sides mouth off about their general dislike of the other team. Ravens LB Terrell Suggs decided to do a little more then just talk.
• Thanks to reader Tyler for finding this nugget on the Onion.

Carmelo Anthony: Scourge of the Universe

"F*** DRIBBLING!"

For a long, long time now, Carmelo Anthony has been rumored to be leaving Denver soon.  Somehow, someway, this still has not come to fruitition.  Carmelo has made it perfectly clear that he does not wish to sign an extension with Denver, saddening the population and depriving the team of (possibly) their least tatooed member (time for laser surgery, JR!).

The rumor of the day, and by day I mean entire season, has had Carmelo going to New Jersey, though Melo seems very hesitant to sign an extension with any team but the Knicks.  This of course brings up the other point that, if you're going to demand a trade, then at least give the team more than one option.  Regardless, New Jersey and New York are the only teams that seem to have legitimately offered deals to Denver.

Wait, What!?



"Hold me!"

Today, in the most improbable fashion imaginable, the Seattle Seahawks beat the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the playoffs.  The Saints won the Super Bowl last year.  The Seahawks, on the other hand, won seven games this season, or one less than the Raiders.  To put this in perspective, the Seahawks' 41 points today was their most since week 5.  Of 2009.
Furthermore, Matt Hasselbeck's QB rating of 113 was his highest since, once again, week 5 of last year.  His 404 yards of passing was the most since 2004, when he was young enough that it was funny that he was bald, not just sad.  Marshawn Lynch's 67 yard run over seemingly ever defender in the state of Louisiana was his longest since his days at Cal (on a corrilary, how did Marshawn Lynch ever get into a college?).

A Few Tidbits from Around the Web: NFC West Champions Edition

Last night on the national stage of NBC's Sunday Night Football the Seattle Seahawks defeated the St Louis Rams to finish the year at 7-9 and propel themselves into the NFL playoffs. As just about every media agency in the United States has pointed out the Seahawks are the first team to ever make the NFL playoffs with a losing record. As a reward for their mediocre season and conference championship the Seahawks are going to be treated  to hosting the defending Super Champion New Orleans Saints in a wild card game at Qwest Field. These are the same New Orleans Saints that beat the Seahawks 34-19 earlier in the season. The Seahawks are going to be huge underdogs in this game.

Such an unprecedented event happening to our hometown team deserves some coverage from us here at Unique Sports Theme Name. So, I have dedicated this edition of A Few Tidbits to the Seattle Seahawks NFC West Championship. All the stuff relates to the historic teams accomplishment.

• Thanks to Lookout Landing for bringing this proof of the NFL's embarrassment to my attention. Under the divisional playoffs section, take a look down at the National Football Conference playoff teams. All of the teams have records except the Seahawks.
• In the Seahawks 16 games during the 2010 season the average point differential between the losing and winning team was 17.563 with a standard deviation of 7.891. What does that tell us? That win or lose none of their games were close.
• Prior to Sunday's game the Seattle Times ran a poll asking fans if they would rather the Seahawks win or lose against the Rams. The Fans picked lose. Blogger Seattle Times reporter Danny Oneal responded here
• Check out the front page of the Seattle Seahawks official website. Playoff Bound!