“No mom is aware of she is listening to the phrase Mama for the final time. No father is aware of when the e book has closed on the final bedtime story he’ll ever learn.”
— Jonathan Safron Foer (my favourite creator)
I’ve been recapping Seattle Seahawks video games for 13 seasons, and I by no means anticipated Cigar Ideas to develop into what it has. The neighborhood of followers, particularly right here at Area Gulls, has been extremely supportive and the truth that this column has created the connections that it has blows me away. I’m grateful for all the thrill, all of the recollections— however I’m particularly grateful for figuring out when the final one is the final one.
If you wish to skip the sappy stuff and simply learn concerning the sport, be happy to scroll down. I put the beginning of the evaluation in daring so it’s simpler to search out.
It was roughly two months in the past after I made the tough resolution to make this my last season writing these articles. Since then, I’ve seen loads of hypothesis on Twitter, BlueSky, and within the feedback sections as to why I’m laying down the pen. The preferred opinions appear to be that I’ve both A) misplaced my fastball or B) discovered podcasting to be extra profitable. I can’t truthfully communicate to A and as of now, B actually isn’t the case. The actual cause is way easier and way more boring:
I haven’t watched a Seahawks sport only for the hell of it in almost a decade and a half and to be fully sincere with you, doing so sounds very nice.
The excellent attribute of the success of Cigar Ideas has been the timing. Danny Kelly supplied me a chance to begin writing concerning the staff on this web site proper earlier than the Pete Carroll period and I obtained to chop my enamel as a author for a plucky staff with no expectations. What adopted was an unexpected alternative to cowl the evolution of one of the crucial dominant and engaging assortment of personalities the fashionable NFL has ever seen. My efforts crystalized into Cigar Ideas in 2012, as I gained focus and pupose.
In 2013 I skilled my highest excessive as a sports activities fan and one yr later, the bottom low. These 12 months supplied a useful perspective, figuring out that all the pieces else I’ll ever really feel as a Seahawks fan would fall between the extremes of these two feelings.Actually, the frustrations we’ve all felt cheering for a staff that has constantly put forth profitable seasons is a direct results of the truth that we obtained to the touch the face of God as followers of the perfect and coolest staff the league for a number of years. I had nothing to do with that— I merely put digital pen to paper alongside the way in which and y’all rallied behind it.
One factor I by no means anticipated was the way in which this column has linked me to Seahawks followers in actual life. There are a minimum of dozens of you studying this who’ve been form and forthright sufficient to come back as much as me in particular person and categorical your appreciation for the articles and, extra just lately, the podcasts. You guys have despatched me presents, purchased me drinks, taken me to video games, and easily expressed goodwill in informal interactions and I simply by no means correctly understood the ability of a shared curiosity till I began doing this. I’ll by no means do the rest that creates a bond like this column has and even when that’s the case, I can sleep tonight feeling extra blessed than anybody has the appropriate to.
It’s a credit score to the zany and, in my view, uniquely intelligent readership that makes up my viewers that the most-referenced article of the 200+ I’ve written isn’t any of the good wins. As a substitute, it was the 9-3 poop egg loss to those identical Rams in 2016— nonetheless the stupidest title I’ve ever placed on something. Y’all not solely appreciated the insanity, you embraced it. You made me really feel seen, and feeling seen is possibly essentially the most underrated behavioral driver in all of human nature. I wouldn’t have that if it wasn’t for y’all.
CigarThoughts began as a private therapeutic valve for a easy man who cares concerning the Seahawks means an excessive amount of. However one thing about it appears to have struck a chord with people and it grew to become one thing a lot stronger than something I might’ve created alone. The attain of the articles, which has in some way miraculously linked me with 1000’s of followers and dozens of the individuals I most look as much as within the sports activities media world, has expanded past something I’d have dared to think about again after I was a depressingly-broke dude dwelling in a tiny condominium with nothing carrying me however goals and willpower. I imply hell, it even created the connections that allowed me to create my very own line of world-class cigars and be sponsored by a few of my favourite distilleries. All of that occurred due to an sudden curiosity from the readership in what I used to be smoking whereas I wrote the articles— in spite of everything, Cigar Ideas is known as what it’s referred to as as a result of the signature facet of my course of was smoking a stogie whereas working via the occasions of the video games that had simply ended.
Over the previous 13 years I’ve devoted myself to scripting this column as unfailingly as I might. I’ve written articles whereas carsick driving again from Whistler (a win over the Cowboys in 2015), on a Seattle lodge rooftop (a 2021 loss to the Titans as a result of my room’s WiFi sucked), seashore in Cabo (Seattle’s miraculous NFC West-clinching additional time win in opposition to the Rams), on a aircraft (the following loss to the 49ers within the playoffs), in addition to efforts in a bar in Santa Monica on NYE, in a motel room in Spokane whereas promoting weed, and any variety of different dirty circumstances together with cigar lounges, random taverns, and associates homes. And I couldn’t have executed any of it with out the timeless help of my horny, sensible, and infinitely better-than-me spouse Paulina, who has not solely tolerated however inspired the goofy obsession of her sports-addled husband.
There’s not a lot that I’m positive of to this point on this life, however one factor I’m assured in is the truth that I’ve left all of it on the sector in relation to writing about this staff. That I’ve had the chance to take action is due to y’all and I couldn’t be extra grateful for that. From the deepest recesses of my soul— thanks*.
*and for many who have requested, sure— the podcast will proceed
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GAME STUFF STARTS HERE
I suppose it’s becoming that the final Cigar Ideas article I write is a couple of sport in opposition to the Rams. In your entire historical past of the NFL, no rivalry has ever been extra even. So even, in actual fact, that it’s nearly not possible to surpass. Coming into at present, each the Seahawks and the Rams had gained 27 of the earlier 54 matchups, and the purpose differential was precisely one. After I look again over 13 years of sport recaps, it’s outstanding how lots of the most memorable ones concerned the Rams. The 49ers often is the staff I contemplate to be the Seahawks’ major rival however the Rams are essentially the most Cigar Ideas opponent of all of them. Actually, this simply feels proper.
Los Angeles obtained the opening kick and, with Jimmy Garoppolo standing in for Matthew Stafford, instantly went up prime. So, my greatest responsible pleasure in relation to the NFL is Sean McVay; I completely adore the way in which he assaults opponents and he wasted no time doing precisely that at present— backups be damned. The consequence was a reasonably completion to Demarcus Robinson on a ravishing throw to let Seattle know that nothing can be given to them on this one.
The Seahawks protection, which has been unbelievable over the again half of the season, responded instantly. Two nice reps pressured a third & lengthy and rookie Tyrice Knight ended the drive with a sack on a well-timed blitz. Geno Smith then took the sector for a efficiency that might eternally have an effect on the monetary way forward for him and his household, even with the playoffs out of attain. Not solely have been there $6M in potential incentives on the road, he’s additionally constructing a resume for a possible contract extension that may in some way piss off a bunch of Seahawks followers if it occurs. And boy did he meet the second. It could take a short while for his acumen to show into factors, as a sack chopped the legs out of Seattle’s preliminary drive, however hje nonetheless managed completions to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Noah Fant, and DK Metcalf for 23 whole yards on three makes an attempt through the possession.
Seattle punted, then pressured a punt, and that’s when Geno went into god mode. After two nifty runs from Zach Charbonnet gained 20 yards, Smith feathered an immaculate move to Noah Fant on a wheel route that noticed the ball drop over the linebacker whereas sustaining sufficient zip to beat the serving to defender excessive. Fant caught it at full velocity and charged up the sideline for 32. One minute later, Smith dotted Jake Bobo up on a purpose line fade that beat excellent protection for a 7-0 lead.
Los Angeles obtained on the board with a area purpose on their subsequent drive to chop the result in 4, bit Smith saved the fuel pedal pressed firmly to the ground. After a nine-yard run from Kenny McIntosh and a move that was batted down, Geno saved the ball on a read-option for 15 yards earlier than getting freaky. He hit Metcalf for 22 on a deep in-route to the Rams’ 24. On the following play, Metcalf smoked his man on a double-move up the left sideline however the move went off his fingertips on the purpose line. It was a play you actually need to see DK make however he’d make up for it in brief order.
After a jet sweep to Smith-Njigba garnered 4 yards, Geno dropped again and stood tall in a collapsing pocket. As he surveyed his choices, a twin tide closed in on him like Moses had simply lowered his employees. Unperturbed, Smith spun 360 levels out of a sack; all of the whereas Metcalf, who was initally coated, labored his means upfield and created a window within the endzone. Geno recalibrated and painted the black with a fastball that hit DK proper within the palms for a 14-3 lead.
Within the wake of McVay asserting that he’d be resting various his starters, Seattle grew to become a seven-point favourite. And at this level of the sport, the Seahawks felt like a lock to cowl. However I’m sufficiently old to recollect McVay beating this staff within the playoffs with John fuckin’ Wofford and positive sufficient, that was as comfy as Seattle would really feel for the remainder of the sport.
Garoppolo led a assured possession, answering Geno’s rating with considered one of his personal to Tyler Higbee within the entrance proper nook of the endzone. That made it 14-10 and it was sport on from there. A nine-play drive from Seattle was truncated by a sack on third & 5 however was redeemed by Jason Myers calmly drilling a 56-yard kick to make it 17-10. When strain pressured an underthrow from Jimmy G on the following possession, Julian Love swooped in for the decide to offer Seattle an opportunity to recreate a two-score lead earlier than the half. Sadly, the O-line melted down and Seattle punted, giving the Rams an opportunity to kick a 58-yard area purpose earlier than the half to make it 17-13.
Seattle obtained the ball to begin the third quarter however went three-and-out, permitting the Rams to mount one other area purpose drive to make it 17-16. Impulsively, the result of this sport was very a lot doubtful and one other scoreless possession from the ‘Hawks would’ve put them in a really robust place. Smith knew this, after all, and stated “I obtained this, fellas”. He overcame two incompletions to begin the collection, changing his subsequent three passes and utilizing chunk runs from McIntosh and Charbonnet to get all the way down to the 4-yard-line. From there, he hit first-year tight finish AJ Barner for a landing to increase Seattle’s result in eight at 24-16.
The annoying factor concerning the Rams is that they merely refuse to die. It virtually doesn’t matter who’s on the sector. Sean McVay, man— I’m undecided there’s been a play-caller since Invoice Walsh that’s higher at getting gamers open than he’s and that was on full show this afternoon. Utilizing a Nobel-level acumen for misdirection, the NFL’s wunderkind drew up simple completion after simple completion for Garoppolo, typically with a legion of blockers in entrance of the receiver. It put LA in place to attain and that’s precisely what they did, when a designed rollout led to a TD move to Tyler Johnson to make it 24-22 early within the 4th quarter. That created an apparent two-point alternative however Devon Witherspoon, who was simply overwhelmed for the landing, broke up the possibly game-tying move on the pylon.
After a Seahawks punt, the Rams hit one other lengthy area purpose to take their first lead of the sport at 25-24 and the gauntlet was lain. Laid? Lain. Right here’s the factor about Smith — and it’s one thing that hardly ever will get introduced up within the tiresome debate over whether or not he’s really #good or not: no quarterback in your entire league has led extra game-winning drives within the 4th quarter / additional time since he grew to become the Seahawks starter than he has. And staring down one of many highest-leverage monetary conditions an athlete can face, carrying with it the hopes, sweat, ache, and sacrifice of 52 teammates, Geno merely did what he does.
A trio of runs from Charbonnet and McIntosh gained 17 yards, and Smith took benefit. He hit Barner for 10 and after a pair extra handoffs, discovered Tyler Lockett for 16 to the Rams’ 11. Alongside the way in which, Geno suffered some form of lower-body harm that had him limping and wincing after even essentially the most rudimentary of quarterbacking actions. Not that it mattered— with 3:26 left within the sport, Smith dropped again and whipped an absolute rope up the seam to Fant. The throw was excessive however given the low leverage of the protection, that’s the way it needed to be.
It was a basic “belief your man to be the man” move and Fant validated the choice. Seattle’s athletic tight finish leapt as excessive as he ever has, spearing the spiral 10’ above the bottom and cradling it to his large bosom because the defender hit him the again of the knees. fant went ass-over-skull as excessive as basketball hoop and landed on his god rattling head on the purpose line. Extremely, the ball didn’t transfer a centimeter in his grip as he crashed to the turf with sufficient pressure to kill everybody studying this text— together with the doofus writing it. The consequence was a go-ahead rating that made it 30-25, additional cementing Geno’s worth to a deeply flawed staff. The concept (decide your hypothetical substitute QB) might do what Smith has executed behind this OL is— and I imply no offense— foolish sufficient to virtually be dismissed totally.
Right here’s the factor about scoring a go-ahead landing with three minutes left although: now the opposite staff will get 4 tries to maneuver the chains. And in opposition to a McVay offense, that’s a really scary proposition. That fourth probability meant all the pieces this afternoon, with Garoppolo changing a determined 4th down with a scintillating throw over the center underneath strain. Armed with a full quiver of timeouts and the two-minute warning, Los Angeles was capable of make the most of their full offensive playbook with an additional strive on each collection. It’s a recipe for a bunch of first downs and a bunch of first downs is strictly what the Rams achieved.
Actually, they obtained all the way in which to Seattle’s 16 with 4 tries to finish their season with a win. A purpose line move to Robinson was expertly damaged up by a perfectly-timed swat from Love and an ensuing swing move to Johnson gained simply two, with Uchenna Nwosu chasing him down within the open area. That arrange third & 8, which grew to become a five-yard completion to Tutu Atwell over the center.
Stage set.
4th & 3, 21 seconds left. The final significant snap of the written Cigar Ideas period. With nothing and all the pieces on the road on the identical time, Mike Macdonald drew up considered one of his sophisticated pressures and compelled a rushed back-foot throw from garoppolo. The move was damaged up by a diving Tre Brown and the Seahawks downed out their tenth win of the season.
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SMOKE RINGS
I’m gonna simply get this out of the way in which— sure, I do know all the pieces I’m about to speak about was executed in opposition to a good quantity of backups. I’ll ask that you simply take into account that I’m conscious of that truth as I blow these rings.
~Geno Smith was marvelous at present. On a day the place he was financially motivated to be protected ($2M to finish 70% of his passes), he relentlessly attacked the second and third ranges of the Rams protection, finishing 20 of his 27 makes an attempt (74%) to safe the bag. He wanted a paltry 185 yards to safe one other $2M however pressed the problem to the tune of 223 yards— a formidable 8.3 yards/try. Let me inform you after I say Geno Smith has the products, it’s not some pollyanna Seahawks followers blindly co-signing the entrance workplace’s resolution. He threw a career-high 4 touchdowns at present to clinch his third $2M bonus along with his tenth win as a starter. And each single a type of scoring strikes have been sensational. have been sensational. He’s a superb quarterback, guys— and until you will have a transparent plan for a QB that may end top-5 in completions, yards, and completion proportion for lower than what Smith is due,— I’d recommend getting actual comfy with the concept that the most well-liked man within the Seahawks locker room will likely be round for some time,
Geno Smith accomplished extra passes this yr than any Seahawks QB ever has in a single season. His last numbers sparkle, with the interceptions being the very obvious exception:
70.4 of his passes have been full for 4,320 yards, 21 TDs, and 15 INTs with various game-winning drives. I’ll log off as a former Geno-doubter-turned-Geno-believer and I actually gained’t miss the silliest argument surrounding this staff after I retire in a couple of minutes.
~Zach Charbonnet has confirmed his value to this franchise in a giant means this season, offering significant contributions in aid of Ken Walker when he was wholesome and providing game-shifting manufacturing as a starter when Walker wasn’t. Counting his slick reception on the hook-and-ladder from Jaxson Smith-Njigba, he notched 81 whole yards to offer him 909 for the season to go together with 9 touchdowns in lower than a 50% work-share. Good participant.
~I assume Ken Walker has earned a second contract with Seattle but when there’s one man who might persuade the Seahawks to maneuver on, it’s not Charbonnet. Kenny McIntosh has appeared superb along with his restricted alternatives the previous couple of weeks. This staff won’t enter 2025 with out at the very least two working backs they really feel assured in dealing with a giant workload and whereas he doesn’t have many NFL touches but, McIntosh dealt with the ball 193 occasions his last yr at Georgia and definitely seems the a part of an NFL RB to this point. McIntosh averaged a formidable 7.0 yards on his seven carries at present and is, on the very least, worthy of a roster spot shifting ahead.
~It’s outstanding how significantly better your entire offense seems when DK Metcalf is a focus. That was evident within the first half, as he corralled three of 5 targets for 53 yards and a landing. Then, bafflingly, he didn’t see a single look within the second half and the offense struggled accordingly. Metcalf was placing up huge numbers earlier than his shoulder and knee accidents this yr and it’s not a thriller that Seattle’s offense ranked close to the highest of the league in manufacturing and effectivity previous to him being banged up. Hammering the purpose dwelling, the Seahawks ofense cratered when his targets per sport dropped from almost 10/sport pre-injuries to simply over 5/sport since. He’s value it and y’all that don’t suppose so must cease depriving your self of the enjoyment of earnestly cheering for the kind of participant many groups go a decade between having.
~Jaxson Smith-Njigba has been the best offensive weapon this season, and regardless of a really forgettable four-catch / nine-yard efficiency at present, he nonetheless heads to the offseason with 100 receptions (tying Tyler Lockett for essentially the most in a season in Seahawks historical past) for 1,130 yards and 6 TDs. At 22 years previous he ends the season eighth within the NFL in catches and twelfth in yards. He had as many catches as Justin Jefferson, in case you needed context.
~Talking of… I don’t suppose we’ve seen the final of Tyler Lockett but when we’ve, I can’t tip my hat excessive sufficient to do justice to his time in Seattle. He had a clutch 16-yard catch on the game-winning drive and whereas his whole numbers this season have been nicely. beneath his current manufacturing, the performs he did make this yr all appeared to come back in higher-leverage conditions.
~With the Rams making an apparent effort to blanket DK and JSN, Noah Fant and AJ Barner confirmed out. They shared the staff lead in catches with 5 and touchdowns with one apiece, with Fant getting 63 yards and Barner 34.
~In the event you’re annoyed with the result of this season, direct all of your ire on the offensive line. The concept another QB or a special assortment of ability gamers would simply be higher behind this model of “safety” is— and I’m attempting exhausting to not offend a few of y’all— ridiculous. No matter fantasy you’ve talked your self into about reasonably priced replacements for Geno, DK, Walker, and so on is naught greater than mud within the wind behind a blocking efficiency as despicable as what we noticed this season. 10 wins with this OL is a miracle and should you’re putting blame on Seattle lacking the playoffs anyplace else, I’m simply undecided we will have an IRL sports activities dialog.
This unit sucks. It sucks so unhealthy. they have been really not-terrible at present however on the entire they have been atrocious in 2024 and as a lot as I hate being adversarial, I’m comfy saying that the majority of y’all’s hate is severely misplaced. Each different staff with horrible O-line play sucked this yr, and the Seahawks gained 10 video games. I can’t wait to now not must spend time and vitality reinforcing this very apparent level.
Spend each draft decide and each free agent greenback you will have on the OL. Cuz the present (learn: final 14 years) strategy ain’t working.
~Expensive candy immaculate wonderful God, the tackling was horrible at present. Positive, Sean McVay is a savant at placing defenders in unhealthy positions besides, the Seahawks protection whiffed on na gorgeous variety of open-field alternatives in opposition to gamers that couldn’t crack the beginning lineup earlier than this week.
~That being stated, their have been loads of defensive highlights. Tyrice Knight flubbed a punt protection however nonetheless led the staff with 10 tackles and an early sack. Seattle discovered a bgem on Day 3 of the draft this yr. Subsequent to Knight, former Rams captain Ernest Jones racked up 9 takedowns to go together with half a sack. The protection’s transition from very unhealthy to superb this season correlated precisely along with his arrival. And to cite him after the sport, “Nah, we gonna get it executed. I’m gonna be a Seahawk. I belief my agent to get it executed.” Huge if true.
~Each time I hear Julian Love communicate I perceive why he was named a captain and why he was the primary participant prolonged within the Mike Macdonald period. Six tackles, an interception, and a preposterous three passes damaged up on this one. Get used to seeing that dude in Seattle’s secondary as a result of he will likely be a stalwart shifting ahead.
~I’ve exhausted the furthest reaches of my vocabulary over the past 13 years and I nonetheless lack the verbiage to correctly respect the season Leonard Williams had. I don’t ever give a fuck about Professional Bowl nominations however I’m agog and aghast that Huge cat didn’t earn that honor this season. Williams had 5 tackles and two sacks at present, giving him 11 on the yr— a comical quantity for an inside lineman.
~Devon Witherspoon had some nice tackles and a few actually spectacular move protection reps however he was additionally overwhelmed for 2 touchdowns. The primary was merely a case of grasping eyes, making him late to cowl Tyler Higbee within the flat. The second was only a straight up one-on-one within the endzone that noticed the receiver create a sliver of separation and capitalize on an ideal throw. He did break up the would-be game-tying two-point try after the second rating, although. I point out this merely as a response to what we noticed at present; there may be nary a doubt in my thoughts that Witherspoon will etch his identify among the many nice defenders in Seahawks historical past by the point he’s executed.
~Riq Woolen obtained harm on a deal with within the second quarter, additional complicating one of many hardest personnel choices the staff will face this offseason. From a zoomed-out perspective, Woolen resides within the upper-right quadrant (complimentary) of nearly each analytical chart of cornerback play however that’s principally as a result of his good video games are so distinctive. However the factor about enjoying nook within the NFL is that if you’re not nice, it’s very simple to look actual unhealthy. Factor is, Woolen has executed sufficient in his good video games that when mixed along with his elite measurables, he makes a compelling case for an costly contract from anyone. Particularly when groups contemplate the truth that he didn’t play protection till his final yr in school. Numerous meat left on the bone. I’ll be fascinated to see what his market is as a result of I’d like to maintain him and changing his expertise is lots more durable than you would possibly suppose.
~Shout out Jason Myers, who was fucking superior this yr. He was excellent on further factors once more at present and drilled a vital 56-yard area purpose. Take away blocked kicks (that are hardly ever reflective of kicker efficiency) and he was 26-29 (89%) on area objectives and 36-38 (95%) on further factors. I do know all of us act like each kick needs to be made however you may depend the variety of kickers along with his accuracy this season on one hand.
~This season noticed the Seahawks overhaul their teaching employees and any time that occurs, I feel you should prolong a two-year window to all concerned— barring abject catastrophe. With 10 wins and a protection that was wonderful within the second half of the season, I’m comfy saying we’ve proof of idea that Mike Macdonald was the appropriate rent as head coach. Provided that his sterling resume is highlighted by distinctive Yr 2 performances from his defenses, there’s no cause to consider this staff gained’t be even higher on that facet of the ball shifting ahead as they proceed to get comfy along with his scheme.
~It will get extra sophisticated in relation to Ryan Grubb. The Seahawks offense bailed out a foul protection for many of the first half of the season and it appeared like Grubb’;s free-wheeling type was, on the very least, a reliable salve for the staff’s deficiencies on the OL and protection. However November and December advised a special story, as Seattle struggled to maneuver the ball down the stretch. Like I stated final week, the coordinator place is unfairly fragile and you’ve got one, possibly two years to both get promoted ort fired. There actually isn’t an in-between. I’d vote to offer Grubb yet one more yr (in spite of everything he oversaw among the greatest passing and receiving numbers in franchise historical past as an NFL neophyte) however I additionally perceive if the franchise looks like they should go one other path. As all the time, I consider almost each criticism of any Seahawks offensive participant boils all the way down to the atrocities that Seattle put forth on the entrance line each week.
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The Seattle Seahawks entered this season with a first-year head coach, a first-time offensive coordinator, a 34-year-old quarterback, an terrible offensive line, and a Vegas over/underneath of seven.5 wins. All of the did is exit and win 10 video games, lacking out on an NFC West championship and a house playoff sport on the fifth tie-breaker. And but there’s a sturdy dialog taking place on-line as as to whether this was a profitable season or not. One factor that has modified over the lifespan of Cigar Ideas is the tenor of the feedback part, because it has develop into more and more argumentative and in some way this season, which I’m guessing 99% of you’ll have taken if supplied in it August, will likely be Exhibit A for disagreement.
And look, this isn’t singular to the (truthfully) sensible if not truculent Area Gulls readership, nor to Seahawks followers writ giant. Web discourse has devolved at an alarming fee over the past eight or so years and it’s what it’s. However 2024 has all the time been, as I’ve stated repeatedly all through the season, a diagnostic yr and to win basically 60% of your video games with apparent defincies and blatant inexperience on the teaching employees is, in my eyes, a transparent step in the appropriate path. I’ll actually, actually miss writing about these video games however I gained’t miss arguing for having fun with the relative success of a non Tremendous Bowl staff as a result of the choice is being depressing 97% of the time and if that’s the case, simply go climbing as an alternative.
That being stated, I perceive the frustration with persistently profitable simply sufficient video games to remain the course however not sufficient to really feel such as you’re really competing. I’ve two ideas on that: 1) there are tens of millions upon tens of millions of followers who would kill for that frustration and a pair of) the Seahawks didn’t keep the course. They fired essentially the most profitable coach in Seattle’s main sports activities historical past and gained extra video games with a greater level differential within the first yr along with his substitute. Do y’all perceive how uncommon that’s?
I’m not blind to the weaknesses on this staff, however I’m most undoubtedly not blind to the truth that many of the ire some followers really feel is woefully misdirected. The O-line fuckin’ stinks and 90% of our criticisms about Geno, DK, or whomever else stem from that crucial truth.
However I’m not gonna exit like that. There aren’t many groups which have been extra compelling to put in writing about or be a fan of over the past 13 years than the Seattle Seahawks, who’re third in wins and gained a Tremendous Bowl over that stretch. On the finish of the day, we’re all simply so splendidly lucky to get mad abou one thing as foolish because the efficiency of an NFL staff as an alternative of maintain our youngster with meningitis alive.
An enormous part of success is luck and I’m not blind to the truth that I’m extraordinarily fortunate to have written about, and been a fan of, a staff that has persistently gained extra video games than they’ve misplaced with a ton of fascinating personalities through the time I’ve been hunting-and-pecking about them.
The lows outline the highs and I’m grateful that the latter has outweighed the previous by a good margin through the Cigar Ideas tenure. I feel the arrow for this staff is pointing decisively up and I stay up for watching this staff try to achieve their highest potential within the coming seasons. I’ll miss writing about it, however I’m additionally excited to simply sit again and take it in because it comes.
I like you guys. I stated it on the prime however I merely couldn’t have imagined the constructive impact that writing Cigar Ideas would have on my life and that’s 100% due to y’all. Right here’s to no matter comes subsequent. Within the meantime, onward and upward eternally.
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