Golden

Seattle sports press strike Gold as Seahawks take Golden Domer Golden Tate in second round of NFL draft.

I guess you could say Golden had a good year in 2009, averaging 125 yards receiving and 1.25 touchdowns a game against actual competitive college football teams (Notre Dame went 6-6 last year). He toasted Washington for 244 and a TD. He scored two touchdowns against his new coach's Trojans (in a loss). I did the arithmetic, and if you had him in Yahoo! fantasy football, he would have averaged 21.5 points a game.

Tate has put the NFL on notice: "NO MARCHING BAND IS SAFE IN A STADIUM WHERE I AM PLAYING."

Below is a highlight reel for your enjoyment. Especially, enjoy the fact that he won't be playing for Notre Dame, anymore.

Who is Earl Thomas?

Longhorn safety Earl Thomas was expected to go in the middle of the first round, nobody predicted the Seahawks would pick him.

Born in 1989, he turns 21 next month. He played defensive back, running back, and wide receiver in high school, where he was a four sport varsity athlete. He entered the NFL draft after two years starting for Texas.

He worked as a volunteer in a Katrina rebuilding project, and plays piano in the church where his grandfather (also Earl) is pastor (disappointing my expectations for today's dreadlock-wearing youths).

A bit small for a safety at 5'10, 200+ pounds. Had a good, but not stellar, combine. Not the most solid tackler, but a real ball hawk (had eight INTs and two pick-sixes last year).

NFL Networks draft expert Mike Mayock loves him some Earl Thomas. See highlights here and here.

I feel a draft (and it's gonna be awesome)

Last year, I fearlessly predicted that the Seahawks would pick their left tackle of the future, Eugene Munroe, with the fourth selection in the 2009 NFL Draft -- the same Eugene Munroe who plays offensive guard for the Jaguars, now. (Of course, I was secretly hoping they would pick Michael Crabtree, who turned out to be a holdout diva with the Niners; it's okay, I am so over that guy.)

One year later, with Walter Jones tweeted retirement likely to become official before the beginning of the season, the need for a new offensive tackle is now urgent.

Luckily for the Seahawks (a phrase I've become unaccustomed to in the past two years), they have the number 6 pick (thanks to their lousy 2009 season) and number 14 pick (thanks to Denver's insane trade in last year's draft) in a first round chock-a-block with awesome offensive tackle talent.

There are three top OT prospects, one of whom the Seahawks will pick mark my word. In my opinion, the best-case-scenario is Oklahoma State's Russell Okung (pictured above in contact with normal-sized human). He has the skills to play tackle in the NFL now, and has excellent athleticism. If the Seahawks don't have the opportunity to pick him, they will almost certainly grab one of the other two elite tackles: Bryan Bulaga of Iowa or fast-rising Sooner Trent Williams. So, one of these three guys -- done deal. Let's move on.

The number 14 will be less predictable. Defensive end Patrick Kearny announced his retirement, today, but even before, many were predicting Seattle would take DE Derrick Morgan of Georgia Tech (pictured here stealing the football from an LSU girly-man).

But my favorite at number 14, as I have hinted previously, is the Clemson speedster C.J. Spiller (pictured here on a casual stroll to check field conditions, not setting it off very hard).

DYNASTY ACHIEVED

Seahawks Decade of Domination debuts

One tough hombre

Matt Hasselbeck is probable for Seattle's game with Jacksonville, this weekend, broken ribs and all.

If I wouldn't be exposing myself to criminal prosecution, I'd FedEx him my unused Vicodin.

No joke

THIS IS TOTALLY HAPPENING.

http://twitter.com/MatthewHass008

If loving this is wrong, I don't wanna be right!

Play nice!

In his first NFL regular season game, Aaron Curry fined for unnecessary roughness.

MONSTER ACCOMPLISHED

Ladies and gentlemen: Seattle Seahawks rookie linebacker Aaron Curry. In the first half of his second pre-season game last night, he made four tackles, two for losses, hit quarterbacks twice, then sacked one and forced a fumble to set up a Seahawks field goal.

This year's 7th-round wonder

Last year, Seahawks fans were pulling for seventh-round pick, RB Justin Forsett, to make the team. (He did, but was not a big contributor in the crowded Seattle backfield last year.) This year, the Seahawks picked Oregon DE Nick Reed with a supplemental pick at the end of the seventh round, just ten picks away from being a free agent.

Reed is 6'2", listed at 245 pounds. That's more linebacker size than defensive end. The Seahawks already have five veteran defensive ends (the smallest is Darryl Tapp, at 6'1", 270 lbs). How is he going to make the team? "I can sum it all up in just one word: courage, dedication, daring, pride, pluck, spirit, grit, mettle, and G-U-T-S, guts!."

His first preseason game, he had a sack and in interception. Tonight, he had 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and tipped a punt. This kid can flat-out play football.

Seahawks get LB Aaron Curry

This is a good thing. Curry wasn't expected to be available at #4, but the Chiefs unexpectedly took DE Tyson Jackson at #3, opening the door for Seattle. Scouts Inc. graded Curry #1 overall in this year's draft. Reportedly, he has a sterling character and work ethic. Get ready for Tatupu to be the second-best linebacker for the Seahawks.

Cue highlight video:



The bad news: Michael Crabtree went to the 49ers after the Raiders incomprehensibly passed him over.

The Seahawks traded their second-round pick (#37) for Denver's first-round pick next year, which makes absolutely no sense for the Broncos, as they are gonna suck this year.

UPDATE:



Seattle traded back into the second round (again, with Denver) to pick C Max Unger at #49. For this, they gave Denver their 3rd and 4rth round picks this year. BTW: Unger was a player Seattle was originally looking to take at #37 (until Denver made them an offer they couldn't refuse), so essentially Seattle traded their 3rd and 4th round picks this year for a first round pick next year. Here's a good analysis of Unger and how he will fit in at Seattle.

LATE UPDATE:

Reportedly, Unger was an art major at U of Oregon.