Sherman says half the NFL uses Adderall

Oh Richard Sherman, is there anything you WONT say?

The celebrated Seahawks cornerback who is quite good at his job (ask Skip Bayless) has been known to run his mouth - and has just come out to say that half the NFL uses Adderall. You'll remember that Sherman tested positive for this substance last season but was cleared from suspension when he said there were irregularities in the tesing process. He also said that he mistakenly drank a cup with a crushed Adderall pill in it.

Now he has come out and said that Adderall use is quite common in the league.

Following a day working with elementary school students in Surrey, British Columbia on Tuesday, Sherman told the Vancouver Sun that Adderall use is so prevalent in the NFL, the league should remove it from the list of banned substances.

“About half the league takes it and the league has to allow it," Sherman said of Adderall use in the NFL. "The league made a mistake in my case. Obviously, I didn’t do anything, but you have to go through a process to prove you didn’t do anything. There are still naysayers out there who don’t believe me. But I accept it. If everybody loves you, it probably means you’re not much of a player."

The better move would be probably be to just be quiet and let the whole Adderall thing blow over but this drug, used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy, could be another villain wrapped up in the veil of pro sports. NFL players can use this drug if they provide the proper paperwork but Adderall is considered highly addictive. If he's right, this is a more serious problem for players than just failing drug tests. How many players are addicted?

Seattle Seahawks and Sounders license plates

We've all seen those personalized plates driving around, Mariners, UW, WSU, heck even EWU is in on the action! But what if you could get a Sounders FC or a Seahawks license plate? Well that may be happening soon.

(Until these are made you can rock this Seattle Seahawks Chrome License Plate Frame)

The Washington state Legislature is considering a bill that would create Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Sounders FC license plates.

According to King 5:
 
SB 5152 also allows pro sports franchises in the state to sponsor a special license plate if the funds are used in conjunction with a nonprofit organization.Some proceeds from the Sounders plates will go to the Association of Washington Generals to develop educational, veterans, international relations, and civic Projects. Some of the money will also support a nonprofit to increase the number of young mentors in Washington.

Funds from the Seahawks plates would benefit the nonprofit InvestED to encourage secondary students who have economic needs to stay in school or return to school.

The plates would cost you $40 to get and then cost $30 at the yearly renewal. If the bill passes, the plates would become available January 1.

I'd think about getting them. I know Brandon won't though. Mainly because his current plates read "GINGER1".

Americans Believe God Has Decided Outcome in Sports

Heading into the Super Bowl we've been getting plenty of heapings of god from former charged-with-murder man Ray Lewis. Naturally he's now also been tied to performance enhancing drugs which he calls a "trick of the devil" or something like that. I would hope that most American sports fans can waddle through all the god talk by athletes that live a lifestyle that is anything but Christian.

But since sports is essentially entertainment for the masses... it doesn't mean their fans are considerably bright either. Over a quarter of American sports fans believe that god has helped decide the outcome of a sporting event, meaning god apparently loves steroid users?

Perhaps the most shocking is that 27 percent of those polled—more than a quarter—believe that "God plays a role in determining which team wins a sporting event." Watch a game with three of your buddies. Odds are that one of you wholeheartedly believes that God has a vested interest in the outcome of the game, and will influence it to get His way. This could really throw off Vegas's lines. ... There's variation across respondents. Minority Christians and white Evangelicals, as well as Southerners, are the most likely to believe God cares about sporting events and athletes; the religiously unaffiliated, and people from the West and the Northeast, are the least likely to agree.

(sigh) At least we're part of the godless masses up here in the Northwest. If you think for a second that the supreme creator of this universe - that's so large that light is just now getting to Earth from 14.5 billion light years across the galaxy - cares about a little football game, you're delusional.

Another part of the survey said that 53 percent believed that god rewarded athletes that had good faith. I'm curious to find out if these are the same good faith athletes that get caught with prostitutes a week before the Super Bowl.

(Or maybe the true Christian athletes don't go out to clubs, get drunk, get a baby mama, get shot, get into drugs, get into trouble with the team and then the league. A natural cause and effect?)

I'm pretty sure God is doing a facepalm right about now, or just every time Ray Lewis speaks.

Tom Brady's house has a moat, so you can feel bad about yourself right now

Tom Brady probably is worth 100s of millions of dollars if you consider how much he's paid, combined with endorsements and throw in perhaps a smart investment here or there.

So you'd expect this kind of thing right? His $20 million California home has a moat. Yeah that's right, A MOAT.

Among the many features in its 22,000 square feet are a resort-style pool, massive play area for children and a common medieval fortification system.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'll have to re-examine my life where I live in a one-bedroom house with a lean-to attached to it for the washer and dryer...

Oregon Head Coach Job

With the news that Chip Kelly was leaving the University of Oregon for the Philadelphia Eagles the university has posted the opening for their head coaching job!

(Get your Philadelphia Eagles gear HERE)

You can apply here or read below. Brandon and I are both working on our applications. Hope we get a call back!

Head Football Coach
Athletics

Posting: 13013
Location: Eugene
Closes: Open Until Filled

POSITION:  Head Football Coach

SALARY RANGE:  Commensurate with experience

PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT:  Full time, twelve month position

QUALIFICATIONS:                       
Bachelor’s degree required.  Minimum 5 years' successful collegiate/professional coaching experience.  Excellent written, interpersonal and oral communication skills required.  Knowledge of NCAA rules and interpretations required.  The successful candidate must have the ability to work effectively with faculty, staff and students from a variety of diverse backgrounds and a demonstrated dedication to the full academic and social development of student-athletes.  Preference will be given to candidates who effectively communicate a plan of action for program improvement, have been affiliated with highly successful elite program(s), have demonstrated knowledge and implementation of offensive and/or defensive strategies, have demonstrated understanding of the University of Oregon Football program and can highlight consistent and significant skill development of student-athletes both individually and collectively.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Responsible for the management and administration of all phases of the Football program in a manner that upholds the philosophy and objectives of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Promotes an atmosphere of compliance.  Adheres to and enforces all policies and procedures of the Department and University, as well as the rules and regulations of the Pacific-12 Conference, the NCAA and other authorities that may legitimately influence the intercollegiate athletic program.
Oversees the recruitment and selection of student-athletes.  Ensures compliance with NCAA guidelines for contacting and recruiting prospects.  Initiates the process for determining academic eligibility and issuing National Letters of Intent.
Provides leadership and instruction in the academic, athletic, professional and personal development of student-athletes, to include advising team members in academic, disciplinary and personal matters, when appropriate.
Monitors the eligibility status and promotes the academic progress of student-athletes by working closely with the Compliance staff.  Assists in enforcing support services or activities: study hall, tutoring, academic advising, etc.
Develops and submits the Football program’s annual budget request.  Manages the program within the framework of a balanced budget.
Works collaboratively in the selection, purchase, fitting and maintenance of team equipment, to include uniforms, athletic equipment and supplies.
Schedules and conducts regular practice sessions in and out of season, as permitted by NCAA rules and regulations.  Develops and implements strategies for motivating student-athletes to perform at maximum levels as both individuals and a team.
Works collaboratively with Athletic Director or sport liaison to develop a competitive event schedule.
Ensures that team travel arrangements are in compliance with the University, Pacific-12 Conference and NCAA rules and regulations, to include monitoring the development of travel itineraries and coordination of travel plans.
Oversees the conditioning and training of team members, in conjunction with the Strength and Conditioning staff to ensure that student-athletes are physically prepared for competition.
Supports the Sports Medicine staff to ensure student-athlete welfare.
Supervises assistant coaches, graduate assistants, interns and other support staff to ensure their compliance with applicable rules, policies and procedures and promote an atmosphere if compliance.  Provides orientation, training and guidance, as needed.  Conducts performance evaluations and recommends salary increases, as appropriate.
Participates in clinics, exhibitions and camp activities, as approved.
Participates in public relations activities, to include fundraising appearances, speaking engagements, television and radio interviews, and press conferences, as approved or requested.  Represents the Department at professional, civic, charitable and alumni events.
Compiles data and reports, as required by the Department and University.
Develops and publishes team rules regarding general standards of behavior, with the approval of the sport liaison.  Enforces team rules with appropriate disciplinary action.
Ensures the safety of student-athletes and coaching staff through careful monitoring of the condition of athletic equipment and facilities utilized by the Football program.  Submits requests for repair, maintenance and improvement of facilities to the Facilities staff when appropriate.
Cooperates with all coaches within the intercollegiate athletic program to enhance overall Department operations.
Performs other duties as requested by the athletic administration, including but not limited to Athletic Director and sport liaison.

NFL Lip Reading

I came across this video and since the Seattle Seahawks season is over I needed something else to consume time time.

And then I found NFL Lip Reading. It's HILARIOUS!

Check out this edition:

How to deal with grief (for Seahawks fans)

The Seahawks lost a heart breaker, and since Americans treat their football teams like a child, many Seattle fans were in a state of shock and sadness after the Falcons knocked them out of the playoffs. Here's a few tips to get past the grief...

1. Stop Drinking - It was fine when you were drinking during the game, or even after it. It's Monday now, however, and I would imagine the boss would be quite angry if he saw you drinking out of your limited edition Shaun Alexander flask. Your name isn't Marshawn Lynch, you can't get away with making poor drinking decisions.

2. Find a way to sell that $200 worth of Seahawks gear you bought this week - Word on the street was that all the Seahawks gear shops were sold out in Seattle. That would seem like "Hey! Seattle has the best fans in the world" but what it really means is "Hey! There were a bunch of bandwagon fans that hopped on at the last second!" so... in order to escape credit card debt, you might want to consider pawned that Lime Green Footsie.

3. Move on to watching the NHL - Wait, this is a joke. The NHL isn't a real thing anymore.

4. Remember you have a young quarterback, awesome defense and Marshawn Lynch - In other words, you will be okay next year.

5. Don't get pissy about the refs - That's really stereotypical of Seahawks fans, so please avoid stereotypes.

6. Remember you have a family that loves you - Even though you haven't seen them on Sundays since August...

7. Get ready for the Mariners' spring training to start - And all those free agents they got in the offseason will be making headlines in no time... oh wait... they got Jason Bay? Crap.

Chip Kelly Staying at Oregon

A few moments ago my Twitter exploded with reports that Chip Kelly has turned down the NFL to stay at the University of Oregon.

Now there are a number of sources tied to this report and various reasons have been stated. But I know the real reason. He heard this song by Mat Kearney and decided to stay.

(For those who don't know Mat Kearney was born in Eugene, Oregon. You can buy his album Young Love here) 

Seattle Seahawks Buses

Today the Seattle Seahawks' buses passed my work on their way to the airport. They even had a police escort and an airplane escort that was pulling a GIANT 12th man flag.

(Get your own seahawks flag here)

The Hawks are heading to Washington D.C. where they'll take on the Washington Redskins in the wild card round of the NFC playoffs. Go Hawks!

Here's a video and some photos that I took:

Marshawn Lynch doesn't talk

(Buy a Marshawn Lynch jersey here.)

To say Marshawn Lynch is an oddity would be an understatement. The man is famous for Skittle-guzzling, he coined the phrase "Beast Mode" for the way he plays and his grill is a road of gold. Seahawks fans love Lynch since he's everything their former running back, Shaun Alexander, was not. Hard-hitting, bruising and somebody that fights for extra yardage.

However, you won't here much from him. Or about him, for that matter. The running back is a bit of a recluse when it comes to speaking with the media and nobody is hyping him up heading into this post season despite rushing for over 1,500 yards this season and 11 touchdowns. The media spotlight seems to be brightly focused on rookie quarterback Russell Wilson and maybe that's how he wants it.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times wrote an article about the enigma that is Marshawn Lynch. Naturally, there are no quotes from Lynch.

Perhaps its the way he talks, since apparently he has his own language...

This story should be easier to write. Lynch is not only one of the most important players on Seattle's team, but one of the most colorful. The man who authored the third-highest season rushing total in franchise history has a gold tooth and his own distinct way of talking that can only be described as Marshawnese. "What you say, bruh?" he asked during an interview earlier this year. It was a request to repeat the question.

Although, you can't really blame him for being leery of the media. He has had a few run-ins with the law and that cost him the starting job in Buffalo. Only 26, he has found a spot in the lineup of Seattle but don't expect any wonderful ancedotes from Lynch.

Outside the locker room, the man known for breaking tackles is more apt to throw a block. In Toronto last month, Lynch was in the team's hotel when a woman approached him and asked, "Are you the Skittles guy?" "I'm Marshawn Lynch," he said. She wasn't sure what to make of that. Later, when someone else asked if he played football, Lynch just said he was waiting for his friend. If he's going out of his way to avoid interviews, it's because he's not all that interested in letting people inside. He's run the gamut of media coverage. He received credit for back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons in Buffalo. Then he was criticized during a prolonged hit-and-run investigation and an unrelated three-game suspension that stemmed from a weapons charge in California. This offseason he was arrested for DUI in California, a charge that still must be resolved.

So the reclusive, yet affable running back will talk the bulk of the carries this weekend for Seattle in their first-round playoff games. Fans will certainly be thrilled when he runs somebody over. That's how we treat guys that can carry a football. It's still an oddity, however, that a man so colorful as Lynch doesn't speak with the media. Since he's doing so well right now, people just think it's quirky. If his performance drops off, however, will people start to think its arrogant or mean-spirited?

I'm Jumping on the Seahawks Bandwagon!

Since my Tennessee Titans are... well awful, I'll have very little to root for this postseason. Normally, I would just switch to the NBA and call it good - making fun of Kobe and getting all in a flutter when Blake Griffin dunks.

(Buy your Blake Griffin jersey here)

But I have to cast my interests somewhere this NFL playoff season, otherwise I'll be the only male in North America not watching football. The team I've decided to root for wasn't a tough choice since they're literally an hour and a half up the road from me. Yes, I'm jumping on the Seattle Seahawks bandwagon.

Now Casey already warned you about potential bandwagon-ers and I'd just like to say that "I'M HERE." Because really how can you not watch the Seahawks this postseason?

1. Up and Coming Quarterback - Russell Wilson is having one of the best seasons in NFL history for a Rookie. Normally, Seahawks fans are used to rookies being like Rick Mirer. Not anymore! Pete Carroll has found a guy that's incredibly fun to watch and has gotten better as the season progresses. It's going to be fun to watch Wilson do his thing in a playoff setting.

(Buy a Russell Wilson jersey here)

2. A Defense that scares me - They actually hurt people. Watching the 49ers game last Sunday, they were much more physical than San Francisco. It was a whole different level of punishment for the San Fran offense.

3. A coach that makes other fans mad - The Seahawks are running up the score! Pete Carroll left USC because of NCAA sanctions! He's just wants to win no matter what! Tell me why this is a problem?

4. Seahawks fans are always drunk and bully people - And I don't want to be bullied.

5. Marshawn Lynch is the best running back in Seahawks history - Hands down, no contest. Move over Shaun Alexander.

(Buy a Marshawn Lynch jersey here)

Here come the Seahawks bandwagon fans

As a lifelong Seahawks fan I remember getting made fun of for rooting for the "Seachickens" while everyone else cheered on the Cowboys. Now those same people are cheering on the Hawks. At least they picked the right team this time! Go Hawks!

(Maybe it's time to buy some Seattle Seahawks gear. Just in time for the playoffs!)

But don't worry. If the Hawks don't win the Super Bowl those fans will forget all about them and go back to cheering for whoever did win it. (Ah, who am I kidding, the Seahawks will win the Super Bowl).

Why Bo Jackson wouldn't work today

ESPN's 30 for 30 episode "You Don't Know Bo" came on the other day and I spent the next hour in awe of the athletic enigma that is Bo Jackson. If you want to see perhaps the greatest physical specimen that humankind has produced, you'd have to look at Jackson in his prime. He was absolutely ridiculous.

Nobody during his time periond (mid 80s to early 90s) even came close to what Jackson could provide. A non-steroid body of absolute muscle combined with speed that hasn't been seen again. Jackson set the 40-time record at the NFL combine in 4.12 seconds. It hasn't been broken.

The guy was a great person by all accounts and a horrific hip injury ended what was sure to be a hall-of-fame career in probably both baseball and football. Still the people that saw him play rave about how he played and what he was: A two-sport comet that burned his way through the competition.

And we'll never have somebody like him again. Why? You ask. Athletes are getting better all the time right? There's bound to be another one to come along, right? Jackson was perfect for his time and what sports were at the time. Things have changed, however, and you just won't get a Bo Jackson kind of person anymore.

(Get a Bo Jackson jersey here.)

1. Steroids - If Bo Jackson were playing today, we'd just assume he was on steroids. The mystique of being some freak of nature would be gone. He'd just be another athlete we'd assume is juicing.

2. 24-hour media - ESPN and sports blogs would no doubt dispell the myth of Jackson. Much like Lebron is dissected today, every public misstep by Jackson would have been blown up. Just the pure pleasure of watching him play would be distorted and we couldn't watch him dominate without 30 different sub plots.

3. Impossible to do two sports - It was incredible that he did it in the 1980s. Now? Teams pay to much, demand to much and the athletes are a lot better in both the MLB and the NFL. Jackson would get beat up during the football season. He probably wouldn't put up the numbers he did against the better pitching of today. Our professional sports have just gotten too nuanced for an athletic beast like Jackson to come in and dominate.

4. Probably couldn't rate him on Madden - Believe me, I've made myself in Madden and bumped up all the stats to 99. Still doesn't compare to Jackson on Super Bowl.

Jacksonville Jaguars season from a 12 year olds perspective

If YouTube would have been around when I was a kid I'd have made a song like this every season for all of my childhood.

Thank goodness it wasn't.

But this girl did a great job with making a song about the Jacksonville Jaguars to the "We Are Never Getting Back Together" from Taylor Swift.

But it's called "We Are Never Getting Any Better."

And sadly, for Jacksonville fans, it's true.

Seahawks Busting Out New Grey Uniforms

The Seahawks have announced that they'll wear their alternative "Wolf Grey" uniforms this Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. While Seattle has already been sporting their new duds all year, thanks to a massive redesign by Nike, this will be the second time in team history the Seahawks have worn something outside of their normal home and away jerseys. Check out the photo above. (and get your own new Seahawks Jersey here)

The last time the Seahawks did an alternative jersey was back in 2009 when they did their lime green crimes against humanity. Here's a photo of them...

Ewww... thank god they never wore those again. I don't think Seahawks fans have to worry about the Grey uniforms embarrassing the team like these lime green ones did. Since the new uniforms have been so well received and since this is just a minor color alteration, I would assume these uniforms would look fine. The uniforms look really good on television and that's all that really matters. (If you want to buy a lime green version of the new uniforms, click here.)

Jersey sales have been up 274% since the Hawks unveiled their new design but that's probably because every NFL fan wants to look cool and up to date around all his other NFL fans. Alternative jerseys and redesigns are a bit of a racket to boost sales, but that doesn't stop the fans.

Who had a better chance than the Cardinals yesterday?

The Arizona Cardinals should have just not showed up yesterday. They got smacked around by the Seahawks, 58-0, in a game where Seattle scored the most points in franchise history and the margin victory was fourth highest in the NFL record books.

In other words, don't expect Arizona at the Super Bowl this year and don't expect Ken Whisenhunt to keep his job after the season. The Seahawks? We'll they're in the drivers seat to the players and look to be getting the fifth seed in the NFC.

Without further delay, here are things that had a better chance then the Arizona Cardinals yesterday...

1. The French vs. Nazi Germany - I mean the French were in the war for like a month before they got invaded? Like, who needs tanks to fight wars? Certainly not the French!

2. Saddam Hussein vs. the U.S. Military - Despite their best efforts, the Arizona Cardinals radio announcers couldn't quite pull off the "The Seahawks will regret running up the score!" act with their team crumbling around them. At least Baghdad Bob had a news station to report to, I'm assuming the Cardinals game was taken off the air in Arizona by halftime.

3. Windows Vista vs. an Apple Computer - Microsoft screwed something up when they decided "I know! Lets make computers slower!"

4. Opponents to Legalizing Pot - Yeah that went well in Washington didn't it? Now the cops aren't rushing around trying to arrest high school kids riding their BMX bikes around the block.

5. MySpace vs. Facebook - It's still alive, but I think MySpace is a zombie now.

6. North Korea vs. the US in the Olympics - Little tip to North Korea, make sure your athletes aren't starving when they show up to their event.

7. The Death Star vs. Luke Skywalker - Although the Cardinals didn't have just one tiny exhaust port open, the whole freakin' ship was sinking faster than the Titanic.

8. Space Marines vs. Aliens in "Aliens" - I know they had a bunch of guns, but acid-filled aliens with super strength and super sharp claws and tails aren't exactly an easy target. Good thing against 120 Aliens you sent 12 Mariners. Reaaaal smart.

9. Koopa Troopas vs. Mario - Wait! The good guys have a fat Italian plumber? Nooooooooo!

10. Red Shirts in Star Trek vs. Death - If you're wearing a red shirt in Star Trek and you appear before the opening credits, you're sooooooooo screwed.

Things you shouldn't buy an NFL fan this Christmas

Don't leave that NFL fan of yours on the goaline, make sure they have a great Christmas by not buying one of these items.

(Seriously, you would really upset somebody if you bought one of these.)

1. A Jay Cutler Broncos Action Figure - While I'm not quite sure what "action" Jay Cutler does these days except smoke, when you ask Broncos fans about Cutler, it's not exactly a bunch of fond memories. I'm trying to figure out where he ranks among quarterbacks in this era of football, and my gut tells me he doesn't rank very highly. Also consider that Bronco fans have Peyton Manning throwing the football now, and they couldn't give to craps about Cutler.

2. A Cleveland Browns Lawn Gnome - Because all the neighbors will laugh at the person who has this in their yard. Why? Because they're a Browns fan and who is a Browns fan?

3. Tony Romo Plush Doll - Unless you're Jessica Simpson, I don't think you want to snuggle up with the Cowboys' QB.

4. Mark Sanchez Poster - What's that? Not starting at quarterback anymore? Perhaps they can put this Sanchez poster right next to their Tim Tebow poster?

5. Oakland Raiders Sunglasses - Because it hurts when people get punched with sunglasses on. Since everyone who is a Raiders fan is a raging douche, it's only a matter of time before they get punched. Better stick with knitting yarn for your favorite Oakland fan friend.