Cigar Ideas, Week 18: The Last Chapter

“No mother knows she is hearing the word Mama for the last time. No father knows when the book has closed on the last bedtime story he will ever read.”

— 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 grow to be what it has. The group of followers, particularly right here at Discipline 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 joy, all of the recollections— however I’m particularly grateful for realizing when the final one is the final one.

If you wish to skip the sappy stuff and simply learn in regards to the sport, be at liberty to scroll down. I put the beginning of the evaluation in daring so it’s simpler to seek out.

It was roughly two months in the past after I made the tough determination to make this my closing season writing these articles. Since then, I’ve seen lots of hypothesis on Twitter, BlueSky, and within the feedback sections as to why I’m laying down the pen. The most well-liked 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 definitely isn’t the case. The actual motive is way less complicated and way more boring:

I haven’t watched a Seahawks sport only for the hell of it in practically a decade and a half and to be fully trustworthy 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 possibility to begin writing in regards to the crew on this web site proper earlier than the Pete Carroll period and I obtained to chop my enamel as a author for a plucky crew with no expectations. What adopted was an unexpected alternative to cowl the evolution of some of the 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 12 months later, the bottom low. These 12 months offered a useful perspective, realizing that the whole lot else I’ll ever really feel as a Seahawks fan would fall between the extremes of these two feelings.Truthfully, the frustrations we’ve all felt cheering for a crew that has repeatedly 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 very best and coolest crew the league for just a few 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 at least dozens of you studying this who’ve been sort 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 could by no means do anything 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 fitting 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 nice wins. As a substitute, it was the 9-3 poop egg loss to those similar 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 perhaps 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 in regards to the Seahawks manner 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 may’ve created alone. The attain of the articles, which has in some way miraculously linked me with hundreds of followers and dozens of the folks I most look as much as within the sports activities media world, has expanded past something I’d have dared to contemplate again after I was a depressingly-broke dude dwelling in a tiny house with nothing carrying me however desires 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 named what it’s referred to as as a result of the signature side 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 may. 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), seaside in Cabo (Seattle’s miraculous NFC West-clinching time beyond regulation win towards the Rams), on a airplane (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 mates homes. And I couldn’t have completed any of it with out the timeless help of my attractive, good, 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 date on this life, however one factor I’m assured in is the truth that I’ve left all of it on the sector on the subject of writing about this crew. 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 few sport towards 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 just about not possible to surpass. Coming into as we speak, 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 most of the most memorable ones concerned the Rams. The 49ers would be the crew I take into account to be the Seahawks’ main rival however the Rams are essentially the most Cigar Ideas opponent of all of them. Truthfully, this simply feels proper.

Los Angeles acquired the opening kick and, with Jimmy Garoppolo standing in for Matthew Stafford, instantly went up high. So, my greatest responsible pleasure on the subject of the NFL is Sean McVay; I completely adore the way in which he assaults opponents and he wasted no time doing precisely that as we speak— backups be damned. The end result was a fairly completion to Demarcus Robinson on a gorgeous throw to let Seattle know that nothing could be given to them on this one.

The Seahawks protection, which has been incredible over the again half of the season, responded instantly. Two nice reps compelled 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 ceaselessly have an effect on the monetary way forward for him and his household, even with the playoffs out of attain. Not solely had 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 might 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 complete yards on three makes an attempt through the possession.

Seattle punted, then compelled 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 go 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 pace and charged up the sideline for 32. One minute later, Smith dotted Jake Bobo up on a objective line fade that beat good protection for a 7-0 lead.

Los Angeles obtained on the board with a discipline objective on their subsequent drive to chop the result in 4, bit Smith stored the gasoline pedal pressed firmly to the ground. After a nine-yard run from Kenny McIntosh and a go that was batted down, Geno stored 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 go went off his fingertips on the objective line. It was a play you actually wish 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 workers. Unperturbed, Smith spun 360 levels out of a sack; all of the whereas Metcalf, who was initally coated, labored his manner 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 a lot of 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 crew within the playoffs with John fuckin’ Wolford and positive sufficient, that was as snug 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 stress compelled an underthrow from Jimmy G on the following possession, Julian Love swooped in for the decide to present 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 discipline objective 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 discipline objective drive to make it 17-16. Unexpectedly, the end result of this sport was very a lot doubtful and one other scoreless possession from the ‘Hawks would’ve put them in a really powerful place. Smith knew this, after all, and mentioned “I got this, fellas”. He overcame two incompletions to begin the sequence, 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 in regards to the Rams is that they merely refuse to die. It nearly 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 go 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 doubtless game-tying go on the pylon.

After a Seahawks punt, the Rams hit one other lengthy discipline objective 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 not often 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 / time beyond regulation 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 type 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 traditional “trust your guy to be the guy” go 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 objective 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 end result was a go-ahead rating that made it 30-25, additional cementing Geno’s worth to a deeply flawed crew. The concept that (decide your hypothetical alternative QB) may do what Smith has completed behind this OL is— and I imply no offense— foolish sufficient to nearly be dismissed solely.

Right here’s the factor about scoring a go-ahead landing with three minutes left although: now the opposite crew will get 4 tries to maneuver the chains. And towards a McVay offense, that’s a really scary proposition. That fourth likelihood meant the whole lot this afternoon, with Garoppolo changing a determined 4th down with a scintillating throw over the center beneath stress. Armed with a full quiver of timeouts and the two-minute warning, Los Angeles was in a position to make the most of their full offensive playbook with an additional attempt on each sequence. 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 objective line go to Robinson was expertly damaged up by a perfectly-timed swat from Love and an ensuing swing go to Johnson gained simply two, with Uchenna Nwosu chasing him down within the open discipline. 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 the whole lot on the road on the similar time, Mike Macdonald drew up considered one of his difficult pressures and compelled a rushed back-foot throw from garoppolo. The go 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 the whole lot I’m about to speak about was completed towards a good quantity of backups. I’ll ask that you just take into account that I’m conscious of that truth as I blow these rings.

~Geno Smith was marvelous as we speak. On a day the place he was financially motivated to be secure ($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 difficulty to the tune of 223 yards— a powerful 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 determination. He threw a career-high 4 touchdowns as we speak to clinch his third $2M bonus together with his tenth win as a starter. And each single a kind of scoring strikes had been sensational. had been sensational. He’s a very good quarterback, guys— and except you have got 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 snug with the concept the preferred man within the Seahawks locker room might be round for some time,

Geno Smith accomplished extra passes this 12 months than any Seahawks QB ever has in a single season. His closing numbers sparkle, with the interceptions being the very evident exception:

70.4 of his passes had been full for 4,320 yards, 21 TDs, and 15 INTs with a lot of game-winning drives. I’ll log out as a former Geno-doubter-turned-Geno-believer and I definitely gained’t miss the silliest argument surrounding this crew after I retire in a couple of minutes.

~Zach Charbonnet has confirmed his price to this franchise in a giant manner 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 complete yards to present 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 together with his restricted alternatives the previous few weeks. This crew won’t enter 2025 with out at the very least two operating 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 closing 12 months at Georgia and positively seems the a part of an NFL RB to date. McIntosh averaged a powerful 7.0 yards on his seven carries as we speak and is, on the very least, worthy of a roster spot transferring ahead.

~It’s outstanding how a lot 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 large numbers earlier than his shoulder and knee accidents this 12 months 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 house, the Seahawks ofense cratered when his targets per sport dropped from practically 10/sport pre-injuries to simply over 5/sport since. He’s price 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 as we speak, 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 outdated 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 wished context.

~Talking of… I don’t suppose we’ve seen the final of Tyler Lockett but when we have now, 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 complete numbers this season had been effectively. under his latest manufacturing, the performs he did make this 12 months 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 crew lead in catches with 5 and touchdowns with one apiece, with Fant getting 63 yards and Barner 34.

~In case you’re annoyed with the end result of this season, direct all of your ire on the offensive line. The concept that another QB or a distinct assortment of ability gamers would simply be higher behind this model of “protection” is— and I’m attempting arduous 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 many others 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 if you happen to’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 dangerous. they had been really not-terrible as we speak however on the entire they had been atrocious in 2024 and as a lot as I hate being adversarial, I’m snug saying that the majority of y’all’s hate is severely misplaced. Each different crew with horrible O-line play sucked this 12 months, and the Seahawks gained 10 video games. I can’t wait to now not must spend time and power reinforcing this very apparent level.

Spend each draft decide and each free agent greenback you have got on the OL. Cuz the present (learn: final 14 years) method ain’t working.

~Expensive candy immaculate wonderful God, the tackling was horrible as we speak. Certain, Sean McVay is a savant at placing defenders in dangerous positions besides, the Seahawks protection whiffed on na gorgeous variety of open-field alternatives towards gamers that couldn’t crack the beginning lineup earlier than this week.

~That being mentioned, their had been loads of defensive highlights. Tyrice Knight flubbed a punt protection however nonetheless led the crew with 10 tackles and an early sack. Seattle discovered a bgem on Day 3 of the draft this 12 months. 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 dangerous to superb this season correlated precisely together with his arrival. And to cite him after the sport, “Nah, we gonna get it done. I’m gonna be a Seahawk. I trust my agent to get it done.” 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 might be a stalwart transferring ahead.

~I’ve exhausted the furthest reaches of my vocabulary during the last 13 years and I nonetheless lack the verbiage to correctly admire 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 as we speak, giving him 11 on the 12 months— a comical quantity for an inside lineman.

~Devon Witherspoon had some nice tackles and a few actually spectacular go 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 important 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 as we speak; there’s nary a doubt in my thoughts that Witherspoon will etch his title among the many nice defenders in Seahawks historical past by the point he’s completed.

~Riq Woolen obtained damage on a deal with within the second quarter, additional complicating one of many hardest personnel selections the crew will face this offseason. From a zoomed-out perspective, Woolen resides within the upper-right quadrant (complimentary) of just about 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 dangerous. Factor is, Woolen has completed sufficient in his good video games that when mixed together with his elite measurables, he makes a compelling case for an costly contract from anyone. Particularly when groups take into account the truth that he didn’t play protection till his final 12 months in faculty. A number of meat left on the bone. I’ll be fascinated to see what his market is as a result of I’d like to hold him and changing his expertise is lots more durable than you may suppose.

~Shout out Jason Myers, who was fucking superior this 12 months. He was good on additional factors once more as we speak and drilled a vital 56-yard discipline objective. Take away blocked kicks (that are not often reflective of kicker efficiency) and he was 26-29 (89%) on discipline objectives and 36-38 (95%) on additional factors. I do know all of us act like each kick ought to be made however you may depend the variety of kickers together with his accuracy this season on one hand.

~This season noticed the Seahawks overhaul their teaching workers and any time that occurs, I believe it is advisable prolong a two-year window to all concerned— barring abject catastrophe. With 10 wins and a protection that was glorious within the second half of the season, I’m snug saying we have now proof of idea that Mike Macdonald was the fitting rent as head coach. On condition that his sterling resume is highlighted by distinctive 12 months 2 performances from his defenses, there’s no motive to consider this crew gained’t be even higher on that aspect of the ball transferring ahead as they proceed to get snug together with his scheme.

~It will get extra difficult on the subject of Ryan Grubb. The Seahawks offense bailed out a nasty 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 crew’s deficiencies on the OL and protection. However November and December advised a distinct story, as Seattle struggled to maneuver the ball down the stretch. Like I mentioned final week, the coordinator place is unfairly fragile and you’ve got one, perhaps two years to both get promoted ort fired. There actually isn’t an in-between. I’d vote to present Grubb another 12 months (in spite of everything he oversaw a number of the finest passing and receiving numbers in franchise historical past as an NFL neophyte) however I additionally perceive if the franchise seems like they should go one other route. As at all times, I consider practically 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/beneath 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 occurring 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 grow to be more and more argumentative and in some way this season, which I’m guessing 99% of you’d have taken if supplied in it August, might be Exhibit A for disagreement.

And look, this isn’t singular to the (truthfully) good if not truculent Discipline Gulls readership, nor to Seahawks followers writ massive. Web discourse has devolved at an alarming charge during the last eight or so years and it’s what it’s. However 2024 has at all times been, as I’ve mentioned repeatedly all through the season, a diagnostic 12 months and to win basically 60% of your video games with apparent defincies and blatant inexperience on the teaching workers is, in my eyes, a transparent step in the fitting route. 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 crew as a result of the choice is being depressing 97% of the time and if that’s the case, simply go mountain climbing as a substitute.

That being mentioned, I perceive the frustration with constantly profitable simply sufficient video games to remain the course however not sufficient to really feel such as you’re actually competing. I’ve two ideas on that: 1) there are thousands and thousands upon thousands and thousands of followers who would kill for that frustration and a couple 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 12 months together with his alternative. Do y’all perceive how uncommon that’s?

I’m not blind to the weaknesses on this crew, 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 essential truth.

However I’m not gonna exit like that. There aren’t many groups which were extra compelling to jot down about or be a fan of during the last 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 crew as a substitute of the way to hold our little one 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 crew that has constantly 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 believe the arrow for this crew is pointing decisively up and I look ahead to watching this crew try to succeed in 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 really like you guys. I mentioned it on the high 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 ceaselessly.

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