1.
Just win ugly, baby.
Seattle didn’t earn any style points in its 12-7 defeat of Carolina on Sunday. But it’s the type of victory could determine whether the Seahawks reach their Super Bowl goal this year.
Last season, the Seahawks lost road games to Arizona, St. Louis, San Francisco, Detroit and Miami, each by seven points or less. Win just one of those and Seattle takes the NFC West and would have hosted its playoff games.
The Seahawks could have lost on Sunday. They didn’t, and that could make all the difference.
2.
Another month, another story alleging a NCAA football program skirted the rules on its rise to the top.
Sports Illustrated has written a five-part report about how Oklahoma State paid its players, covered up poor grades, ignored drug violations and told members of its “hostess” program to have sex with recruits.
It feels like we know how this story ends. Lawyers will be hired, whistleblowers will be discredited and a minor penalty will be negotiated.
Such is jurisprudence in the Wild Wild West known as the NCAA.
3.
Ndamukong Suh stood front and center at a team meeting Tuesday and apologized for the low block he threw on Minnesota Vikings center John Sullivan, a block that cost the Lions a touchdown, earned him the largest fine for an on-field incident in NFL history and further cemented his reputation as one of the league’s dirtiest players.
It could be said that actions, not words, are what’s needed to change his reputation’s course.
But Suh has been branded a repeat offender, and for that it’s a wonder he wasn’t suspended. Next time he won’t likely be so lucky.
