Avril released

[NorthHawk]

With a failed physical designation.
A freak injury cut his career too short.
He says he wants to continue playing, and I wish him well.

[Hawk Sista]

While it’s not a surprise, it is a bummer! Thank you, Mr. Avril. Thank you very much.

[c_hawkbob]

What Sis said; no surprise but a bummer none the less. Thanks for everything Cliff, it's been a slice!

[Rambo2014]

Looks like the end my friends.

Seahawks going back to 1950 offense. Rams on the cusp

[trents]

With the personalities signed by the Rams on defense this off season, they will have the same moral issues inside of three years that the Hawks have dealt with. Wade Phillips will come to realize, as Pete has, it ain't worth it in the long run.

[Aseahawkfan]

Good luck to Cliff. I hope he knows when to quit and doesn't risk his life with that neck stinger. Those are dangerous.

[RiverDog]

IMO Avril was the true MVP of SB 48. It was his pressure on Manning that led to the pick 6 by Malcolm Smith that put us up by 3 TD's going into halftime.

[idhawkman]

IMO Avril was the true MVP of SB 48. It was his pressure on Manning that led to the pick 6 by Malcolm Smith that put us up by 3 TD's going into halftime.

Avril had a good play there but remember Smith not only had the pick 6 but then also had the fumble recovery in the 4th.

[RiverDog]

Avril had a good play there but remember Smith not only had the pick 6 but then also had the fumble recovery in the 4th.

What was the score when Smith had his fumble recovery?

The only reason Smith got the MVP was because he had a couple of recordable stats that show up in the box score. His actual play wasn't that much better than any other member of the defense. Heck, Kam Chancellor's hit on their tight end on their first drive had more to do with the outcome than Smith's fumble recovery during garbage time, but there's no stat for snot knockers.

That's one of the reasons why I don't care much for individual awards such as an MVP, at least as it relates to football. It's hard to quantify individual play at many of the positions.

[NorthHawk]

With such a team game, unless a player just lights it up in some way, it's hard to come up with an MVP for a single game.
Since they have to pick someone, why not the guy with some stats that sound good even if he might not have impacted the game the way a hit set the tone and maybe changed the game? I think it was probably the quick and easy way out for the people who decide such things.

[RiverDog]

With such a team game, unless a player just lights it up in some way, it's hard to come up with an MVP for a single game.
Since they have to pick someone, why not the guy with some stats that sound good even if he might not have impacted the game the way a hit set the tone and maybe changed the game? I think it was probably the quick and easy way out for the people who decide such things.

If they want to be honest about it, they should have just said "you know, we can't pick out a single player as the MVP, so rather giving the award to an individual, we're just going to name the entire Seattle defense as the MVP."

There is a precedent, sort of. They once awarded the MVP to two players (Randy White and Harvey Martin), so if they can name two MVP's, why not 11?

[mykc14]

If they want to be honest about it, they should have just said "you know, we can't pick out a single player as the MVP, so rather giving the award to an individual, we're just going to name the entire Seattle defense as the MVP."

There is a precedent, sort of. They once awarded the MVP to two players (Randy White and Harvey Martin), so if they can name two MVP's, why not 11?

Would you just give it to the starting 11? All that played a certain percentage of the snaps? Either way you are going to be in a situation where there are players left out. To me the MVP was Kam. If they gave out dual MVP awards I think Avril would be the other.

[NorthHawk]

Who would get the prize? It's usually a vehicle or trip of some sort and that's the symbol of being selected MVP.

[Hawk Sista]

Not only do I agree that Cliff was a very deserving MVP of 48, his injury in 49 was as responsible for the loss as other things that shall not be named.

[NorthHawk]

He was a little underrated by the national media.
Everyone talked about the big personalities, but Cliff just showed up and produced game in and game out but especially when needed.
He probably got the respect from other teams, but he wasn't in the news like the others.

[RiverDog]

Would you just give it to the starting 11? All that played a certain percentage of the snaps? Either way you are going to be in a situation where there are players left out. To me the MVP was Kam. If they gave out dual MVP awards I think Avril would be the other.

Once again, that's why I don't like individual awards in football, especially in such a short time frame as a single game. It's extremely difficult to quantify and almost impossible to be fair about it.

As another suggestion, perhaps they should let players and/or coaches from the losing team vote on the MVP.

[NorthHawk]

Do you think they'd put much effort into selecting the other teams MVP when they just lost the most important game perhaps of their career?
I don't think they would get many players to vote at that point. They'd be just too disappointed in losing.

[RiverDog]

Do you think they'd put much effort into selecting the other teams MVP when they just lost the most important game perhaps of their career?
I don't think they would get many players to vote at that point. They'd be just too disappointed in losing.

The players probably wouldn't but the coaches might.

[NorthHawk]

From PFT:

"Via our Curtis Crabtree, Avril has taken a job as the midday co-host of a radio show on 950 KJR-AM"

Good for him. He's moving on to the next chapter of his life.
I hope he does well, and he should as he's always been well spoken and seemingly well respected.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... n-seattle/

[I-5]

Looks like the end my friends.

Seahawks going back to 1950 offense. Rams on the cusp

What exactly is a 1950 offense? Do you mean smash mouth football? If so, then yes.

The Rams look great...on paper. How long is their window open to take advantage of a colossal financial commitment to 3 free agents? The Seahawks kept their nucleus together for almost 8 years, and still have arguably their best defensive player (Wagner) in his prime to lead the defense. Even Earl is still not 30 yet.

[RiverDog]

What exactly is a 1950 offense? Do you mean smash mouth football? If so, then yes.

The Rams look great...on paper. How long is their window open to take advantage of a colossal financial commitment to 3 free agents? The Seahawks kept their nucleus together for almost 8 years, and still have arguably their best defensive player (Wagner) in his prime to lead the defense. Even Earl is still not 30 yet.

Yea, we're going into a "rebuilding year" after going 9-7 and just missing the playoffs. It's been 14 years since the Rams won a playoff game.

[Rambo2014]

1950's football is totally unsophisticated, slow, and on the level of a Division C college nowadays.

Rams on the other hand have a hybrid.

Seahawks are a 1962 Ford Falcon, Rams are a Tesla

[c_hawkbob]

1962 Ford Falcon was made in the 50's?

[MackStrongIsMyHero]

Avril was mos def one of the unsung heroes of the defense. Not in the headlines much but always did his job and was highly effective. Great pickup by the FO and a great asset to the team.

[I-5]

1950's football is totally unsophisticated, slow, and on the level of a Division C college nowadays.

Rams on the other hand have a hybrid.

Seahawks are a 1962 Ford Falcon, Rams are a Tesla

Perfect analogy. Elon Musk is novel, but his company is having serious production issues and has never made a penny in its entire existence. Meanwhile, real car makers like Porsche who have a proven track record are coming out with their own Tesla-busters.

I can't wait to see if the Rams can back up all the $$, egos and tough talk with a 32-year old coach running his first ship and zero playoff wins. No pressure....

[Aseahawkfan]

1962 Ford Falcon was made in the 50's?

Someone knocked the softball thrown at perfect speed out of the park with a simple question.

[idhawkman]

If they want to be honest about it, they should have just said "you know, we can't pick out a single player as the MVP, so rather giving the award to an individual, we're just going to name the entire Seattle defense as the MVP."

There is a precedent, sort of. They once awarded the MVP to two players (Randy White and Harvey Martin), so if they can name two MVP's, why not 11?

They wouldn't do that now though, too much money from their MVP Vehicle sponsor is on the line. They have to give the vehicle to someONE.