Earl is done

[HumanCockroach]

Lmao... people really running with the bird, like he actually flipped you off.... I guess beast , Doug and Carroll has as well....

The length people will go to justify their position because they didn't agree with a player holding out, is truly mind boggling.

Even the thought he was flipping off Seahawks players in that instance is beyond stupid, much less fans.... rotflmfao...

[Aseahawkfan]

Earl wasn't flipping off the fans or his teammates. Anyone following this situation knows he's flipping off Pete Carroll. Some of you are like man-pansies taking umbrage like some lady that heard a curse word. Please stop with the offended sensibilities and stop acting you like you haven't been as pissed as Earl about a bad situation. The man broke his leg and lashed out at the guy he blames.

Some of you turn on a guy so quickly. Do everything right for 8 years, but as soon as you do a few minor things people take issue with and they write you off and act offended. I have no real understanding or sympathy because I'm a fan looking to get offended. If you can't give a guy a break that just broke his leg after a frustrating year of dealing with contract issues, then you're just an unsympathetic jerk.

Earl been since 2010. He's been a cornerstone of the team for 8 years. He had a blow up and a rough year dealing with contract issues. A guy does everything for that long for the team you love, you can show some understanding for an angry reaction. One gesture and some contract unhappiness does not change eight years of amazing play and good leadership.

[burrrton]

Earl wasn't flipping off the fans or his teammates.

Correct- he was flipping off the organization.

One gesture and some contract unhappiness does not change eight years of amazing play and good leadership.

Sure it does- he has a chance to apologize if truly was a heat-of-the-moment mistake, though (something I'd find very easy to believe, to be fair).

[RiverDog]

Earl wasn't flipping off the fans or his teammates. Anyone following this situation knows he's flipping off Pete Carroll. Some of you are like man-pansies taking umbrage like some lady that heard a curse word. Please stop with the offended sensibilities and stop acting you like you haven't been as pissed as Earl about a bad situation. The man broke his leg and lashed out at the guy he blames.

Some of you turn on a guy so quickly. Do everything right for 8 years, but as soon as you do a few minor things people take issue with and they write you off and act offended. I have no real understanding or sympathy because I'm a fan looking to get offended. If you can't give a guy a break that just broke his leg after a frustrating year of dealing with contract issues, then you're just an unsympathetic jerk.

Earl been since 2010. He's been a cornerstone of the team for 8 years. He had a blow up and a rough year dealing with contract issues. A guy does everything for that long for the team you love, you can show some understanding for an angry reaction. One gesture and some contract unhappiness does not change eight years of amazing play and good leadership.

A few minor things? Is that how you characterize holding out while you're still under contract?

And if I accept your theory that Earl was flipping off Pete, that makes it even worse. Pete arguably made Earl. He drafted him #13 overall, surrounded him with All Pro talent, was with him when they went to two straight SB's and winning one, and gifted him with a defensive philosophy that played to Earl's strengths. So do I hear you right that you think it's all fine and dandy that Earl filpped him off? If that's the case, that Earl was flipping off Pete, then I've lost a lot of respect for Earl unless he offers some type of apology.

[HumanCockroach]

Not for nothing, but I was just reminded that Thomas left millions on the table when he signed his last contract... between 2 and 5 million a year, to help Seattle retain their talent.

Not an argument, just something pertinent imho... I had completely forgotten about it.

[Trips]

What he did was wrong but he had just broke his leg & was very emotional.

[obiken]

And if I accept your theory that Earl was flipping off Pete, that makes it even worse. Pete arguably made Earl. He drafted him #13 overall, surrounded him with All Pro talent, was with him when they went to two straight SB's and winning one, and gifted him with a defensive philosophy that played to Earl's strengths. So do I hear you right that you think it's all fine and dandy that Earl flipped him off? If that's the case, that Earl was flipping off Pete, then I've lost a lot of respect for Earl unless he offers some type of apology.

I agree, but its a 2 way street River, the Hawks made rule with Kam, then broke the Rule, then went back to the old rule. Everyone lost yesterday, especially Earl.

[Aseahawkfan]

A few minor things? Is that how you characterize holding out while you're still under contract?

And if I accept your theory that Earl was flipping off Pete, that makes it even worse. Pete arguably made Earl. He drafted him #13 overall, surrounded him with All Pro talent, was with him when they went to two straight SB's and winning one, and gifted him with a defensive philosophy that played to Earl's strengths. So do I hear you right that you think it's all fine and dandy that Earl filpped him off? If that's the case, that Earl was flipping off Pete, then I've lost a lot of respect for Earl unless he offers some type of apology.

Holding out under contract doesn't a make a guy a piece of garbage or flipping the bird in a state of anger and pain. I don't care how some of you try to characterize Earl. All he did was make an angry gesture and do what he could to get a contract so that he would have some security against something like this. Not sure why you all keep bringing up the amount of money rather than the situation. Any one of you would not enjoy being in his situation as far as playing in the last year of a contract and risking the loss of millions due to exactly what happened. He literally lost millions of dollars getting injured.

I still don't like how eight of years of giving it his all on the field and being a model citizen is all forgotten for one year of being angry with a hard situation. The way some of you tossed out all he had done after one instance of anger is exactly why players cannot worry about fans. They turn at the drop of a dime. One thing some fans don't agree with and suddenly they're tossing out insults, wanting to get rid of them, and talking about them like they're subhuman and did some horrible crime. I guess in this era of outrage, it's par for the course.

I have no desire or reason to participate, This is nothing more to me but a guy venting after losing millions of dollars and possibly his career due to a team playing hardball in business. He played eight years of great ball. He was a very instrumental part of Seattle's first Super Bowl, the best player on a legendary secondary that made it all work. I'm more sad to see his career here end the way it did than angry at Earl. After a broken leg and a frustrating financial year that probably had him stressed out, I can sympathize with his reaction and not take it personally.

Earl seems like a good guy to me. No off the field troubles. He takes care of his family. I never once saw less than 100% from him on the field. It's more than most humans do, even most taking shots at him right now while he's down.

[RiverDog]

Holding out under contract doesn't a make a guy a piece of garbage or flipping the bird in a state of anger and pain. I don't care how some of you try to characterize Earl. All he did was make an angry gesture and do what he could to get a contract so that he would have some security against something like this. Not sure why you all keep bringing up the amount of money rather than the situation. Any one of you would not enjoy being in his situation as far as playing in the last year of a contract and risking the loss of millions due to exactly what happened. He literally lost millions of dollars getting injured.

I still don't like how eight of years of giving it his all on the field and being a model citizen is all forgotten for one year of being angry with a hard situation. The way some of you tossed out all he had done after one instance of anger is exactly why players cannot worry about fans. They turn at the drop of a dime. One thing some fans don't agree with and suddenly they're tossing out insults, wanting to get rid of them, and talking about them like they're subhuman and did some horrible crime. I guess in this era of outrage, it's par for the course.

I have no desire or reason to participate, This is nothing more to me but a guy venting after losing millions of dollars and possibly his career due to a team playing hardball in business. He played eight years of great ball. He was a very instrumental part of Seattle's first Super Bowl, the best player on a legendary secondary that made it all work. I'm more sad to see his career here end the way it did than angry at Earl. After a broken leg and a frustrating financial year that probably had him stressed out, I can sympathize with his reaction and not take it personally.

Earl seems like a good guy to me. No off the field troubles. He takes care of his family. I never once saw less than 100% from him on the field. It's more than most humans do, even most taking shots at him right now while he's down.

You're exagurating again. No one called Earl a piece of garbage. For my part, I have said that I understand that it was perhaps an emotional, hot blooded response and that he's just venting his frustration at being injured. I'm just differing from you and several others that are making excuses for him and think that it's acceptable behavior to make obscene gestures on national TV.

[c_hawkbob]

Holding out during the offseason and preseason is in fact very minor. Making it known that you want to finish your career with the team you grew up a fan of is very minor. None of it amounts to anything more than 'a bad look' to things that maybe could have been handled better. And I think you are trying to paint Earl as a piece of garbage you seem 100% focused what he's done wrong.

That finger is so much nothing it's laughable. Pure frustration in the heat of the moment. It's a shrug and move on kind of a thing.

An apology wouldn't out of place, but i don't think he owes one to anybody.

[idhawkman]

Not for nothing, but I was just reminded that Thomas left millions on the table when he signed his last contract... between 2 and 5 million a year, to help Seattle retain their talent.

Not an argument, just something pertinent imho... I had completely forgotten about it.

I don't believe that. He was the highest paid Safety at the time he signed it.

[NorthHawk]

Here's a link to an article that talks about ET and Bell that for the most part describes how I feel about it.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/279 ... m=referral

[HumanCockroach]

What you or I "believe" is irrelevant.

[idhawkman]

What you or I "believe" is irrelevant.

So being the highest paid at your position is leaving money on the table. Got it.

[HumanCockroach]

Lmao... it is if you can leave the Seahawks and get more money, which is exactly what happened. When you are setting the bar, there isn't a "limit", you get what the market pays, insisting that because he was the highest paid FS for a month or a year so he couldn't have been paid more somewhere else, so he didn't give a hometown discount, is ridiculous, but more than that, it's false.

[idhawkman]

Lmao... it is if you can leave the Seahawks and get more money, which is exactly what happened. When you are setting the bar, there isn't a "limit", you get what the market pays, insisting that because he was the highest paid FS for a month or a year so he couldn't have been paid more somewhere else, so he didn't give a hometown discount, is ridiculous, but more than that, it's false.

What exactly happened? He left the Seahawks for more money? I didn't think so since he is here now. Saying that he "could have" is just bunk and you know it.

[HumanCockroach]

Lmao...
Sure, whatever makes you feel better about your hate.

[obiken]

ID I feel your feelings and I agree with a lot of them. However, the Hawks have own a lot this as well. They caved on the Kam Chancellor situation and it bit them in the AZZ, Now He expected the same treatment, not a bad expectation. 2 things however, 1 with all the rule changes in the NFL, the dynamic has changed. Offense rules, defense drools. 2. No way that they were going back to the original policy after Cam got hurt. The players who want guaranteed contract, better be prepared to strike or be a QB, or NOT play defense. What Earl forgot is how lucky they all are to be making millions instead of scratching the earth for a living like the rest of us chickens. Those who pay 200 bucks minimal for seats at QF, (I am guessing never been there) are for the most part, in the latter category. When I lived in Seattle in 76-84, tickets were 20 bucks. My wage was 5 bucks an hour. The tickets were 4X the cost of my wage. Now unless you make 50 bucks an hour, its more like 8X the cost of a good wage. Earl is done, I wish him well, but too bad!

Retired Chicken!

[idhawkman]

Lmao...
Sure, whatever makes you feel better about your hate.

Ditto.

[idhawkman]

ID I feel your feelings and I agree with a lot of them. However, the Hawks have own a lot this as well. They caved on the Kam Chancellor situation and it bit them in the AZZ, Now He expected the same treatment, not a bad expectation. 2 things however, 1 with all the rule changes in the NFL, the dynamic has changed. Offense rules, defense drools. 2. No way that they were going back to the original policy after Cam got hurt. The players who want guaranteed contract, better be prepared to strike or be a QB, or NOT play defense. What Earl forgot is how lucky they all are to be making millions instead of scratching the earth for a living like the rest of us chickens. Those who pay 200 bucks minimal for seats at QF, (I am guessing never been there) are for the most part, in the latter category. When I lived in Seattle in 76-84, tickets were 20 bucks. My wage was 5 bucks an hour. The tickets were 4X the cost of my wage. Now unless you make 50 bucks an hour, its more like 8X the cost of a good wage. Earl is done, I wish him well, but too bad!

Retired Chicken!

Good post Obi. I wonder how much his agent is to blame also. Did his agent tell him he could get x, y, or z? Did his agent update Earl as to the market for him? Was his friends talking in his ear also? It just seems to me that Earl tried a power play and it bit him.

[RiverDog]

ID I feel your feelings and I agree with a lot of them. However, the Hawks have own a lot this as well. They caved on the Kam Chancellor situation and it bit them in the AZZ, Now He expected the same treatment, not a bad expectation. 2 things however, 1 with all the rule changes in the NFL, the dynamic has changed. Offense rules, defense drools. 2. No way that they were going back to the original policy after Cam got hurt. The players who want guaranteed contract, better be prepared to strike or be a QB, or NOT play defense. What Earl forgot is how lucky they all are to be making millions instead of scratching the earth for a living like the rest of us chickens. Those who pay 200 bucks minimal for seats at QF, (I am guessing never been there) are for the most part, in the latter category. When I lived in Seattle in 76-84, tickets were 20 bucks. My wage was 5 bucks an hour. The tickets were 4X the cost of my wage. Now unless you make 50 bucks an hour, its more like 8X the cost of a good wage. Earl is done, I wish him well, but too bad!

Retired Chicken!

Regarding the exponential increase in ticket prices, a friend and I bought two Seahawk season tickets in 1984 for $15/seat for 10 games. They were pretty bad seats, at the very top of the 300 level and off the corner of the end zone, but not behind the goal posts. Each year, we gradually moved up in seating priority, and when we finally cried uncle and gave them up in 1996, our seats were on the 100 level, 35 yard line, and about 25 rows up from the stadium floor. Those seats would be considered club seats in today's NFL, and cost around $500/game.

Your $200 for minimal seats are about right, at least tickets bought off the secondary markets, which didn't exist when my buddy and I gave up our season tickets. It used to be that similar to baseball, you could take a family of 4 to a game and not spend more than $100 for tickets. Nowadays, it's cost prohibitive for a working stiff to take his family to an NFL game.

I share Obi's sentiments about multi million dollar players holding out for more money. It simply does not resonate with Joe Six Pack, which is one of the reasons why I contend that the modern day professional athlete is out of touch with their fans.

[idhawkman]

Regarding the exponential increase in ticket prices, a friend and I bought two Seahawk season tickets in 1984 for $15/seat for 10 games. They were pretty bad seats, at the very top of the 300 level and off the corner of the end zone, but not behind the goal posts. Each year, we gradually moved up in seating priority, and when we finally cried uncle and gave them up in 1996, our seats were on the 100 level, 35 yard line, and about 25 rows up from the stadium floor. Those seats would be considered club seats in today's NFL, and cost around $500/game.

Your $200 for minimal seats are about right, at least tickets bought off the secondary markets, which didn't exist when my buddy and I gave up our season tickets. It used to be that similar to baseball, you could take a family of 4 to a game and not spend more than $100 for tickets. Nowadays, it's cost prohibitive for a working stiff to take his family to an NFL game.

I share Obi's sentiments about multi million dollar players holding out for more money. It simply does not resonate with Joe Six Pack, which is one of the reasons why I contend that the modern day professional athlete is out of touch with their fans.

You both are spot on in your assessments.

I have one modification for your post though. Most Joe 6-packs are now Joe Keg since their 6 packs turned into a keg (speaking of their abs that is.)

[Aseahawkfan]

You're exagurating again. No one called Earl a piece of garbage. For my part, I have said that I understand that it was perhaps an emotional, hot blooded response and that he's just venting his frustration at being injured. I'm just differing from you and several others that are making excuses for him and think that it's acceptable behavior to make obscene gestures on national TV.

burtonnn called him a piece of garbage. Did he change his earlier post?

[burrrton]

burtonnn called him a piece of garbage. Did he change his earlier post?

*sigh*

It's an old proverb, but I'll admit to a bit of overreaction. Only a bit (I still say good riddance to his ass if he wants to say "F you" to my team), but I could have chosen my words more advisedly.

Better?

[HumanCockroach]

I'd agree with that argument about it not belonging on TV, but find the fire to get offended when multiple beloved Seattle stars and coaches have done the same, without a peep from various offended people... there's a hypocracy there I can't get on board with.... what Thomas did certainly wasn't classy, but surely it's no less classy than Baldwin pooping out a football in the SB, lynch grabbing his junk, or both of them flipping off people during various games ( not to mention the head coaches itchy nose middle finger gestures towards officials) if those instances are an "eh, whatever" without the amount lost, injury etc as Thomas' ..then I lack the ability to be upset.

I don't hate a businessman for doing what Joe Sixpack would and has done ( ie get what he can, while he can) nor do I lose it when a team does what they have to, but the ire directed at a person doing so, is quite frankly shocking, and disappointing. Villafying someone because they make more, and are attempting to do what every single working person does, simply out of jealousy of the amount they already make ( while ignoring moves by billionaires) seems to be "less in touch with Joe sixpack " than the players...

I've often wondered if it's more of a "how dare you not get used by your employer, or at the very least, suck it up, and forgo your opportunities" resentment instead of some sort of induced upon moral question...

[Aseahawkfan]

I'd agree with that argument about it not belonging on TV, but find the fire to get offended when multiple beloved Seattle stars and coaches have done the same, without a peep from various offended people... there's a hypocracy there I can't get on board with.... what Thomas did certainly wasn't classy, but surely it's no less classy than Baldwin pooping out a football in the SB, lynch grabbing his junk, or both of them flipping off people during various games ( not to mention the head coaches itchy nose middle finger gestures towards officials) if those instances are an "eh, whatever" without the amount lost, injury etc as Thomas' ..then I lack the ability to be upset.

I don't hate a businessman for doing what Joe Sixpack would and has done ( ie get what he can, while he can) nor do I lose it when a team does what they have to, but the ire directed at a person doing so, is quite frankly shocking, and disappointing. Villafying someone because they make more, and are attempting to do what every single working person does, simply out of jealousy of the amount they already make ( while ignoring moves by billionaires) seems to be "less in touch with Joe sixpack " than the players...

I've often wondered if it's more of a "how dare you not get used by your employer, or at the very least, suck it up, and forgo your opportunities" resentment instead of some sort of induced upon moral question...

Joe Six-pack likes to act outraged even while Joe Six-pack has done plenty of crap that would invite worse censure if their life was on TV. This ridiculous expectation of perfect behavior is part and parcel of the live video age. There was always an element of it, but it's reached these levels because of the camera always on and always watching and reporting. Journalism gone amok and everyone watching waiting to voice their opinion on a forum, thread, or social media.

[Aseahawkfan]

*sigh*

It's an old proverb, but I'll admit to a bit of overreaction. Only a bit (I still say good riddance to his ass if he wants to say "F you" to my team), but I could have chosen my words more advisedly.

Better?

You mean like a person feeling angry for what they perceive as a wrong directed towards them? Imagine that. Someone making an offensive comment or gesture in a moment anger must be fairly common, eh, especially after someone broken their leg and having their entire career in question as well as losing millions of dollars of market value. All it took was one finger to set you and Idhawkman off, yet Earl had a lot more reason to be angry.

People can complain about holdouts and such all they like. If they lost millions of dollars on a twist of fate, they'd be just as unhappy and pissed off even if they did manage to control expressing their anger in the heat of the moment. Joe Six-Pack don't like to lose money any more than millionaire athlete. No matter how it is framed, Earl lost millions from that injury.

[NorthHawk]

Earl will still get paid his salary, I believe, so he isn't out of any money this year. He has lost a chance to go to a team that has a better chance at making the playoffs - and maybe a new contract from them.
I've read a couple of comments in articles that suggest the bidding for his services next year could be robust, but others think that 2 leg breaks in 3 years of the same area of the same leg might hold some teams
back from otherwise making a more substantial offer.
We'll see how this plays out and who is right in the next 6 - 8 months.

[burrrton]

You mean like a person feeling angry for what they perceive as a wrong directed towards them?

Whether you think he should have been re-signed or not (I'm agnostic), it's ridiculous to characterize the team's reluctance to blow up their cap as a "wrong". As such, him telling the team "f*ck you" over it is only going to get derision and disgust from me.

Again, with the passage of time, I've softened and will give him more latitude for an emotional reaction at an emotional time, but that doesn't change what he did and why he did it.

All it took was one finger to set you and Idhawkman off, yet Earl had a lot more reason to be angry.

Yes, that's typically what flipping off my favorite team will do.

[RiverDog]

You mean like a person feeling angry for what they perceive as a wrong directed towards them? Imagine that. Someone making an offensive comment or gesture in a moment anger must be fairly common, eh, especially after someone broken their leg and having their entire career in question as well as losing millions of dollars of market value. All it took was one finger to set you and Idhawkman off, yet Earl had a lot more reason to be angry.

People can complain about holdouts and such all they like. If they lost millions of dollars on a twist of fate, they'd be just as unhappy and pissed off even if they did manage to control expressing their anger in the heat of the moment. Joe Six-Pack don't like to lose money any more than millionaire athlete. No matter how it is framed, Earl lost millions from that injury.

If it were just this one incident, ie Earl flipping off the bench (Coach Carroll), I might not be as critical. The problem for me was that it wasn't just this incident, it was a pattern of behavior that culminated in his gesture to the bench in front of a TV audience, many being very impressionable young fans.

Earl seeked out an opponent's head coach immediately after a game and asked him to "come get me." Surely in this day and age of instant communications, he can be a little more subtle than that. Next, he didn't participate in any team activities while he was still under contract, tells the team to either pay him or trade him. Yea, I know, it's all part of the business, or so they say. Go tell that to Steeler fans. Then Earl reports, and makes sure to tell everyone that he feels disrespected, and that he won't forget it (wait a minute: Didn't we just say that this was a business? Sounds like Earl is making it sound more personal than business.). Then he refuses to participate in a practice. IMO very childish

Earl is one of the top 4 or 5 players in our team's history and was a huge part of the most successful era of Seahawk football ever, helped us to our first and only Lombardi, and for that, I'll be forever grateful. But his exit has been bitter and classless. Hopefully time will heal these wounds.

[burrrton]

Early was flipping off the organization, not Pete. Oops.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/2491 ... individual

[RiverDog]

Early was flipping off the organization, not Pete. Oops.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/2491 ... individual

Thanks for the lesson, Earl. The next time I get mad at the owner for their outrageous beer prices, I'll flip off the bartender. I'll let you know how it goes.

[burrrton]

Thanks for the lesson, Earl. The next time I get mad at the owner for their outrageous beer prices, I'll flip off the bartender. I'll let you know how it goes.

And to take the analogy further, the owner had to raise beer prices because alcohol taxes went up.

[c_hawkbob]

Thanks for the lesson, Earl. The next time I get mad at the owner for their outrageous beer prices, I'll flip off the bartender. I'll let you know how it goes.

And to take the analogy further, the owner had to raise beer prices because alcohol taxes went up.

That only holds true if the taxes are going up faster than the owner's profits, and we know that ain't happening.

As for who Earl was flipping off; duh!

[Sox-n-hawks]

Who cares who he was flipping off? What a classless way to go out. He could have bowed out graciously and taken a contract with another team. His attitude in this situation may impact any future contracts with other teams.

[c_hawkbob]

Who cares who he was flipping off? What a classless way to go out. He could have bowed out graciously and taken a contract with another team. His attitude in this situation may impact any future contracts with other teams.

It ain't gonna impact sh!t with future contracts. The only people with their panties in a bunch over that finger are fans. It means nothing to football people.

[Sox-n-hawks]

Bob...

Then why is Kaep jobless?

[c_hawkbob]

Bob...

Then why is Kaep jobless?

Because he's a back up QB that thinks he's still a starter. If he'd been willing to compete for our backup QB position instead of wanting to compete with Russ for our starting position he'd be a Seahawk now.

[Sox-n-hawks]

Fake news

[c_hawkbob]

Fake news

The modern "I don't have a real response" cop out.

I watched Pete's presser following the visit with Kap, I know it ain't fake news.