Seahawks nearly passed on Walter Jones in 1997 draft, until

[ivotuk]

Seahawks nearly passed on Walter Jones in 1997 draft, until Paul Allen came to the rescue

Originally published April 21, 2016 at 11:55 am Updated April 21, 2016 at 2:06 pm

In 1997, Ken Behring owned the team. Allen was considering buying it, but only if the public would approve a new stadium in a vote later that year. Behring agreed to draft Jones under one condition: Allen had to pay for him even though he didn’t own the team yet.

By Jayson Jenks
Seattle Times staff reporter

Editor’s note: This is the second of two stories looking back at draft-day decisions that shaped the future of the Seahawks — one that worked out well and one that didn’t.

The first story looked at the 1991 decision to pick QB Dan McGwire over Brett Favre. Today we go back to 1997, when the Seahawks nearly passed on left tackle Walter Jones.

The Seahawks almost didn’t draft Walter Jones because of money — until Paul Allen stepped in.

Walter Jones almost wasn’t a Seahawk, which is crazy because A) Walter Jones is in the Hall of Fame as a Seahawk, and B) he might be the best player in the team’s 40-year history.


https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sea ... he-rescue/

 

[ivotuk]

By the numbers

Some key numbers from Hall of Fame left tackle Walter Jones’ 12-year Seahawks career:

180: Games played.

9: Holding penalties in 5,703 Seahawks pass attempts.

23: Sacks allowed.

 

[Seahawk Sailor]

It puts a smile on my face knowing Behring had to live with knowing how that story turned out for the rest of his life.

 

[Maulbert]

It's funny, Orlando Pace was the top pick that year, and was considered far more polished than Jones, but Jones was believed to have a higher ceiling (though assumedly a much lower floor). Jones was the first HoFer out of that draft, and justifiably so. The only tackle of that era who might have been better was Jonathan Ogden, and Jones couldn't take NSAIDs. I can't imagine the day-to-day pain he went through. A true legend of the game.

 

[titan3131]

It's funny, Orlando Pace was the top pick that year, and was considered far more polished than Jones, but Jones was believed to have a higher ceiling (though assumedly a much lower floor). Jones was the first HoFer out of that draft, and justifiably so. The only tackle of that era who might have been better was Jonathan Ogden, and Jones couldn't take NSAIDs. I can't imagine the day-to-day pain he went through. A true legend of the game.

Just an FYI - Not being able to take Nsaids was a net positive for Jones. There is a Scientific consensus on the effects of nsaids and muscle recovery / performance.

"The long-term use of over-the-counter (OTC) anti-inflammatory drugs can inhibit muscle growth in young, healthy individuals engaging in weight training"

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2 ... 125123.htm

Weight training and all physical sports is an inherently inflammatory process; Inflammation is a good thing in most natural cases. As long as the body is given the proper nutrients, sleep, recovery time.

Not being able to take pain pills would have built his pain tolerance up as well.

He was the GOAT.