Sam

[SoulfishHawk]

Oh I'm happy for the win and #1, but not blinded by it.

No, you're not at all. Again, FFS. How in the world could ANY Hawks fan not be stoked about this win?

 

[SoulfishHawk]

You're hilarious, Darnold is Geno with red hair and freckles. Only thing keeping the Hawks where they are is the D and the kicker.

Darnold was 14-2 last year, how did he do under pressure in the playoffs?

If Darnold wins a playoff game I will, give him props. But until then he is still a backup QB that chokes under pressure.

And don't label tonight's game as a "pressure game" Darnold was never under pressure the D kept him on the field and still only managed 1 TD and 2 FGs.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Says the guy who just got here in 2025. I probably have socks older than you.

To me #1 means jack if you can't get to the OWL. I don't like Darnold, think hes a choker and until he proves me wrong my opinion won't change.

You do you.

They haven't played the games yet. JFC man, stop fricken whining. Just listen to yourself. We don't give a crap how unhappy YOU are. This wasn't a pressure game??? Have a damn Snickers bar already. You're moaning about games THAT HAVEN'T HAPPENED YET. The adults are talking. Some of us are enjoying a MASSIVE win

 

[Streamhawk]

See that Charbs interview? Everyone is sick of it.

Yep. I could see him just rolling his eyes immediately. Love it.

 

[Lagartixa]

Darnold has worked out better than I expected, but we still shouldn't pretend he's more than he really is, which was going on a lot around here in the early-to-middle part of the season.

The way I see it now is that Darnold is nowhere near a top-tier quarterback and never will be, but on his current contract, he's actually a pretty good value. And I still thought that after the Darnover on downs after having first and goal at the one last night, failing to see a wide-open guy (Charbonnet, I'm pretty sure) for a sure TD, taking an 11-yard unnecessary sack, and then the pass nowhere near anyone on fourth and goal.

Yes, there are very good reasons Darnold doesn't get paid like a top-tier QB, but that doesn't mean the Seahawks can't build a champion team around a just-good-enough QB on a contract that's sufficiently less expensive than the contracts of this season's best QBs (except Maye, who's on a rookie contract and is one of the top five QBs in the league this season, so the f****n' Patriots have a nice little window open right now).

My position since very early in the season is that Darnold is just good enough for this team, despite the bonehead Darnovers and the unnecessary sacks (both products of his "slow processer," which is a polite way of saying he's not as smart as top QBs). He's got a strong arm and the Vikings showed he can be quite accurate if he's reined in and kept to a specific game plan. When left to his own devices, he's the total stiff and draft bust with poor throwing accuracy he was for the first six seasons of his career. When held to a game plan that takes advantages of his strengths and minimizes the opportunities for his "slow processor" to screw things up, he can be an effective NFL QB, and the difference in cap hits between his current contract and those of the top QBs is big enough that Darnold on his current contract is a solid value around whom a title contender can be built.

The only thing about that is that we have to take the stupid Darnovers in the red zone and the "how did you not throw that away?" sacks with the good things. Hell yeah, it's frustrating when the Seahawks offense scores a total of 13 points with zero passing TDs against a defense that just allowed 24 points to the Titans and 27 to the Colts with the desiccated remains of Philip Rivers at quarterback. But it doesn't matter, because the Seahawks roster is built in a way that doesn't depend on them having a top-few-in-the-league QB.

The Seahawks are going into the playoffs with a great defense, solid special teams (and I even trust Myers despite an absolutely awful game from him last night, with a missed FG at reasonable distance, a missed chip-shot FG, and a bizarre kickoff that gave the 49ers the ball at the 40, the start of the only drive in the game on which the 49ers scored), and an offense that I still see the same way I did mid-season: "JSN and some guys." The thing is that "JSN and some guys" might just be a good-enough offense to win a title this season with this team's defense and special teams.

The only thing the Seahawks must not do is get excited about this season's 14-3 record (and any playoff success that comes) and give Darnold an extension that makes his cap hits bigger. On a top-of-the-league contract, he'd be a total albatross, but he's good enough that his current contract is a good deal for the Seahawks.

 

[Streamhawk]

Sucks that you're not happy winning the first seed and NFC West championship since 2020. You must be the life of the parties.

Burn.

 

[Jac]

Why would a team that went 14-2 get rid of they're QB? Think about.

The Vikings offered him a contract that was similar to Seattle's offer. It was just a one-year commitment though because they eventually wanted to get their first rounder on the field. Seattle's offer was multi-year. The narrative that the Vikings wanted to get rid of Darnold is false.

 

[Jac]

Darnold has worked out better than I expected, but we still shouldn't pretend he's more than he really is, which was going on a lot around here in the early-to-middle part of the season.

The way I see it now is that Darnold is nowhere near a top-tier quarterback and never will be, but on his current contract, he's actually a pretty good value.

That maybe so but if you look around the league, that elite QB tier has evaporated. Stafford's on his last legs, and then you have Maye. That's the NFL's elite tier right now. Like you allude to, teams that are paying nearly $60M/year for a 'not elite tier' QB are at a big disadvantage.

 

[themunn]

his "record" of not winning a big game was 2. 2 games. Total

Narrative has been greatly overblown

He's not perfect, but we can win with him and he's tough. Glad we have him too

It's not 2 and it never was.

Every game we have played since we lost to the Rams has been a "big game" evidenced by the fact that we *STILL* needed to win in order to take the division and 1 seed in week 18.

Same with Darnold's Vikings when his 12-2 Vikings came to Lumen to face our 8-6 Seahawks at Lumen when we were still chasing the division, or the following week when his 13-2 Vikes played the 11-4 Packers, needing to win to stay in the division fight?

It's nonsense - his team ultimately just lost 2 road games to 2 teams that were better than his

 

[Hawkpower]

Had the fumble been recovered by SF or not had a ball tipped near to goal line for a int those 13 points would probably come up short.

Your explanation acts like they blew the opportunities they had on purpose and did only enough to win. Nice spin but if the Offense doesn't improve it will be a short run.

If those things had happened, the nuance of the game changes, and offensively we’d have made different choices

We moved the ball at will. I have no doubt Seattle would have put more points up if needed

 

[glenwo2]

Darnold has worked out better than I expected, but we still shouldn't pretend he's more than he really is, which was going on a lot around here in the early-to-middle part of the season.

The way I see it now is that Darnold is nowhere near a top-tier quarterback and never will be, but on his current contract, he's actually a pretty good value. And I still thought that after the Darnover on downs after having first and goal at the one last night, failing to see a wide-open guy (Charbonnet, I'm pretty sure) for a sure TD, taking an 11-yard unnecessary sack, and then the pass nowhere near anyone on fourth and goal.

Yes, there are very good reasons Darnold doesn't get paid like a top-tier QB, but that doesn't mean the Seahawks can't build a champion team around a just-good-enough QB on a contract that's sufficiently less expensive than the contracts of this season's best QBs (except Maye, who's on a rookie contract and is one of the top five QBs in the league this season, so the f****n' Patriots have a nice little window open right now).

My position since very early in the season is that Darnold is just good enough for this team, despite the bonehead Darnovers and the unnecessary sacks (both products of his "slow processer," which is a polite way of saying he's not as smart as top QBs). He's got a strong arm and the Vikings showed he can be quite accurate if he's reined in and kept to a specific game plan. When left to his own devices, he's the total stiff and draft bust with poor throwing accuracy he was for the first six seasons of his career. When held to a game plan that takes advantages of his strengths and minimizes the opportunities for his "slow processor" to screw things up, he can be an effective NFL QB, and the difference in cap hits between his current contract and those of the top QBs is big enough that Darnold on his current contract is a solid value around whom a title contender can be built.

The only thing about that is that we have to take the stupid Darnovers in the red zone and the "how did you not throw that away?" sacks with the good things. Hell yeah, it's frustrating when the Seahawks offense scores a total of 13 points with zero passing TDs against a defense that just allowed 24 points to the Titans and 27 to the Colts with the desiccated remains of Philip Rivers at quarterback. But it doesn't matter, because the Seahawks roster is built in a way that doesn't depend on them having a top-few-in-the-league QB.

The Seahawks are going into the playoffs with a great defense, solid special teams (and I even trust Myers despite an absolutely awful game from him last night, with a missed FG at reasonable distance, a missed chip-shot FG, and a bizarre kickoff that gave the 49ers the ball at the 40, the start of the only drive in the game on which the 49ers scored), and an offense that I still see the same way I did mid-season: "JSN and some guys." The thing is that "JSN and some guys" might just be a good-enough offense to win a title this season with this team's defense and special teams.

The only thing the Seahawks must not do is get excited about this season's 14-3 record (and any playoff success that comes) and give Darnold an extension that makes his cap hits bigger. On a top-of-the-league contract, he'd be a total albatross, but he's good enough that his current contract is a good deal for the Seahawks.

Okay first off, the "Darnover" nickname for the turnovers is lame as hell. I just physically cringed reading that.

So now that THAT'S out of the way....

Let me focus on the real part of what pisses me off about your post and it's not all that bad as you do bring up solid points.


But here's the one that really makes me wonder what exactly were you thinking?

The only thing the Seahawks must not do is get excited about this season's 14-3 record (and any playoff success that comes) and give Darnold an extension that makes his cap hits bigger. On a top-of-the-league contract, he'd be a total albatross, but he's good enough that his current contract is a good deal for the Seahawks.

What in the flying f--k is this?

First off, you're saying we should NOT GET EXCITED about the 14-3 record and any playoff success that comes?

If there is playoff Success, Sam Darnold will play a big part in that success whether you like it or not.

And as far as contracts go, don't you think we should leave that decision-making up to Schneider and stop Armchair-GM'ing?

And besides, isn't the Cap going up every year?

Last I checked the base cap is going up around $295-$307 million this year; a jump from the 2025 cap of around 279 million.

So if Schneider decides to give Sam a goddamn raise, bonus, or whatever (even an extension), then give him the money and term. It won't be an albatross by ANY means.

If you think it would be, then that's just your opinion, man.

I'll leave the contract stuff to the professionals and that ain't people here on NET.

 

[JPatera76]

Okay first off, the "Darnover" nickname for the turnovers is lame as hell. I just physically cringed reading that.

So now that THAT'S out of the way....

Let me focus on the real part of what pisses me off about your post and it's not all that bad as you do bring up solid points.


But here's the one that really makes me wonder what exactly were you thinking?



What in the flying f--k is this?

First off, you're saying we should NOT GET EXCITED about the 14-3 record and any playoff success that comes?

If there is playoff Success, Sam Darnold will play a big part in that success whether you like it or not.

And as far as contracts go, don't you think we should leave that decision-making up to Schneider and stop Armchair-GM'ing?

And besides, isn't the Cap going up every year?

Last I checked the base cap is going up around $295-$307 million this year; a jump from the 2025 cap of around 279 million.

So if Schneider decides to give Sam a goddamn raise, bonus, or whatever (even an extension), then give him the money and term. It won't be an albatross by ANY means.

If you think it would be, then that's just your opinion, man.

I'll leave the contract stuff to the professionals and that ain't people here on NET.

yeah **** the boys for celebrating a record season.. smdh some people love to live inn misery and actively find reasons to not be happy. Im sure its exhausting. Don't let the dorks get to you.

Same goes for everyone else here. Don't let the debbie downers get y'all down or get to you. They'll fade away into obscurity. Just question their "fandom" lol dont do that they tend to weed themselves out. Like John63

 

[sutz]

The real questionable call wasn't the pass play on 1st and goal. Shit happens. People ranting on that call are harking back to SB49. Let it go.

The really bad call on that series was eschewing a chip shot FG on 4th & Goal from the 3 to run a play. I mean WTF?

 

[JPatera76]

The real questionable call wasn't the pass play on 1st and goal. Shit happens. People ranting on that call are harking back to SB49. Let it go.

The really bad call on that series was eschewing a chip shot FG on 4th $ Goal from the 3 to run a play. I mean WTF?

even that for me felt 50/50 only because I like Coach Mike getting points anywhere and everywhere he can is also nice.

 

[Hawkerson]

yeah **** the boys for celebrating a record season.. smdh some people love to live inn misery and actively find reasons to not be happy. Im sure its exhausting. Don't let the dorks get to you.

Same goes for everyone else here. Don't let the debbie downers get y'all down or get to you. They'll fade away into obscurity. Just question their "fandom" lol dont do that they tend to weed themselves out. Like John63

It honestly seems like they were actively looking for a loss just so they could have their "GOTCHA" moment on this message board. Instead they have to find other reasons to be miserable. Lol

49er fans disguised in blue and green.

 

[sutz]

The best "nice win, but" post of they year.

 

[JPatera76]

It honestly seems like they were actively looking for a loss just so they could have their "GOTCHA" moment on this message board. Instead they have to find other reasons to be miserable. Lol

49er fans disguised in blue and green.

Yeah.. its pretty common it feels like or has become more and more common. Especially when its players that fans don't like. And don't like usually equates to a player THEY DID LIKE didnt get signed or drafted.

the last part in bold... they eventually tilt their hand are shown the door. We try and stay on it. If they're respectful, whatever. If not bye bye.

 

[JPatera76]

The best "nice win, but" post of they year.

BINGO!! lolol

 

[HawkRiderFan]

Reading this thread reminds me of Major League when the teams doing well and all of Cleveland is excited but those 2 groundskeepers are stubbornly saying "they're still sh***y". I guess we all need comic relief

 

[keasley45]

Darnold has worked out better than I expected, but we still shouldn't pretend he's more than he really is, which was going on a lot around here in the early-to-middle part of the season.

The way I see it now is that Darnold is nowhere near a top-tier quarterback and never will be, but on his current contract, he's actually a pretty good value. And I still thought that after the Darnover on downs after having first and goal at the one last night, failing to see a wide-open guy (Charbonnet, I'm pretty sure) for a sure TD, taking an 11-yard unnecessary sack, and then the pass nowhere near anyone on fourth and goal.

Yes, there are very good reasons Darnold doesn't get paid like a top-tier QB, but that doesn't mean the Seahawks can't build a champion team around a just-good-enough QB on a contract that's sufficiently less expensive than the contracts of this season's best QBs (except Maye, who's on a rookie contract and is one of the top five QBs in the league this season, so the f****n' Patriots have a nice little window open right now).

My position since very early in the season is that Darnold is just good enough for this team, despite the bonehead Darnovers and the unnecessary sacks (both products of his "slow processer," which is a polite way of saying he's not as smart as top QBs). He's got a strong arm and the Vikings showed he can be quite accurate if he's reined in and kept to a specific game plan. When left to his own devices, he's the total stiff and draft bust with poor throwing accuracy he was for the first six seasons of his career. When held to a game plan that takes advantages of his strengths and minimizes the opportunities for his "slow processor" to screw things up, he can be an effective NFL QB, and the difference in cap hits between his current contract and those of the top QBs is big enough that Darnold on his current contract is a solid value around whom a title contender can be built.

The only thing about that is that we have to take the stupid Darnovers in the red zone and the "how did you not throw that away?" sacks with the good things. Hell yeah, it's frustrating when the Seahawks offense scores a total of 13 points with zero passing TDs against a defense that just allowed 24 points to the Titans and 27 to the Colts with the desiccated remains of Philip Rivers at quarterback. But it doesn't matter, because the Seahawks roster is built in a way that doesn't depend on them having a top-few-in-the-league QB.

The Seahawks are going into the playoffs with a great defense, solid special teams (and I even trust Myers despite an absolutely awful game from him last night, with a missed FG at reasonable distance, a missed chip-shot FG, and a bizarre kickoff that gave the 49ers the ball at the 40, the start of the only drive in the game on which the 49ers scored), and an offense that I still see the same way I did mid-season: "JSN and some guys." The thing is that "JSN and some guys" might just be a good-enough offense to win a title this season with this team's defense and special teams.

The only thing the Seahawks must not do is get excited about this season's 14-3 record (and any playoff success that comes) and give Darnold an extension that makes his cap hits bigger. On a top-of-the-league contract, he'd be a total albatross, but he's good enough that his current contract is a good deal for the Seahawks.

The challenge with building with Darnold will be that he will ALWAYS need an elite defense and running game to succeed. That should sound familiar to everyone who was a fan during the PC years.

So Darnold is as good as his defense and running game permit him to be, which is a challenge, because if he succeeds and puts up top 7 numbers, it's not necessarily because he is worthy of a top 7 salary. And if you make the mistake of paying him as such, you run the risk drawing dollars away from the side of the ball or aspect of the team that TRULY makes things go.

We have been in a similar spot with RW - a QB with incredible talent who was undeniable skilled at certain things, and unquestionably flawed in executing aspects of the position that were necessary for him to warrant top compensation.

Darnold without the Dark Side level defense and Walkernet is similar to Russ without the LOB and Lynch.

It's fine while we can pay everyone, but if we make the mistake of paying Darnold based on what the total sum of the team makes him SEEM to be, we cut our own legs out from under us.

Assuming he doesn't grow at the position, Sam is a very sturdy and reliable bridge to the future that we can mikely rely on for the next 3 or 4 years - or whatever length of time we can keep the team around him operating at an elite level