The Hawkstorian's All-Time Numeric Roster

hawksfansinceday1

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I simply cannot get onboard with Branch, even though he did have a better career than Rabes. It reminds me far too much of Timmmmaaaaay's (many) failures. Steve gets my vote.
 

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hawksfansinceday1":g0ec7zcq said:
I simply cannot get onboard with Branch, even though he did have a better career than Rabes. It reminds me far too much of Timmmmaaaaay's (many) failures. Steve gets my vote.

This. And I even own a #83 Branch jersey. Looking at that list, it's hard to believe Branch was that successful in comparison. Would never have called it. But yea, my vote goes for Raible too, if nothing more than for his work since.
 
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I'm OK with letting sentimentality sway a decision when it's close ... but c'mon here. 68 career receptions for 1,017 yards and 3 TDs (plus one on special teams) vs. 190/2347/15 in 33 fewer games. Not sure why anyone would dislike Branch. It's not his fault NE scalped a #1 pick for him. That was Ruskell's fault.
 

hawksfansinceday1

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Hawkstorian":a7pcqnr2 said:
I'm OK with letting sentimentality sway a decision when it's close ... but c'mon here. 68 career receptions for 1,017 yards and 3 TDs (plus one on special teams) vs. 190/2347/15 in 33 fewer games. Not sure why anyone would dislike Branch. It's not his fault NE scalped a #1 pick for him. That was Ruskell's fault.
And I agree with you on all fronts man. It's not Branch's fault that he represents part of what was wrong with the Ruskell regime. He was easily the best player to wear the number, no question. But if this were a vote, I simply could not vote for the guy. The terrible Timmy years just are too difficult for me to overcome on this deal. If I'm in your shoes, I do the same thing you did. But I'm just 'the fan' commenting on your (most excellent) thread so thus, no to Deion for me. Pure sentimentality.
 
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#82
FirstLastCollegePosYearsGamesStarts
FredRayhleTenn-ChattanoogaTE197710
MarkBellColorado StateTE-DE1979-1982402
PaulSkansiWashingtonWR1984-19911042
FerrellEdmundsMarylandTE1993-19942323
JamesMcKnightLibertyWR1994-1998608
CharlesJordanLong Beach CityWR199941
DarrellJacksonFloridaWR2000-200610397
JordanKentOregonWR2007-200891
RuvellMartinSaginaw Valley St.WR201061
DominiqueByrdSouthern CalTE201110
EvanMooreStanfordTE2012141
LukeWillsonRiceTE2013197

**edited because I had an errant Heller on there**

Mid-way through the 1977 season the Seahawks picked up a TE named Fred Rayhle who had been in camp with Dallas as an undrafted free agent. Rayhle played one game then was placed on IR. He came back to training camp in 1978 but didn't last much longer than that. The stories of our all-time players are sometimes quite rich, and sometimes they are just guys who got a brief shot and then disappeared. Part of why I put my heart into this project is I believe every player who wore a Seahawk jersey, however briefly, at least deserves to be acknowledged.

The next #82 was Mark Bell, who was drafted as a TE but converted to DE after spending the 1981 season on IR. He is the only player in team history to have a sack and catch a pass in his Seahawk career (as far as my limited research can tell). When mentioning Sam Clancy I mistakenly said Clancy was the only DL in team history to wear a number in the 80s, but Bell was another. Clancy was another TE convert which explains it.

The most recent #82 is Luke Willson, who should be the first player in a few season to wears that number in consecutive years.

Paul Skansi is a legendary Seahawk -- the original third down master and one of Dave Krieg's most consistent targets. He also was cut and returned probably more than any other player in team history. Skansi was on the receiving end of one of the greatest games in team history as Dave Krieg eluded a record 8th sack from Derrick Thomas to win in Kansas City. Skansi would certainly be worthy of the MVP at this number if it wasn't for...

JacksonBrownsSprinkler03pic

Darrell Jackson currently sits 3rd in all-time receiving yards and 2nd in TD receptions with 47. For comparison the highest ranking current Seahawk in TD catches is Golden Tate. He has 15. Jackson was the number one target of Matt Hasselbeck and established himself as an all-time Seahawk. He definitely has his own personality, and had some bad spurts of "dropsies", but all is forgiven in my book.
 

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Incredible thread. Perhaps the best I've seen on ANY forum. i would have to respectfully disagree with you on a few selections. Selecting on stats is not always the indicator of the most valuable, 82 for example, disappointing Darrell had to much downside to be listed above an all time favorite like Skansi, who gets my vote. I also would elevate Bobby Engram over Galloway, I would prefer Engram in his prime over Joey. Thanks for the entertainment
 
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Hawkstorian":2hdow7ve said:
JacksonBrownsSprinkler03pic

Darrell Jackson currently sits 3rd in all-time receiving yards and 2nd in TD receptions with 47. For comparison the highest ranking current Seahawk in TD catches is Golden Tate. He has 15. Jackson was the number one target of Matt Hasselbeck and established himself as an all-time Seahawk. He definitely has his own personality, and had some bad spurts of "dropsies", but all is forgiven in my book.

A clue as to the origin of the numeric portion of my username...
 
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Thanks, I did get the Rons and Wills smushed together. Will and Ron are both on the #85 list where they belong.
 
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#81
FirstLastCollegePosYearsGamesStarts
JohnMcMakinClemsonTE1976121
JohnSawyerS. MississippiTE1977-19826539
DarylTurnerMichigan StateWR1984-19876240
DonnieDeeTulsaTE198933
TommieKaneSyracuseWR1988-19925737
MichaelBatesArizonaWR1993-1994311
RonnieHarrisOregonWR1994-1998440
BobbyShawCaliforniaWR198810
SeanDawkinsCaliforniaWR1999-20003331
KorenRobinsonNorth Carolina StWR2001-2004,20087165
PeterWarrickFlorida StateWR2005155
NateBurlesonNevadaWR2006-20095034
GoldenTateNotre DameWR2010-20136537

Our first #81 was John McMakin, an expansion draft pick from Detroit. McMakin caught only 9 passes but averaged over 17 yards per catch and scored two TDs.

The next year the Seahawks claimed John "Country" Sawyer off waivers and he eventually became the started. Sawyer caught 84 passes in 5 seasons (he was on IR in '79) but never found the end zone.

After that, we have a list of receivers who all were productive in their own time, but no one who really stands above the rest.

Daryl Turner, Tommie Kane and Koren Robinson may all be better known for challenges off the field than on it. I prefer not to dwell on the details.

Which leaves our more current #81, Golden Tate. In case you think I'm just concerned about numbers when deciding my MVP let me point out that Tate is still 15 yards behind Robinson in all-time receiving, but Tate has been not only performed on the field, his only off-field "incident" pales in comparison the what Robinson subjected himself and the fans to.

Plus, Tate threw a TD pass which elevates his ranking a lot.

It's been too long since a member of the championship team has topped the list, so I present to you:

85550.jpg


tatePR.jpg
 

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More than any other numbers so far I can vividly remember nearly every one of the 81's, from Sawyer's "clutch catches" on 3rd down (none more than 5-7 yds) to Tates touchdown pass. I remember Turner streaking down the field wide open, only to drop the ball (over and over again). I love this thread.
 

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This is such a great read. There are names on here that I had forgotten about or just hadn't heard in awhile. If this were some how turned into a book I would purchase it. Maybe for the 40th anniversary of the Hawks...hmmm.
 
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SChawk":grlohb2d said:
This is such a great read. There are names on here that I had forgotten about or just hadn't heard in awhile. If this were some how turned into a book I would purchase it. Maybe for the 40th anniversary of the Hawks...hmmm.

Very nice of you to say ... but it's a gift. No charge.
 

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Hawkstorian":3a4ff9bi said:
SChawk":3a4ff9bi said:
This is such a great read. There are names on here that I had forgotten about or just hadn't heard in awhile. If this were some how turned into a book I would purchase it. Maybe for the 40th anniversary of the Hawks...hmmm.

Very nice of you to say ... but it's a gift. No charge.
Your time and effort are very appreciated. This is the perfect way to celebrate the Super Bowl, by looking back at our history. I look forward to next number each day!
 
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#80
FirstLastCollegePosYearsGamesStarts
SteveLargentTulsaWR1976-1989207204
JerryRiceMississippi Valley St.WR20041210

Football, and all sports for the matter, uses symbols to establish identity and connection with fans. We see "our guy" in a uniform and we instantly feel like that player is a part of us, even if it's just a guy who was drafted from the deep south who has no desire to be in the northwest. As Jerry Seinfeld astutely pointed out: We're rooting for laundry.

Opposing that reality is the fact that we live in an increasing literal society where symbols are losing their power and I think that's a shame. For some of us, symbols still hold meaning because they point us to deeper truths and emotions. No Green Bay fan ever expected to see Brett Favre in a different jersey. The jersey itself is a symbol.

What if I told you that in 15 years Russell Wilson will be playing out his career in San Diego? Would that upset you? Did San Francisco fans ever dream that one day Jerry Rice would be wearing #80 for the Raiders of all teams? Or Seattle or that matter?

It's a long way of saying why the needless handing of #80 to Jerry Rice still gnaws at me. Steve Largent was my hero growing up, back when boys still had heroes. #80 on the blue jersey was a symbol that held power, and my connection with the man in the jersey helped me grow up into the fan and the man I became. That may sound silly to you but that's because different images mean different things to different people. Today we have a man playing for the Seahawks who for the first time since 1989 seems up to the task of matching what Steve Largent meant to me as a child. Russell Wilson is the hero for young Seahawk fans today and that's a monumental connection that is rare.

Wilson may very well be the last Seahawk to ever wear #3, but he won't be the only #3 in team history. Steve Largent was the original #80 and should have been the only and last. There was a purity to it that was senselessly squashed in a blatant marketing stunt. Many of you will say it doesn't matter because it's "only a number" and I can't disagree with that logic. To me, however, #80 is not only a number. It's an image of some of the very best moments of my childhood and it's still rich and wonderful and only ever so slightly diminished.

In case you forgot, Steve Largent retired from the NFL with every significant receiving record to his name. The fact that Rice and others have made his numbers look less remarkable is a testament to the evolution of the game, not the greateness of the achievement.

steve-largent-7.jpg


Largent_Steve_Team_Action.jpg


110701largent600.jpg
 

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