Thursday Morning Links

Thanks to yesterday's war of words between Seahawks TE Jerramy Stevens and Steelers LB Joey Porter, the Super Bowl week got a bit more interesting. I've already linked to the story (below), but I'll just add this final word on the subject: It's utterly meaningless.

Stevens rarely covers up Walter Jones, as the 'Hawks line him up either in the slot or next to RT Sean Locklear. So it's not as though Porter is going to get a lot of opportunities to make Stevens "own up to those words", which weren't really inflammatory to begin with, this Sunday.

It's hard to ignore Porter's performance on the field this post-season. The guy has been an absolute terror. But let's be clear about Porter: He's not a two-dimensional LB. He's a pass-rushing LB, who won't kill you in the running game. He is horrible in pass coverage, barely capable of covering me, so if he wants to trail Stevens, the Seahawks would take that matchup all game long.

What's really disappointing about this is the way Porter personally attacked Stevens, who has had a fine season for Seattle, and in fact, complimented Porter's performance against Denver. But Stevens knows that Denver attempted to block Porter with a TE or a RB, which is a major mismatch, something the Seahawks will absolutely not make. Porter is going to see either Walter Jones or All-Pro LG Steve Hutchinson, and both are fully capable of turning Joey Porter into Joey Lawrence. "Whoa!", is right.

Bob Candotta of the Seattle Times checks in with a story about, you guessed it, Jerome Bettis. Again, I can't be sure, but I think he's from Detroit or something.

Jose Miguel Romero introduces people to Matthew Hasselbeck, going back to the 2001 when he was summarily booed by the Seahawks fans in Husky Stadium during his first home start. (Sadly, Romero covers the 'Hawks for the Seattle Times, and in the personal bio for Hasselbeck, neglected to mention that Matt and his wife, Sarah, have a son named Henry.)

Great story about Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, including some quotes from fellow Samoan and former USC teammate, Seahawks LB Lofa Tatupu. Polamalu, right now, is the best safety in the NFL, and you can bet that this Sunday, he'll do something that makes your jaw drop.

Longtime Seahawks beat-writer Clare Farnsworth of the Seattle-PI recalls the team's dark ages. You may know of this period, as it is generally referred to as the 1990s.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune ponders what winning a Super Bowl would do for Matt Hasselbeck.