Mike Holmgren is retiring after the 2008 season. Long a Caste System icon, Holmgren has specialized in developing white quarterbacks and ignoring whites everywhere else. Torturing white receivers (and tailback Travis Jervey) has been a particular Holmgren trademark.
The Seahawks do have a white WR in Logan Payne on their roster. He's probably on the team only because one black receiver after another has been injured, leaving Seattle all but bereft of experienced players at the position after Nate Burleson was lost for the season in Week One. Whether Payne will capitalize on this situation -- or be allowed to -- is yet to be determined. In his second year out of Minnesota, Payne is tall (6-2) and possesses excellent hands. He certainly has the talent to be a reliable target for starting QB Matt Hasselbeck.
Pro Bowler Hasselbeck is one of the top quarterbacks in the NFC, very productive on a consistent basis.
Charlie Frye is the third string QB.
The only white starter on the lineisMike Wahle at LG. Wahle, inexplicably let go by Carolina two years ago, remains one of the best in the business.
Backup center Steve Vallos is the only other white offensive linemen.
Rookie tight end John Carlson was drafted in the second round out of Notre Dame and is the starter. Tight end, quarterback and o-linemen are the only positions where whites are "allowed" to start as rookies. Elsewhere, prolonged whites-only "apprenticeships" usually must be served before the player is deemed ready to play with his athletic superiors even though whites certainly aren't lacking when it comes to the ability to understand offensive and defensive schemes and also aren't lacking when it comes to a general feel for the game and the concept of teamwork.
Jeb Putzier and Will Heller back up Carlson.
On defense, starting left end Patrick Kerney had a monster season in 2007 with 14.5 sacks and was named a starter for the NFC in the Pro Bowl. At 31 he keeps himself in tremendous condition and looks headed for another standout season.
Brian Russell is a solid starter at free safety. Russell tied for the league lead in interceptions in 2003 and was promptly demoted by Caste clown Mike Tice and run out of Minnesota. After two years at Cleveland, Russell is now in his second year with the Seahawks.
Backup tackle Craig Terrill, in his fifth season out of Purdue, sees the field a fair amount and is very effective. Jason Babin, who failed to live up to his first round draft status with the Houston Texans, is a backup end.
Holmgren's final squad is slightly less black than usual.
NUMBER OF WHITE STARTERS: 5
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF WHITE PLAYERS ON 53 MAN ROSTER: 17
GRADE: D-
Edited by: Don Wassall
The Seahawks do have a white WR in Logan Payne on their roster. He's probably on the team only because one black receiver after another has been injured, leaving Seattle all but bereft of experienced players at the position after Nate Burleson was lost for the season in Week One. Whether Payne will capitalize on this situation -- or be allowed to -- is yet to be determined. In his second year out of Minnesota, Payne is tall (6-2) and possesses excellent hands. He certainly has the talent to be a reliable target for starting QB Matt Hasselbeck.
Pro Bowler Hasselbeck is one of the top quarterbacks in the NFC, very productive on a consistent basis.
Charlie Frye is the third string QB.
The only white starter on the lineisMike Wahle at LG. Wahle, inexplicably let go by Carolina two years ago, remains one of the best in the business.
Backup center Steve Vallos is the only other white offensive linemen.
Rookie tight end John Carlson was drafted in the second round out of Notre Dame and is the starter. Tight end, quarterback and o-linemen are the only positions where whites are "allowed" to start as rookies. Elsewhere, prolonged whites-only "apprenticeships" usually must be served before the player is deemed ready to play with his athletic superiors even though whites certainly aren't lacking when it comes to the ability to understand offensive and defensive schemes and also aren't lacking when it comes to a general feel for the game and the concept of teamwork.
Jeb Putzier and Will Heller back up Carlson.
On defense, starting left end Patrick Kerney had a monster season in 2007 with 14.5 sacks and was named a starter for the NFC in the Pro Bowl. At 31 he keeps himself in tremendous condition and looks headed for another standout season.
Brian Russell is a solid starter at free safety. Russell tied for the league lead in interceptions in 2003 and was promptly demoted by Caste clown Mike Tice and run out of Minnesota. After two years at Cleveland, Russell is now in his second year with the Seahawks.
Backup tackle Craig Terrill, in his fifth season out of Purdue, sees the field a fair amount and is very effective. Jason Babin, who failed to live up to his first round draft status with the Houston Texans, is a backup end.
Holmgren's final squad is slightly less black than usual.
NUMBER OF WHITE STARTERS: 5
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF WHITE PLAYERS ON 53 MAN ROSTER: 17
GRADE: D-
Edited by: Don Wassall
