Seahawks coach Pete Carroll struck out in trying to recruit Peyton Manning to Seattle two years ago, but the Broncos quarterback sounded like a fan of Carroll’s on Wednesday.
Manning said he’s known Carroll since the coach was with the Patriots and Manning’s Colts were in the same division. They reconnected a few years back when Carroll was at USC.
“He actually did a pretty cool thing for me,” Manning said. “One time, I was in Los Angeles during the summer in June, and I had some commitment there. I needed to throw, and I needed to work out. I called over to Southern Cal’s football offices, and got a hold of Coach Carroll.
“I asked if his receivers and quarterbacks were throwing that day, and could I come over and join the throwing session because I was getting ready for training camp. He gave me the time, and I got over there at 3 o’clock. I just wanted to join right in and throw whatever routes Southern Cal was throwing. Coach Carroll had eight receivers, four tight ends, four running backs — all stretched, lathered up and ready to go when I got there. I said, ‘What routes do you want to run?’ They said, ‘No, Coach Carroll said we are going to throw whatever routes you want to run. This is going to be your workout.’ That is about as good a treatment as you can get for a visitor to a different team. I really had a neat day throwing.”
Carroll unconcerned about PED problem
Are the Seahawks the Bad Boys of the NFL?
Carroll arrived in 2010 and ever since they have been hit with more PED suspensions than any other team. CBs Brandon Browner and Walter Thurmond were nailed this season and DL Bruce Irvin was banished last May. Is this threatening to ruin the Seahawks’ image?
“No, I’m really not concerned with that,’’ Carroll said. “I think anybody has an opportunity to say what they want to say about what’s happened in the past. I think we’re a young team that’s learning how to work with the guidelines and all of that. I think if you look back on the individuals that were involved in the PEDs and all of that kind of stuff, there’s a spread of guys from years ago and the numbers kind of add up.
“But I’m not concerned about where it’s going; I’m not concerned about the message. We would like to do right and get better, so we’re trying to improve and learn from everything that comes along.”
Sherman not all that
Broncos CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie does not believe Richard Sherman deserves to be considered a top-five NFL corner.
“He is a great corner,” Rodgers-Cromartie said. “But as a cornerback, if you’re a true fan of this game you have to understand there are still guys like Champ Bailey, Asante Samuel and Charles Woodson that are still in the league. You can’t say you’re better than them. They paved the way for us. That’s something I understand as a corner. Don’t get me wrong, he’s nice. But he can’t say he’s the best.”
Rodgers-Cromartie made headlines this week by saying he might retire if Denver wins the Super Bowl. He’s backed off that, saying, “I’m definitely not retiring.”
Plax plans another comeback
Plaxico Burress wants to make a comeback next season — if his body can hold up after missing last season because of a torn rotator cuff sustained during Steelers training camp. Said Burress on Radio Row, “If I feel that I can’t do some of the things that I need to do to have success, then I won’t play anymore.”
Fox cautions Broncos about pot
Broncos coach John Fox is fine with marijuana being legal in Colorado but warned his players it’s still against NFL rules.
“We remind our players that we’re in as big of an organization as the NFL. There’s all kinds of agreements,” he said. “There’s all kinds of rules and regulations.”
GET TO KNOW
Broncos KR/PR Trindon Holliday
Football is a sport frequently decided in the trenches between the biggest players on the field, but it’s the sport’s shortest player that could loom as an X-factor on Super Bowl Sunday.
The 5-foot-5, 170-pound Holliday is one of the most electrifying return men in the NFL. Last year, he became the first player to return both a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown in a playoff game.
The LSU product possesses blinding speed; he won the 100-meter dash at the NCAA championships in 2009.
After missing his rookie season with the Texans due to injury and playing in only one game in 2011, Holliday was waived in October 2012 and claimed by Denver.
He would go on to average 32.5 yards per kick return and 10.4 yards per punt return for the Broncos last season, and this season, he posted similar numbers — 27.7 yards per kick return with a long of 105 yards for a touchdown, and 8.5 yards per punt return with a long of 81 yards for a touchdown against the Giants.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I really don’t have too much to say, boss, I really don’t. I appreciate it, but I don’t get it. I’m just here so I won’t get fined, boss.”
— Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks running back
SUPER FORECAST
A chance for rain or snow showers in the morning; otherwise, mainly cloudy.
High: 45; Low: 22
Chance of snow: 11 percent
Winds: 7 mph
Source: Accuweather