Although Paul Allen’s dedication hasn’t translated into a Super Bowl win just yet, folks in Seattle have enjoyed successful years that were not so prevalent under previous ownership. Last year aside, Seattle has been one of the more successful teams since 2004. Fans have come to anticipate annual playoff appearances, and the possibility of competing for a Super Bowl has become a reality.

<p><img src=”http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/2009/07/custom_1246478594766_Picture_13_01.png” width=”504″ height=”345″ style=”display:block;” /><a class=”autolink” title=”Click here to read more posts tagged DEMAURICE SMITH” href=”http://deadspin.com/tag/demaurice-smith/”>DeMaurice Smith</a>, the rookie executive director of what’s left of the NFLPA, is dropping some serious oratory on his constituents these days, name-checking Hamlet, Nicolas Sarkozy, Napoleon, Iran and <a class=”autolink” title=”Click here to read more posts tagged YOUNG JEEZY” href=”http://deadspin.com/tag/young-jeezy/”>Young Jeezy</a>, all in one speech. He’s the realest!</p> <p>NFL.com’s Vic Carucci went to the NFL Rookie Symposium and <a href=”http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8110da43&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true”>sat in on Smith’s address</a>.

The Seattle Seahawks are opening 14 training-camp practices to the public next month. The team announced Tuesday that fans can attend practices at the Seahawks’ waterfront headquarters on Lake Washington beginning on Aug. 3 and ending Aug.

The Seattle Seahawks will open 14 training camp practices at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center (VMAC) beginning August 3 and concluding August 20, the team announced this morning.

<span class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-weight: bold;”>Seahawks</span><br /> +Seahawks Power Rankings <a href=”http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seahawksblog/2009374787_1matt_hasselbec.html?syndication=rss”>[Seattle Times]</a><br /> +I would like to order one Houshmanzadeh <a href=”http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/t_j_houshmandzadeh_enjoys”>[Onion]</a><br /> +Video: John Carlson talks Seahawks with <a href=”http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcwest/0-9-304/Video–Carlson-on-the-Seahawks.html”>[ESPN]</a><br /> <br /> <b>Local</b><br /> +Griffey has no idea what lies ahead in the future for him <a href=”http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/rumors/post/Griffey-says-he-has-made-no-decision-about-futur?urn=mlb,173391″>[Yahoo! Sports]</a><br /> +Jack Z. not only takes advice from blogs, but also fan chats! Yay! <a href=”http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/theworldofisaac/~3/2myAIm7lDrU/mariners-gm-takes-advice-from-fans.html”>[The World of Issac]</a><br /> +Nate Jaqua wins MLS Player of the Week <a href=”http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20090629&amp;content_id=5601570&amp;vkey=pr_mls&amp;fext=.jsp”>[MLSnet]</a><br /> +Cameron Dollar and his Seattle U Redhawks are getting some positive press from <a href=”http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=caple_jim&amp;id=4293928″ style=”text-decoration: none;”>[ESPN</a><br /> +Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson the two most&nbsp;under appreciated&nbsp;stars in Seattle&nbsp;<a href="http://www.slamonline.com/online/other-ballers/womens/2009/06/seattle-storming-early/">[SLAM]</a><br /> <br /> <b>National</b><br /> +Kobe pays his respects to the King of Pop <a href=”http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Kobe-Bryant-remembers-Michael-Jackson?urn=nba,173478″>[Ball Don't Lie]</a><br /> +Could Yao Ming be out for all of next season? <a href=”http://dimemag.com/2009/06/update-yao-possibly-out-for-09-10-season/”>[Dime]</a><br /> +Rumor: Adam Dunn to the Mets

<p>Last week I stumbled across an interesting article completely unrelated to the <a href=”http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/SFX” class=”sbn-auto-link”>49ers</a>.&nbsp; A writer for the Seattle Times put together a <a href=”http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seahawksblog/2009374787_1matt_hasselbec.html” target=”_blank”>ranking of the 15 most important Seahawks</a> for the 2009 season.&nbsp; <a href=”http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/2306/Matt_Hasselbeck” class=”sbn-auto-link”>Matt Hasselbeck</a> topped the list, followed by <a href=”http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/3050/Patrick_Kerney” class=”sbn-auto-link”>Patrick Kerney</a>, <a href=”http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/2312/Walter_Jones” class=”sbn-auto-link”>Walter Jones</a> and TJ Houshmandzadeh.&nbsp; I can see how those four might be your most important guys.</p> <p>After reading the article, I thought, why not come up with our own list.&nbsp; I decided to go with just 10 guys because there will be plenty of consternation on just that short a list.&nbsp; When considering “importance,” I look at these players as the guys the 49ers need to step up to a certain level for the 49ers to have success this year (we won’t even begin to try and define “success”).</p> <p>I went back and forth on what to do with the offensive line: Do I list each guys individually, or go with the unit as a whole?&nbsp; I chose the latter.&nbsp; As great as <a href=”http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/19082/Joe_Staley” class=”sbn-auto-link”>Joe Staley</a> might be, how useful is it if the entire right side of the line goes down in a heap?&nbsp; Fell free to argue counter to that.</p> <p>No matter what, I would imagine it would be pretty unlikely anybody will agree 100% with my rankings.&nbsp; Looking at them, I already have my doubts.&nbsp; Each time I go through the list I move a man up or down.</p> <p><b>1. Offensive line</b>: There are plenty of important areas, but if the Jimmy Raye offense is what we think it might be, the offensive line will be key.&nbsp; They’ll need to give Hill/Smith time to make plays, and they’ll need to break up some daylight for <a href=”http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/2084/Frank_Gore” class=”sbn-auto-link”>Frank Gore</a>.</p> <p><b>2. Frank Gore</b>: Frank the Tank has three straight thousand yard seasons, but the last two have been a bit of a struggle.&nbsp; If the offensive line steps up, maybe we’ll see Frank get back to his 2006 form.</p> <p><b>3

For the sake of not making this a 1000 word article, i will give examples of who i think are the top 2 running back’s in Seahawks History. First is Curt Warner, from Penn State. Here is a…<br/> <br/> [[ This is a content summary only

(Associated Press) The New Orleans Saints signed free agent long snapper Jason Kyle and released Kevin Houser, who had been with the team since 2000.<p/>General Manager Mickey Loomis said Monday that Kyle will upgrade the kicking game. He also thanked Houser for nine seasons of "excellent service."<p/>Kyle, a veteran of 14 NFL seasons, spent the past eight years as the long snapper for the Carolina Panthers. A fourth-round selection of the Seattle Seahawks in 1995, the former college linebacker took over snapping duties in his second pro campaign.<p/>Houser was a seventh-round pick of New Orleans in 2000 and was the long snapper in all 144 regular-season as well as four playoff games.

The Seattle Seahawks are an organization that is committed to character, and holds players to the highest standard on and off the field.

This weeks Seahawks Weekly Blitz show hosted by the 12th man and Co-Hosted by Shaun Dolence of 12thmanrising.com. Discussions on the Offensive & Defensive Sides, Also we finish up discussions on… [[ This is a content summary only.