Why Greg Hardy will Never Be a Seattle Seahawk

Friday, November 13, 2015

Sarah Greene of GoLocalPDX Partner Site Oregon Sports News

Greg Hardy; courtesy of DallasCowboys.com

I’m struck by the enormous contrast between Ricardo Lockette and Greg Hardy, two of this week’s news-making NFL players. It’s a tremendous illustration of the range of characters and temperaments that make the NFL as fascinating off the field as it is on game day.

Just a few days after his season ending neck surgery, Lockette was heading home with his family from Dallas to Seattle when he came upon a group of homeless individuals. He asked his father to double back to a local fast food restaurant, purchasing 100 cheeseburgers to distribute to the group. (It’s not every day that I thank TMZ for their relentless reporting, but I’m glad that they did pick this up). A few days before, photos emerged of the 2014 domestic violence incident implicating Hardy, where his then-girlfriend was shown with bruises and contusions on her neck, back, arms and feet. Disturbing stuff, and more disturbing still that this case was settled via a bench trial and that Hardy is back on the field as a “leader” for the Dallas Cowboys. Hmm.

It's interesting to think about the Seahawks team, the ethos they have cultivated, from the front office, to the coaching staff, and how that plays out off the field. Russell Wilson devotes “Blue Tuesday” to Children’s Hospital, raising spirits and spreading encouragement to both patients and hospital staff. Michael Bennett, Richard Sherman, and Cliff Avril are among a cadre of Seahawks seeking to empower and improve the community where they live and work through their respective foundations. In many ways, it is reflective of their hometown. Seattle was recently called out in the New York Times for its progressivism, and its philanthropy. I feel like this trickles down into the mentality of our football team—humility, vulnerability, and a willingness to learn from mistakes are part of the Seahawks ethos. Even during the gut-wrenching aftermath of Super Bowl XIIX, there was only an inward looking, self-aware ruefulness, not a finger-pointing blame game, emblematic of Seattle’s culture of politeness.

That's why I have concerns about players like Jimmy Graham, and I anticipate he'll go the way of Percy Harvin. By and large, the Hawks have fared better by growing the team from the ground up, finding draft picks that mesh well—athletically and socioculturally—than with flashy trades. Graham has experienced visible struggles to fit into the team, expecting a role with the Seahawks that was as outsized as his role with the New Orleans Saints. He comes across as more of a “me hawk” whereas Lockett, Russell Wilson, and Michael Bennett are truly “we Hawks.” Those are the kind of leaders I want.

GoLocalPDX partner Oregon Sports News: Since 2011, Oregon Sports News has provided entertaining, hard-hitting local sports news & commentary every weekday. To read more from this author, check out Oregon Sports News by clicking here.

Related Slideshow: Oregon’s Top Pac-12 College Football Players

Here are some of the Oregon players who have managed to make it into the 2014 Top Pac-12 Players List.

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#22 Byron Marshall

College: University of Oregon

Position: Running Back

In 2013 he had 168 carries, 14 touchdowns, 13 catches, 155 receiving yards, and 1,038 rushing yards. It’s no wonder he makes it as #22 on this list. Not only do these stats make him a player to watch, but also a player with a lot of potential to climb the rankings.

Photo Credit: Scott Enyeart (Own Work) Live Link (Image Cropped)

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#19 Isaac Seumalo

College: Oregon State University

Position: Offensive Lineman

This Offensive Lineman managed to block QB Sean Mannion who set the Pac-12 single-season record with 4,662 yards passing. With his abilities to block in the manner of which he did makes him a prime candidate to possibly win the Rimington Trophy, Outland Trophy, and/or Rotary Lombardi Award.

Photo Credit: Karl Maasdam (Own Work) (Image Cropped) Courtesy Oregon State University

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#10 Hroniss Grasu

College: University of Oregon

Position: Center

As a junior in 2013 he became one of three Oregon native players to be named All-Pac-12 two seasons in a row. He has managed to lead the offensive line to the conference’s number 1 rushing attack. Entering his final year at U of O, Grasu has started all 40 games of his career at UO making him one of the Duck’s greatest players.

Photo Credit: Daniel Hartwig (Own Work) Live Link (Image Cropped)

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#6 Sean Mannion

College: Oregon State University

Position: Quarterback

Ranking here for breaking the Pac-12 single-season record with 4,662 yards thrown, 35 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions, this is a player the NFL is watching closely. Already sitting at #10 on the conference’s all-time passing list, it’s going to be a breeze for him to pass Matt Barkley’s record of 12,327 yards thrown.

Photo Credit: Karl Maasdam (Own Work) (Image Cropped) Courtesy Oregon State University

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#4 Ifo Ekpre-Olomu

College: University of Oregon

Position: Cornerback

In 2013 he was the second Ducks player to have 84 tackles with 3 interceptions, and 9 passes defended. He is a force to be reckoned with. It has been unanimous that he is to be the 2014 Preseason All-American. It’s also been hinted that he may not last too long in the 2015 NFL draft.

Photo Credit: Daniel Hartwig (Own Work) Live Link (Image Cropped)

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#1 Marcus Mariota

College: University of Oregon

Position: Quarterback

With stats such as completing 63.5% of his passes with 3,665 yards, 31 touchdowns, only 4 interceptions, rushing a total of 715 yards with 9 touchdowns, this makes him a hot candidate for the NFL. He has managed to make U of O one of the Pac-12 favorite college teams as well as a national title contender. He has also set a U of O single-season record throwing 4,380 total yards and set a Pac-12 record by attempting to throw 353 consecutive passes without interception. He is also in the running to win the Heisman Trophy as a 1A option.

Photo Credit: Scott Enyeart (Own Work) Live Link (Image Cropped)