Seattle Sports Insider

Seahawks' naughty & nice list

Posted by

12/25/15

Tis the season to look back and reflect on the year that was for the Seahawks. Who was naughty, and who was nice in 2015. Back in September, it looked like we could put the entire Seattle Seahawks organization on the naughty list, starting out 2-4. But right now, the nice list could and should be longer than the naughty list.

Without further adieu, let’s start with those that shouldn’t expect anything from Seahawk Santa.

Naughty

Cary Williams – Back on Monday Night Football against the Detroit Lions, I thought Williams had gotten it. I thought he caught his stride within the Seattle defensive philosophy and was going to deliver on the $5 million plus he signed for in the offseason.

Turns out that would be his best performance of the season, and one of few games where he impressed. Eventually he lost his starting job, was listed as a healthy scratch and ultimately given his walking papers, the Seahawks letting $5 million walk right out the door.

Christine Michael – Michael’s failure to deliver on his enormous potential in his first two years in the league have been well documented. Even when listed as the no. 1 back through training camp and the preseason, Michael failed to show Seahawks coaches anything.

He was wildly inconsistent, if he wasn’t ripping off the occasional 25-yard run, he was stopped at or behind the line on every carry. What’s worse, and likely what got him cut, was his refusal to listen to coaches. For whatever reason, Michael never learned to carry the ball in his left hand, frustrating running backs coach Sherman Smith and Pete Carroll to the point of cutting him.

But this is America, where we believe in second chances. And with Michael now back on the roster, and an impressive first showing against the Browns, he might just inch on over to the nice list.

Pete Carroll, Darrell Bevell and Russell Wilson – Wait, what are these three doing on the naughty list? Well in case you forgot, they were the three key players in blowing our chance at back-to-back Super Bowls back in February. That was no way to start 2015, and not matter who they did this season, they would never get off the naughty list for their Super Bowl blunder.

Nice

Thomas Rawls – Rawls has hands down been the best back for the Hawks this year. Even though he started only seven games, he rushed for 830 yards and was listed as a candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year, along with teammate Tyler Lockette. Not a bad return for an undrafted free agent.

He’s going to be in the Seahawks’ backfield for years to come. Not only that, but at the rate of an undrafted free agent, should allow Seattle to allocate more money towards other key positions.

Russell Wilson – 19 touchdowns and zero interceptions the last five games. That’s all that needs to be said.

BJ Daniels – Recently waived by the team, fan favorite Daniels was picked up by the Houston Texans this week. A jack of all trades that did a little bit of everything, Daniels stuck with the Seahawks even as they shuffled him between and active roster and practice squad for two plus years. It’s good to see him finally get a shot as the Texans will have him suit up as their backup quarterback Week 16.

Photo credit: Flickr/Keith Allison