Seattle Seahawks training camp update #1

Our goal here at Ape Canyon News Service has always been to be the world's number one source of sports-related news, commentary, and analysis. In keeping with that goal, our staff took a trip today down to the Seattle Seahawks training camp at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Lake Washington (see photo above). During the month of August, the Seahawks, led by coach Pete Carroll (pictured below wearing white pants), will practice numerous times each week in order to get ready for the upcoming NFL season.

Coming into this year's training camp, the Seahawks have three different players competing to become the starting quarterback-- last year's starter, Tarvaris Jackson; former Green Bay Packers back-up quarterback Matt Flynn; and recently drafted Russell Wilson. During the scrimmage at the end of practice, all three quarterbacks took turns running the offense. (See videos below)

Above: Tarvaris Jackson attempts to complete a pass during a scrimmage

Below: Matt Flynn's turn to throw a pass

Among the returning players who are pretty much guaranteed a spot in the starting lineup is defensive lineman Red Bryant. In addition to doing an excellent job on defense, Bryant holds the single-season Seahawks record for most blocked kick attempts during one season (four). 

During today's practice, Bryant worked on many drills, such as the pass rushing drill in the video above. His performance seemed pretty unremarkable; however, I was curious as to why Bryant appeared to be wearing some sort of pantyhose or stockings under his uniform. (See photo below)

Probably the biggest highlight of today's workout was getting to see offensive lineman John Moffitt vomiting on the sidelines at the start of practice. Moffitt had been having a discussion with fellow offensive lineman Breno Giacomini about the weather-- both players were happy about today's sunshine-- when suddenly Moffitt became violently ill and started throwing up (see photo below). 

Moffitt, who missed the last part of the 2011-12 season due to an injury/suspension for testing positive for banned substances, later on had to ask one of the equipment managers to unlock a door so he could take a quick bathroom break. (See photos below)

Above: Moffitt leaving the practice field

Below: Moffitt waiting for the door to be unlocked

(Click here for a recent video of Moffitt delivering the local weather forecast on television.)

Keep checking back for more on the Seahawks training camp, the regular season, and the rest of the NFL as well-- only thirty-three more days til the start of the regular season!

Below: A storage shed which appeared to hold shelf after shelf of Nike athletic shoes.

What I have been reading lately #50

Just this morning, I finished reading Brian Billick's More Than A Game: The Glorious Present and Uncertain Future of the NFL (co-authored by Michael MacCambridge). Billick is a former offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings and later head coach of the Baltimore Ravens (with whom he won Super Bowl XXXV). He currently works as a commentator for the FOX network, but his name has been mentioned as a possible candidate to fill the vacant head coaching position in Miami.

This book was published in the fall of 2009 and gives a broad overview of the current state of the NFL from the perspective of league officials, owners, general managers, head coaches, assistant coaches, and players. In the book, Billick draws upon both his personal experiences as a player and coach, as well as the insights he gained from the world of television broadcasting. I enjoyed reading this book; however, I am sure that I will have completely forgotten that I ever even read it within a matter of just a few days.

Below: Brian Billick (left) talking to Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller

Picture of the day: It is all coming together now

Here at Ape Canyon News Service, we have spent most of the summer worrying about unsigned NBA guard Allen Iverson and a little bit of the summer learning about former NFL quarterback Doug Williams. Then today we stumbled across this photograph (above) showing Allen Iverson wearing a Doug Williams Tampa Bay Buccaneers jersey. We do not know when the photograph was taken, but it appears to be at some sort of 3-point shootout sponsored by the Foot Locker corporation.

What I have been reading lately #31

Quarterblack: Shattering the NFL Myth by Doug Williams with Bruce Hunter

Doug Williams was an NFL quarterback during the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins. (He also played several years for the Oklahoma/Arizona Outlaws of the now-defunct USFL.) In 1988, he became the first black player to start as quarterback in the Super Bowl. His Redskins defeated the Denver Broncos 42-10. (See photo below)

Shortly after his career was over, Doug Williams wrote his autobiography. Here are some important facts from his book and elsewhere:

• Doug Williams had a secret root canal operation on a tooth the day before the Super Bowl.
• In the middle of Super Bowl XXII, I was obliged to drive to the Amtrak station in Meriden, CT to pick up a friend of a friend. The friend of a friend was kind of a jerk and did not seem to appreciate the magnitude of the favor of was doing him (who I'd never met before) by picking him up during the Super Bowl, but I did not really care, because by then John Elway (pictured below) and the Denver Broncos were losing, and that was all that really mattered.

• In 1979 (only his second year in the league and the team's fourth), Doug Williams led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the NFC Championship game.
• Doug Williams now works as Coordinator of Pro Scouting for the Buccaneers. He is very excited about their first round draft pick, Josh Freeman of Kansas State University.

Below: Doug Williams

NFL training camp update #1

Former University of Missouri Tigers quarterback Chase Daniel was not picked in this year's NFL draft (despite being featured in an article in The New Yorker). However, he has signed a contract with the Washington Redskins and is competing for the 3rd string QB position.

For a unexpectedly lengthy interview, click here. To follow Chase Daniel on Twitter, click here.