Every weekday morning, we'll round up local and national Seattle Seahawks-related links.
Dan Hanzus of NFL.com writes that NFC teams are going to regret not burying the Seahawks when they had a chance:
If the Seahawks can knock off the Vikings, watch out. The next three weeks will feature matchups against the Ravens, Browns and Rams (combined record of 10-23) followed by a Week 17 date against a Cardinals team that could conceivably be resting starters.
The Seahawks aren't the same team this year. Their defense -- especially their vaunted secondary -- hasn't been as strong and the absence of Marshawn Lynch will be felt, regardless of early positive returns on Thomas Rawls. But will you really be stunned if Seattle was 11-5 when the dust clears on Jan. 3?
Didn't think so.
Chris Burke of SI.com has the Seahawks eighth in his power rankings:
A handful of uninspiring outings combined with the Seahawks' defensive domination in recent years might be clouding judgement on the 2015 team. Even after surrendering 538 yards and 30 points to Pittsburgh, Seattle still ranks top 10 in points allowed, yards allowed, passing defense and rushing defense. Oh, and it picked off four passes Sunday.
Joel Corry of CBSSports.com writes about the incentives in Doug Baldwin's contract:
Baldwin could be the biggest beneficiary of Jimmy Graham's season-ending knee injury and Seattle becoming more offensive minded while its legendary defense is slipping a bit. His three-year, $13 million deal signed in 2014 contains $1.1 million in incentives for this season.
There is a total of $500,000 based on Baldwin's receptions. It's $100,000 for 55 catches. The amount increases to $250,000 at 65 receptions. It goes up to $400,000 at 75 passes caught with another $100,000 for 85 grabs. Baldwin can make a maximum of $400,000 depending on his receiving yards. He gets $225,000 for 1,000 yards and an additional $175,000 for 1,300 yards.
There's also $100,000 at nine touchdowns and $100,000 for a Pro Bowl selection with Seattle making the playoffs. Baldwin has 50 receptions, 684 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He's on pace for 73 catches, 995 yards and nine touchdowns.
Lynch reached out to a mother whose son, a high school football player, was shot and killed. Via Ron Clements of The Sporting News:
Jaulon "JJ" Clavo was killed hours before his Grant Union High School team was set to play in a state playoff game on Nov. 13. Former NFL player Quan Thompson, a Grant Union graduate, was a college teammate of Lynch at the University of California and reported Lynch's kindness on his Facebook page.
Quoting Lynch's "I'm about that action, Boss," and saying, "actions speak louder than words," Thompson said Lynch sent Clavo's mother a personalized Seahawks jersey with Clavo's No. 5 and his name on the back. Thompson then listed Lynch's other charitable acts in Northern California, saying many of those go unseen by NFL media.