That's what Seahawks head coach Jim Mora may be asking soon if Julius Jones and Seattle's other running backs don't get untracked soon. Mora admitted that he's not adverse to abandoning the run game and giving the ball to Matt Hasselbeck and letting him throw it 50-plus times like he did Sunday. When reached for comment, tormer Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren had only one word for Mora: "copycat."
Road warriors
The Silvertips left on their biggest road trip of the season 14 days ago and returned from the east with nine of a possible 12 points. Key to winning on the trip was the goaltending of Kent Simpson and Thomas Heemskerk, who not only saved a plethora of incoming shots on goal, but kept the swine flu at bay as well.
Coulda, woulda, shoulda
After his team lost Saturday for the fifth time in six games, Huskies football coach Steve Sarkisian says he's feeling more and more like a broken record in his Monday press conference. Hey Sark, don't worry, at least your music is a little softer on the ears than the harsh tones coming from Tyrone Willingham's 12 press conferences last season. Like rusty nails on an accordian.
Action Jackson
The Jackson High School fall sports teams have had quite a season. From the fourth-ranked football team to the unbeaten boys tennis team, the Timberwolves have been unstoppable this fall and have given their fans a lot of excitement. I don't know what's in the water in Mill Creek but they better start bottling it.
THE WARMUP PITCH
Steelers feeling a Mile High
Pittsburgh defenders picked off Denver quarterback Kyle Orton twice, including one returned for a touchdown, and the Steelers crushed the Broncos 28-10. It was Denver's second big loss in a row and the bloom is definitely off the rose for head coach Josh McDaniel in Denver. All the Seahawks fans can hope for is eight more just like it, since Seattle holds Denver's top pick in the 21010 draft.
Bye, bye Larry
The Chiefs cut ties with running back Larry Johnson, two weeks after he made disparaging remarks about head coach Todd Haley and made a pair of insensitive slurs on Twitter and to reporters. He'll have to take his diapers and go elsewhere.
Doubting Thomas
In his first game as Florida International, Isiah Thomas waved the white flag early. The first-year coach spread the floor against No. 6 North Carolina and watched his team lose 88-72 Monday night. No truth to the rumor that after the game Thomas asked if he could trade for Stephon Marbury and a box of Gobstoppers.
Blount is back
Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount was reinstated by the Ducks on Monday. Blount was suspended by the team for the season after punching a Boise State player following a season-opening loss in Boise, Idaho. Apparently after losing to Stanford this past Saturday, the Ducks felt they needed Blount's pugilistic abilities back on the team.
Wildcats feeling Rose-y?
The Arizona football team is in control of its own destiny to make the first Rose Bowl in school history, but the schedule down the stretch -- Cal, Oregon, USC -- is a doozy. Just imagine if that fluke interception against the Huskies is what keeps Arizona out of the Rose Bowl. Let's call it the curse of the bubble screen.
CURVE BALLS
Traveling signs
Redskins owner Dan Snyder has banned all kinds of signs from Washington games, including ones that disparage him and head coach Jim Zorn. So what did Redskins fans do? They picked up and took their show on the road. The Washington Post's Dan Steinberg caught up with a few fans who traveled to Atlanta to wave their placards in peace at the Falcons-Redskins game. The Closer doesn't blame Skins fans. He even had his Zorn/Largent 2012 sign taken away when he was at FedEx Field.
You call that a riot?
They sure know how to riot Down Under. During a recent Australian Football League match, police arrived on the scene of a riot that was 500 people deep, some of whom were armed with spears and axes. And The Closer thought Lakers fans were bad. Sheesh.
It's gotta be the shirt
Well I guess this is what you can get away with wearing after helping the Yankees win a World Series title. The Closer can only wonder what Damon wore after helping the Red Sox break "The Curse."
THE RUNDOWN
The Closer takes a look at the five most interesting landing spots for Larry Johnson.
1. San Francisco 49ers. There's little doubt he'd get a very chilly welcome by the home fans.
2. New England Patriots. Bill Belichick has taken on reclamation projects before (Hello, Corey Dillon) and he's not afraid of combustible personalities (Hello, Randy Moss).
3. Buffalo Bills. Johnson and Terrell Owens together at last. There's a reality TV show in there somewhere.
4. Oakland Raiders. We all know how much Al Davis loves talent over character. Plus he's got Tom Cable there to keep Larry in line.
5. Seattle Seahawks. Can LJ jump start the Seahawks' run game before Jim Mora waves sayonara to it all together? We'll likely never know since Seahawks GM Tim Ruskell is about as likely to pick up a head case off waivers as Paul Allen is to bounce a check.
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