Seahawks notes: Penalty wipes out rookie’s touchdown

Published 1:30 am Sunday, September 10, 2017

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Cliff Avril is 31. Old enough to remember Michael Jordan being so brilliant that NBA officials were widely believed to give him the benefit of the doubt on nearly every call.

Avril said he thinks Aaron Rodgers is the NFL’s current version/recipient of such preferential treatment.

The Seahawks’ Pro Bowl defensive end wasn’t angry as much as he was incredulous at the illegal-block penalty he received for contact on the star quarterback in the first quarter of Seattle’s 17-9 loss Sunday.

Avril’s foul cost the Seahawks a touchdown. Rookie defensive tackle Nazair Jones was returning his interception of Rodgers 64 yards for a stunning score and what would have been a 6-0 lead for the Seahawks.

Avril’s contact wasn’t hard to Rodgers’ shoulder — though it wasn’t completely from the front — and, as coach Pete Carroll said after the loss, it was totally unnecessary.

Avril couldn’t believe he got flagged — and didn’t even know it until two quarters later.

“I didn’t even know it was on me until the third quarter when (teammate Richard Sherman) was like, ‘Did you know that was on you?’ I was like, ‘Uhhhhh….’

“(Rodgers) is A-Rod. … Some guys get the ‘Michael Jordan Rule.’”

Graham’s silent day

Star tight end Jimmy Graham began the final season of his $40 million contract Seattle inherited when it traded two-time Pro Bowl center Max Unger and a first-round pick to New Orleans for him in 2015.

And it wasn’t a sterling start.

After quarterback Russell Wilson was under siege behind the malfunctioning offensive line in the first quarter, the Seahawks began keeping Graham, second tight end Luke Willson, even running backs Tre Madden, Chris Carson and C.J. Prosise in to help on pass protection. At the end of helping, Graham would peel off into short, dump-off routes.

That’s why he had three catches for just 8 yards.

Wilson targeted Graham on two of the game’s bigger—and for Seattle, more frustrating—plays.

On third-and-goal from the 3 in the third quarter with the Seahawks down 7-3, Wilson scrambled away from more pressure and threw for the 6-foot-7 Graham in the back right of the end zone. Before the high pass arrived, two Packers hit Graham. The officials, two of them on the spot, did not throw a flag for pass interference.

Carroll said he was told it was because the officials deemed the throw uncatchable out of the back of the end zone. The coach noted he saw the ball land in the white, 3-yard, painted border that is immediately past the end line.

With 14 minutes left in the fourth quarter Seattle trailed 14-6 and had third-and-3 at its own 44. Wilson threw a back-shoulder pass deep down the left sideline to Graham, who had beaten his defender deep in Packers territory. Graham turned to his left, had the ball on both hands—then dropped it.

Instead of being poised for a potential tying touchdown, the Seahawks punted for the sixth and final time.

Lacy’s reunion

Former Packer Eddie Lacy had his Green Bay reunion, but was a non-factor.

Starting because Thomas Rawls was out injured with a high-ankle sprain, Lacy gained 3 yards on five carries. He was on the sideline as Seattle chose Carson, Madden and Prosise to pass block — and in Carson’s case run six times for 39 yards.

Don’t be fooled by the Seahawks’ 90 yards officially on 18 carries. Two scrambles by Wilson running for his life gained 40 yards. So it was in reality 50 yards on 16 carries for running backs. The offense set as an emphasis in 2017 getting back to among the top five in the NFL in rushing, as it was for years under Carroll until it plummeted to 25th in 2016. Yet 3.1 yards per rush and Lacy’s five carries, 3 yards aren’t going to do it.

Lockett returns

Tyler Lockett played for the first time since breaking his leg on Christmas Eve. He had one catch for 8 yards. He just missed a touchdown when Wilson overthrew him in the first half. Lockett also returned one punt for 7 yards and fair caught four others; another of his punt returns for 7 yards got called back by a penalty. Lockett also returned three kickoffs for 91 yards, including a 43-yard run back to start the game.

Lane ejected

Cornerback Jeremy Lane was ejected in the first quarter after getting tied up with Green Bay receiver Davante Adams. Officials ruled Lane threw a punch, though television replays by Fox didn’t show a punch.

Lane’s ejection meant rookie third-round pick Shaquill Griffin was the right cornerback on every down, not just in nickel defense.

Griffin gave up at least three short passes in front of him, including to Jordy Nelson on third down midway through the fourth quarter to put Green Bay at the Seahawks 22.

But the rookie also broke up three deep balls. The third was near the goal line when Rodgers tried Nelson against Griffin again. The Packers got a field goal instead on that drive to go ahead 17-6.