A blue-eyed rookie hot shot named Rick Mirer was looking like the Seahawks’ savior. A scrawny 155-pound high school kid named Shaun Alexander had recently finished his sophomore season as a backup running back on the Kentucky state runner-up. A wiry 13-year-old named Koren Robinson was playing with a brand new remote-controlled Lamborghini that he got from Santa Claus.
It was Christmas Day 1993, which seems like a lifetime ago. Mirer’s NFL career has come and gone. Alexander went on to become the leading all-time rusher at Boone County High School, and the University of Alabama. Robinson went from Pop Warner to South Point High to North Carolina State to a first-round draft pick.
Almost eight years. Eight years since Ricky Watters last missed a game. Only two other starting halfbacks have even been in the league that long (Emmitt Smith and Jerome Bettis). Watters has played against every NFL team but New England during that span, including trips to 25 different NFL stadiums.
All without missing a single game.
Yes, Watters sat out a few practices along the way. That comes with the territory when you get paid to have 300-pound defensive linemen throw themselves at your knees. But a missed practice or two is understandable, especially when considering the fact that there were more than 1,000 of them during that span.
About 400 different players have donned the Seahawk uniform since Watters’ streak began. Nearly 2,000 college players have been drafted by NFL teams. More than 3,200 days have passed. Watters has run for 8,752 yards during the streak – an equivalent of almost five miles.
With all due respect to Cal Ripken Jr. and some of the other ironmen in sports, Watters’ streak – which will end Sunday – has to be one of the most impressive in history. Only Walter Payton (170 to Watters’ 116) had a longer streak among NFL running backs. Watters and Payton are the only two NFL running backs ever to play in more than 100 games in a row.
Being an NFL running back is nothing like what you or I do for a living. These guys get paid to take punishment; more punishment than any other position in sports. Watters playing with pain is like a banker working with money. He shows up for training camp in great shape, works himself into playing shape, then plays one regular season game before the injuries start piling up. Yet he keeps coming back.
“Considering the type of pounding he takes game in and game out, and the resiliency to bounce back and be ready to play, it’s just amazing,” fullback Mack Strong said of the streak. “But that’s just Ricky Watters. He’s always prepared, and he always comes to play every week.”
For the first time since 1993, Watters won’t be ready to play this week. A shoulder injury will end his streak at 116 consecutive games, the last 51 of which came with the Seahawks. During that span of time, the New England Patriots have gone through 15 different starters at halfback. The Chicago Bears have selected two different running backs in the first round of the NFL draft, and released both, since Watters’ streak began.
While Watters had avoided serious injury for the past seven seasons, most of his counterparts have succumbed to one injury or another. Seahawks tight end Christian Fauria has had procedures to repair an injured knee, ankle and finger – six surgeries in all during Watters’ streak.
Watters has been through his share of injuries over the years as well. Until last week, his most debilitating one was a sprained knee that probably should have ended his 1999 season early. But Watters played through the pain, despite not being able to practice, in the season finale and first-round playoff loss.
“It says a lot to have that type of perseverance and endurance,” Strong said. “That’s hard to do. It’s hard to do in Pee Wee, high school, college – whatever level you’re at. And to do it at the professional level, good night, that’s just pushing another category.”
Good night is right. Because it’s time to put to bed one of the most incredible streaks this game, or any game for that matter, has seen.
Kickoff: 1:15 p.m. Sunday at Husky Stadium.
TV: none (blacked out).
Radio: KQBZ (100.7 FM).
Stars to watch: Jaguars – QB Mark Brunell should spark the Jaguars offense after missing most of last week’s loss with a concussion. WR Jimmy Smith has shown no lingering effects of an offseason intestine problem that required surgery. He ranks second in the AFC with 24 receptions. T Tony Boselli, who missed last week’s game with a shoulder injury, has been to five Pro Bowls. LB Kevin Hardy has three sacks this season.
Seahawks – RB Shaun Alexander, the team’s top draft pick in 2000, will be making his first NFL start. WR Darrell Jackson had the first 100-yard game of his NFL career last week, even though most of the yardage came well after the outcome had been determined. LB Chad Brown leads the AFC with four sacks and is tied for the team lead with 25 tackles. CB Shawn Springs is expected to make his season debut after missing seven weeks with a hamstring injury.
Breaking down the game: There’s nothing more difficult than playing a quality team that’s coming off a difficult loss, but the Seahawks may actually be getting a break this week.
Jacksonville could be without as many as eight starters because of injury, including four who were at the 1999 Pro Bowl. Although Seattle has its own injury problems, they don’t compare to what the Jaguars are going through.
Expect Jacksonville quarterback Mark Brunell to play, and as long as he has receivers Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell, the Jaguars should make their share of plays. The Seahawks’ defensive backfield could get a huge boost if Shawn Springs returns from a hamstring injury.
Whether it be Matt Hasselbeck or Trent Dilfer at quarterback for the Seahawks, Seattle’s offense should have its most productive game. Ricky Watters may be out, but J-ville’s defense is missing its top linebacker, its best pass rusher and two key parts of the secondary.
In any other week, this would be the Jaguars’ game. But what’s the saying about a blind squirrel finding an acorn once in a while?
Pick: Seahawks, 23-20.
Injury report: Jaguars S Donovin Darius (hip) and RB Fred Taylor (groin) are out; DE Tony Brackens (knee), LB Hardy Nickerson and CB Fernando Bryant (foot) are doubtful; T Tony Boselli (shoulder) and QB Mark Brunell (head) are questionable; TE Kyle Brady (hip) is probable. Seahawks – RB Ricky Watters (shoulder) is out. QB Matt Hasselbeck (groin), T Chris McIntosh (neck) and CB Shawn Springs (hamstring) are questionable.
Little-known fact: Brunell, a former University of Washington star, has not been back to Husky Stadium since his UW days.
Tennessee (0-2) at Baltimore (2-1), 10 a.m. Sunday: Gee, you think the Titans will be able to find any motivation in this one? The Ravens were the first team to beat Tennessee at Adelphia Coliseum, then knocked the Titans out of last year’s playoffs. Throw in the fact that Tennessee is 0-2, and this might be the Titans’ most inspired game in years. Nice to have Steve McNair back, too. Pick: Titans, 17-13.
Kansas City (1-2) at Denver (2-1), 1:05 p.m. Sunday: As hard as it is to believe, the Chiefs have defeated the Broncos five consecutive times. That streak should end this week, especially if Kansas City’s defense continues to play without a pass rush. Pick: Broncos, 31-21.
Green Bay (3-0) at Tampa Bay (1-1), 1:15 p.m. Sunday: The battle of the NFC Central’s top two teams might involve some more friendly chatter between Brett Favre and Warren Sapp. Favre: “Hey, watch the hands to the face. By the way, y’all’s offense was so bad last week that I thought Trent Dilfer was still there.” Sapp: “Let go of my facemask. And whatever happened to that Hasselbeck kid? I could use some sacks.” Pick: Buccaneers, 16-14.
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