EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Doug Baldwin said the death threats he received in the wake of his comments on America’s racial issues led to his agent calling for him to have personal security to ensure his safety.
“The issue was more so prior to our demonstration the first game. That was a more concerning time,” the Seahawks’ top wide receiver said Sunday following the Seahawks’ 27-17 win over the New York Jets.
Baldwin was referring to him talking about the Seahawks’ demonstration of unity last month, the details of which he didn’t reveal until the opening game Sept. 11 against Miami. Seattle’s players, coaches and staff ended up locking arms during the national anthem, an alternative to sitting or kneeling during anthems that other NFL players have done to protest race relations and police killings.
The Seahawks did it again Sunday, for the fourth consecutive game.
“My agent was worried about me, wanting to get security and stuff. That’s when we started dealing with those issues,” Baldwin said of threats on his life he described to “60 Minutes Sports” for a feature that airs on Showtime at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
“But now it hasn’t been as serious. You deal with it as it comes. There are always going to be people out there that don’t necessarily agree and want to take it to another level. I just handle myself accordingly.”
Did Baldwin indeed get extra security last month?
He chuckled. “We took care of it,” he said.
Is that a yes?
“We took care of it,” he reiterated.
Baldwin had 20 catches entering Sunday, the most through three games in his career. He had four catches on four targets for 54 yards Sunday.
Baldwin’s most impressive catch: He ran down the right hash mark and held onto Russell Wilson’s dart pass at the Jets’ 5-yard line despite a mammoth hit in his neck by the shoulder pad of New York safety Calvin Pryor.
“How did I hang onto it?” Baldwin said. “It’s my job.”
He got chiropractic adjustments on the training table behind the Seahawks’ bench during the ensuing defensive possession. He said of the neck: “It’s fine.”
He said he hadn’t been hit like that “in a long time.”
As for his many critics that have ripped him for speaking out on police killings and the Seahawks’ demonstration of unity that led the mayor of DuPont to cancel a Seahawks rally in that town, Baldwin said: “I have a good comeback for it, but it’s not a humble comeback. So I don’t want to say it.
“You are right. I am going to stick to football. But I am also going to continue to speak out.
“They just have to suck it up and deal with it.”
Graham’s back
So this is what Jimmy Graham fully utilized in the offense looks like.
Graham had his second-most receiving yards since the Seahawks traded for the veteran tight end last year. It was his fourth game since he tore the patellar tendon in his knee Nov. 29 and underwent a tricky surgery and rehabilitation.
“It’s been such a long road for me,” Graham said, “and to finally be a part of what this team has going on and truly be a part of it feels amazing.”
He has 12 catches on 17 targets for 213 yards over the past two weeks.
Jersey boy does good
Tanner McEvoy was a star dual-threat quarterback for Bergen Catholic High School, a football power about 12 miles north of the Meadowlands.
So, yes, the undrafted rookie’s first NFL catch and touchdown was a bigger deal than just mere milestones. It was a 42-yard score on which the former Wisconsin quarterback, running back and wide receiver – a Seahawks safety in minicamps this spring — corkscrewed the Jets’ safety into the turf on a crossing route.
“That’s a great thrill for his family and his friends, Bergen Catholic, all those following him,” Seahawks coach Peter Carroll said. “To get a chance to get your first ball at MetLife (Stadium) and it’s a doggone touchdown, that’s one of those things he’ll never forget. I hope his family was all there to see it and all that and they get to rejoice in that.
“That was marvelous.”
Extra points
Starting RG Germain Ifedi made his regular-season debut after missing the first three games with a high-ankle sprain. The rookie first-round pick was called for one false-start penalty but otherwise wasn’t easily noticed – which means he generally did his job against New York’s rugged defensive front. … WR Tyler Lockett barely played on offense – one catch, 13 yards, three targets – and did not return kickoffs. He continues to heal from a sprained knee two weeks ago. “He’s going to be great after the break. He needs the break,” Carroll said of the upcoming bye. “We tried to take it easy on him today and not use him too much just to make sure we didn’t overexpose him.” … The Jets entered the game averaging 131 yards rushing per contest. They had just 58 yards on 20 carries Sunday.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.