KIRKLAND — A Hatfield and a McCoy came together at the Seattle Seahawks’ practice complex on Monday morning, and not a single stone was cast.
USC senior Lawrence Jackson and Notre Dame senior John Carlson, who played against each other three times during the past four installments of the 82-year rivalry, met off the football field for the first time as fellow Seahawks draft picks.
And wouldn’t you know it? The first two members of the Seahawks’ 2008 draft class actually enjoyed each other’s company.
“It’s fun to get to know him a little bit,” said Carlson, the Seahawks’ second-round pick in the weekend draft. “We Notre Dame guys and these USC guys, we can get along.”
In addition to spending part of Monday expressing their mutual admiration for one another’s playing style, Jackson and Carlson learned that they actually have a lot in common.
Both players — Jackson was a four-year starter at defensive end for the Trojans, while Carlson was a tight end at Notre Dame — share an affinity for academics. They both attended private schools with strong football traditions. Both players have the kind of character that Seahawks officials preach about and have friendly, charismatic personalities.
Perhaps most alarming of all, Carlson and Jackson turned to the sport of tennis at one point during their football careers.
Jackson read a book called “The Inner Game of Tennis” while trying to get out of a slump during his junior season. Carlson, whose father coached tennis, basketball and football at Litchfield (Minn.) High School, played varsity doubles as a prepster.
More than anything, the Seahawks’ new duo bonded through their mutual admiration for each other.
Jackson’s position at USC called for him to line up on the strong side, across from the tight end, and so the pair saw plenty of battles over the years.
“He’s a pretty good blocker,” Jackson said. “He wouldn’t go away. I had to work really hard to create some separation. He’s definitely one of the most challenging tight ends I faced. I’m glad he’s on my team so we can battle it out in practice and not on game day.”
Carlson admitted that he was somewhat intimidated by Jackson in college.
“When he puts pads on,” Carlson said, “he looks really big. He’s a physical player, a tough player. He plays hard the whole game. Every time we played USC, I knew where he was on the field the whole time.”
If the Seahawks’ top two draft picks differ, it’s in their background.
Jackson grew up in Inglewood, Calif., just five miles away from the Staples Center.
“My neighborhood was quiet when I was young,” he said. “But there was more gang violence later, when I got to high school. The neighborhood could be pretty rough at times.”
Jackson didn’t get caught up in the gang life, preferring instead to stay home and fill his head with all kinds of trivia.
“If you look at the urban movies, there’s always that one guy who’s smart and intelligent,” Jackson said. “I always got pegged in that role.
“I knew that if you changed for success, it wasn’t going to be for long, because success is always fleeting. If you be who you are, you’ll become more successful that way.”
USC defensive coordinator Nick Holt said that Jackson’s analytical nature — the senior started his USC education as a philosophy major but eventually switched to sociology because of a schedule conflict — was never a problem in the locker room.
“Some coaches don’t like football players who are analytical because they’re always questioning the stuff you do,” Holt said. “I never saw Lawrence in that light. He’s an extremely bright guy, and he uses that to his advantage — on the football field and in life.”
Carlson’s hometown was much less dangerous. Litchfield, Minn., pop. 6,500, is a small, quiet town 60 miles west of the Twin Cities. He spent much of his childhood around sports, eventually playing tennis, basketball and football under his father at Litchfield High.
As a freshman at Litchfield, Carlson was on a state-championship basketball team that included his older brother, Alex, and his father/head coach.
“It was incredible,” Carlson said. “It’s still one of the highlights of my athletic career because of the family aspect.”
After high school, Carlson signed with a Notre Dame football program that featured head coach Tyrone Willingham. The current University of Washington coach, Willingham was fired by the Fighting Irish after Carlson’s sophomore year.
“I was surprised,” Carlson said of Willingham’s ouster. “You get recruited by these guys, and they become sort of like father figures. You move away from home, and these are the people who run your lives. So to see him leave was hard.”
The Notre Dame program is coming off one of the worst seasons in school history, while Jackson’s Trojans are still at the top of their game. USC has beaten Notre Dame five consecutive times, so Jackson has bragging rights.
But rivalries are best left in the past now that the duo is playing together in the NFL.
“He’s proud of his school, and I’m proud of mine,” Carlson said. “I’m just glad we’re on the same side now.”
Around the NFL
EAGLES: Philadelphia sued former wide receiver Terrell Owens for bonus money he has not repaid the team. The suit for nearly $770,000 was filed in U.S. District Court on Monday. Owens lost in arbitration earlier this year, a ruling calling him to repay $1.7 million in bonuses the team paid him when he played in Philadelphia in 2004 and ‘05.
RAIDERS: Oakland released running back Dominic Rhodes, two days after using their top draft pick to take big-play back Darren McFadden.
PANTHERS: Carolina added depth on their defensive line by agreeing to a one-year deal with free agent Darwin Walker. Walker’s agent, Al Irby, confirmed the deal. The Chicago Bears let Walker go in February.
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