The Hoch’s Nest: Who’s in your 5? Part 4

As said yesterday, there are six players on this list because I am counting Steve Largent and Shaun Alexander as one. I am doing this because Part 2 had them being ranked One and Two, respectively. Yes, they may both be two of the best, but this is not in a particular order, so it doesn’t really matter does it?

This list of “Top-5 Seahawks Lifers” goes as follows.

Steve Largent

Shaun Alexander

Cortez Kennedy

Tez was my favorite player growing up, mainly because of the Coke Monsters of the Gridiron campaign that placed him in a dinosaur costume. The picture was ridiculous (all 30 of the cards were pretty bad) but as a pre-teen in the 90’s it was totally awesome.

Kennedy was the 3 rd -overall-pick by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1990 draft. He had a mediocre first-season, which isn’t surprising since he decided to holdout and missed most of training camp. His numbers rebounded and after 11 seasons with the Seahawks he retired with 667 tackles (unofficial), 58 sacks and 3 INT (one for touchdown).

His accolades included 7 Pro Bowls, 1992 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, The best player to ever wear #96 (SI.com) and was named to the 1990’s All-Decade Team by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

He sat out all of 2001 and retired (officially) in 2002 turning down contract offers from other teams so he could retire a Seahawk.

Tez Rex is now listed on the Hall of Fame ballot, which may happen since he was seen as one of the best Defensive Tackles while he played.

Mack Strong

If Cortez was my favorite growing up, then Mack Strong was my favorite in my early adulthood.

Strong was Undrafted in 1993, but was signed by the Seahawks in hopes of getting a good blocking back. They got that and more.

Strong played his entire 15-year career with the Seahawks, 11 of those blocking for one of three separate 1,000 yard rushers ( Chris Warren, Ricky Watters and Alexander).

In week five of 2007 Strong suffered a herniated disk in his neck that was pressing against his spinal cord. He made a decision with his wife that it was time for him to end his career on his terms, before the game itself made him retire.

His career ended with only 909 rushing yards, averaging 4.0 yards per carry and 5 rushing touchdowns (He added 1456 yards and 10 TDs receiving). This turns some off, but you need to remember that he was a blocking back; his job was to open holes not run through them. He was awarded his last two seasons with trips to the Pro Bowl and one All-Pro selection.

Strong holds the Seahawks team record for longest rush in a playoff game, when he broke a 32-yard run during the 2005 divisional round game versus the Washington Redskins.  

Walter Jones

How do you gauge the career of a Left Tackle? Is it about his stats? What stats?

I gauge it by his impact on the game.

Jones has played 168 games in 11 Seasons (missing only 8) and has been a part of six teams that ranked in the Top-10 in total yards. Since 2002 the Seahawks have ranked in the Top-10 in rushing 3 times.

Big Walt has been elected to the Pro Bowl 8 of the last 9 seasons (2000) and has been an All-Pro Selection the past 7 seasons.

To compare to Hall of Famers: Anthony Munoz was elected to 11 Pro Bowls and was an 11 time All-Pro. Art Shell only received 8 Pro Bowl invites and was a first- or second-team All-Pro choice six times.   

If Walt can keep up his play in the next few years, he will be a first ballot inductee into the Hall.

From USA Today :

"With all due respect to Jon Ogden (of the Baltimore Ravens), Walter Jones is the man," Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor says. "He's got it all: the size, the foot speed, the hands. He uses angles very well. He has a basketball player's agility in a big man's body."

"A tackle is either a run-blocker or a pass-blocker, but Walter does both really well," says Hugh Douglas , the retired Philadelphia Eagles defensive end.

From The Sporting News :

Dolphins left tackle L.J. Shelton says he likes to watch Jones on tape. "He makes it look easy," Shelton says. "He was born to play left tackle. There are things he can do physically I just can't do. There are things he does linebackers probably can't do. He's in a class all his own."  

"He's the best," Bears defensive end Alex Brown says. "Bar none."  

Kenny Easley

When I did “Part 2” I got a lot of flack for not having Easley on the list; the truth is, I wanted him there, but he didn’t play long enough to get the numbers.

"He'd be a Hall of Fame player (had he played longer). Maybe he still is. He was that good." – Bill Walsh

But he made this list.

The overall 4 th -Pick by the Seahawks in 1981, the ex-UCLA standout recorded 1981 AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, getting 3 Interceptions (one TD). His career netted 32 Interceptions with 3 Touchdowns, 5 Pro Bowls, the 1984 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and was selected to the 1980’s All-Decade Team by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

His amazing career (seen by many as the AFC’s Ronnie Lott) was cut short because of his hard play. Kenny suffered an ankle injury in 1986 that would end his career…but not like any other. To kill the pain he constantly popped Advil and in the process, killed his kidney.

Easley had been traded to the Phoenix Cardinals previous to these findings, and his inability to pass the physical ended the swap. Easley retired a few months later.

He has since ended a dispute with the team (he was suing over the kidney problems) and entered the Ring of Honor in 2002.

He is still seen by many as one of the greatest Safeties to have ever played the game.

As seen in: Afraidofedhochuli.com