Ruskell jokes about something that Holmgren likely doesn't find amusing

Mike Sando of ESPN.com points out a humorous remark from the Thursday press conference during which former Seahawks G.M. Tim Ruskell announced his departure from the team.

"I talked to my wife the other day and I said, 'Let's look at that will again," Ruskell said.  "'It says burial, but let's go for cremation so they won't be able to write, 'Here lies the man that lost Hutch' on my tombstone.'"

Former Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren likely isn't laughing.

While Holmgren vacationed in March 2006, Hutchinson -- an unrestricted free agent who had been limited only by the transition tag -- worked with the Vikings to conjure an offer sheet that, as a practical matter, the Seahawks couldn't match.  Basically, language was inserted that made the full value of the deal guaranteed if he stayed in Seattle, but not fully guaranteed if Minnesota ended up being his new team. 

Holmgren became livid (or should we say "more livid than usual") he learned what had occurred.  Many league observers believe that the incident created an irreparable rift between Ruskell and Holmgren.

Since 2006, Hutchinson has continued to be one of the dominant offensive linemen in the league.  The Seahawks, in contrast, have seen their wall of blocking crumble via injuries and ineffectiveness.

Meanwhile, Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com provides a curious post script to Ruskell's career in Seattle, via a short blurb that appears to be an attack on Ruskell, the Seahawks, and Rich McKay, a gratuitous boost to Ron Hill, or both.  Regardless of the precise motivation, Prisco's blurb oozes with a sense that scores are being settled and/or a favor is being done for Hill, who has been stuck in the league office for several years now.

Either way, Prisco's suggestion that the Seahawks "got what they deserved" strikes us not only as a tad over the top (we resemble that remark), but also as wildly inaccurate.  Though the franchise has struggled over the past two seasons, they went to a freaking Super Bowl to cap Ruskell's first year on the job.  Though much of the nucleus of the team arrived before Ruskell, his moves (including the decision to draft linebacker Lofa Tatupu in round two) helped push the team over the top.

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17 Responses to "Ruskell jokes about something that Holmgren likely doesn't find amusing"

  1. DonTerrelli says: December 4, 2009 7:26 AM

    The Walrus misses his "bucket"

  2. iusedtobeteddybayer says: December 4, 2009 8:16 AM

    Seattle was robbed of that Super Bowl. F*ing refs.

  3. cobrala2 says: December 4, 2009 8:39 AM

    I don't know why we can't just agree that when they went to the Super Bowl they were playing over their heads and weren't that special to begin with?

    ...if people stopped embellishing their credentials and capacity perhaps the slowest trainwreck that used to be on turf wouldn't look so ugly these days...?

  4. Jintsbowl says: December 4, 2009 8:48 AM

    hmmm.....very interesting, next time I can't sleep, I'll make sure to read this story again.

  5. chunky soupy sales says: December 4, 2009 8:49 AM

    I get the feeling Holgrem doesn't laugh about many things.

    Besides cake sales.

  6. Hap says: December 4, 2009 9:11 AM

    Aren't ya'll stirring old turds here,too ?

  7. madpunter88 says: December 4, 2009 9:15 AM

    I doubt Holmgren is still stewing over that move. In the Seahawks world the loss of Hutchinson has been so painfully and laboriously debated and argued these last three years that just about everyone associated with the organization now or in the past (including Holmgren) would just as soon forget about it. The departure of Ruskell will hopefully mean we never have to hear about it again. Ruskell is the person who has shouldered the most criticism for that move and he deserves to make a joke about it now as he's ushered out the door.

  8. lololnpnp says: December 4, 2009 9:23 AM

    Hahahaha PFT talking about other reports being 'wildly inaccurate'. LOLROTLFLMAO!!!!
    Thanks for starting my Friday off on a good note.

  9. Matt says: December 4, 2009 9:27 AM

    See below.

    Holmgren became livid (or should we say "more livid than usual") >> he learned what had occurred. Many league observers believe that the incident created an irreparable rift between Ruskell and Holmgren.

  10. wils says: December 4, 2009 10:03 AM

    "Though much of the nucleus of the team arrived before Ruskell"

    Oh yea, drafted by the guy named Ted Thompson. Be patient Packer fans, this team is talented and will succeed.

  11. Desertman says: December 4, 2009 10:17 AM

    Steelers robbed the Cards of a Superbowl

    That was clearly a block in the back on the harrison return at the 34 YARD LINE. Right on the 34 - watch it again! play over - END OF HALF

    F%$#*%$*#@ A$$#*# REFS

  12. Warpig33 says: December 4, 2009 11:12 AM

    jintsbowl:

    "hmmm.....very interesting, next time I can't sleep, I'll make sure to read this story again."

    -------------------------------------------------

    I wish you hadn't read it in the first place if I knew your cheesy response would be as such.

  13. The Coop says: December 4, 2009 11:31 AM

    Slow news day, eh Florio?

  14. AutumnWind999 says: December 4, 2009 11:38 AM

    Get over it. The officiating was not THAT bad for the Seahawks in the Super Bowl. Roethlisberger scored on that TD run. No way was there evidence to overturn that call. There were a couple of poor penalty calls in that game against Seattle, but they were outplayed in that game.

    I'm so tired of this perception that the Seahawks would have won that Super Bowl if not for the refs. There were 2 bad calls that went against them. It was nothing out of the ordinary. It wasn't in the same ballpark as the Tuck Rule sham or many other controversial games. If Holmgren hadn't been such a crybaby about it after returning to Seattle few would even remember that as a poorly officiated game.

  15. SoCal says: December 4, 2009 12:45 PM

    AutumnWind999

    To say the Hawks were out played in that game is an ignorant comment. They were the first team to out perform their opponent in every offensive catagory and lose. How is that possible? When calls go against you.

    You can have every "bad" call the refs made in that game back except for the holding call on Locklear and the Hawks win that game. Becasue of that "hold", which could be called on every single play of every game, the Hawks have a 2nd and 20 from mid field instead of first and goal down by three. Because of that "hold" call, Hassellbeck has to make something happen and forces a throw that was intercepted and THEN gets called for an illegal tackle.

    That's how you can win every offensive catagory and lose.

  16. FumbleNuts says: December 4, 2009 12:47 PM

    "Since 2006, Hutchinson has continued to be one of the dominant offensive linemen in the league. The Seahawks, in contrast, have seen their wall of blocking crumble via injuries and ineffectiveness."

    Ruskell should have been fired after that happened.

  17. notlisteninganymore says: December 4, 2009 1:00 PM

    Seattle land of whiners and crybabies and I see the desert has some too.

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