The Seattle Seahawks are Super Bowl contenders, but the team is dealing with some very bad press right now when it comes to player behavior with Josh Portis being arrested and Bruce Irvin suspended and some of the blame must fall on head coach Pete Carroll.
Carroll is known for his out of the box thinking, but like when he was at USC, some feel that he isn't tough enough on his players and that could be one reason for the action out. Irvin became the fifth player suspended for PED use on the team over the past three years, the most in the league, and adding to it was backup quarterback Josh Portis being arrested for suspicion of DUI. Portis was arrested on May 5 for driving under the influence and was caught going 80 in a 60 mph zone.
The trooper report said that Portis was pulled over in his range rover and had watery blood shot eyes and said he hadn't been drinking. The passenger came out of the car and started crying about arresting a Seahawks and he was eventually brought in and he admitted to drinking. Irvin highlights another issue, as Brandon Browner, Winston Guy, Allen Barbre and John Moffitt have also been suspended since 2010 and now he adds another to the list, the most in the NFL.
Carroll responded and said that the team has to take care of the issues and that they must figure it out and that he will. Marshawn Lynch has a pending case and now the team has some issues to deal with apart from things going on in the field. Irvin's suspension will keep him out of four games and he can return after Week 4 against Houston and he also will be docked a quarter of his salary for the season.
The defense is a key part of the team and the loss of Irvin may hurt, but not too much, as the team already signed Cliff Avril, Tony McDaniel and Michael Bennett in the offseason after dealing with an injury to Chris Clemons. Irvin had some character issues coming out of college but the Seahawks took him anyway and this may be a consequence of that. The team is ready to make a big run with Russell Wilson and they also acquired Percy Harvin in a trade.
"I want to apologize to my teammates, coaches and Seahawks fans for making a mistake when I took a substance that is prohibited in the NFL without a medical exemption," Irvin said at the time in a statement released by the team. "I am extremely disappointed in the poor judgment I showed and take full responsibility for my actions. I will not appeal the discipline and instead will focus my energy on preparing for the season so I can begin earning your trust and respect again. I look forward to contributing to the team the moment I return."
