The Seahawks are projected to be one of the best teams in the NFL next season, but fans should really keep in mind what happened to their neighbors across the street in 2010.
Could the 2010 Mariners team be a glimpse of things to come for the Seahawks?
Remember when the Mariners traded for Cliff Lee, signed Chone Figgins and dumped Carlos Silva for Milton Bradley? Ryan Rowland-Smith was expected to be a great No. 4 starter, Casey Kotchman actually had potential to be a good starting first baseman and people still believed in Jose Lopez for some reason. And let’s not forget the promise of a Rob Johnson and Adam Moore catching platoon.
That Mariners team was hyped to be one that would handily win the division based on one of the best pitching rotations in baseball and awe-inspiring defense while maintaining a somewhat mediocre offense.
Little did they know fate would have another viewpoint.
The Seahawks are floating on top of the world right now, just like the Mariners were feeling after the 2009 season, which saw them turn a 100-loss season into an 85-win year, offering hope for the future. A World Series game was in striking distance.
In football terms, that’s just like going from a 7-win season to an 11-win season like the Seahawks did in 2011 and 2012. It’s impossible to feel anything but hope when that sort of a turnaround comes with new management, a new vision and great decisions made by the front office.
Signing Antoine Winfield and Cliff Avril were excellent moves for the Seahawks this offseason, and all of the signs point to a runaway year for the team. Those tingly happy feelings are spreading throughout Seattle, and it looks like nothing could go wrong.
Unfortunately, that’s where the 2010 Mariners can step in for Seahawks fans.
While everything may seem rosy right now with an awesome quarterback, a much improved offense and a defensive line that defies nearly every other team, the Seahawks haven’t proven anything yet. The season is still a good three or four months away, and plenty can happen between now and then.
Baseball and football are two different sports, yes, but fandom can rally behind a team that’s making the right moves. Heck, just look at the Philadelphia Phillies last year. The team made all the right moves with a massive payroll of $171 million, yet barely managed to break even by the end of the year.
Sometimes karma has other plans for sports, and that usually involves flushing a team’s hopes and dreams down the toilet.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be rooting for the Seahawks and watch the games when I can. But the black spot that’s plagued the team across the street for the last decade is undeniable. This season could potentially send the Seahawks into a downward spiral.
But, then again, having owners who actually care about the team’s performance gives the Seahawks a leg up on their neighbors.
James Eik 
So true that I almost cried. It’s been hard to be a Mariners fan the last couple of years, and no doubt that the 2010 season was a slap to the face, but as a recently-met man from Oregon and fellow Mariners fan put it, “You just have to make your peace with it, give what support you can. Then any good news will be a gift.”
It’s been rough for Mariners fans, no doubt about it. The stakes are pretty high for the Seahawks this year, but they seem to have good fundamentals in place. It’ll be fun to watch.
Thanks for the comment!