Seahawks rookie Tate involved in donut-related mischief

When I interviewed former Notre Dame and current Seattle Seahawks receiver Golden Tate(notes) for the Washington Post in March, I should have asked him if he had a sweet tooth. Evidently he does, and it seems to have gotten the rookie in a bit of trouble. As first reported by TMZ.com, Tate was given a trespass warning by police in Bellevue, Washington (a suburb of Seattle) when the owner of the Top Pot donut shop below the apartment complex in which Tate lives noticed that there were intruders in his place of business at 3:00 last Saturday morning. The Seattle Times reports that Tate and a friend got in via a common door that was left open.

Tate said that the idea was to go into the shop to grab a few maple bars, which are apparently addictive to the extreme. "They're irresistible," Tate told the media after his pastry caper was made public. "It was kind of a foolish mistake that won't happen again. But if you ever want some maple bars, that's the place to go.

"A buddy made the mistake of going in, grabbing a couple. He came out, we ate them. There's nothing much to the story other than that. I'm very apologetic to it. This is the wrong type of media I want to bring to this organization. I apologized to the team, the coaches and even Top Pot. As of now, I think that's the end of it."

View the Original article

Seahawks cut LenDale White, who faces a drug suspension

Just a month after they exchanged fourth- and sixth-round draft picks with the Tennessee Titans for running back LenDale White(notes), the Seattle Seahawks have released the USC alum.

The Seahawks were thought to be interested in White's services for two reasons — new head coach Pete Carroll coached White at USC, and they lack a goal-line back or a bruising first-down back on the roster.

Despite the cast that White slimmed down to 220 pounds and was in the best shape of his football career, there were rumblings within the front office that White, who ran for 2,349 yards and 24 touchdowns in four seasons with the Titans, wasn't performing to the level expected by Carroll and general manager John Schneider. Schneider expressed the reason for the release like so: "It became apparent at this time that LenDale was not ready to be a member of the Seahawks. It just did not appear to be the right fit at this point in our program. We wish LenDale all the best with his future."

What we then learned, per Jason La Canfora of the NFL Network, was that White is facing a four-game suspension for a violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy. No further details were available. According to La Canfora, the Seahawks were aware of White's possible suspension when they traded for him, and that was not the reason he was cut.

It's possible that the Seahawks hoped and expected that White would become a part of the team only to be disappointed and surprised by his work ethic. I would maintain that it's also possible that this move, coming as early in the preseason process as it does, is as much about sending a message to the team, media and fans about the New Pete Carroll as anything else.

Carroll is a self-aware guy and always has been — few coaches at any level are as astute when it comes to public perceptions — and he had to know the reputation that followed him back into the NFL from his decade at USC. A player's coach, a bit of a milquetoast, a guy that professional veterans wouldn't take seriously. But in cutting a player that he not only coached in college but also dealt for in his first draft back in the NFL, Carroll's telling the world that nobody, including the coach himself, is on scholarship. He has to get his new team to buy in, and this is one way to go.

As for White, who's always been up against it from a commitment perspective, this is a major blow. When the coach who benefited from your collegiate production casts you aside, that sends a very strong message to the rest of the league.

Other popular links on Yahoo! Sports:
• Pro sports' most-losing teams
• MLB star accuses pitcher of 'cheating'
• Jordan fans upset over statue's new look

Related: Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans

Email Shutdown Corner Buzz up! digg add to facebook delicious More fark mixx StumbleUpon Google Bookmarks Yahoo! Bookmarks

« Prev Twitter Fight! Shiancoe doesn't like Sharper's Tweet on Favre

Next » Kenechi Udeze is still a winner off the field

NFL White 'confused' by release from Seattle More cold-weather Super Bowls possible Dolphins being cautious with Pennington Turner pleased after Chargers minicamp Dolphins' Merling on field after arrest Brother of Giants DE Kiwanuka injured More NFL News 877 Comments Post a Comment

1 - 25 of 877

First « Previous Next » Last

View the Original article