Second Thoughts

Seahawks fan asks 12th man to up the ante

One Seattle Seahawks fan is hoping he can rely on his compatriots to help quarterback Russell Wilson (above) decide to stay in Seattle by setting up a crowdfunding site on GoFundMe.com.
One Seattle Seahawks fan is hoping he can rely on his compatriots to help quarterback Russell Wilson (above) decide to stay in Seattle by setting up a crowdfunding site on GoFundMe.com.

Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks have entered contraction negotiations, but according to reports, are millions of dollars apart.

So Seahawks fans are trying to help.

One Seahawks fan has set up an account on GoFundMe.com -- a website for online fundraising -- titled "Keep Russell Wilson in Seattle." The purpose is, of course, an attempt to make sure that money isn't a factor in negotiations between the quarterback who has led the Seahawks to two consecutive Super Bowls and the team. Wilson is entering the final year of his rookie contract, which pays him about $1.5 million.

"Wilson is the best thing to happen to the city since Ken Griffey Jr!" the creator of the page wrote. "We can't lose Russell because of something silly like lack of money. That's where we come in."

According to the page's creator, identified as Tim Pennoyer of Glendale, Calif., the plan is to use the money raised as a sort of sponsor, "much like Bose or Gillette," it says, with a goal of $5 million raised. If Wilson signs with the Seahawks, Pennoyer will donate the money to the quarterback. If he doesn't, Pennoyer has pledged to donate the money raised to charity.

As of Sunday evening, the page had received donations from 29 people totaling $1,059 since the page went live 12 days ago.

It's going to take a lot more than that to help keep Russell in Seattle. CBSsports.com reported that the Seahawks have offered Wilson $80 million over four seasons.

The last word

Patricia Strong was a Tom Brady advocate until the very end.

Strong, 72, died on May 18 in Auburn, Mass. In her obituary, family members wrote that Strong enjoyed scrapbooking, cross stitching, pixel art, knitting -- and the New England Patriots. So much so, that she made her stance clear regarding Tom Brady's role in the deflation of footballs before last year's AFC championship game against the Indianapolis Colts.

The NFL suspended Brady four games for his role, but the quarterback has vowed to appeal. Strong, evidently, thought the punishment was too harsh, which was made clear in her obituary published on the website of the Auburn (Mass.) Daily.

"She would also like us to set the record straight for her: Brady is innocent!!!," the obituary read.

Not the plan

Cincinnati Reds Manager Bryan Price was ejected Saturday night in Cleveland -- before a pitch was even thrown.

The Reds' manager who gained notoriety earlier this year with a profanity-laced tirade regarding the way in which reporters cover his team, was ejected while exchanging lineup cards with umpires before the game.

He told reporters after the game that he was discussing a play from the previous night and things got a bit out of hand. It wasn't, however, a ploy to fire up his struggling club. The Reds have lost eight games in a row.

"I would not use an ejection to motivate a club," Price told reporters after Saturday's game. "That's just something I would not do. To think a manager is going to inspire a club through an ejection is ludicrous. ... I did not anticipate that it would go the direction that it would go in."

Sports quiz

Q. Russell Wilson has 36 regular-season victories in his first three NFL seasons. Where does that rank all-time?

A. Wilson has won more games in his first three NFL seasons than any other quarterback in the Super Bowl era.

Sports on 05/25/2015

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