Former Ducks standout Ugo Amadi delivers meals to Tennessee healthcare workers – ProBasketballTalk

Ugo Amadi’s hometown of Nashville, Tennessee holds a special place in his heart. 

It’s where he grew up, made a name for himself on the John Overton High School football team, and where he found out he would be taking his talents to Oregon over offers from LSU, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Duke, amongst others, as a four-star cornerback. 

It’s also where his sister works today as a part of Tennessee Valley Healthcare. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Amadi began to realize the challenges and unrelenting work healthcare workers like his sister face daily. 

To express his appreciation, the Seattle Seahawks safety recently spent a day at the Alvin C. York VA Medical Center and passed out meals to the frontline workers. You can watch the entire video of his visit here. 

I’m so blessed and fortunate to not only have a platform but to also be able to give back to the community. I want to thank my family, Slim and Husky, AHAUTE cookies for helping give back to the Alvin C York VA hospital. Without them this wouldn’t be possible. I was able to feed the frontline workers at the hospital and spread awareness about racial injustice that’s at the forefront of our country. I want Healthcare workers to know that they to have a platform and can help make this a better environment for black people. — Ugo Amadi 

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I’m so blessed and fortunate to not only have a platform but to also be able to give back to the community. I want to thank my family, Slim and Husky, AHAUTE cookies for helping give back to the Alvin C York VA hospital. Without them this wouldn’t be possible. I was able to feed the frontline workers at the hospital and spread awareness about racial injustice that’s at the forefront of our country. I want Healthcare workers to know that they to have a platform and can help make this a better environment for black people. I also want to give a special shoutout to @legacyphilanthropy & @annakonsmo they did an amazing job behind the scenes that made this event turn out perfect! If anyone needs assistance with community service or life skills , these are two people I highly recommend! #happyjuneteenth #GoVote 📸 @justin.renfroe

A post shared by ⚡️Ugo Amadi⚡️ (@uamadi7) on Jun 19, 2020 at 8:46pm PDT

This isn’t the first time the 2018 Lombardi Award winner has participated in community outreach projects. As a member of the Oregon Ducks, Amadi took the lead in organizing a group of teammates to visit a local woman battling cancer. 

The Nashville native had a successful career at Oregon before being selected by the Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Amadi played 51 games in four years in a Ducks uniform and helped lead Oregon to a Redbox Bowl victory as a senior. He was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe award, which is awarded to the nation’s best defensive back. 

Amadi is entering his second year with the Seattle Seahawks and is a strong candidate for the team’s starting nickel corner spot this upcoming season.

[RELATED: Seahawks nickel Ugo Amadi isn’t competing against anyone other than himself]

[Listen to the latest Talkin’ Seahawks Podcast with host Joe Fann]

Every offseason, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson heads down to Southern California and invites his wide receivers, amongst others, for organized passing sessions to prepare for the upcoming season. 

Wilson recently hosted second-year receiver DK Metcalf for a workout, before the NFLPA recommended players suspend private workouts due to COVID-19. Now, it appears the Seahawks franchise quarterback has another wideout in for a visit. 

If you take a look at Antonio Brown’s latest Instagram posts, you’ll see that he’s been training on the Russell Wilson property. If it’s not obvious on first glance, these next screenshots are a dead giveaway. 

In one video, Brown is stretching with resistance bands and a Seahawks helmet sits directly across from him. 

Then, if you look at the logo in the middle of the field, it matches Wilson’s Nike logo, which is a combination of his initials and jersey number. 

You can see the same logo in Wilson’s latest video with a robot defender. 

So, who exactly is throwing to Brown in the video? In one of the clips, it’s obvious Wilson is not under center. But the videos following that, your guess is as good as ours. The two have trained together at UCLA before.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Wilson and Brown working out together, especially considering recent rumors linking the Seahawks to the talented wide receiver. 

NFL Network’s Mike Silver recently reported the Seahawks were having internal discussions about adding Brown to the roster, and why wouldn’t they do their due diligence if Wilson wants him in Seattle.  

“They are absolutely interested in having him potentially as a late-season addition,” Silver said.

Adding Brown would definitely solidify the Seahawks as contenders and give Seattle arguably the best trio of wide receivers in the NFL, alongside DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. 

But there are still several hurdles in Brown’s way and considering the fact he is facing a potential suspension that stems from sexual assault and rape allegations, it’s a road the Seahawks may choose to avoid rather than take. 

[Listen to the latest Talkin’ Seahawks Podcast with host Joe Fann and special guest former Seattle Seahawks legend Steve Largent].

It was rumored a few weeks back, but now it’s official: The NFL has cut the preseason in half, from four games down to two. Pro Football Talk reported the adjustment on Wednesday.

Mike Florio added that it’s Weeks 1 and 4 that have been eliminated from the preseason. The Seahawks were slated to host the Raiders and visit the Vikings in those weeks, respectively.

The writing was on the wall for this decision following the cancellation of the annual Hall of Fame game. The NFL is hoping that the regular season can still go on as scheduled despite the continued concerns surrounding COVID-19. Traning camp for all 32 clubs is scheduled to start on July 28.

We will keep you posted with any future announcements in this regard over the course of the next month leading up to camp.

When you can’t work out with your Seattle Seahawks teammates, do as Russell Wilson does and hire a robot. 

As the Seahawks franchise quarterback prepares for the upcoming NFL season, he’s been seen throwing routes to second-year receiver DK Metcalf and staying in shape on the beach.

But considering the NFLPA’s recommendation to halt in-person workouts with teammates, Wilson has found a more inventive way to prepare for the 2020 NFL season. 

In a video shared to social media Tuesday, Wilson is seen dodging a robot dummy coming in on the pass rush. The robot is known as MVP Sprint, a remote-controlled padded training dummy that weights 160 pounds, runs as fast as 16 mph and trains on grass and turf. The device costs $3450, according to the mobile device’s website. 

The transition from real life teammate to cyborg football player after both Wilson and Bucs quarterback Tom Brady drew criticism for their decision to not adhere to the NFLPA’s guidelines. 

While the robot is no Jadeveon Clowney, the tech-fueled defender will certainly do the job until Wilson can reconvene with his teammates when training camp begins in late July.

[Listen to the latest Talkin’ Seahawks Podcast with host Joe Fann and special guest former Seattle Seahawks legend Steve Largent].

Obviously, the sports world is navigating uncertain waters due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But that is not stopping a handful of players from conducting their own individual workouts and workouts with their teammates.

New Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady has been doing so for quite some time now and even Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and breakout rookie DK Metcalf have been running routes.

[Listen to the latest Talkin’ Seahawks Podcast with host Joe Fann and special guest Seahawks legend Steve Largent].

Also to note, Josh Gordon, who was released by Seattle back in December, has been working out with former teammates Bobby Wagner, Metcalf, and San Francisco corner Richard Sherman.

[RELATED]: Possible landing spots for Josh Gordon

On June 20, NFL Players Association doctor Dr. Thom Mayer advised players to stop activities immediately, while the NFL and the players association figured out how to move forward:

Please be advised that it is our consensus medical opinion that in light of the increase in COVID-19 cases in certain states that no players should be engaged in practicing together in private workouts. Our goal is to have all players and your families as healthy as possible in the coming months. — Dr. Thom Mayer

Wilson and Metcalf were running routes three days after Dr. Mayer and the NFLPA released that statement.

NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith also voiced his concern over two of the top quarterbacks in the league exposing themselves at a higher risk by holding these in-person workouts with others. 

[RELATED]: NFLPA President, Browns center JC Tretter implores fellow athletes to know their rights

According to Alistair Corp of SB Nation’s Field Gulls, “Should Wilson, Brady, or any other player contract COVID-19 while taking part, they could land on their team’s non-football injury list, meaning they would not be paid until they were able to come off the list.

“Additionally, in a worst-case scenario, they could be forced to pay back some or all of their signing bonus for the 2020 season. For a Brady or Wilson, the forfeited money may not be a huge deal. But for a player on the edge of the NFL, landing on the NFI list could have a massive, lasting impact.”

A lot is riding on the shoulders of Wilson and Metcalf this upcoming season after a breakout rookie year for Metcalf. So it makes complete sense why they are continuing to build their relationship on and off the field. It’s just a matter of doing so safely. 

There is an uphill battle ahead between the NFL and the NFL Players Association as the two parties must mutually agree on what the upcoming season will look like. 

The NBA just went through the same process with the Board of Governors unveiling a 22-team format to resume play and the players voting on whether or not to go along with it. 

It’s not always a smooth sailing sea between the league’s front offices and the players. The president of the NFL Players Association and Cleveland Browns center JC Tretter released a statement called “Protecting the Rights of Football Players” on the NFLPA website.

Any time there is uncertainty, a tough issue or even when we are at odds with the NFL, a few common narratives arise from the media and public. Professional athletes in every sport have to regularly fend off criticism that our profession should be considered less of a job and that we shouldn’t fight for protections and benefits. As we begin our fight for necessary COVID-19 protections, these recycled misconceptions will be used to undermine the strength of our union and the legitimacy of your career. — JC Tretter

[Listen to the latest Talkin’ Seahawks Podcast with host Joe Fann and special guest Seahawks legend Steve Largent].

There are several misconceptions in the NFL that Tretter dishes out in this statement:

“Playing in the NFL is a privilege, not a right.” (NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says from time to time)

“You should just play for the love of the game.”

“Just go play! You’re young and healthy. You will all be fine. We need sports back.”

“Athletes are overpaid! Why don’t our [teachers/nurses/first responders] get paid more?”

“I had to go back to work. You should have to go back, too.”

Where is the fine line between the safety not just of NFL football players but of human beings and having football in the fall? Football players are not invincible to the coronavirus. There are bigger things in life other than football.

I encourage all workers to hold their employers accountable to high standards. More so than any other sport, the game of football is the perfect storm for virus transmission. There are protections, both short and long term, that must be agreed upon before we can safely return to work… — JC Tretter

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio adds, “…it’s the job of the union to fight for player rights; otherwise, those who will be assuming zero physical risk during football games in a pandemic will be tempted to push for scenarios that are less about maximizing player safety and more about illustrating the concept of ‘my guts, your blood.'”

The NFL recently noted that 26 teams, including the Seattle Seahawks, will begin training camps starting on July 28. What that looks like and how that impacts health and safety will be revealed shortly after.

The Griffin Twins have been inseparable since birth. Growing up together, taking the college football scene by storm at the University of Central Florida and now both finding their NFL home with the Seattle Seahawks. 

The two also started a YouTube channel highlighting what a day in the life of quarantine looks like for them. The series is titled ‘Shaqin It Up with the Griffin Twins’ and episode three, “The 727” just dropped on June 28.

The 727 area code is from St. Petersburg, Florida, where the Griffin twins grew up.

Here’s a breakdown of episode three:

PART ONE: It’s a work day

Get a behind the scenes look at how the Griffin twins are staying in shape for the upcoming NFL season during this pandemic in a backyard workout.

In the video, the two are working on balance and stability in the sand, which if you’ve ever done a sand workout is not easy feat. Also, their Russell Wilson and DK Metcalf impersonation is pretty spot on.

PART TWO: Boats n’ skies

Just as it is important to train and workout, it’s also important to have off days, rest and recover. 

How the Griffin twins do just that on a hot day in Florida is hit the water. 

[Listen to the latest Talkin’ Seahawks Podcast with host Joe Fann and special guest Seahawks legend Steve Largent].

PART THREE: Giving back

Me and my brother have been through so much in our life and it’s just a privilege to be in the position that we are in today, to be able to give back to the less fortunate. I honestly feel that is the main reason why we play this game – to be able to give back to ones that may need it the most.

The twins partnered with Nike to give t-shirts, shorts and other clothes along with shoes to the homeless in their Florida community. Turns out a ton of families showed up, so the twins decided to clothe the parents and order pizza, water and other food for the kids.

Watch episode three below:

The Seattle Seahawks along with the rest of the NFL will report for training camp starting on July 28. Staring corner Shaquill is coming off a 45 tackle season in 2019 while linebacker brother Shaquem saw most of his action on special teams and finished with three tackles last season.

Greg Olsen is a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro on the football field, and no stranger to the broadcast booth. 

Now, the Seattle Seahawks tight end is looking to add podcast aficionado to his lengthy resume. 

Olsen announced this week that he will soon be releasing a seven-episode series called TE1, which focuses on long-form interviews with some of the NFL’s elite tight ends. The careers of players like Tony Gonzalez, Cole Kmet, Mike Ditka, Shannon Sharpe, Travis Kelce and George Kittle will be highlighted. 

According to Olsen’s latest tweet, the podcast will “chronicle a 60-year evolution of the tight end position.”

“I was able to have some incredibly raw and honest conversations you won’t be able to hear anywhere else,” Olsen said in a promo.

[Listen to the latest Talkin’ Seahawks Podcast with host Joe Fann and special guest former Seattle Seahawks legend Steve Largent].

If Olsen’s podcast series is anything like his broadcast work as an analyst, TE1 will be a must-listen for football fans. 

Olsen signed a one-year deal with the Seahawks in February. He joins a young tight end room that includes Will Dissly, Jacob Hollister, Luke Willson and 2020 fourth-round pick Colby Parkinson, who recently broke his foot during a workout. 

Olsen will get an opportunity to catch passes from one of the NFL’s star quarterbacks in Russell Wilson. At Carolina, Olsen caught 524 receptions for 6,463 yards and 39 touchdowns – nearly all from Cam Newton, who recently signed with the New England Patriots. 

[RELATED: Richard Sherman disgusted by Cam Newton’s contract with Patriots]

Week 2 just got a lot more intriguing for the Seattle Seahawks.

When the 2020 regular season schedule came out, many wondered why the Seahawks home opener in Week 2 against the Patriots was on primetime. Tom Brady had departed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New England appeared to be readying for a potential rebuilding year with Jarrett Stidham at QB.

Now the Patriots might have Cam Newton under center after signing the one-time NFL MVP on Sunday. Newton had been a free agent since being released by the Panthers earlier this offseason. The Patriots seemed like an obvious choice from the jump, and now Bill Belichick has finally pulled the trigger.

Newton’s one-year deal is incentive-laden and worth up to $7.5 million.

The quarterback’s last two seasons were marred by injury – a shoulder injury in 2018 and a foot injury in 2019 that limited him to just two games. Assuming he’s back to full strength and has a clean bill of health, it’s hard to imagine Newton not beating out Stidham for the starting job in New England.

It’s fitting that his first road game with the Patriots would come against the Seahawks, a team he has plenty of history against. Newton is just 1-5 in six games against Seattle with 1,144 passing yards, five touchdowns, four interceptions and a 77.8 rating. His one win versus the Seahawks came in the Divisional Round of the 2015 playoffs where Carolina edged Seattle, 31-24.

Newton and Belichick joining forces will be a storyline that everyone is eager to follow from the second training camp opens in late July. The immediate opportunity to win a primetime matchup on the road in Seattle will offer a strong indication as to how that relationship might play out over the course of the 2020 regular season as well as what Newton’s future might hold beyond the next 16 games.

[Listen to the latest Talkin’ Seahawks Podcast with host Joe Fann and special guest former Seattle Seahawks legend Steve Largent].

Before the Jason Myers-Michael Dickson era took Seattle by storm, another dynamic duo captured the hearts of Seahawks fans. 

Punter Jon Ryan held Stephen Hauschka’s balls for six years before the placekicker was shipped off to the Buffalo Bills, where Hauschka’s been playing since 2017. Ryan is now a punter for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. 

But nothing can take away from the formidable friendship the two built in a Seahawks uniform. 

This week, Ryan and his wife, comedian Sarah Colonna surprised “Hausch Money,” as he was affectionately known by Seahawks fans, to celebrate his 34th birthday.

The Bromance lives on. Take a look: 

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Had to take a little drive to surprise my man @stephenhauschka4 for his birthday yesterday. #seahawks #12thman #hausch$

A post shared by Jon Ryan (@jonryan_9) on Jun 28, 2020 at 9:48am PDT

Hauschka signed a four-year deal with the Bills in March 2017. Ryan was granted a release by the Seahawks after 10 seasons in August 2018 and followed his bestie to Buffalo, where the two reunited on the Bills roster. Ryan was released just 11 days later.   

The longtime punter and franchise icon couldn’t play together forever, but videos of their ongoing meetups give us life. 

[Listen to the latest Talkin’ Seahawks Podcast with host Joe Fann and special guest former Seattle Seahawks legend Steve Largent].