Posted by slingshot on 10/27/2005, 3:11 pm I will also come right out and say that I was not a supporter of Dave Krieg. The man that he replaced as the starting qb of the Seahawks-Jim Zorn- was a man who was my role model growing up as a young boy. I was not only blessed with the opportunity of having such a person to look up to growing up but I am glad to say that over the last 18 plus years I have been given the privledge of developing friendship with him. His impact in my life up to this day had been very meaningful. Which is why it was very hard for me to be a supporter of Dave Krieg. What's kind of coincidental is that Dave Krieg grew up about 170 miles from where I did-since we are both Wisconsin natives. So you would think, as some people use to say to me, that supporting him should have been easy for me to do. But that simply would never be the case.Loyalty means something to me. The point I would like to make here is the thing that bothered me more than anything about the whole Zorn-Krieg situation was the comparisons that were made between these two men. Back in 1981 when Krieg got the opportunity to make his first career starts for the Seahawks'during the final 3 games of the season due to Zorn's ankle injury on through to the 1982 strike-shortened season there were things said and written that these two were very similar-from the way they looked physically to the haircuts they wore to the way they both had similar playing styles. Dave Krieg himself in a August 1982 AP training camp story made similar statements:"There are alot of similarities, says Krieg."We both can run with the football and we both can throw the ball. It's really ironic that we're in a situation like this". Their playing styles were different in my opinion. One was a scrambling, sprint out qb with a strong arm, quickness and speed and overall excellent athletic ability(Zorn) to a qb who was more of a traditional pocket passer, who had a hair above average arm strength but was more of a accurate passer but who had to work hard to make up for a lack of overall athletic ability to make it work(Krieg). Unfortunately when you sacricfice your body the way Zorn did in the early years it takes a toll not only physically but psychologically as well. Krieg was spared early in his career from having to go through that.So I think that was a huge benefit to him getting the starting job for good in 1983. From a personality standpoint these two were different kinds of people in my opinion as well. Krieg reminded me of alot of the same kind of people that I grew up with in Wisconsin-blue collar lunch pail types who love to have a few beers with the boys and a chew and love to hunt and fish. Whereas Zorn had some unique interests( played viola with the Seattle Symphony in 1980 promo appearance as an example)and was a strong and devout born again christian who was not afraid to take a stand on his convictions( would not support the 1982 NFL players strike due to those convictions as an example). Zorn was extremely popular and well liked by the fans of Seattle for his play and even more so for his character. So I never understood why these comparisons were made between the two nor did I ever agree with them. I have often wondered if the media and maybe the Seahawks' themselves did not try, with these comparisons, to make Krieg into another Zorn to some degree. They were leaning towards making a change from what I have been able to gather over the years from various media accounts and opinions. So if the change was made than maybe the fans, those who liked Zorn alot especially, might be more receptive if Krieg was somewhat comparable so to speak to Zorn. If that was the case it was a bad idea. But I do not know if that was the case or not as to why those comparisons were made. It may have been simply the media trying to come up with a angle to fill space on the paper. But let me end with this. Despite the fact that I was not a Dave Krieg supporter I believe that you give credit where credit is deserved. To do otherwise would be wrong. Krieg did more with what I will call hair above average ability than guys with twice his talent. He worked hard and gave his best effort. He has an opportunity with the numbers he posted to get elected to the Hall of Fame. But it will depend on the voting and how they vote. If it is about individual accomplishment than he has a good chance based on his numbers to the guys that are already in. But if it is not about that than it may be a long wait if at all. If or when that day should come it will be a great day for all of you that have supported him through the years.
64.12.117.5
Let me start out by saying I have been a supporter of the Seattle Seahawks since their expansion season of 1976. 30 years of seeing alot of Seahawks football and alot of players who have come and gone over that time.
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