Darnold-to-JSN gives magnetically dull Seahawks indispensable flair

"GO AHEAD, CALL the Seattle Seahawks boring. They'll thank you for it. The God-given right to a drama-free existence is the first article of their constitution. They are deeply, magnetically dull. Mike Macdonald, the head coach, speaks as if he pre-scans every sentence through an algorithm that removes any trace of personality. Macdonald's motto, enthusiastically adopted on T-shirts throughout the locker room, is M.O.B. -- Mission Over Bulls---. The B.S. part precludes any player from saying anything that even approximates controversy."

"The quarterback, Sam Darnold, is so aggressively bland that it's become endearing. Before his weekly news conference the Thursday before the Seahawks' final regular-season game against the San Francisco 49ers, Darnold stopped at backup quarterback Drew Lock's locker and asked if he would help him choose that week's game balls "after I get through with this media deal." Darnold proceeded to answer questions pleasantly and without elucidation for 10 minutes before moving on to the fun work of choosing between presumably identical footballs."

"The concerted effort to exude a lack of excitement is everywhere. It's like they all signed an NDA. But seven or so times per game, something happens that peels back the layers and exposes the weakness at the heart of the Seahawks' quest for a bland, mission-driven existence. On those seven or so moments in every game, Darnold throws the ball to the best receiver in the NFL, and whatever happens next is out of their control."

The Seattle Seahawks operate with a deliberate, low-drama culture centered on discipline and M.O.B. — Mission Over Bulls---. Head coach Mike Macdonald enforces a personality-muted environment in which players avoid controversy and maintain controlled public personas. Quarterback Sam Darnold embodies the team's bland, unflashy demeanor, answering questions politely and avoiding elaboration. The team’s offense depends heavily on rookie receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, whose supreme talent and nonchalant presence produces multiple game-altering moments each contest, simultaneously providing the Seahawks' biggest advantage and revealing their dependence on his playmaking.

Read at ESPN.com