If possible, Powell’s enthusiasm for the Seahawks was amplified when Seattle selected Shaquem Griffin in the fifth round of the NFL draft last spring. Powell didn’t know who exactly Griffin was before the Seahawks selected him. He just knew there was a college player with one hand who wanted to play in the NFL.
“I was like ‘Ah, that would be cool if he was on the Seahawks,'” said Powell, who wears a prosthetic left leg. “And then he was drafted by the Seahawks.”
Powell and seemingly everyone else now knows Griffin’s story.
How doctors amputated Griffin’s left hand when he was 4 years old, a day after his mother found him in the kitchen attempting to cut off his jelly-like fingers. His fingers hurt whenever he touched anything, the result of amniotic band syndrome, a congenital birth defect.
The chance he was given to play college football at UCF. The remarkable college career where he was the best defensive player in his conference and one of the best in the country.
And ultimately being provided a chance to play in the NFL for the team his twin brother already played for.
Griffin’s story will likely add another unplanned chapter on Sunday in Denver, one nobody could have expected on the day he was drafted by Seattle. He’ll do more than just play in his first NFL regular-season game. Griffin will be one of the starting linebackers for the Seahawks with K.J. Wright out due to minor knee surgery.
The player who has been told countless times he can’t will make his professional debut as a starter.
For kids like Powell, it’s even more inspiration. If someone missing a hand can start in the NFL, then what is possible?
“He’s just proved he can do whatever he wants because he worked hard for it,” Powell said.
Griffin’s work ethic has been cited by coaches and scouts as the driving reason the 23-year-old is even in the NFL. But being an NFL player has brought another responsibility, one greater than what he experienced in college. Griffin understands he will always have a role beyond just being a football player.
It’s the reason why after Seattle’s final preseason game he spent time back on the turf of CenturyLink Field meeting with kids from NubAbility , a nonprofit whose mission is to “encourage Troy Apke Jersey , inspire and instruct limb-different youth in mainstream sports.” He signed autographs. He posed for pictures. Powell was there among those listening intently to what Griffin had to say well after 11 p.m. on the field of a mostly empty stadium.
Griffin said he didn’t have a specific message to share; it was simply a chance to relish in the camaraderie of being together and seeing what was possible.
“There’s no exact message. It’s just us doing what we love doing,” Griffin said. “That’s living out our dreams. That’s us choosing what we want to do. There’s not really a message because we’re all on the same page. We all support each other. Having them come support me is another step along the way. It’s just living out our dreams the best that we can.”
Right in the middle of talking to the kids and signing autographs was Shaquem’s twin brother Shaquill, the Seahawks’ second-year starting cornerback. He’s helped his brother manage the transition from college to the NFL. He’s been just as important in supporting and promoting what his brother has already accomplished.
“It means the world to me. Just seeing the people that look up to us, kids that are still pushing for what they believe in,” Shaquill said. “You understand what kind of role you’ve really got playing this sport, using this platform. I feel like what my brother is doing and what I’m continuing to do is way bigger than football — the giving back to others and motivating them and give them something to dream about. That’s what we play for, and being in that situation and talking to those kids, it’s a lifetime thing and something I always look forward to.”
Of course, there still is the football aspect to Griffin’s story and why so much attention will be placed on his debut. Seattle knew it was getting a tremendous athlete that could be an immediate contributor on special teams when it drafted Griffin. Whether he would play on defense would depend on how quickly he grasped the scheme and found a position.
The Seahawks ultimately decided to use Griffin in space and slot him as Wright’s backup. Compared to Wright in size, Griffin looks more like he should be a safety than a linebacker. But he’s taken to the position, even after a rough second preseason game when he looked lost and overwhelmed, which led to conversations with coach Pete Carroll and defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. about how to be more like the player they saw in college.
Griffin showed what Carroll and Norton wanted to see over the final two preseason games. And now he gets the chance to show it in a game that matters.
“When you’re a young guy trying to do everything for everybody, it’s insurmountable. That’s kind of how he was looking at it,” Carroll said. “He was tight, he wanted to please everybody Antwaun Woods Jersey , he was just trying to do too much stuff. We simplified it, got his language really clearer, what he was intending on trying to get done — like making his drops, making his reads and stuff, just simplify things — and he’s a really good ballplayer, he just took to it.
“I think he took also the fact that we showed confidence in him. Instead of ripping his
The Latest on NBA free agency (all times EDT):
9:35 p.m.
Julius Randle is going to play alongside All-Star Anthony Davis.
Randle agreed to sign with the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, doing so quickly after his rights were renounced by the Los Angeles Lakers hours earlier. His decision was confirmed by a person familiar with the negotiations and speaking on condition of anonymity because nothing has been signed.
ESPN, which first reported the Randle agreement, said it was a two-year, $18 million deal.
The move pairs Randle in the Pelicans’ frontcourt with Davis, another former Kentucky star.
Davis and DeMarcus Cousins formed perhaps the best 1-2 frontcourt punch in basketball last season before Cousins got hurt. And now, Cousins has gone to the defending NBA champions after agreeing Monday to a one-year, $5.3 million deal to sign with the Golden State Warriors.
– Reporting by AP Sports Writer Brett Martel
—
8:55 p.m.
DeMarcus Cousins is heading to the Golden State Warriors, looking for a title.
Cousins agreed Monday to accept a one-year deal to join the two-time defending NBA champions for $5.3 million. The terms were confirmed to The Associated Press by a person directly involved in the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract has not been signed.
It’s a low-risk, high-reward move for the Warriors Marcedes Lewis Jersey , with Cousins set to return at some point this season once he completes his recovery from tearing his Achilles tendon in January.
And immediately, Cousins’ soon-to-be teammates welcomed the move. ”The 3rd splash Brother,” Stephen Curry tweeted.
Cousins averaged 25.2 points last season for New Orleans, and for his career the six-time All-Star averages 21.5 points and 11 rebounds.
– Reporting by AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami
—
6:30 p.m.
The Boston Celtics signed guard Brad Wanamaker, who spent the last seven years playing in Europe.
The 6-foot-4 former Pittsburgh Panther averaged 11.5 points for Fenerbahce Ulker last season, when the team won the Turkish league championship and he was named the finals MVP.
He is a former European teammate of Celtic Daniel Theis.
—
5:35 p.m.
Rajon Rondo is teaming up with LeBron James.
A person with knowledge of the situation says Rondo has agreed to sign a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized.
ESPN, which first reported the agreement, said Rondo will make $9 million.
James and Rondo have gone head-to-head 54 times in their NBA careers, 25 of those coming in the playoffs – the last of those matchups in 2012, when James and the Miami Heat rallied from a 3-2 deficit to beat Rondo and the Boston Celtics on the way to the NBA title.
The Lakers become Rondo’s sixth team. He averaged 8.3 points and 8.2 assists for New Orleans last season.
– Reporting by AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami
—
4:40 p.m.
Veteran forward Anthony Tolliver is joining the Minnesota Timberwolves, returning to one of the nine NBA teams he’s played for during his career.
A person with knowledge of the agreement says Tolliver will sign a one-year contract for $5.75 million with the Timberwolves. The person spoke to The Associated Press Monday on condition of anonymity because the league’s free agency moratorium is in place until Friday.
Tolliver will likely replace Nemanja Bjelica off the bench, a sharp shooter who can back up both forward spots. Tolliver, who played for Minnesota in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons, played for Detroit in 2017-18 while averaging 8.9 points and 22.2 minutes per game with a career-best 3-point percentage of 43.6.
– AP Sports Writer Dave Campbell reporting from Minneapolis
—
4:30 p.m.
Jose Calderon is joining his former coach in Detroit.
The veteran guard agreed to a contract with the Pistons, who recently hired former Toronto coach Dwane Casey. Calderon’s agency http://www.indianapoliscoltsteamonline. ... ard-jersey , Priority Sports, announced the veteran’s minimum deal in a tweet congratulating Calderon.
The Spanish guard played last season for Cleveland, averaging 4.5 points in 57 games, including 32 starts. At 36, Calderon has lost some foot speed but remains a reliable shooter and respected teammate in the locker room.
He began his career with the Raptors in 2005 and has also played with the Pistons, Dallas, New York, the Lakers and Atlanta.
—
3:30 p.m.
Derrick Favors was a top priority for Utah, and the Jazz have succeeded in their quest to retain him.
A person with knowledge of the negotiations says Favors and the Jazz have come to terms on a two-year contract that could be worth up to $36 million, The person spoke to The Associated Press Monday on condition of anonymity because the deal remains unsigned, with the NBA’s offseason moratorium still in place.
Favors averaged 12.3 points last season for the Jazz, who reached the Western Conference semifinals.
He turns 27 later this month and the deal represents a nice raise for Favors, who made $12 million last season.
– Reporting by AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami.
—
1:15 p.m.
The massive LeBron James banner hanging in downtown Cleveland is being removed again following the superstar’s announcement he’s leaving the Cavaliers.
“I was like ‘Ah, that would be cool if he was on the Seahawks,'” said Powell, who wears a prosthetic left leg. “And then he was drafted by the Seahawks.”
Powell and seemingly everyone else now knows Griffin’s story.
How doctors amputated Griffin’s left hand when he was 4 years old, a day after his mother found him in the kitchen attempting to cut off his jelly-like fingers. His fingers hurt whenever he touched anything, the result of amniotic band syndrome, a congenital birth defect.
The chance he was given to play college football at UCF. The remarkable college career where he was the best defensive player in his conference and one of the best in the country.
And ultimately being provided a chance to play in the NFL for the team his twin brother already played for.
Griffin’s story will likely add another unplanned chapter on Sunday in Denver, one nobody could have expected on the day he was drafted by Seattle. He’ll do more than just play in his first NFL regular-season game. Griffin will be one of the starting linebackers for the Seahawks with K.J. Wright out due to minor knee surgery.
The player who has been told countless times he can’t will make his professional debut as a starter.
For kids like Powell, it’s even more inspiration. If someone missing a hand can start in the NFL, then what is possible?
“He’s just proved he can do whatever he wants because he worked hard for it,” Powell said.
Griffin’s work ethic has been cited by coaches and scouts as the driving reason the 23-year-old is even in the NFL. But being an NFL player has brought another responsibility, one greater than what he experienced in college. Griffin understands he will always have a role beyond just being a football player.
It’s the reason why after Seattle’s final preseason game he spent time back on the turf of CenturyLink Field meeting with kids from NubAbility , a nonprofit whose mission is to “encourage Troy Apke Jersey , inspire and instruct limb-different youth in mainstream sports.” He signed autographs. He posed for pictures. Powell was there among those listening intently to what Griffin had to say well after 11 p.m. on the field of a mostly empty stadium.
Griffin said he didn’t have a specific message to share; it was simply a chance to relish in the camaraderie of being together and seeing what was possible.
“There’s no exact message. It’s just us doing what we love doing,” Griffin said. “That’s living out our dreams. That’s us choosing what we want to do. There’s not really a message because we’re all on the same page. We all support each other. Having them come support me is another step along the way. It’s just living out our dreams the best that we can.”
Right in the middle of talking to the kids and signing autographs was Shaquem’s twin brother Shaquill, the Seahawks’ second-year starting cornerback. He’s helped his brother manage the transition from college to the NFL. He’s been just as important in supporting and promoting what his brother has already accomplished.
“It means the world to me. Just seeing the people that look up to us, kids that are still pushing for what they believe in,” Shaquill said. “You understand what kind of role you’ve really got playing this sport, using this platform. I feel like what my brother is doing and what I’m continuing to do is way bigger than football — the giving back to others and motivating them and give them something to dream about. That’s what we play for, and being in that situation and talking to those kids, it’s a lifetime thing and something I always look forward to.”
Of course, there still is the football aspect to Griffin’s story and why so much attention will be placed on his debut. Seattle knew it was getting a tremendous athlete that could be an immediate contributor on special teams when it drafted Griffin. Whether he would play on defense would depend on how quickly he grasped the scheme and found a position.
The Seahawks ultimately decided to use Griffin in space and slot him as Wright’s backup. Compared to Wright in size, Griffin looks more like he should be a safety than a linebacker. But he’s taken to the position, even after a rough second preseason game when he looked lost and overwhelmed, which led to conversations with coach Pete Carroll and defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. about how to be more like the player they saw in college.
Griffin showed what Carroll and Norton wanted to see over the final two preseason games. And now he gets the chance to show it in a game that matters.
“When you’re a young guy trying to do everything for everybody, it’s insurmountable. That’s kind of how he was looking at it,” Carroll said. “He was tight, he wanted to please everybody Antwaun Woods Jersey , he was just trying to do too much stuff. We simplified it, got his language really clearer, what he was intending on trying to get done — like making his drops, making his reads and stuff, just simplify things — and he’s a really good ballplayer, he just took to it.
“I think he took also the fact that we showed confidence in him. Instead of ripping his
The Latest on NBA free agency (all times EDT):
9:35 p.m.
Julius Randle is going to play alongside All-Star Anthony Davis.
Randle agreed to sign with the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, doing so quickly after his rights were renounced by the Los Angeles Lakers hours earlier. His decision was confirmed by a person familiar with the negotiations and speaking on condition of anonymity because nothing has been signed.
ESPN, which first reported the Randle agreement, said it was a two-year, $18 million deal.
The move pairs Randle in the Pelicans’ frontcourt with Davis, another former Kentucky star.
Davis and DeMarcus Cousins formed perhaps the best 1-2 frontcourt punch in basketball last season before Cousins got hurt. And now, Cousins has gone to the defending NBA champions after agreeing Monday to a one-year, $5.3 million deal to sign with the Golden State Warriors.
– Reporting by AP Sports Writer Brett Martel
—
8:55 p.m.
DeMarcus Cousins is heading to the Golden State Warriors, looking for a title.
Cousins agreed Monday to accept a one-year deal to join the two-time defending NBA champions for $5.3 million. The terms were confirmed to The Associated Press by a person directly involved in the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract has not been signed.
It’s a low-risk, high-reward move for the Warriors Marcedes Lewis Jersey , with Cousins set to return at some point this season once he completes his recovery from tearing his Achilles tendon in January.
And immediately, Cousins’ soon-to-be teammates welcomed the move. ”The 3rd splash Brother,” Stephen Curry tweeted.
Cousins averaged 25.2 points last season for New Orleans, and for his career the six-time All-Star averages 21.5 points and 11 rebounds.
– Reporting by AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami
—
6:30 p.m.
The Boston Celtics signed guard Brad Wanamaker, who spent the last seven years playing in Europe.
The 6-foot-4 former Pittsburgh Panther averaged 11.5 points for Fenerbahce Ulker last season, when the team won the Turkish league championship and he was named the finals MVP.
He is a former European teammate of Celtic Daniel Theis.
—
5:35 p.m.
Rajon Rondo is teaming up with LeBron James.
A person with knowledge of the situation says Rondo has agreed to sign a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized.
ESPN, which first reported the agreement, said Rondo will make $9 million.
James and Rondo have gone head-to-head 54 times in their NBA careers, 25 of those coming in the playoffs – the last of those matchups in 2012, when James and the Miami Heat rallied from a 3-2 deficit to beat Rondo and the Boston Celtics on the way to the NBA title.
The Lakers become Rondo’s sixth team. He averaged 8.3 points and 8.2 assists for New Orleans last season.
– Reporting by AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami
—
4:40 p.m.
Veteran forward Anthony Tolliver is joining the Minnesota Timberwolves, returning to one of the nine NBA teams he’s played for during his career.
A person with knowledge of the agreement says Tolliver will sign a one-year contract for $5.75 million with the Timberwolves. The person spoke to The Associated Press Monday on condition of anonymity because the league’s free agency moratorium is in place until Friday.
Tolliver will likely replace Nemanja Bjelica off the bench, a sharp shooter who can back up both forward spots. Tolliver, who played for Minnesota in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons, played for Detroit in 2017-18 while averaging 8.9 points and 22.2 minutes per game with a career-best 3-point percentage of 43.6.
– AP Sports Writer Dave Campbell reporting from Minneapolis
—
4:30 p.m.
Jose Calderon is joining his former coach in Detroit.
The veteran guard agreed to a contract with the Pistons, who recently hired former Toronto coach Dwane Casey. Calderon’s agency http://www.indianapoliscoltsteamonline. ... ard-jersey , Priority Sports, announced the veteran’s minimum deal in a tweet congratulating Calderon.
The Spanish guard played last season for Cleveland, averaging 4.5 points in 57 games, including 32 starts. At 36, Calderon has lost some foot speed but remains a reliable shooter and respected teammate in the locker room.
He began his career with the Raptors in 2005 and has also played with the Pistons, Dallas, New York, the Lakers and Atlanta.
—
3:30 p.m.
Derrick Favors was a top priority for Utah, and the Jazz have succeeded in their quest to retain him.
A person with knowledge of the negotiations says Favors and the Jazz have come to terms on a two-year contract that could be worth up to $36 million, The person spoke to The Associated Press Monday on condition of anonymity because the deal remains unsigned, with the NBA’s offseason moratorium still in place.
Favors averaged 12.3 points last season for the Jazz, who reached the Western Conference semifinals.
He turns 27 later this month and the deal represents a nice raise for Favors, who made $12 million last season.
– Reporting by AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami.
—
1:15 p.m.
The massive LeBron James banner hanging in downtown Cleveland is being removed again following the superstar’s announcement he’s leaving the Cavaliers.
