Seattle Seahawks News: Darrell Bevell Keeps it Classy

Sep 13, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) walks off the field after the first half against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Marshawn Lynch’s mom is not happy with the Seattle Seahawks, and more specifically, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. I will not re-hash her Facebook rant here. If you want to read it, you can look it up. To sum up, she wants Bevell fired.

Bevell responded and kept it classy. He said, “I’m glad we have passionate fans.” Perfect response, Mr. Bevell.

His choice of words are very interesting, particularly that last word. Fans. The truth is, Ms. Lynch is exactly that. She is a fan.

Sure, she is in a special category of fans, and undoubtedly has a level of insider knowledge that none of us will ever have. However, that doesn’t change the reality that she isn’t a coach or a player. Like every other person in this country, she is entitled to her opinion. Just don’t think it is going to get Darrell Bevell fired.

Unfortunately, her comments are not helpful right now. Let’s say Pete Carroll took her comments to heart and decided to let Bevell go. Does Ms. Lynch really believe that tossing the OC one game into the season would be a good idea? Bring in a new OC now? Create a new offensive scheme NOW?

Yep, that sounds like a fantastic plan. Would you like the job, Ms. Lynch?

Let’s also try to put all of this into perspective. Coaches aren’t infallible. They do make mistakes and Darrell Bevell will not be the offensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks forever. That said, I don’t think you can be the “worst playcaller ever” (Ms. Lynch’s quote) and come within one play of winning two straight Super Bowls.

If you believe in luck, Mr. Bevell must be the luckiest man alive.

In philosophy, it is called outcome bias. Look it up.

Some of this stems from the two iconic plays in recent memory. Namely, the interception at the Super Bowl and the fact that Marshawn Lynch got stuffed at the line on fourth-and-one against the St. Louis Rams. Ms. Lynch wants to connect those two plays and make the argument that Bevell and Pete Carroll are playing some sort of weird mind and PR game where they try to make different players look good.

People, just stop.

If you think Bevell gave Lynch the ball as a make-up call for the Super Bowl, that is a little naive. This isn’t junior high school. Coaches want to win. They aren’t going to make play calls in key situations so that they remain popular with certain players.

Those two plays are fresh in our memories, but they are unrelated. Different situations. Different scenarios. Different personnel. Stop trying to make connections where none exist.

Darrell Bevell has made mistakes during his tenure and he will make them in the future. However, let’s try to remember that these guys have to make snap decisions under extreme pressure with very limited amounts of time. How about we leave him alone for now and let them prepare for next week.

I can’t tell you how many people I have had arguments with about that play call in the Super Bowl. Everyone thinks they know what would have happened had the Seahawks given the ball to Beast Mode. They don’t. Period. End of story. The reality is that people are more concerned about being right than they are about being logical sometimes. No one knows what would have happened.

The reaction is expected, but for people to declare that Bevell made the wrong decision is flawed. In philosophy, it is called outcome bias. Look it up.

Class dismissed.