Is Hasselbeck Really Hurt?

It surprised me that Hasselbeck was ruled out of today's game so early in the week. Usually, concussions are a day-to-day thing. Maybe Matt's bell got rung so soundly last week that the doctors knew midweek that he wouldn't play today.

But maybe it's not medical. Perhaps the concussion story gives the team a chance to take a look at Charlie Whitehurst without publicly humiliating our starting quarterback.

The clueless legions of Hasselbeck haters welcome the change. Their understanding of football is so poor that they blame Matt for our inability to score or gain yards this year. They believe that the backup with the Jesus hair will be the savior of the Seahawk offense.

The haters are wrong about Hasselbeck. His play has been as solid as is possible, given our coaches' uninspired playcalling, and our O-Line's inability to protect him or open holes for our running backs.

But starting Whitehurst may give us the best chance to win today, and our best chance to win for the rest of the season.

Many are enamored of the backup's strong arm, but it is hard to see how he will get off many deep passes against the sack machine that is the Giants defense. Whitehurst is more mobile than Hasselbeck, and he'll need that mobility when the tough New York pass rush steamrolls our feeble, injury-depleted offensive line. Whitehurst's elusiveness should allow him to get off more passes than Hasselbeck might have managed.

Best of all, by playing the backup, we spare our banged-up starter from gratuitous abuse that could keep him out of games down the stretch, where we will need him if we intend to win the division and compete in the playoffs.

Of course, if Whitehurst lights it up and proves himself a better quarterback than Hasselbeck, then he should be the starter.

But I think that's very unlikely. If the Seahawks eke out a victory today, it probably won't be on the strength of our offense. It will be because the defense stepped up, because the 12th Man brought the noise, and/or because the special teams made some plays.

Go, Seahawks!