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Seattle Seahawks Reminiscent Of Beloved Boston Teams

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Pedestrians walk past a mural of an Arizona landscape as a banner of the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl Trophy decorates a building in Phoenix. The New England Patriots face the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX today, in Glendale, Ariz. (David Goldman/AP)
Pedestrians walk past a mural of an Arizona landscape as a banner of the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl Trophy decorates a building in Phoenix. The New England Patriots face the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX today, in Glendale, Ariz. (David Goldman/AP)

It’s Super Sunday! The New England Patriots are playing the Seattle Seahawks today for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The Super Bowl is expected be a close game between the two top-seeded teams in the NFL.

But if the Seahawks were NOT playing the Pats, they’d would be a team Boston sports fans could love.

Seahawks Share Similarities With Some Of Boston's Most Beloved Sports Teams

The Seattle Seahawks are trying to become the first NFL team to repeat as champions since the New England Patriots in 2003 and 2004. The similarities between the teams are striking.

Let’s start with unheralded players. The Pats of the past featured workhorse overachievers like Kevin Faulk, Teddy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel. Even quarterback Tom Brady had been overlooked, drafted in the sixth round. Same thing with the Seahawks of today. Third-rounder Russell Wilson, who many experts said was too short being generously listed at 5 foot 11 inches tall – well, now he’s on the brink of another ring.

Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman says the similarity continues with today’s Patriots.

"I think our front office and the Patriots’ front office do a great job of finding the gems in a draft," Sherman said. "We’re not guys that are going to sit there on the combine and wow you with numbers. But you put us on a football field and we’ll wow you with talent."

"Each of us has a job to do, and the only thing we can do is do the best that we can."

Patriots coach Bill Belichick

Sherman says both teams’ undervalued picks play with a chip on their shoulder.

"Tom Brady and Russell Wilson, and Kam Chancellor and Julian Edelman. Brandon Browner, undrafted guy, and Doug Baldwin," he said.

But the similarities might end there. The Patriots and Seahawks couldn’t be more different when it comes to team philosophy. The Pats are known for “The Patriot Way.” Coach Bill Belichick explains the mantra of this year’s team: “Do Your Job.”

"Each of us has a job to do, and the only thing we can do is do the best that we can," Belichick said. "That’s improve on a daily basis, work hard, pay attention to the little details and put the team first. So that’s kind of the backbone of our program."

So while the Patriots aspire to keep their heads and voices down as they focus on only the game at hand, the Seahawks’ style is diametrically opposed.

Seahawks' Bravado Would Never Fly With Patriots Today

At a media availability a few days ago in Phoenix, Seattle defensive end Michael Bennett leaned back, put his feet up on the table and gleefully answered reporters’ questions like this one:

"Is this the greatest defense of all time in the NFL?"

"I think it’s the greatest of all time. It’s three years running being the number one defense in the NFL. And we’re going to continuously keep doing the same things," Bennett said. "We’re gonna keep penetrating; keep making big hits; keep making interceptions, keep sacking, and just playing the game the way football’s supposed to be played."

Seattle Seahawks' Michael Bennett answers a question during an interview for NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game on Thursday in Phoenix. (Matt York/AP)
Seattle Seahawks' Michael Bennett answers a question during an interview for NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game on Thursday in Phoenix. (Matt York/AP)

That kind of bravado would never fly with the Patriots of today. Tom Brady proclaiming his offense is the greatest of all time? Forget it. And the Seahawks’ boasting seems to have no bounds.

A reporter asked, "But you think you’re the greatest of all time."

"Of course I do. I think I’m the greatest lover of all time," Bennett replied.

"Football is all about the ball. To me, this is the thing I’ve been married to: football. It’s my first love."

Seahawks defensive back Earl Thomas

Anything you ask, Seattle Seahawks players will give you an opinion. Well, maybe not defensive back Earl Thomas.

"I’ve been denying every crazy question, I don’t need to be talking about that," Thomas said.

At the mic, Thomas chews his gum with his mouth open. Ask him what he likes about the Patriots coach?

"He’s a winner," he says.

Thomas is serious to the point of hilarity.

"Football is all about the ball," he said. "To me, this is the first thing I’ve been married to: football. It’s my first love."

Seattle Seahawks' Earl Thomas answers a question at a news conference for NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game Wednesday in Phoenix. (Matt York/AP)
Seattle Seahawks' Earl Thomas answers a question at a news conference for NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game Wednesday in Phoenix. (Matt York/AP)

Mouthy, opinionated misfits, these Seahawks are more reminiscent of another beloved Boston team from 2004 ... the “idiot” Red Sox. Who, with the likes of Kevin Millar and Pedro Martinez, “cowboyed up” to win the World Series.

The Seahawks also cowboyed up with an amazing comeback against Green Bay to make it to the Super Bowl.

Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman says the Seahawks are all talk. It helps them play loose and thrive on the field.

"On a day to day basis, we’re pretty honest with each other," Sherman said. "We always know when we’re having a debate or a conversation, you may say some crazy things, but they know it’s coming from a great place. You know it’s coming from love and not hate."

The Seattle Seahawks are a team Boston fans could love. They’ve got the same ethic of unheralded champions as the Patriots.

They’ve got the same irreverent free spirit of the 2004 Red Sox.

But if you’re a New England fan, they’re from the wrong coast, the wrong harbor city, and they put on the wrong colors.

This segment aired on February 1, 2015.

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Curt Nickisch Business & Technology Reporter
Curt Nickisch was formerly WBUR's business and technology reporter.

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