One of the Seattle Seahawks defensive backs shined intercepting both Russell Wilson and Tavaris Jackson on the final day of organized team activities—though it wasn’t Earl Thomas or either of the team’s other All-Pro DBs.

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Instead, ET III — though still in his helmet — was sitting back, calling out plays and watching the team’s young defenders in action while second-year corner Tharold Simon hauled in two picks.

Richard Sherman also joined Earl in a coach’s role at the 10th and final OTA. And afterward, Simon expressed his gratitude to ET and Sherm for putting their time and energy toward his improvement.

“Those guys are special guys,” Simon said of Earl and Sherman. “For them to take the time to just (say), ‘I’m going to go coach this guy in my position.’ Too many guys don’t do that…Once somebody younger comes in … take advantage, coach those guys up, help them out to be better, too.”

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It has been that kind of offseason for both Earl and Sherman, who each signed contract extensions that will keep them together in Seattle through the 2018 season.

After working together to fuel a Super Bowl XLVIII championship run, they’ve both embraced the leadership role, and it has shown through in more instances than their OTA finale coaching session.

Sherman, who was recently announced as the EA Sports Madden 15 cover athlete, pleaded to have ET III and the rest of the Legion of Boom join him on the prestigious video game cover.

“I’ve been trying to get the Legion of Boom on the cover, and EA has been fighting me,” Sherman said. “So if everybody wants to start a petition to get the Legion of Boom on the cover, here it is, here’s an open invitation.”

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For Earl, the offseason changes have meant embracing a potential new role—and perhaps giving that opportunity up to a rookie. On the first day of OTAs, ET was set to be the team’s punt returner, an idea that had him giddy for the start of the team’s offseason activities.

“I’m very excited,’’ Earl said. “I’ve been waiting on this opportunity. This is what I do. I’m an athlete. I’ve been trying to tell coach Carroll to put me back there for the longest (time). I always try to go back there during walk-throughs, just to try to sneak a punt return, show them who I am and I want to score a touchdown. So this is a perfect opportunity for me … I’m an offensive guy at heart. That’s why I don’t try to go out of bounds when I catch interceptions.”

But now, it appears as though Earl will relinquish that potential touchdown-scoring opportunity to a newcomer. Seattle’s top draft pick, speedy Colorado receiver Paul Richardson, told SB Nation that he will fill a special teams role and return punts for the Hawks.

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While Earl would love a chance to show off his athleticism returning punts, his value as a safety is simply too much to risk. Despite entering just his fifth NFL season at the age of 25, he has already shown his understanding that veterans must be willing to sacrifice for the good of the team.

Seattle continues its offseason slate with minicamp June 17-19. The Seahawks will then kick off their 2014 season with a preseason Super Bowl rematch with the Broncos August 7.

RELATED ARTICLES

  • Thursday OTAs: Five Impressions (Seattle Times, June 12, 2014)
  • OTAs end with big day from Tharold Simon (News Tribune, June 12, 2014)
  • Sherman, Thomas coach up young defenders (Seattle PI, June 12, 2014)
  • Key takeaways from Seahawks final OTAs (Seahawks.com, June 13, 2014)
  • Observations from final day of Seahawks OTAs (The Herald, June 12, 2014)
  • Richard Sherman has it covered (Seahawks.com, June 9, 2014)
  • Richardson says he’ll be Seahawks’ punt returner (Seattle PI, June 13, 2014)
  • Paul Richardson on Seahawks role (SB Nation, June 9, 2014)
  • Earl Thomas wants punt returner job (Seattle Times, May 27, 2014)