TERRY MOSHER

Okay, the Seattle Seahawks preseason is over and the final cut to the roster of 53 is set for 1 p.m. Saturday (Aug.31) and here is my Mosher list who I think should be kept besides the obvious.

To be honest, this is just a layman’s opinion and may not be matched by the reality of Pete Carroll and John Schneider, although I do believe I have some expertise based on over 70 years of watching football and playing a little bit of it.

I think it’s pretty clear that Geno Smith will be the backup quarterback. That leaves Paxton Lynch and J.T. Barrett out, although the Seahawks would like to get Lynch through waivers and on their practice squad. Personally, I think Lynch is bad. He doesn’t seem to properly go through his progressions and is too quick to release the football. He’s got a canon for an arm, that’s for sure.

I agree with Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times when he writes that Travis Homer makes it over J.D. McKissic.  C.J. Prosise also makes it.

Among receivers, I would cut Gary Jennings and Jazz Ferguson and keep Keenan Reynolds.

I believe Brenden Jackson and Jamie Meder have done enough to deserve a spot on the 53-man roster. I would cut Barkevious Mingo and Cassius Marsh, although I think the coaching staff likes Marsh, who to me seems as crazy as a defensive player can get. So we’ll see.

Among the linebackers Ben Burr-Kirven, the former Washington Husky, made a strong case Thursday night against the Raiders to be on the roster. I’m afraid the good story of Shaguem Griffin is about to end. He may wind up on the IR with a knee problem so the story may be kept alive.

I really like Ugo Amadi, a projected safety. He is fearless and you can’t have enough of guys like him.

It’s a tough business this sport called football. I have repeatedly written that the game has outgrown the rules because of the increased size, strength and speed of its players. You got to be a little crazy to play a sport so violent because of the damage it does to a body over an extended time. The money is good for the skilled position players, but most of those on a 53-man roster don’t make anywhere near that kind of money.

I applaud Andrew Luck for quitting the sport. The impact on his body was just too much for him mentally and emotionally. Sure, he made enough in his brief time in the NFL to take care of his family probably for life, but he also left a possible $500 million on the table, according to a story I read. That might have been how much more he would have made if he played into his 40s instead of bagging it at 29.

Football is a fascinating sport to watch because of the violence, which we humans at our base core seem to like. But I know when our youngest son wanted to play the sport and he might have made a decent high school receiver, I said no. He would have been killed. Not killed in being dead, but he would have suffered some serious injuries, I’m sure.

I was a decent football player when I was very young and have watched it since my playing days. A long time ago I told myself, “Mosher, no way you would want to play football now.”

The guys who play football at an elite level for a long time and later in their life escape any consequences of that play are very lucky. We all know by now the damage it can do to the brain, but knees and hips in particular don’t escape the effects of having played.

The risk-award is worth it to most of the guys who play the sport, so the sport is going to live on. And I will watch it as guys get carted off, but I also will cringe when it happens.

My suggestion is to teach your children to play golf.

Be well pal.

Be careful out there.

Have a great day.

You are loved.