An Open Letter to Tim Ruskell

by: Chris Sullivan

Hey Tim,

How's it going? Tough losses these last two weeks, can you believe the sudden dearth at Wide Receiver?! I've never seen anything like it, and neither have you, I would imagine. Losing 6 players at one position within a couple of weeks? Staggering.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. That is why you need to bring Koren Robinson in for a try-out. Your top concern has always been with a person's character -- what do they add, or subtract, from the team? By ignoring the changes that Robinson has made in his personal life to make up for the serious errors he committed, you risk something much graver than your team. You're risking your own character.

People mess up, it happens all the time; everyone knows someone who has been afflicted with addiction and hubris in some way. Some change, some improve, many never do and never will. Koren Robinson, based on all reports, has been sober for more than a year now; he speaks to incoming NFL Rookies warning them, essentially, "Don't be me!" He was a kid with all the talent in the world who literally pissed away all his chances. He does not deserve another chance -- but this is not about him anymore.

You are a man who has built your entire franchise around character, but now it appears you have been stubbornly writing a changed man off -- a man who could help your franchise out of an unprecedented depth issue. Koren Robinson, character issues aside, has a prior rapport with Matt Hasselbeck, knows the West Coast Offense very well, has been to the Pro-Bowl as a kick returner, and has extended his hand personally to the Seahawks -- attempting to help a coach and a team that holds a special place in his heart.

This is not an issue over your reign as head of football operations -- I think most fans, myself especially, believe you have been among the greatest things to ever happen for the Seattle Seahawks. There have been a few large errors, but very few relative to other teams that appear run into the ground. I worry that people are already looking at this Koren issue as a blight on you, and I worry that I understand why. You have a very simple job to fulfill at this point:

Give Koren Robinson a try-out. Thats it. Sit down for 10 minutes with him, TALK, don't ignore the issue. It's not a matter of signing him, its a matter of giving him a shot. Your fans think he deserves it. Your coach thinks he deserves it. Many on your team likely think he deserves it. There is absolutely nothing bad that will come of it, and possibly a lot of good. You don't have to sign him to save face here, but failure to at least give him an opportunity reflects poorly on your character at this point.

You don't want to have to bar yourself from the locker room, Tim... do you?

Respectfully,
Chris Sullivan