Seahawks: The Calm Before the Storm

As fans, we are constantly aware of the violent fury of football, whether we are watching at home on TV, or from the 50-yard line at the stadium. There are many quiet moments that surround the games, however, and those moments remind us that the sport is played by real people — not superheroes in helmets and pads. Here, Seattle’s first-round draft choice Aaron Curry collects his thoughts before his first regular season game as a pro.

While most of us see the beginning of a game as the opening kickoff, players arrive hours before the game, and slowly build their emotions to a crescendo by game time. Seattle defensive tackle Colin Cole, 330 pounds of rock-solid fury in the middle of the line during games, spends quiet time on the phone with his wife hours before the action begins.

Seattle’s new head coach Jim Mora finds some solitude as he gathers his thoughts in his makeshift coaches office on the road at San Diego.

Players in the locker room before a preseason game in Kansas City are quiet during the moments before they hit the field for pregame introductions.

Defensive end Lawrence Jackson gets himself pumped with music before the game.

In Seattle’s home locker room at Qwest Field, rookie wide receiver Deon Butler, center, with teammate Ben Obamanu, prepares mentally for the game at hand.

Players and coaches take a knee in their locker room before walking into the din of 60,000 screaming fans at their home opener at Qwest Field.