... MACK STRONG!!!

Who's the guy blocking for the star Seahawks running back?
Mack Strong.

Who's the guy who comes in when the star Seahawks running back goes out?
Mack Strong.

Who's the guy that rarely misses a game, doesn't grab headlines, but is a solid and steady performer year after year?
Mack Strong!

Congratulations Mack Strong for being the 1st ever winner of the annual Neil Graff Award. This award is presented to the Seahawk player who explifies the spirit of Neil Graff, that is, the most under-appreciated player on the team. The award is voted on by fans; all players are eligible for consideration.

Congratulations, Mack! Your hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed!

Neil Graff? WHO'S NEIL GRAFF?!?!
And what's this award about?!?

This message from my in-box will explain it all!!

Of all the 1976 Seahawks - all 54 players on the roster in the year - Graff is the only one who didn't play in a single regular-season game.

That's right - zero starts and zero appearances while on the active roster.

[Note: He had one pre-season start which went like this -- "When the 49er lead rose to 24-0 in the third period, Patera lifted the starting quarterback, Neil Graff, and sent in Zorn."]

It occurred to me that if we ever wanted a definition of an under-appreciated footballer, Neil Graff is our man.

I think we need an award for the Seahawks' best kept secret player. The guy who's doing the hard work without getting the recognition.

That's the message from my in-box! I think it's a terrific idea! We implemented the plan in 2001, when Mack Strong was awarded the 1st annual Neil Graff Award! Congrats, Mr. Strong!