Robinson fitting in as fullback for Seahawks

RENTON, Wash. (AP) - Seattle Seahawks fullback Michael Robinson has had an emotional last two weeks.

The former Penn State quarterback watched from afar as the school was rocked by a child sex abuse scandal that cost the school's former president and coach Joe Paterno their jobs.

"My whole belief system is shaken a little bit," Robinson said Thursday. "You see that stuff (investigations) going on at other schools, but not my school. Not Penn State."

"I'm very, very close to the program. Very, very close to the school. You just wish something like this wouldn't have happened."

Robinson said he's talked with Paterno a handful of times since the story broke. He remembers Paterno telling him even back in college that he would likely be a running back or fullback when he got the NFL.

"'But you're our best quarterback,'" Robinson recalled.

As a quarterback, Robinson led Penn State to a 26-23 triple-overtime victory over Florida State in the 2006 Orange Bowl to cap off a stellar senior season that earned him Big Ten player of the year honors. The win was the first bowl victory for the Nittany Lions in six years.

Now at the professional level, Robinson made that transition to fullback that Paterno had envisioned years before. The Seahawks signed Robinson after the San Francisco 49ers released him at the end of training camp last year. Robinson serves as the team's only fullback and has become a pillar on special teams duty as well.

Against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Robinson drew the duty of blocking All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis throughout the game. Robinson won more battles than he lost against Lewis and helped lead the way for Marshawn Lynch to carry 32 times for 109 yards in the Seahawks' 23-17 victory.

"Mike had his best game since we've been here," coach Pete Carroll said. "He really was effective. And he had the matchup of the century going against Ray (Lewis) and he did a very nice job. He didn't win them all you're not going to. But he was effective and had some key blocks."

Football has given Robinson an outlet to let out his frustrations. The game against the Ravens was a welcome sight to help take his mind off the problems at Penn State.

"Football always takes a lot of your worries away," Robinson said. "You can go out there and kind of let off some aggression, let off some steam."