THE FRONT ROW with JASON ELLIOTT: Root for the home team, not the ghosts

It’s understandable sometimes. 

Nobody likes change. 

Especially when it comes to your beloved sports icons.

Sometimes, it just has to happen so teams can eventually move forward. 

STILL A year later, and who knows what to make of the Seattle Seahawks and coach Mike Macdonald. 

This past season, Seattle finished 10-7 and had a few things gone right earlier in the season, could have been right in the middle of the NFC playoff picture. 

But they didn’t.  

They weren’t.  

And the team has been ripped down to the studs, with the goal of rebuilding into a contender in next week’s NFL Draft. 

Although, if you ask me, the team could have done a lot worse than acquiring guys like Cooper Kupp, Sam Darnold and Drew Lock. 

Sure, seeing guys like Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf and Geno Smith depart might be a little strange come September, but it’s a business. 

Not everyone is going to play their entire career for one team anymore. Those days are long gone. 

I’m almost 99.9% sure that Seattle fans won’t boo Lockett if and when he returns to CenturyLink Field in a new uniform. As for either Smith or Metcalf, your guess is a good as mine. 

At one point, guys like Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman and Bobby Wagner did return in different jerseys. Wagner’s return with the Rams was well received while Sherman and Thomas didn’t seem to get the same response. 

It happens. 

EARLIER THIS week, a Seattle media outlet had a roundup of how some of those former stars of the Mariners were doing in new homes. 

And I get it, people love to follow their favorites, no matter where they go. 

But at the same time, there’s also a reason they’re not collecting paychecks from the Mariners anymore. 

Sure, Ty France had a great week for the Minnesota Twins and was named a player of the week by the American League. Had he shown flashes of that last year, Seattle might have held onto him, don’t you think? 

Arizona third baseman Eugenio Suarez started the season on a bit of a hot streak, almost hitting the Diamondbacks to more than a few wins against the New York Yankees, who almost seemed unbeatable with those torpedo bats everyone was so excited about. 

But how has he been doing lately, I couldn’t tell you. 

Outside of a playoff run a few years ago, there wasn’t too much else that either brought to Seattle. Sure, the fans loved them, but when it came to the games, had they had a few more big hits, especially in that 18-inning marathon of an elimination game against Houston, maybe it’s a different story. 

The Mariners made their playoff run a few years ago with a lot of good vibes, but it sure seems like there’s not as many around this team now. 

Yes, it’s early and there’s a lot of baseball left to be played. 

But it’s really up to the guys on the club now, not the guys that had their chance there and are getting paid to make sure it doesn't happen. 

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached by telephone at 208-664-8176, Ext. 1206 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on ‘X’, formerly Twitter @JECdAPress.