Patrick Kerney likes to celebrate a big play with a big display.
But unlike a lot of sack-dancing, midsection-gyrating, double-fist-pumping players, the Seahawks' new defensive end deals in decibels.
Kerney's bellows of bravado can be so boisterous, in fact, that they supposedly not only counter crowd noise but also penetrate concrete.
True story: His former girlfriend once told Kerney that she knew he had registered a sack while playing a home game for the Atlanta Falcons because she heard his rebel yell -- while standing in line at the concession stand.
"There's no better feeling in my life than making a big hit," Kerney said through a grin between practices at the Seahawks' training camp. "You get that adrenaline going, and it just kind of comes out."
Jim Mora, Kerney's coach the past three seasons in Atlanta, is skeptical of that concrete-piercing claim. But the Seahawks' new secondary coach can attest to the intensity and impact of Kerney's outbursts -- that are accompanied by a Hulk Hogan-esque flex.
"It's kind of a primal scream," Mora said. "It was always pretty loud in the (Georgia) Dome, and I had my headset on, so I couldn't hear it. But you can kind of feel the emotion coming off him."
The Seahawks aren't just hoping for a lot of noise from Kerney this season, they're counting on it. That's why they made him their first -- and biggest -- free-agent acquisition this offseason, signing Kerney to a six-year, $39.5 million contract.
Yes, he's 30 and coming off the first injury of his seven-season NFL career -- a torn pectoral muscle in his left shoulder that limited him to nine games last season and kept him on the sideline for the minicamps this spring. Yes, his last double-digit sack season came in 2004. Yes, there have been the cynical comparisons to Grant Wistrom, the mega-bucks defensive end who was signed in 2004 but released in March after three injury-plagued seasons.
But, no, the Seahawks have nary a doubt that Kerney is the player needed to jump-start a pass rush that produced only seven sacks in the final seven games last season.
Even if they did have to wait almost five months to finally see him practice because the club was overly cautious with Kerney's rehab.
"I knew who he was and what he would bring. I don't think that there are any surprises there," coach Mike Holmgren said. "The good thing about Patrick is that he plays very sound. He knows how to play the game and he plays with such intensity."
Speaking of intensity, Kerney is not a stranger to Qwest Field, where one of the loudest crowds in the league will be in full roar when he's on the field. He played against the Seahawks there in the 2004 season finale and again in a Week 2 matchup the following year.
"I was sitting there on the sideline trying to have conferences among the defensive line and I'm having to scream to the guy sitting next to me," Kerney said.
Walter Jones, the Seahawks' Pro Bowl left tackle, limited Kerney to a pair of assisted tackles and no sacks in that '05 game, but he remembers that it wasn't easy.
"He's nonstop," Jones said. "If he gets a step on a tackle, and he's great at getting inside a tackle, he's going to get to the quarterback."
Kerney carries different memories from that matchup.
"I tell everyone that was like wrestling a bear for three hours," he said.
One thing they do agree on is each is glad to be teammates with the other. Another thing everyone agrees on is the obvious intangible Kerney brings to the defense.
"Pat, he's got the fire," middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu said. "You want to stick with him and feed off of him."
I really think Kerney is going to make a huge difference with the Hawks. The Hawks already had a strong run stopping defense and Kerney is only going to bolster that D. I'm expecting a lot of sacks from the Hawks this year.
they did lose wistrom, but I think a healthy kearney is better than wistrom.
First off, Winstrom was injured all of last season. Second off, he was getting kinda old. Third off, he wasn't that awesome to begin with. So ya, I would hope Kerney can be better then an old, injured, Winstrom.
Kerney expects to make noise
Kerney expects to make noise
Linear Mode
