As the second half of the NFL season begins this weekend, two-thirds of the league is still in serious contention for a playoff berth and the right to be this year's version of the New York Giants.
As for the Seattle Seahawks, well, they're on the other side end of the proverbial playoff coin.
While an NFC West title is still mathematically possible, the Seahawks might be better suited to chase another goal. The future, as they say, is now.
By next April, the Seahawks could be in the rare position of being able to snag a premier rookie. That means little to retiring coach Mike Holmgren, and even team president Tim Ruskell would rather see a late-season run than a top-5 draft pick.
But those fans not directly associated with the team might be holding out hope that the second half of 2008 goes much like the first. If that's the case, the Seahawks could find themselves in prime position on draft day.
The next Walter Jones? The Seahawks probably won't find him after the first five or 10 picks.
Matt Hasselbeck's eventual successor? The 4-12 Seahawks would get a shot at Georgia's Matt Stafford and whoever emerges as the Big 12's best NFL prospect, while the 8-8 Seahawks would have to settle for a second-tier quarterback.
A top-flight receiver? Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree might look good in Seahawks blue, but he'll be long gone if they don't have a top-10 pick.
Depending on how things shake out, especially in free agency, the Seahawks may be looking for immediate help at cornerback, safety, running back, wide receiver, defensive tackle and — if Leroy Hill signs elsewhere — linebacker. And that doesn't even include some of the down-the-road needs like quarterback and left tackle.
According to some of the early draft projections, the top picks could include two offensive tackles (Alabama's Andre Smith and Mississippi's Michael Oher), two quarterbacks (Stafford and Oklahoma's Sam Bradford), two wide receivers (Crabtree and Missouri's Jeremy Maclin) and a pair of cornerbacks (Ohio State's Malcolm Jenkins and Illinois' Vontae Davis). Familiar names like USC linebacker Rey Maualuga, Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and USC safety Taylor Mays could also be had early in Round 1.
In the middle of Round 1? Well, the talent wouldn't be quite the same.
Through the course of the disappointing 2008 season, the Seahawks seem to expose a new area of need each week. Seneca Wallace has yet to prove that he's the team's quarterback of the future, while the man once considered to be Walter Jones's eventual replacement — right tackle Sean Locklear — has also struggled at times.
With Holmgren on his way out, and the franchise in a state of evolution, this could be one of the more interesting offseasons in a long time.
Seattle would certainly take the 32nd overall pick if it meant a 12-game winning streak and Super Bowl title. The more realistic scenario is a mid-round pick, if the Seahawks ever get it together.
For the sake of the franchise's future, a few more Sunday duds might be the better option.
Just don't expect Holmgren to sign off on it.
Scott M. Johnson of the Everett Herald covers the Seahawks for the Kitsap Sun.
