2010 NFL Season: What Pete Carroll and The Sehawks Knew and The Jets Didn't

It was the third day of the draft, and the Seahawks had the 11th pick in the 4th round. They were in need of a running back and everybody thought they knew who the Seahawks were picking. Joe McKnight.

Joe McKnight played for the Pete Carroll at USC and was expected to go higher in the draft. Almost everybody thought with his own guy on the board, and their void at running back, the Seahawks would take him.

Instead they went in a different direction and drafted Walter Thurmond, a corner back out of Oregon. The Jets eventually traded up the next pick to get McKnight.

Many people were curious as to why Pete Carroll would pass on his own guy, someone who was probably paid to go to USC. But the answer became clear.

While Jets personnel were slapping fives because they thought they just got a steal, Pete Carroll knew something, something the Jets unfortunately didn't know.

That McKnight was in no way ready to be an NFL player. The Jets found this out the hard way.

During the preseason McKnight constantly fumbled the ball, fumbling three times in four games. He was not a physical runner, and stopped running when contact was made. He also has lacked focus during practices and games.

Even Rex Ryan said McKnight is playing "horrible" in a press conference after their last preseason game against the Eagles.

McKnight will make the team by default because the Jets don't want to lose all their stock in a fourth round draft pick. But that is the only reason why.

Ryan has also said that McKnight won't dress in games for a while. Meaning he won't even be on the field for regular season games.

Now, Pete Carroll must be watching Joe McKnight and thinking "thank god I didn't pick this guy". Instead they got Leon Washington who the Jets gave up because of McKnight.

Unlike McKnight, Washington is having a great preseason and has recovered from his injury pretty well. He is also going to start for the Seahawks this year, while McKnight will be watching games from his TV.

There is only one bright side to McKnight for Jet fans. If  Jets didn't draft McKnight, then traded Leon Washington for the 139th pick, they might have not gotten FB John Connor.

That's about it though.

-Cole