On Wednesday afternoon, wide receiver Jermaine Kearse and right tackle Garry Gilliam joined 710 ESPN Seattle's 'The Huddle,' an award-winning, highly-rated two-hour broadcast devoted entirely to Seahawks coverage from Renton's Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The full audio files from the pair's appearances are embedded for you below, along with a few highlights from each player's conversation.
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Jermaine Kearse
(On if making the playoffs feels any different this time around...) "The first time I was kind of like wide-eyed a little bit, it was my first year and just being in that type of environment. So from that point to now it's definitely slowed down a lot for me, so you kind of treat it kind of like a regular game."
(On if Doug Baldwin is any happier after scoring 10 touchdowns the past four games and 13 on the season to tie a franchise record…) "He's been playing extremely well. I thought he should have been a Pro Bowler. He's had a stretch of games where he's really turned it on and he and [Russell Wilson] have been really connecting, so I thought he would have definitely been a Pro Bowler along with [K.J. Wright] and [Cliff Avril]. It's good for the guys that did make the Pro Bowl, those seven guys, congrats to them. I think we have so much talent on this team that they probably didn't want like the whole Seahawks team to go."
(On rookie Tyler Lockett making the Pro Bowl as a return specialist…) "Right when I found out I texted him, the wide receiver group chat. He's excited. The work he put in before practice, after practice, days off, it finally showed, and I'm definitely happy for him."
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Garry Gilliam
(On how he's seen his game develop from the start of the year to now...) "Coach [Tom Cable] just simplified it for me. He's like, 'Look Garry, there's probably not anybody, and maybe one person in the NFL rushing outside you that's faster than you, that can beat you around the edge.' He said, 'When you jump out there you're giving these people a two-way go, you're allowing them to get inside you, so I just want you to set tight. Stay in there and let them run around, or try to at least.' And that's exactly what I've been doing. So if you go watch the very first few games and then as it progresses, that's the main thing for me that's changed is that I've just been a lot tighter in trying to give people a one-way go. Sitting on the spins, sitting on the inside moves, stuff like that."
(On when exactly he felt a shift in his game for the better...) "[Tom Cable has] always talked to me about it, but I just had to trust it and feel it, like, all right, 'Why is this happening to me? Why are people coming inside? Why are they doing this, why are they doing that.' And he's like, 'Look, you're putting yourself in this position, you can stop it very easily.' So I don't know exactly when it was, but it happened."
(On his expectations starting for the Seahawks this postseason after being a backup last year...) "It's exciting, especially to have such a big role and be such a huge part of the offense's success is pretty important. I'm taking it very seriously. This is just another hurdle, another stepping stone to where we want to be and no matter whether we clinch the playoff spot, or whatever the team's record is that we're playing next, it's still a championship opportunity for us. These last two games we can really hone in our fundamentals, really jell as a team, and really get a good foot forward for the playoffs."
The Seahawks returned to CenturyLink Field for their Week 15 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, with all the holiday excitement from the 12s to locker room captured by team photographer Rod Mar.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, sporting camo Bose headphones, pauses for a selfie with fans before heading back to the locker room after early pregame warmups.
Receiver Tyler Lockett only slows down to acknowledge 12s, as he did when sprinting back to the locker room after getting loose 90 minutes before kickoff.
Defensive coordinator Kris Richard greets cornerback Richard Sherman in the locker room before the defense took the field for pregame warmups.
Linebacker K.J. Wright carefully applies tape to his fingers in the locker room before the game.
Defensive lineman Brandon Mebane addresses the Seahawks moments before they left their locker room to take the field against the visiting Cleveland Browns.
Defensive end Michael Bennett went to the "dark side" before the game, donning a Darth Vader mask for his pregame introduction.
Cornerback Richard Sherman salutes 12s all over CenturyLink Field as he is introduced.
Safety Kelcie McCray, making his first start, wasted no time in making his presence known, stopping Cleveland's Duke Johnson, Jr. for a one-yard loss on the game's opening play from scrimmage.
Seahawks receiver Kevin Smith tries to make a falling, juggling catch after taking contact from a Cleveland defender while the ball was in the air.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and assistant receivers coach Nate Carroll react after a pass intended for receiver Kevin Smith fell incomplete after contact between Smith and a Cleveland defender.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson readies to throw a three-yard touchdown pass to receiver Doug Baldwin while lineman Patrick Lewis and Justin Britt provide a clean pocket.
Receiver Doug Baldwin celebrates his first touchdown of the game with Seahawks mascot "Blitz".
Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell congratulates receiver Doug Baldwin after Seattle's first touchdown of the game.
Seahawks fans brought the noise in an attempt to rattle Cleveland quarterback Johnny Manziel.
Seahawks defensive lineman Brandon Mebane breaks through to sack Cleveland quarterback Johnny Manziel in the first quarter.
Seahawks defensive lineman Brandon Mebane reacts to his sack by breaking out his signature "belly roll" as teammate Michael Bennett joins the celebration.
The Sea Gals were in holiday spirits for the final game before Christmas.
Seahawks running back Bryce Brown looks for a hole in the red zone.
Seahawks running back Christine Michael runs over Cleveland's Donte Whitner in the second quarter.
These fans in the south end zone found ways to stay both spirited and warm, dressed in holiday hats and sweaters for the game.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson's first touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin went to the left side, and in the second quarter the duo paired up on the right. Wilson threw over blitzing Cleveland linebacker Karlos Dansby to Baldwin for a six-yard touchdown.
Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin outraces Cleveland's Johnson Bademosi to the end zone for his second touchdown of the game and his tenth touchdown in four games.
At halftime, CenturyLink Field and the cityscape looked lovely, as a sun break showed off all of Seattle's beauty.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, with plenty of room to throw thanks to the protection of lineman Alvin Bailey, Justin Britt and Patrick Lewis on the left side, fires a pass to a streaking Tyler Lockett for a 27-yard touchdown.
Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett hauls in a 27-yard touchdown reception over Cleveland's Johnson Bademosi at the beginning of the fourth quarter, giving Seattle a 27-10 lead.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll reacts after Russell Wilson connected with Tyler Lockett for a 27-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
12s. They come in all shapes and sizes. And hats. And sunglasses.
Seahawks running back Bryce Brown breaks up the middle for a first down. In place of injured Marshawn Lynch and Thomas Rawls, the Seahawks gained 182 yards rushing in the victory over Cleveland.
Quarterback Russell Wilson escapes the pocket for a 16-yard gain in the fourth quarter.
Seahawks kicker Steven Hauschka kicked three field goals in the 30-13 win over the Browns.
Seahawks defensive backs Marcus Burley and Kelcie McCray smile on the Seattle sidelines near the end of the game. Burley had an interception and McCray led the Seahawks in tackles.
After the game, quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Johnny Manziel met near midfield.
Michael Bennett, who often refers to himself as "Black Santa", got into the holiday spirit with the Sea Gals after the game.
Michael Bennett dances to the cheers of the 12s as he makes his way to the locker room after the game.
Head coach Pete Carroll address the Seahawks after the victory, which clinched the team a playoff spot for the fourth consecutive season.
Michael Bennet, left, urged Seahawks vice-president of football administration Matt Thomas into joining the team for it's post-game breakdown in the middle of the locker room.
Quarterback Russell Wilson addresses the media after the game. Wilson threw three touchdown passes with no interceptions for the fifth straight game, the first time an NFL quarterback has ever done so.
Well after the game, CenturyLink Field glowed brightly in holiday and Seahawks colors as the December moon shone overhead.
