Seattle, WA
Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks ‘Expecting Big Things’ From Riq Woolen
RENTON, Wash. – Just one year ago, Riq Woolen’s sophomore season with the Seattle Seahawks got off to a rocky start, as he suffered an unusual knee injury between plays early in OTAs.
Trying to play through the discomfort, Woolen wound up sitting down on the practice field during the next rep knowing something wasn’t right. Only a few days later, he traveled to Texas and underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, which caused him to miss the rest of OTAs and the beginning of training camp on the PUP list before being activated in August.
After missing most of the offseason, Woolen wasn’t able to come close to recapturing his Defensive Rookie of the Year finalist form in 2023, seeing his production dip across the board. He finished with 10 fewer tackles and four fewer interceptions after tying for the league lead as a rookie, failing to make the Pro Bowl and struggling to finish tackles, at one point getting benched in favor of veteran Mike Jackson late in the season.
Now healthy following a disappointing second year, at least by the lofty expectations he set for himself as a rookie, Woolen has an extra hop in his step at Seattle’s OTA practices this year. Entrenched at the right cornerback spot with the first-team defense next to rising star Devon Witherspoon, new coach Mike Macdonald loves what he’s seen from the long, athletic defender thus far and he’s holding him to a different standard with hopes of bringing out his best in 2024.
“I think Tariq is in a great spot. Great spot,” Macdonald told reporters after Seattle’s first open OTA session. “We had a great conversation today. Expecting big things from him, just like everyone else on the defense and on the rest of the team. We’re going to be pushing them because there is greatness in there.”
Looking back at last season, Woolen’s lack of ball production stood out first and foremost, as he failed to capitalize on his opportunities to create turnovers. Unlike his rookie season where he seemed to pick off everything in his zip code, per Pro Football Focus, he tied for second in the NFL among cornerbacks with three dropped interceptions, letting several potential interceptions bounce off of his chest or hands and leading to frustration from the player.
To the chagrin of former coach Pete Carroll and his staff, Woolen also took a step back as tackler, often seeming to make business decisions when presented with the chance to make a play in the run game. Receiving a dismal 37.3 run defense grade from PFF, he tied for the league lead among corners with 10 missed tackles and posted a league-worst 50 percent missed tackle rate.
Dealing with a shoulder issue that bugged him for much of the season after exiting early in a Week 2 win over the Lions, the Seahawks benched Woolen early in a home loss to the 49ers on Thanksgiving, with Carroll telling reporters he wasn’t healthy enough to do his job. A few weeks later, Jackson stepped in for him in the starting lineup, with the coach again referencing his health as the reason for his benching.
In Woolen’s defense, if he was dealing with a bum shoulder and didn’t have proper time to heal in the middle of a season, that would have made tackling a far more difficult endeavor and it certainly would have been painful. Still, it was clear Carroll was irked by his poor performance against the run, and Jackson played well in his stead.
From a big picture standpoint, however, while Woolen didn’t come close to repeating his fantastic rookie season, there’s reason for optimism that he can rebound heading towards 2024 and beyond by looking deeper into his numbers from a year ago.
In coverage, even with just two interceptions after tying for the league lead in 2022, Woolen nearly equaled his rookie production with nine pass breakups and cut receiving yardage allowed from 549 to 391. Per PFF charting, he ranked in the top-10 among corners in yards allowed per reception (9.5), forced incompletion percentage (18 percent), and pass breakups. He also improved in the touchdown department, giving up only three in coverage after surrendering five as a rookie.
Playing in Macdonald’s aggressive scheme, Woolen’s ability to press receivers and take away the deep ball with sub-4.30 speed should make him an ideal candidate to thrive on the boundary. Being healthy will work wonders as well, as being on the field in OTAs should ensure he has the proper on-field time to master a new defense and develop chemistry with new teammates such as safeties Rayshawn Jenkins and K’Von Wallace.
Of course, Woolen will have to show marked improvements as a tackler, or as Carroll did a year ago, Seattle may have to turn to another option such as Jackson or Tre Brown if he can’t demonstrate progress as a run defender and exhibit the mental toughness the new staff demands. The team also invested a pair of day three draft picks in Auburn cornerbacks Nehemiah Pritchett and D.J. James, further bolstering the position to help turn up the heat on him.
Based on what Macdonald said last Wednesday, with extra competition in the mix, the Seahawks expect him to make that jump as a better all-around player. With an elite combination of speed, length, and ball skills, as demonstrated two years ago, he has all of the physical tools to be a perennial All-Pro and with plenty of talent around him in the secondary, his ceiling remains beyond the clouds and the race is on to help him reach his immense potential.
Seattle, WA
Generations of Seattle Talent Unite for ‘Intersections of Soul, Jazz and Hip-Hop’ at Seattle Center
SEATTLE, Wash., May 22, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Global Artists Collective, F-Rock Inc., and Seattle’s Artists at the Center program proudly present “Intersections of Soul, Jazz & Hip-Hop Across the Generations” on May 31, 2026. This rare performance unites generations of artists and music genres, featuring Grammy-nominated jazz artist Nathan Breedlove alongside his nephew, B-Boy Fidget (aka Marcus Sharpe), his brother Ted Sharpe, and the award-winning band Global Heat.
The 12-member ensemble will take you on a journey from the classic Jazz Hip Hop of Digable Planets, Soho, and more; to the Soul hits of Jill Scott and Kandace Springs; to present day fusion of Eric B & Rakim, Kendrick LaMar, and ensemble originals.
Join us for an inspiring cross-cultural, cross-generational celebration of music and community.
- When: Sunday, May 31, 2026 at 3 PM.
- Where: Seattle Center Armory, 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109
- Admission: Free; All-Ages.
FEATURED ARTISTS:
- Nathan Breedlove — Grammy-nominated trumpeter and composer, Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame inductee, and Lionel Hampton Orchestra
- B-boy Fidget — Dynamic rapper/producer and b-boy; credits include 2 Chainz, Black Eyed Peas, Usher, Waka Flocka, and Tech N9ne.
- Ted Sharpe — Percussionist formerly with the Caribbean All-Stars.
- Global Heat — Funky beats, heart-felt vocals, and positive vibes:
“Truly remarkable and wonderful original music” [Joyce Taylor, NBC News, Seattle] and “High-caliber” [ Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, Reno].
ABOUT ARTISTS AT THE CENTER:
This performance is part of the City of Seattle’s Artists at the Center series, a collaboration between the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and Seattle Center. The program is supported by the Uptown Arts & Culture Coalition and funded by a 10-year grant from Climate Pledge Arena and the Seattle Kraken.
More information: https://www.seattlecenter.com/events/featured-events/artists-at-the-center
ABOUT GLOBAL ARTISTS COLLECTIVE:
Global Artists Collective is a Seattle-based performing arts nonprofit dedicated to creating cross-cultural programming that increases access for underrepresented artists and brings diverse communities together through shared artistic experiences.
Learn more: https://GlobalArtistsCollective.org
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No celebrity endorsement claimed or implied.
NEWS SOURCE: Global Artists Collective
Keywords: Music and Recording, Performing arts, Global Artists Collective, Artists at the Center, Seattle, Nathan Breedlove, F-Rock Inc, SEATTLE, Wash.
This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Global Artists Collective) who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire. Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P135711 APDF15TBLLI
To view the original version, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/generations-of-seattle-talent-unite-for-intersections-of-soul-jazz-and-hip-hop-at-seattle-center/
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As defending Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks enter the 2026 season with one of the more complete rosters in the NFL. They did lose a few key players in free agency, but did an excellent job filling those holes in the draft, led by first-round pick Jadarian Price at running back.
Seattle will get together for their voluntary OTAs on May 26, and mandatory minicamp will begin on June 9. These practices will be vital to players on the roster bubble, especially the following three undrafted free agents who have a shot at stealing a spot on the Seahawks’ 53-man roster.
Uso Seumalo, NT
Seattle understands the importance of dominating at the line of scrimmage. Their expertise in this area was on full display during their Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots and will be a focus again in 2026.
Even with the talent already on their defensive line, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Uso Seumalo make a bid for a roster spot. A mammoth 6-foot-3, 330 pound nose tackle, Seumalo excelled at stopping the run while at Kansas State.
He didn’t fill up the stat sheet, but Seumalo does the dirty work and clogs up lanes, which allows others to make the splash plays. That doesn’t always get noticed but it will under a head coach like Mike Macdonald.
Devean Deal, LB
A former tight end, Devean Deal moved to linebacker and was an impactful player during his two seasons at TCU. He had 99 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and eight sacks for the Horned Frogs.
Seattle has a crowded room at linebacker but there’s no reason Deal couldn’t push for a spot as a developmental prospect.
Aidan Hubbard, EDGE
Seattle lost Boye Mafe in free agency, but did great work in replacing him with Dante Fowler Jr. at a fraction of the price. Seattle could still use more depth, as well as a younger prospect to groom.
Enter Aidan Hubbard out of Northwestern. Seattle clearly likes Hubbard, signing him to a deal with $267,500 in guaranteed money, which is more than twice as much as any other UDFA they signed.
During his four years at Northwestern, Hubbard recorded 105 tackles and 20.5 sacks. Seahawks On SI writer Michael Hanich wrote that Hubbard doesn’t win with great speed or power, but gives relentless effort and knows how to get off blocks. That might be enough for him to find his way onto the Seahawks roster.
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During the pandemic, fares were suspended on a number of transit agencies in Washington State including Metro and Sound Transit for public health reasons. While transit was free for part of 2020, Metro and Sound Transit suspended fare enforcement until Spring 2025 and Fall 2023 respectively.
On Seattle’s buses and trains (and Snohomish’s, Spokane’s, and Vancouver’s BRTs), agencies employ a “Proof of Payment” system. Common in Northern Europe, fares are not enforced by turnstiles or bus drivers but by transit employees who randomly board transit vehicles and check that riders have proof of payment. Turnstiles prevent the possibility of unique fare media (a free bus ticket with a hotel or, as in Seattle, arena ticket) and barrier-less Youth Ride Free. They also save on capital costs associated with fare gates and operational costs by enabling shorter bus dwell times with all door boarding.
One downside of proof of payment systems is that fare enforcement is more complex. In Washington State, most agencies with off-board fare payment also have a fare enforcement program to issue fines or citations to riders who illegally boarded without paying.
Youth Ride Free
In 2022, youth began riding transit for free across Washington State. In that year’s transportation budget, Olympia began funding local transit operations for local agencies (except Sound Transit) and in return demanded agencies adopt “low-barrier, zero-fare policies for youth”. That forbids checking IDs, mandating Youth ORCA cards, or even filling out a form. WSDOT indicates that any rider who “identifies oneself as 18 years of age and under” can’t be denied service due to lack of fare media.
Youth Ride Free has been a huge win for parents and children but for transit agencies it’s added complexity to fare enforcement. Today, a large contingent of riders legally ride for free with no identification or fare media making enforcement and calculating a fare evasion rate difficult.
Outside Seattle, no tracking
Outside of Seattle, Community Transit (in Snohomish County), C-TRAN (in Vancouver), and Spokane Transit operate proof of payment BRT systems. We reached out to those agencies to understand their fare evasion rate and all three said fare evasion was not a metric they tracked. Spokane Transit does not have a fare enforcement program. Both Community Transit and C-TRAN cited Youth Ride Free as a reason why their agency is unable to track a fare evasion rate.
King County Metro
In 2019, King County Metro estimated that between 2.7% and 4.5% of riders weren’t paying on proof of payment routes (i.e RapidRides). Last month, the Urbanist broke that King County Metro issued zero citations for fare evasion in 2025 despite Metro estimating a systemwide 35% “nonpayment rate”.
With Youth Ride Free, “nonpayment” and “evasion” aren’t really synonyms anymore so we reached out to Metro for more clarity. Metro spokesperson Jeff Switzer clarified that “the systemwide non-payment rate of 35 percent does exclude youth ridership, based on our best estimates” (emphasis mine).
Coverage of this story in the Seattle Times also indicated that routes with fare enforcement (i.e. the 7, 36, 40, 106, and RapidRides A-F) now have just a 3% evasion rate, an almost 30 percentage point reduction since enforcement began. Metro clarified that they do not actually track fare evasion by route and the 3% figure cited by the Seattle Times is the percentage of fare checks in which riders had not paid, not the percentage of boardings in which riders had not paid.
Sound Transit
In 2019, fare evasion on Link was 2.4% of riders. After a brief hiatus for the pandemic, in Fall 2023 Sound Transit began enforcing fares again (with Fare Ambassadors instead of security).
In early May, staff gave an update to the Sound Transit Board on the Fare Engagement Program. Notably, only 63% of boardings have valid fare media (i.e. paid), a rate somewhat higher than the 56% in 2022. Youth (and those attesting to be youth) are included in the 37% of riders that do not pay. Before Youth Ride Free, youth represented roughly 6% of ridership.
In 2018, Fare Inspectors checked roughly 2.5M fares or 8.76% of riders. In 2025, Fare Ambassadors checked 986,304 fares, roughly 2.5% of riders and a far cry from Sound Transit’s goal of checking 10% of riders.
Of those checked by Fare Ambassadors in 2025, 15% did not have a valid fare. 7.5% were youth legally riding free. 7.8% were not youth and did not have a valid fare and of that number, 60% refused to show ID and were thus not issued a warning.
It is difficult to reconcile the discrepancy between only 63% of riders having paid but 85% of riders checked by Fare Ambassadors having a valid fare. Perhaps 20% of riders dodge the Fare Ambassadors? Or 20% of riders are on crushed trains Fare Ambassadors cannot check? Regardless, it is obvious that Fare Ambassadors are not checking a representative sample of riders.
In 2024, staff estimated that due to fare evasion, the agency lost $15M annually and is losing $30M annually now that ST2 is completed. Over the course of the 50 year ST3 program, that represents roughly $1.5 billion, or 10% of the cost overrun for the Ballard Link. The agency is now piloting “entrance inspections” (i.e. human fare gates), which do increase compliance but only when the inspections are active.
The Sound Transit board obviously sees fare evasion as a problem as they investigate fare gates. But BART, a fully gated system, had a 5% evasion rate in 2017 and has a 10% evasion rate now, both far higher than Sound Transit’s own fare gate-less 2.4% evasion rate from 2019 when over 2.5x more checks were happening.
Editor’s Note: Uncivil comments, especially those which make unsubstantiated claims about riders who do or do not pay fare, will be moderated in accordance with our Comment Policy.
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