That's Atkins in action, photo courtesy of the Seahawks. I got a few minutes with him toward the end of the season and he told me about his affinity for soccer.

Atkins, a second-year pro from Sarasota, Fla., said that soccer was the first organized sport he ever played, even before football.

"I had the biggest foot on the team, so my nickname was 'Little Foot,'" Atkins said. "I just grew a love for that game, too, early on, and I played all the way up to high school."

Even in high school, Atkins attended games and worked the game clock at times. He was a certified youth soccer official, too.

"It's an incredible game. It's amazing how they play and they're very athletic as well," Atkins said of soccer players. He was among a group of Seahawks who attended the Brazil-Canada friendly earlier this year at Qwest Field and also watched Brazil practice.

Atkins played all over the field as a soccer player. Because he was big and could run well and had a nice leg, he played halfback and ran everywhere.

If he wasn't lined up in the box to head in corner kicks, Atkins was the one doing the corner kick.

"I had a nice little curve from out of the corner," he said.

Atkins was always the biggest kid on his youth teams and eventually outgrew the sport. He's now listed at 6-foot-4, 271 pounds. And it's a fairly lean 271.

Soccer helped Atkins with his agility for other sports. He said he plans to attend Sounders FC games when the season begins.

(seattletimes.com)

Baraka Atkins was already heating up: Atkins pulled his best impression of a shorter, rounder Patrick Kerney by getting to Matt Cassel twice yesterday. He recorded two penetrations in the first and looked consistently disruptive. I hope Lawrence Jackson understands when he doesn't start next week.


(seahawkaddicts.com)

It looks like Pat Kerney will miss Sunday's game. He is officially being labeled as doubtful by coach Holmgren. His shoulder, which was surgically repaired in the offseason, is very sore after re-injuring it in the San Francisco game. Holmgren said in his press conference that Baraka Atkins would move into the rotation to replace Kerney.

The Seahawks are obviously going to miss the effort that Kerney brings to the field every week. However, defensive end is a position the team is somewhat deep at. Kerney's talent is replaceable, but his effort is rarely matched. Jackson and Tapp will be the main players at defensive end in the upcoming game. Both have a lot to prove, as does Atkins, who will be active for just the second time this season.

(seahawksaddicts.com)

Baraka Atkins is showing that he’s comfortable at defensive end, looking strong at the point of attack.



(thenewstribune.com)

Danny O'Neil, of The Seattle Times, reports Seattle Seahawks DL Baraka Atkins (undisclosed) appeared to be injured in goal-line drills. Atkins was slow to get up and was being looked at by team trainers.



(kffl.com)

When the Seahawks take to the practice field Friday morning, Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson will be wearing No. 98 – the same number he wore for the first six seasons of his NFL career while playing with the San Francisco 49ers.

Peterson has worn No. 59 the past two seasons with the Seahawks because former defensive end Grant Wistrom had the preferred 98 when Peterson was signed as a free agent in 2006. Wistrom is gone, so No. 98 is back where Peterson feels it belongs.

And what of Baraka Atkins, the defensive end who wore No. 98 last year during his rookie season? He's now No. 59. No word yet on whether Peterson provided any, well, incentive for the digital do-over.

(seattlepi.com)

PLAYER OF THE DAY: Baraka Atkins

On back-to-back plays, the second-year defensive end stood up tackle Sean Locklear and beat tackle Will Robinson to stuff one running play and blow up another.

Atkins' efforts were timely, seeing as how the line for the rotation at D-end now includes first-round draft choice Lawrence Jackson as well as incumbent starters Patrick Kerney and Darryl Tapp.

The plays also were significant because after selecting Jackson, defensive coordinator John Marshall admitted that Atkins might be more of a project than anticipated when he was selected in the fourth round of the 2007 draft.

KIRKLAND, Wash. (AP) - The Seattle Times reports that defensive end Baraka Atkins, the first of the Seattle Seahawks' 2007 two fourth-round draft choices, has agreed to terms.

The newspaper says Atkins, from the University of Miami, is expected to sign a multi-year deal today.

Atkins joins veteran ends Patrick Kerney, Bryce Fisher and Darryl Tapp as the top four players at right and left defensive end currently on the Seahawks depth chart.
The Seahawks released center Nick Jones last week and kicker Tyler Jones today to make room on the roster for defensive tackle Brandon Mebane and Atkins.

Mebane, the Seahawks' third-round pick from California, signed with the Seahawks today.

Maryland cornerback Josh Wilson, Seattle's second-round pick, is unsigned.

The Seahawks' rookies are scheduled to report for training camp on Thursday. The team's veterans will report for camp on Saturday, with the first practice scheduled for Sunday morning.

Training camp is being held at the team's headquarters in Kirkland for the first time since 1996, after the players and coaches traveled to Eastern Washington University in Cheney the past 10 summers.

(kndo.com)

Baraka Atkins. The fourth-round defensive end also played defensive tackle at Miami, but he looks more like a rangy edge-rush guy. Some of his numbers are very impressive; at 6-4, 271, he has been clocked in 4.69 in the 40. Early impression based on very limited evidence: If he turns out to be a high-motor guy, he might really be a steal. But I’ll be interested to see if he revs it up when camp starts.

Chances: Atkins walks into a spot without great depth, and is listed as the No. 2 left defensive end behind Patrick Kerney.

(blogs.thenewstribune.com)

Considering all the promise and unknown of the young players added to the Seattle Seahawks defense for the coming season, the four weeks of mini-camp for defensive coordinator John Marshall figured to be a learning experienced filled with highs and lows.

It was all over his face as he came off the field chatting with assistant Rhodes.

“I’m in a bad mood,” Marshall said, “so temper my comments.”

Actually, he did fine, if only because he broke into a smile and his mood changed markedly when asked about the progress with his two rookie defensive linemen, third round pick Brandon Mebane, the tackle from Cal; and fourth round draft choice Baraka Atkins, the defensive end from Miami.

Defensive end Baraka Atkins, a fourth-round draft choice this year, had a good day rushing the passer.

(seattlepi.nwsource.com)

The defensive end from Miami flashed his speed, but also his rawness, as a pass rusher. The key for him will be fulfilling his upside.

(seattlepi.nwsource.com)

SARASOTA -- The Atkins clan may be breaking out a few frequent-flier miles. Seattle isn't exactly a stroll across the street.

"It doesn't matter,'' said sister Amina Atkins, 26. "If he was drafted by the Italy Cucamongas, we'd be there.''

Sarasota's Baraka Atkins became the first area player taken in this year's NFL Draft. The former Booker High and University of Miami defensive end was taken by the Seahawks on Sunday with the 21st pick (120th overall) of the fourth round.