Exit 164: A boring pick, but boring can be good

First off, let me say what a pleasure it’s been to write this column for the past few months. Thanks to everyone for reading. This will be the last Exit 164, but I’ll be writing a column for SportsPress Northwest once a week, and you can also read my writing at an awesome local news/commentary web site called The SunBreak. Okay, on to this morning’s news.

Tough to get excited about an offensive lineman who was graded as a second-round prospect. But we all know that you build a football team from the inside out, and if the Hawks did get what they think they did — a book-end for Russell Okung, who’ll protect our quarterback (whoever he is) for a decade, then kudos, kudos, kudos.

Congrats to Jake Locker, who was the second quarterback taken. No, he doesn’t get first pick money, but he’s still set for life and he won a college bowl game. So anyone who said he was “stupid” for not coming out last year? You’re stupid. The Titans’ only signed quarterback is someone named “Rusty Smith,” so Locker is in a good spot to start as early as September. His first appearance in Seattle? 2013 at the earliest, when the Hawks play the AFC South again.

Let’s take a look at how our mock drafters did, shall we?

Mariners 7, Detroit 3 [box]: The M’s sweep the Tigers, finishing them off behind another strong start from Michael Pineda, and homers by Miguel Olivo and Luis Rodriguez for a resurgent offense. Now the hottest team in the AL West is off to Boston. Yikes! Mariners 11-15, 4th place, 4.5 GB. Next game today @ Boston, 4:10 p.m.

David Aardsma will keep rehabbing in Tacoma until he has a good outing, reported TNT’s Ryan Divish.

Brian Mullan’s punishment: A $5,250 fine and ten game suspension. It’s the heftiest penalty for a tackle in MLS history, but I’m not sure it will change the league’s style one bit.

Sounders F O’Brian White had surgery to remove a blood clot in his left leg Wednesday. Scary! No timetable yet for White’s return. Nate Jaqua will likely start in White’s place Saturday vs. Toronto.

God’s Gift Achiuwa spurned the Huskies for St. John’s.

Seven days closer to a championship…

Friday, April 29
NFL Draft, 3 p.m. (ESPN and NFL Network)
Mariners @ Boston, 4:05 p.m. (ROOT)

Saturday, April 30
NFL Draft, 9 a.m. (ESPN and NFL Network)
Husky football spring game, 11 a.m. (950-AM)
Mariners @ Boston, 4:05 p.m. (ROOT)
Sounders vs. Toronto FC @ Qwest, 7 p.m. (KONG)

Sunday, May 1
Mariners @ Boston, 10:35 a.m. (ROOT)

Monday, May 2
NADA

Tuesday, May 3
Mariners vs. Texas @ Safeco, 7:10 p.m. (ROOT)

Wednesday, May 4
Sounders @ DC United, 4:30 p.m. (KONG)
Mariners vs. Texas @ Safeco, 7:10 p.m. (ROOT)

Thursday, May 5
Mariners vs. Texas @ Safeco, 7:10 p.m. (ROOT)