Courtney Taylor Is Going to Step Up in Seattle, and Engram Getting Hurt Is Just 'Business'

Hubris is a necessary evil of the sporting world -- wimpy little wannabe jocks won't survive in a world where your will and determination (and not ability, mind you) determine whether you win or lose.

So, clearly, Courtney Taylor, youthful and exuberant Seahawks wide receiver, who already understands the violent and business like nature of football, is pretty much penciled in for the Pro Bowl.

Well, maybe that's a stretch, but the youngster is pretty, pretty, pretty sure (via 'Hawks Insider) that he can fill the void that Bobby Engram's shoulder injury is going to create in the Seahawks offense.

"You feel bad for Bobby, but it's the nature of the business. Other guys get the opportunity to at least show what they can do, show their potential," Taylor said. "That's the way we looked at it. That's the way Bobby looked at it."

"There's no pressure added; just go out and play football."

[...]"It's a tough situation that happened to Bobby. That's our mentor. He's our ambassador," Taylor said. "He's a guy who we really look up to. But we've still got to go play."

Caveat: Mike Holmgren also said Taylor was going to be the step up guy, but it just sounds so much more freaking awesome that Taylor, a rookie, would step up and say something like this on his own.

It is, after all, a business. It's what they do for a living. So, while I want to hate Taylor's brash dismissal of the geriatric Engram's injury, I think I might actually all of sudden really like this guy.

Fantasy Spin: And because of the man-love coming from both Holmgren and I, let's go ahead and endorse Taylor as a wide receiver who deserves "BTF" (better-than-flyer, natch) status. The Seahawks are going to pass, and someone's gonna have to catch those passes. Even if Deion Branch sneaks back into action, it's not totally implausible to see Taylor hop Nate Burleson on the depth chart. Make a play in the mid to late rounds.