On the day that he died, Cortez Kennedy's banner was the only thing illuminated at CenturyLink Field, a spectacular pin drop of light.
The arches, the seats, the field _ all dark.
At the top of the banner: KENNEDY.
Below that: 96.
For 10 of his 11 seasons, that was the number Kennedy wore, the number still seen on retro Seahawks jerseys. But for one season, perhaps his best season, Kennedy wore No. 99.
He went on to have 14 sacks, 92 tackles and become the NFL's defensive player of the year in 1992, all while playing on a team that finished tied for the worst record in franchise history. But in that one season Kennedy revealed the traits his teammates, coaches and fans celebrated when he died Tuesday at 48:
His singular dominance on the field, his heart away from it.
