First round pick Germain Ifedi has begun to do the little things off the field that show that he’s bought in to what it means to be a member of the Seattle Seahawks.

Germain Ifedi, the Seattle Seahawks’ first round draft pick and the assumed starter at right guard, threw out the first pitch for the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. While that kind of pop and circumstance isn’t particularly newsworthy, they way in which it was done was worth taking notice of.

I’m a bit of a sucker for when athletes pander to my city. It’s sad, but true. I get all giddy when they talk about how awesome Seattle is, or if they join in the fight to help bring the Sonics back, or really anything that shows that they love this area. It doesn’t even have to be completely genuine, I still like it.

But let’s face it, things like going to a Mariners game or acknowledging a Seattle sports legend like Griffey won’t make Ifedi a good player. It is far more important that he work his tail off and become a good blocker. If he does that, fans will like him whether he’s buys in to the city or not, just ask Marshawn Lynch.

But don’t discount Ifedi’s actions completely just because they aren’t on the football field. It is always a good sign when players are “all in” to the community they now play for. It is a sign that they really care about football and their team, and aren’t just a mercenary that is in it for the paycheck.

So when the Seahawks draft a player, or sign one in free agency, I watch for them to try and integrate into the local community. Do they buy a house here? Do they begin working for local charities, or re-tool their foundation to add the area to the locations they service?

These things matter. It shows that they are planning on being here for the long-haul. When that happens they typically work hard enough on the field to make sure that the team wants to keep them around as well.