Wilson in pinstripes? Remember, he’s not really from Seattle

February 26, 2018 cc 1 Comment

Wilson in pinstripes Russell Wilson’s play date with the Yankees is a big reminder that most pro athletes are just transplants, on paid loan to the sports city in which they play, and have no loyalty to that city beyond the team they play for.

And sometimes not even then (ahem, Earl Thomas).

Seeing Wilson in a Yankees jersey is galling to Seattle fans who cheer both the Seahawks and Mariners. But we all have to remember Wilson is not from Seattle. He is from Wisconsin, by way of North Carolina, by way of Virginia — all a bunch of places that have nothing in common with Seattle. And his dad was a big Yankees fan.

As annoying as it is to Seattle sports fans, this is just the fulfillment of a pre-Seattle dream for Wilson.

Continue reading Wilson in pinstripes? Remember, he’s not really from Seattle →

Free agency, The roster

Latest on all of Seattle’s Riches & more

February 23, 2018 cc 1 Comment

It’s looking more and more like the Richardsons will indeed join Jimmy Graham in departing Seattle next month and Legion of Boomers Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas will not be going anywhere.

Here’s the latest on those guys and more free agency scuttlebutt:

A report from NFL Network confirmed what we have said all offseason: It doesn’t look like either Sherman or Thomas will be traded. Sherman has no value while rehabbing his torn Achilles and the Seahawks would prefer a long-term deal with Thomas, unless they get a great offer.

Continue reading Latest on all of Seattle’s Riches & more →

Free agency

Correction: Transition tag not as great as we thought

February 20, 2018 cc 5 Comments

It turns out that idea about using the transition tag on Sheldon Richardson is not quite as good as we thought it was.

We recently posited the idea that John Schneider might prefer the transition tender to the franchise marker because (1) it is cheaper, (2) Richardson could shop himself, (3) Schneider still could match and (4) Seattle still could get a third-round comp pick in 2019 if Richardson left.

That all still applies, except No. 4. It turns out the NFL recently changed the rule and transition players no longer qualify for comp picks. This was discovered by Nick Korte of Over The Cap in 2016, as related to Miami rescinding the transition tag for Olivier Vernon. (We usually do the right research to get facts straight before posting anything, but we missed this change.)

It takes away some of the leverage we thought Schneider might have if he chose the cheaper tag.

Continue reading Correction: Transition tag not as great as we thought →

Free agency, NFL Combine

To tag or not to tag? We’ll soon find out

February 20, 2018 cc 1 Comment

Pic -- Schneider at Combine In the next week or two, we’re going to find out a whole lot (OK, at least a little) about the Seahawks’ offseason plans.

Today is the first day of the two-week “tag” window, which may or may not be pertinent to the Seahawks.

A lot of people expect John Schneider to franchise Sheldon Richardson. We think the transition tag would be better (unless Schneider plans to trade Sheldon). And it’s still most likely that Schneider won’t use a tag at all.

Continue reading To tag or not to tag? We’ll soon find out →

State of the team, The roster

Should Hawks blow up the boom all at once?

February 19, 2018 cc Leave a comment

Kam and Bennett “Right now it is kind of in the air; but, trust me, the Legion of Boom will never go away.” — Shaquill Griffin.

BOOM!

That’s the sound of Seattle’s defense being blown up by many media and fans over the past month.

It’s the end of an era, they say. It’s time to take the broom to the Legion of Boom and sweep out the “old” guard, tossing out Michael Bennett, Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas along with presumed goners Kam Chancellor (on the field, if not on the roster) and Cliff Avril. Some oddly would even throw K.J. Wright in there, leaving only Bobby Wagner from the Super Bowl champion defense.

For those folks, the new core would be Wagner and youngsters Frank Clark, Jarran Reed, Nazair Jones and Shaquill Griffin — plus whoever John Schneider gets to replace Bennett, Sherman, Thomas, Chancellor, Avril and Wright.

There is no argument that the Seahawks are entering a period of transition. The big debate, though, is: How long should it take?

Continue reading Should Hawks blow up the boom all at once? →

It's bigger than football, Trades

Brown: ‘We’ve got a good thing going’

February 16, 2018 cc 3 Comments

Duane Brown was pleasantly surprised by the supportive culture of the Seahawks when he arrived last November, and he said, “We’ve got a good thing going” — a reference to the club both on the field and off.

Speaking on former teammate Arian Foster’s podcast, Brown recounted the deterioration of his relationship with the Texans’ front office, the perceived racism of good ol’ boy owner Bob McNair over the years, Brown’s final-straw holdout and the trade the day after the Texans played in Seattle.

“It was too far gone, and the departure was needed,” Brown said. “It had nothing to do with me wanting to get out of Houston or leave my teammates. Not at all.

Continue reading Brown: ‘We’ve got a good thing going’ →

Free agency

After purge, Schneider will bargain shop

February 15, 2018 cc 4 Comments

Any day now, NFL teams will begin the Purge — the annual pre-league-year dump of overpaid and/or underperforming players.

The Seahawks haven’t been a part of the Purge since 2014, when they cut Red Bryant, Sidney Rice and Chris Clemons. But they will be part of this one, expected to at least release Jeremy Lane and Cliff Avril.

And then John Schneider will play the comp game, bargain shopping among other street free agents.

Continue reading After purge, Schneider will bargain shop →

Contracts, Free agency

Best move on Sheldon may be transition tag

February 13, 2018 cc 2 Comments

In December, we suggested the concept of Seattle using the franchise tag on Sheldon Richardson in order to then possibly trade him. John Clayton and Joel Corry recently talked about the move as an option, too.

But, the more we think about it, the more the transition tag seems like the better option for John Schneider and the Seahawks.

Yeah, we know, the last time the Seahawks used the transition tag, it was a disaster. But there are no more poison pills. And Schneider obviously would be fine with losing Richardson if he did use the transition tender.

Here’s why it might be better:

Continue reading Best move on Sheldon may be transition tag →

Contracts, Free agency

Latest free agency rumors & tidbits

February 12, 2018 cc 7 Comments

The NFL year begins in a month, and the rumors and speculation are heating up across the league as free agency and the trading period approach.

In addition to the usual free agency chatter, there is a lot of speculation about what the Seahawks are going to do with veterans Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett — all signed for 2018.

Barring value trade offers, we expect all three to be back — Thomas with a new deal and Sherman and Bennett likely playing their final seasons in Seattle.

Here’s the latest scuttlebutt on Seattle’s top pending free agents and some players who have been mentioned in connection with the Seahawks:

Continue reading Latest free agency rumors & tidbits →

The roster, Trades

Sherman will be a Seahawk in 2018, unless …

February 9, 2018 cc 3 Comments

Sherman Achilles Of course Richard Sherman is going to play next season. There was never any question about that. He merely confirmed it Thursday night.

There probably isn’t a question about where he will play either — not with him coming off an Achilles injury. Even he said he had no doubt he would be a Seahawk in 2018.

The Seahawks certainly will not cut him, as we said in November after he was injured. And, due to the injury, he probably won’t draw any good trade offers. So the Hawks will be content to help him rehab and prove his mettle again at age 30. And then decide whether to re-sign him in 2019.

But, worth considering: If some team were willing to offer a second-round pick or even a third, would John Schneider take it?

Continue reading Sherman will be a Seahawk in 2018, unless … →