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Rosenhaus’ smoke and mirrors won’t work

May 7, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Where there’s smoke, there must be fire — unless Drew Rosenhaus and some mirrors are involved.

Jason La Canfora, who has had some recent scoops regarding the Seahawks (Marshawn Lynch’s deal and the drafting of Frank Clark), dropped another one Wednesday when he wrote that Bennett “and his agent have made it clear he’d rather not be back in Seattle.”

This is the second report indicating Bennett wants out — although he and the Seahawks both denied last month that he asked for a trade. He does, however, want his contract beefed up — and that clearly is the crux of the “he wants out” reports, surely propagated by his notorious agent, Rosenhaus.

Don’t expect the Seahawks to fall for his cheap tricks.

Continue reading Rosenhaus’ smoke and mirrors won’t work →

CHAWK LINES, Contracts, It's bigger than football, NFL draft

May 6, 2015 cc Leave a comment

John Schneider talked more about Frank Clark, Tyler Lockett and the rest of the draft class on 710 ESPN.

As expected, the media is picking apart the Seahawks’ selection of Clark. Field Gulls compiled the reports questioning their investigative diligence.

The prosecutor in Clark’s case says there was more to the story than the police report indicated and she does not see Clark as a habitual “batterer,” per The Seattle Times.

Clark’s position coach at Michigan backs him 100 percent and thinks the Seahawks “made a tremendous pick.”

Rob Staton broke down the on-field merits of the Seahawks’ draft class: Clark’s first-round talent, Lockett’s game-breaking ability and the six other picks (plus the best UDFA they signed).

Former Green Beret Nate Boyer talked to 710 ESPN about his journey to the Seahawks. The Times’ Jayson Jenks also wrote about him.

Bob Condotta gave a detailed look at Seattle’s 12 undrafted rookies.

Continue reading →

Contracts

Mercilus deal sets market for Irvin

May 5, 2015 cc Leave a comment

John Schneider clearly is trying to smooth Bruce Irvin’s feathers after the Hawks decided not to pick up his 2016 option — perhaps hoping Irvin will be amenable to the kind of deal Whitney Mercilus signed with Houston on Monday.

Schneider told 710 ESPN on Monday that the team had not decided on the option yet, which was an odd thing to say considering Pete Carroll admitted Saturday that they were not going to pick it up and Irvin himself indicated the same with his series of bitter tweets Sunday night.

Continue reading Mercilus deal sets market for Irvin →

NFL draft

On Clark: Trust the Seahawks, not the self-righteous media

May 5, 2015 cc 1 Comment

The Seahawks were not comfortable pursuing Greg Hardy once they learned the details of his domestic-violence case, but they clearly think Frank Clark is another story. And Seahawks fans should trust them — even if some self-righteous media folks want to condemn them.

Too many people fell into the trap of convicting Clark in the court of public opinion and sentencing him to life as a social pariah based on one inflammatory police report. As John Schneider said Friday, you have to look beyond the report to find the real Clark.

On 710 ESPN on Monday, Schneider expanded on the Seahawks’ investigation into Clark’s situation. Schneider said he and two other Seahawks scouts were involved in gathering information, which included talking to people in Los Angeles and Cleveland about the player’s early background, getting information from the court and counselors in Michigan and talking to other teams to see whether they had gotten similar information and viewed him the same way Seattle did. (After the Hawks picked Clark on Friday, Schneider said he got calls from three teams that were poised to grab the pass rusher in the third round.)

Continue reading On Clark: Trust the Seahawks, not the self-righteous media →

Contracts, The roster

As expected, Hawks decline option on Irvin

May 4, 2015 cc Leave a comment

As we expected, the Seahawks did not pick up the $7.75 million option on Bruce Irvin — at least according to his Twitter rant Sunday night.

Worked for everything I got in my life this shit will b no different! I earns my keeps!

— Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) May 4, 2015

Faced way tougher adversity getting outta them streets coming up! That’s shit is nothing! FUCK THAT OPTION!

— Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) May 4, 2015

I am a Seahawk! #12thman

— Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) May 4, 2015

Continue reading As expected, Hawks decline option on Irvin →

NFL draft, The roster

Eight picks were Schneider’s fewest

May 3, 2015 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks finished the 2015 draft with eight picks — the fewest they have had under John Schneider. They had never had fewer than nine.

They started with 11, of course, but spent four on Tyler Lockett, a two-time Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year who tied the conference record for kick-return average (28.5) while averaging 15.2 yards per punt return and setting 17 school records as a receiver and returner.

“We wanted a returner in this program so badly,” Pete Carroll said. “John just needed to figure out where we were going to get him, and I am thrilled we got him. He is such a special return guy.”

Lockett was the only playmaker the Hawks added — unless you count Jimmy Graham, which they do.

The pick breakdown this year: 3 OL, 2 DE, 2 DB, 1 WR. It isn’t much different than the five-year trend coming in, as OL, DL and DB have been Schneider’s highest-drafted positions. He now has used 12 picks each on OL and DB and 11 on DL.

“John did a great job again,” Carroll said. “The board came off like we were hoping and so many guys fit some issues that we had, some needs that we had. It was an awesome job.”

Continue reading Eight picks were Schneider’s fewest →

It's bigger than football, NFL draft

This draft class is full of intriguing people

May 3, 2015 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks put together quite an anthology of dramatic stories this weekend.

They started off with the controversial pick of Frank Clark that had plenty of people ripping Pete Carroll and John Schneider. However, by the end of the draft, they had redeemed themselves by signing the inspirational Nate Boyer.

But Clark and Boyer weren’t the only guys who came to Seattle with attention-getting stories. In fact, this might be the most dramatic class Schneider has drafted.

Continue reading This draft class is full of intriguing people →

NFL draft, The roster

Hawks got three OL, but where will they play?

May 2, 2015 cc Leave a comment

As the Seahawks entered the draft, many expected them to come out with two or three offensive linemen. And they did.

They first apparently tried to move up to the top of the fourth round — likely aiming for T.J. Clemmings, Tre Jackson or Daryl Williams. They didn’t have any ammunition though, unless they were offering a 2016 pick or a player, so it’s no wonder they were unable to make the move.

In the end, they stayed put and used their two fourth-rounders (130 and 134 overall) on “gritty” Terry Poole and Mark Glowinski. And they added conversion project Kristjan Sokoli in the sixth round. The Hawks had brought in all three for visits before the draft.

Continue reading Hawks got three OL, but where will they play? →

Contracts

Wilson and Hawks appear $20M apart in guarantees

May 2, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Negotiations with Russell Wilson are going “a little slow” because the Seahawks and the quarterback apparently don’t agree on his value.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, via Bob Condotta, the hang-up in extension talks is the amount of guaranteed money — with the Seahawks wanting to pay Wilson about what they gave Richard Sherman and Wilson’s agent wanting elite quarterback money.

The difference equals up to $20 million.

Continue reading Wilson and Hawks appear $20M apart in guarantees →