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What if preferred OL & WR are gone by No. 63?

April 13, 2015 cc Leave a comment

DRAFT COUNTDOWN: Under three weeks. A weekly look at draft-related topics involving the Seahawks.

A year ago, word was the Seahawks were hoping to draft a couple of offensive tackles because they needed to replace right tackle Breno Giacomini and weren’t sure they would keep left tackle Russell Okung when his contract is up after the 2015 season.

At the time, Okung was recuperating from foot surgery after missing half the 2013 season, and the Hawks did indeed draft two linemen: Justin Britt, who started at right tackle all season, and Garrett Scott, whose NFL career ended before it started due to a heart condition.

A year later, the Seahawks are looking at linemen more than ever — needing to replace Max Unger and James Carpenter and perhaps prepare to replace Okung.

But when will they take them?

Continue reading What if preferred OL & WR are gone by No. 63? →

Contracts

Bennett is ‘trying to be a good Seahawk’

April 9, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Michael Bennett confirmed Thursday that he did not ask for a trade to Atlanta (or anywhere else, we presume), and he also confirmed he is not happy with his contract but is “trying to be a good Seahawk.”

Pete Carroll and John Schneider both previously have said Bennett has not asked for a trade, but Schneider avoided answering a question about the defensive end’s contract and there remained lingering whispers that Bennett was not happy with the $28.5 million deal he signed last year.

On Thursday, Bennett debunked the trade rumor, started by a Dallas report related to Greg Hardy late last month.

“They made rumors about Jesus; they’ll make rumors about anybody,” Bennett cracked to 710 ESPN’s Justin and Gee. “I never asked for it. I didn’t come to (the Seahawks) asking for a trade.”

Justin and Gee (never to be mistaken for news reporters) didn’t ask Bennett about his contract, but the Tom & Curley Show did.

Asked if he was happy with his deal, Bennett told the KIRO Radio hosts, “I can’t really say that. I don’t know anybody that is happy with the amount of money they’re making. At this point, I’m just trying to be a good Seahawk.”

Continue reading Bennett is ‘trying to be a good Seahawk’ →

Contracts, The roster

Irvin or Okung? That is probably the question

April 8, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Do the Seahawks prefer Russell Okung or Bruce Irvin? Because — barring Marshawn Lynch retiring in 2016 — that is probably the choice they are going to have to make. By May 3.

The San Diego Chargers reportedly picked up the fifth-year option on linebacker Melvin Ingram on Tuesday, which raised the question of whether the Seahawks will do the same with Irvin by the May 3 deadline.

The smart money says no — unless the Hawks have decided they don’t want to re-sign Okung.

Continue reading Irvin or Okung? That is probably the question →

CHAWK LINES

April 6, 2015 cc Leave a comment

At Texas Rangers camp, Russell Wilson didn’t have anything to say about his contract. But he talked about a lot of other things, including what he said to Max Unger after the center was traded to New Orleans: “Max, at least you are going from one short quarterback to another (Drew Brees).”

Brees also talked about losing Jimmy Graham and gaining Unger.

John Schneider talked to John Clayton at UW’s Pro Day. Not much new stuff, but the GM did explain the signing of Ahtyba Rubin and talk a little bit about the big picture with Wilson and Bobby Wagner.

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Franchise history, NFL draft, NFL history, State of the team

Is Schneider becoming the new Bobby Beathard?

April 4, 2015 cc Leave a comment

DRAFT COUNTDOWN: Four weeks. A weekly look at draft-related topics involving the Seahawks.

The Seahawks will be in rare historical company in this year’s draft, becoming the first team in nearly 20 years to go three straight years without a first-round draft pick.

John Schneider’s deal for Jimmy Graham, which cost Seattle its first-rounder and Max Unger, means the Seahawks will become the seventh team in the modern era to go without a first-rounder in at least three straight drafts.

To recap how the Hawks have joined the select club:

–In 2013, they traded a first-rounder, seventh-rounder and 2014 third to Minnesota for Percy Harvin.

–In 2014, they traded down from No. 32 and picked Paul Richardson with the 40th overall selection, also adding a fourth-rounder in the deal with the Vikings.

–Last month, they sent Unger and their first-rounder (No. 31) to New Orleans for Graham and a fourth-rounder.

So is this just a one-time oddity, like the Houston Oilers from 1979 to 1981? Or is Schneider becoming the Bobby Beathard of this era?

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Contracts

Which QB’s deal will Wilson’s most resemble?

April 4, 2015 cc Leave a comment

At UW’s Pro Day on Thursday, Pete Carroll was asked how contract talks with Russell Wilson were going.

“Ongoing. Just ongoing,” he said, per Bob Condotta. “Really that’s all you can really say about it. But it’s under way.”

Wilson’s contract has been a big topic ever since the Super Bowl ended, with plenty of speculation about how and when it will be done. Carroll and John Schneider both have made it clear it will get done (probably this month), although they obviously have not shared any specifics.

At the owners meetings, Carroll said the contract would have “extraordinary ramifications” and “there is so much magnitude in this deal and it affects so much.”

All you have to do is look around the league to see how QB deals affect teams.

Continue reading Which QB’s deal will Wilson’s most resemble? →

Free agency, NFL draft

Draft month begins

April 1, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Free-agency month is over. Draft month has begun.

Sure, the Seahawks are still working to address some minor holes in the roster, looking for cheap veteran linemen while bringing back some of their remaining free agents.

And, they obviously will be looking to get Russell Wilson’s contract extension done by the end of the month.

But with just four weeks left until the draft, the Hawks are in the final stretch of evaluations.

With James Carpenter and Max Unger gone, they clearly need offensive linemen. And they are looking everywhere.

Continue reading Draft month begins →

NFL draft

Grading Schneider’s draft picks

March 28, 2015 cc Leave a comment

DRAFT COUNTDOWN: Five weeks.
A weekly look at draft-related topics
involving the Seahawks.

John Schneider loves draft picks, and he clearly was looking forward to getting four more last week in the compensatory awards.

It was the first time the Seahawks have ever received four comps, and it means the Hawks will enter the draft with more picks (11) than any NFL team. No big surprise there: The Hawks have drafted a league-high 48 players since Schneider arrived in 2010 — never leaving the selection meeting with fewer than nine.

This year, the Hawks are in the perfect draft position for Schneider: No first-round pick and five in the fourth and fifth stanzas, plus three in the sixth.

Everyone knows Schneider has been average in the first round, while earning a great reputation in the middle rounds. So, thanks to the Jimmy Graham-Max Unger deal and losing a few free agents in 2014, this draft is in his wheelhouse.

His reputation as a mid-round star is only half legit, though. While he has found two superstars in the fifth round, the fourth round actually has been his worst — with misses on four of seven players and only one starter (K.J. Wright) discovered.

He can reverse that trend this year though, if receiver Kevin Norwood, linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis and defensive lineman Cassius Marsh take big steps and Schneider makes some good picks with his three fourths on May 2.

Here’s a look at how Schneider has done through his first five years:

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CHAWK LINES

March 28, 2015 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks got four comp picks for the first time, giving them 11 picks in the draft.

The Seahawks added three defensive coaches — including former Seattle assistant Dwaine Board and one of Pete Carroll’s former USC defensive backs.

John Schneider talked about Russell Wilson, Michael Bennett and Brandon Mebane at the owners meetings.

Carroll said he is “fueled” by the Super Bowl loss and doesn’t want to let it go because he wants to learn from it.

He also said, “I’m confident that this team is going to come back and fricking roar. We are going to roar back into this offseason. These guys are working hard for it.’’

Carroll said all reports on Wilson’s contract so far were incorrect, and he talked about many of the players along the defensive line.

Carroll also said the Hawks are working on re-signing several of their remaining free agents.

Schneider said the Seahawks chose Michael Bennett over Golden Tate last year because the draft had a better class of receivers than pass rushers. (The Hawks ended up drafting receivers Paul Richardson and Kevin Norwood.)

The NFL is going to change the PAT in some fashion. Here’s Carroll’s idea:

Our idea for the extra point: -Automatic 7pts for a TD -Mandatory try from the 2 for 1pt -Defense can score 1pt by returning a fumble or INT

— Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) March 25, 2015

The Saints reportedly talked to the Dolphins about Jimmy Graham, too.

The Kingdome was imploded 15 years ago this week. And the debt for that structure was finally paid off this week as well.

Carroll helped Mike Williams, former USC star and one-time Seahawk, get a gig coaching high school football in Los Angeles.

Marshawn Lynch will appear in a Ludacris video for the rapper’s riff called — what else? — “Beast Mode.” (Did he have to pay Lynch royalties for using that title?)

Lynch has a strain of pot named after him, but he doesn’t smoke, according to Snoop Dogg, who said, “My homeboy got a career to play. He’s still in the NFL. He’s got a commissioner to deal with.”

Clare Farnsworth, who had covered the Seahawks for nearly their entire existence, retired this week.

Contracts

Carroll: No reports on Wilson deal are correct

March 26, 2015 cc Leave a comment

If Pete Carroll is to be taken at his absolute word, we can infer three things about Russell Wilson’s contract extension:

1 — It is not close to being finished.

2 — Wilson will not play out his rookie contract.

3 — His deal will not be fully guaranteed.

At the owners meetings on Wednesday, Carroll basically shot down all reports about Wilson talks, saying, “There are no big claims about what we are doing that have been made that are accurate.’’

That clearly was directed at ESPN, which reported last week that the sides were close to a deal, and at CBS, which reported this week that talks “have gone nowhere” and Wilson probably would play out the final year of his rookie contract. It also might have been a refutation of speculation that the Hawks will guarantee all of Wilson’s contract.

Continue reading Carroll: No reports on Wilson deal are correct →