Category Archives: Contracts

Contracts

More indicators that Wilson’s agent is being unreasonable

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Wilson and the RodgersWe’ve long suspected that Russell Wilson’s agent, Mark Rodgers, was going to be a problem for the Seahawks in contract negotiations, and it is becoming increasingly clear that he is indeed the problem.

The most recent tidbits over the last couple of days come from some guys with a little insider info: former Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren and Field Gulls.

On Wednesday, Holmgren said on KJR-AM that the offer he has heard is “very fair” and “the Seahawks are not lowballing” Wilson. Of course, that is coming from a guy who has always been on the management side of such talks. But Holmgren has been involved in enough deals to know what is fair.

Add to his comments what the guys at Field Gulls said in their podcast Thursday: They were told last month by a trusted source that the Seahawks had offered Wilson $54 million in guaranteed money, which would match the record amount the Packers gave Aaron Rodgers in 2013.

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Contracts, State of the team

Okung knows his worth, but what is it?

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Russell Okung talks with GM John Schneider during minicamp in June (AP)As if the Seahawks didn’t already have enough odd contract situations, Russell Okung has added another one.

Russell Wilson’s marathon negotiations have received the most attention, as the quarterback reportedly seeks to be the highest-paid player in the game. On top of that, Michael Bennett has been grouching about his deal, just one year after signing it; Bruce Irvin bitched about not having his 2016 option picked up and talked about playing in Atlanta next year; and the Hawks also are talking with Bobby Wagner about a contract that could end up making him the highest-paid middle linebacker in the NFL.

Now we can add to that cauldron of contract conundrums the news that Okung plans to represent himself. As part of what he eloquently wrote on The Players’ Tribune, he said: “Before I became a free agent, I decided to free my agent.”

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Contracts

If Wilson wants to stay past 2017, he might need to fire Rodgers

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Wilson and the RodgersIf Russell Wilson wants to remain a Seattle Seahawk beyond 2017, he might have to fire Mark Rodgers and bring back Bus Cook.

Once Wilson dismissed Cook, a veteran NFL agent, last December, it was easy to see the handwriting on the wall: Rodgers, an inexperienced NFL contract negotiator, would use baseball economics in his negotiations with the Hawks and drag out a process that should have been relatively simple.

Ta da! Here we are.

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Contracts, Fun & games, It's bigger than football

Bennett, Wilson and Lynch talk contracts and much more

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Lynch jumps into Skittles ZoneIt’s vacation time for the NFL, but on Monday the Seahawks hogged the sports spotlight as three of their top players talked about their contract situations and more.

While Michael Bennett babbled more nonsense about holding out, Russell Wilson made it clear he will show up no matter how much he is making. And then Marshawn Lynch finished the day with another hilarious appearance on “Conan,” saying (among other things) the $12 million the Hawks are paying him this year was a good reason to put off retirement.

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Contracts, State of the team

How tagging Wilson would affect the roster

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Salary cap logoIf the Seahawks end up using the franchise tag on Russell Wilson in 2016, as it currently appears they might, it most likely would mean the end of the Seattle tenures of Russell Okung and Bruce Irvin.

Irvin knows that and doesn’t really care, even if he said last week that he wants to stay in Seattle. He clearly would be just as happy playing in his hometown of Atlanta. And he knows the Hawks have only so much money to go around.

“They’ve got a lot of people to take care of,” he said. “You’ve got Bobby Wagner, who deserves his money, and Russell, who deserves his money. Like I said, it’s a business and that stuff will work itself out.”

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Contracts, State of the team

What if Wilson leaves?

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Wilson HBO clipWe fully expect Russell Wilson to be the Seahawks’ quarterback for at least the next three seasons, but there is plenty of speculation — including by him — that he might not be in Seattle for much longer.

On Monday, he told a North Carolina radio show that he hopes to stay in Seattle, “but I’ve also gone through ups and downs and been moved around before.”

He later tweeted:

Those comments add to a growing chorus that already is singing Wilson’s swan song in Seattle — whether it’s 2016, 2017 or 2018.

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Contracts

How guaranteed money & franchise tags are affecting Wilson talks

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Wilson and the RodgersWe have known for a while that the holdup in negotiations between the Seahawks and Russell Wilson is guaranteed money, and another report this week reiterated that the sides are far apart in that category.

This contract should not be difficult, so clearly at least one side is being unreasonable.

The issue is probably a blend of the Hawks not offering enough and Mark Rodgers, Wilson’s agent, wanting too much.

Among the likely sticking points:

1 — The Seahawks might still be stuck on rolling annual guarantees and are well below the $40 million in fully promised cash they should be offering Wilson in a four-year extension.

2 — Mark Rodgers, Wilson’s agent, might want $60 million guaranteed by 2016 — beating the 12-month guarantees for Matt Ryan ($59 million), Drew Brees ($55 million), Aaron Rodgers and Cam Newton (each $54 million).

3 — Rodgers reportedly is leaning on the franchise tag — and its guarantees — in negotiations.

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CHAWK LINES, Contracts, OTAs
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CHAWK LINES -- Seahawks OTAs & minicamp

Tom Cable says four guys are competing at center — the position “that certainly has the most uncertainty.”

Among the Seattle Times’ impressions from Tuesday, Tyler Lockett and the players’ overall speed impressed special teams coach Brian Schneider.

Derrick Coleman says this special-teams group is the best the Hawks have had since he has been there.

Richard Sherman had a couple of great retorts for his critics on Tuesday.

Cary Williams explains why he prefers Pete Carroll’s Seahawks to Chip Kelly’s Eagles.

Anthony McCoy reminded everyone he is still around and has the talent to make the team after missing the past two seasons with Achilles injuries.

Marshawn Lynch is putting a little Beast Mode into “Call of Duty.” Lynch said, “I’ve been in the Super Bowl, movies, music videos, Madden. But to have your own character in Duty is, I mean, it’s almost like you arrived.”

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Contracts, State of the team

Irvin now says he wants to stay in Seattle

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Bruce Irvin has not been present at Seattle’s OTAs, but he says he would like to stay in Seattle after next season and he has been working hard and plans to have his best season yet.

“I have one year left. I would love to be in Seattle,” he told NFL Media on Saturday. “That was the team that gave me a chance when nobody else did. A lot of people told me I wasn’t a first-round pick, but Pete (Carroll) and John Schneider took a chance on me; so, like I said, I would love to be there.”

That comment runs counter to his statement last month that he would be in Atlanta next season. Pete Carroll tried to quash that story, but it seemed pretty obvious that Irvin meant he would like to play in his hometown.

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Contracts, State of the team

Wilson & Wagner are in, Bennett & Irvin are not

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I'm in

I’M IN.

It’s one of the Seahawks’ mantras. And clearly not everyone is buying in completely.

Offseason team workouts don’t offer too much football value — they’re like glorified walk-throughs — but they are a great vehicle for seeing who is committed to the team and who isn’t.

Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner certainly are. Michael Bennett and Bruce Irvin are a different story.

All of them have contract concerns. Wilson and Wagner are entering the final year of their deals, but neither is complaining that he doesn’t have a deal yet; Wilson is leading the offense in workouts and Wagner is right in there with his higher-paid defensive teammates.

Meanwhile, Bennett and Irvin are pouting about their contracts, boycotting voluntary work with the rest of the team.

Continue reading Wilson & Wagner are in, Bennett & Irvin are not →