Category Archives: State of the team

Okung knows his worth, but what is it?

July 20, 2015 cc Leave a comment

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.”

Continue reading Okung knows his worth, but what is it? →

Contracts, State of the team

How tagging Wilson would affect the roster

June 25, 2015 cc Leave a comment

If 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.”

Continue reading How tagging Wilson would affect the roster →

Contracts, State of the team

What if Wilson leaves?

June 22, 2015 cc Leave a comment

We 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:

Change is a constant! & Success is never final! #NoTime2Sleep

— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) June 22, 2015

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

Continue reading What if Wilson leaves? →

Minicamp, OTAs, State of the team, The roster

Will Marsh replace Irvin as LB/LEO combo in 2016?

June 20, 2015 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks improved themselves at nearly every position this offseason.

They traded for tight end Jimmy Graham, moved up in the draft to take wide receiver/return maestro Tyler Lockett, drafted three offensive linemen, added defensive linemen Ahtyba Rubin and Frank Clark, and reinforced the secondary with Cary Williams, Will Blackmon, Tye Smith and Ryan Murphy.

One of the few positions where they made no moves was linebacker, a group that seemed kind of thin behind Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright, Bruce Irvin, Mike Morgan, Brock Coyle and Kevin Pierre-Louis.

But the Hawks apparently have plans to improve their depth and prepare for the likely departure of Irvin next offseason — 2014 draft picks Cassius Marsh and Eric Pinkins both are working at linebacker.

Continue reading Will Marsh replace Irvin as LB/LEO combo in 2016? →

State of the team, The roster

‘This is a team that’s built for the future’

June 11, 2015 cc Leave a comment

“This is a team that’s built for the future. … We’re in the middle of this. This is not like the end. This is just the middle of this.” — Pete Carroll to 710 ESPN after blowing the Super Bowl in February.

The Seahawks’ contract impasse with Russell Wilson has many wondering how much longer he will be the team’s quarterback and, in a related consideration, how long the Hawks’ Super Bowl window will remain open.

But Pete Carroll’s comments from February remain just as germane today, despite the apparent lack of progress on Wilson’s deal: This team is right in the middle of its Super Bowl window.

The team controls Wilson’s contract for at least three more seasons, which happens to match the duration of the deals of some of the team’s best players: Marshawn Lynch, Jimmy Graham, Kam Chancellor, Michael Bennett. Signed through 2018 are Cliff Avril, K.J. Wright, Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman.

Sure, Lynch could walk at any time if he feels the Call of Duty to do something else. And Bennett might not be with the team beyond this year if he continues to sit inside the VMAC whining about his contract while his teammates practice.

But, with the team now talking to Bobby Wagner about a new deal, we should be able to add the linebacker to the list of long-term Seahawks at some point this year.

Add the team’s young receivers (Paul Richardson, Tyler Lockett, Kevin Norwood) and some of the other additions from the last two drafts, and the Hawks have a solid core through at least 2017.

Continue reading ‘This is a team that’s built for the future’ →

Contracts, State of the team

Irvin now says he wants to stay in Seattle

June 6, 2015 cc Leave a comment

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.

Continue reading Irvin now says he wants to stay in Seattle →

Contracts, State of the team

Wilson & Wagner are in, Bennett & Irvin are not

June 4, 2015 cc Leave a comment

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 →

OTAs, State of the team

Wilson and Graham have been bonding since trade

June 3, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Russell Wilson and Jimmy Graham already seem to have formed an unbreakable bond. And the season doesn’t start for another three months.

Graham apparently caught a bunch of so-called touchdowns in red zone practice on Tuesday, highlighting the area where he might be most effective for the Seahawks (who, as we all know, prefer to throw from the 1-yard line).

Wilson and Graham started building their chemistry immediately after the trade that brought Graham and a fourth-rounder from New Orleans in exchange for Max Unger and Seattle’s first-round pick.

Continue reading Wilson and Graham have been bonding since trade →

Injury report, OTAs, State of the team

Chancellor having his best offseason; Carroll updates other injuries

May 27, 2015 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks were on the field Tuesday for the first time since the Super Bowl, and we got updates on several injured players.

Kam Chancellor — who dealt with injuries to his ankles, hip and knee last season — said this has been his best offseason since he entered the NFL in 2010.

“This is my first offseason training without surgeries and I just feel a whole lot stronger at this point,” he said, adding that he knew his sprained MCL suffered right before the Super Bowl would not require surgery. “I knew I wasn’t getting surgery, because I had done it once before in college, and I knew it would heal again. And through prayer and drinking right, eating right and getting the proper amount of sleep, it just healed fast.”

As for players coming off surgeries, Robert Turbin (hip) and Brandon Mebane (hamstring) seem most likely to make it back for the start of training camp, while Earl Thomas (shoulder), Jeremy Lane (ACL and arm) and Paul Richardson (ACL) appear questionable.

Continue reading Chancellor having his best offseason; Carroll updates other injuries →

State of the team, The roster

Reviewing & projecting the roster

May 25, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Despite the loss of a couple of offensive linemen and a starting cornerback and a few ongoing contract squabbles, the Seahawks are clearly a better team than the one that blew the Super Bowl three months ago.

Jimmy Graham and Tyler Lockett should improve Seattle’s scoring ability, both on offense and special teams, and Frank Clark and Ahtyba Rubin should beef up the depth of a defensive line that was decimated throughout last season — topped by the loss of Cliff Avril to a concussion in the Super Bowl.

The Hawks also have brought in a handful of new offensive linemen as they look to replace Max Unger and James Carpenter and build some good depth on the unit while preparing for the possible departure of Russell Okung or J.R. Sweezy next offseason.

In the secondary, they have replaced Byron Maxwell with Cary Williams and also added Will Blackmon and rookie Tye Smith to fill in for the injured Jeremy Lane and make sure they don’t get caught with Tharold Simon covering quick receivers in the slot again.

The Hawks look to have some great competition along both lines, at receiver and in the secondary.

Here’s a look at the offense, with projected keepers (spoiler: Jermaine Kearse doesn’t make it).

And here’s a look at the defense, with Kevin Williams projected to return.