It's bigger than football, NFL Combine, NFL draft

Carroll: Clark ‘a great kid in the program’

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Frank ClarkA year ago at this time, the Seahawks were in the process of vetting Frank Clark — the controversial pass rusher they were targeting at the bottom of the second round.

They were ripped for the pick by almost every mainstream media outlet, and The Seattle Times did its own reverse investigation into Clark’s domestic incident and criticized the Seahawks’ background research into Clark. (For the record, we told everyone to lay off and trust the judgment of Pete Carroll and John Schneider.)

Not surprisingly (to us), Clark made it through his first season without drawing another bad word from anyone, and Carroll said Monday that the team monitored Clark closely — he reportedly continued counseling that he had started in Michigan — and “he was a great kid in the program.”

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CHAWK LINES, Free agency, NFL Combine
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chawk lines -- Combine

Combine logoAsked about Michael Bennett and Kam Chancellor, Pete Carroll said, “Really, the guys who are under contract can’t be the first-priority guys right now, in any order. We are really digging in, trying to keep our team together. And that will always be the way we go about it. We love Kam and Mike … and we are going to do all we can to make sure they can stay with us.”

Hiring Doug Hendrickson shows Bennett’s Lynch-like strategy.

Carroll said Jimmy Graham might not be ready until the end of training camp. That shadows our thought that the Seahawks will take it slow with him.

John Schneider talked about Marshawn Lynch and other topics.

Lynch is headed to Egypt for American Football Without Barriers — a group co-created by former Seahawk Breno Giacomini.

The offensive line is a major point of emphasis this offseason, although Carroll and Schneider don’t seem to concerned.

Russell Okung says, “It’s very possible that I could stay here. But I know my value, and I’m not going to settle for anything less than that.”

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Contracts, Free agency

Okung, Schneider have talked, but expect LT to hit free agency

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Russell Okung talks with GM John Schneider during minicamp in June (AP)Russell Okung and John Schneider already have had contract talks, and it is no surprise that the talented but injury-prone left tackle is going to hit free agency March 9.

“We’ve had some conversations. We’ve been going back and forth,” Okung told ESPN.com. “It’s going to come down to when free agency starts. So we may figure something out; we may not. It’s up in the air for now for us to come to terms.”

The Seahawks probably are not willing to pay Okung much more than they did on his rookie deal: $8 million a year. And he surely wants to hit the $10 million mark. The only way to find out whether some team will pay him is to become a free agent.

Actually, he should have a good idea even a couple of days before the league year begins, as prospective free agents officially can talk to teams ahead of the day.

We already addressed the idea of Okung possibly returning on a one-year deal if his market is not what he expects due to his shoulder injury (he won’t be ready for workouts until June).

“It’s very possible that I could stay here,” he said. “But I know my value, and I’m not going to settle for anything less than that. If it works out, great. And if it doesn’t, that’s great as well.”

Continue reading Okung, Schneider have talked, but expect LT to hit free agency →

Contracts

Expect Hawks, Bennett to work it out

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Bennett and LynchBarring a break from philosophy, the Seahawks will be able to do only so much for Pro Bowl defender Michael Bennett this offseason.

But it might be enough, if Bennett’s recent business move is any indication.

Neither John Schneider nor Pete Carroll has ruled out adjusting Bennett’s salary, which calls for $4 million plus $1 million in per-game bonuses, but both have cautioned against expecting too much.

Last month, Schneider told 710 ESPN, “It’s all on an individual basis. We’re going to do whatever we can to keep this puzzle together, but we can’t get out of whack either.”

On Thursday at the Combine, Carroll praised Bennett for his energy, leadership and consistency last season and said, “We’d like to reward everybody. Can’t always do that.”

Bennett surely is hoping to be an exception to the rule. Toward that end, he has switched agents.

Continue reading Expect Hawks, Bennett to work it out →

Injury report, State of the team

Hawks likely will take their time with Graham

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Graham out for season“It’s too early to tell” when Jimmy Graham will return from his torn patellar tendon, but we already know a few things: (1) The Seahawks are not going to get rid of the high-paid tight end this year; (2) they are probably going to take their time with his recovery; (3) he should be able to return to his previous standard of performance.

At the Combine on Wednesday, John Schneider said there is no timetable for the return of Graham, who is “doing great” while rehabbing in Miami.

“Obviously it was a devastating injury for us at the time,” Schneider said, “but he’s a great guy, got a great attitude about it, and he’s ready to get after it.”

Schneider said last month that Graham will be back with the Hawks — despite the wishes of some fans (in a Seattle Times poll, about 20 percent thought Graham would not be back).

The Seahawks’ MO always has been to let injured players recover, without altering their contracts, and then see how they perform the next season, so there was never any doubt Graham would be back. The question was and still is: When?

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Free agency, NFL Combine, State of the team

Schneider concedes Irvin is likely gone

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Pic -- Schneider at CombineJohn Schneider all but admitted that Bruce Irvin will not be back with the Seahawks.

At the Combine on Wednesday, Schneider compared Irvin to Byron Maxwell, who received $10 million a year from Philadelphia last year. Irvin, valued as a linebacker and pass rusher, is expected to get a similar deal from some team.

“I’m sure you get tired of me talking about it,” Schneider said, per The Seattle Times, “but it really, truly is a big puzzle that we have to work through. I have met with Bruce individually and he knows how we feel about him as an organization and he knows that we are either going to be able to make it work or give him a big hug and congratulate him.

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NFL Combine, NFL draft

Don’t expect D-line in first round

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Combine logoThis draft apparently is so deep on the defensive line that not even the Seahawks could screw it up.

You might think that to be a harsh and unwarranted comment coming against a two-time Super Bowl club, but the simple fact is the Seahawks have been terrible at drafting and developing defensive linemen.

John Schneider & Co. have selected 11 in six drafts, and they are still looking for their first sustained success story: Frank Clark (2015), Jordan Hill (2013) and Cassius Marsh (2014) are the last men standing.

The Seahawks have had great defensive lines because they have relied almost exclusively on veterans — Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, Chris Clemons, Alan Branch, Jason Jones, Tony McDaniel and Ahtyba Rubin — to step in alongside longtime Seahawk Brandon Mebane.

Mebane and Rubin — the heart of the NFL’s No. 1 run defense in 2015 — are pending free agents, which explains why most mock drafts have the Hawks taking a defensive tackle at No. 26. But their history says they won’t do that.

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CHAWK LINES, NFL Combine
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chawk lines -- Combine

John Schneider will speak at 12:15 pm Wednesday and Pete Carroll will speak at noon Thursday. Field Gulls has the full media schedule of NFL coaches and executives.

Rob Rang lists 10 things to watch from a Seahawks perspective.

Rob Staton of Seahawks Draft Blog previews the kind of players the Hawks might like at the Combine.

Field Gulls offers a detailed preview as well.

NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock had plenty to say in his conference call.

Field Gulls reposted a breakdown of how Combine drills translate to the game.

Good news: The Seahawks’ needs match up with the strength of this draft.

Most mock drafts are giving the Seahawks linemen — which of course means they won’t take one in the first round.

CHAWK LINES, Free agency
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CHAWK LINES -- Week in review

Michael Bennett dropped hard-nosed agent Drew Rosenhaus, and nobody knows exactly what that means.

Jeremy Lane, perhaps Seattle’s most enigmatic free agent from a market standpoint, would love to stay in Seattle “if the situation was right.”

Russell Okung told 710 ESPN his shoulder surgery was precautionary and he is still intent on representing himself in free agency.

Jermaine Kearse’s agent has been talking to the Seahawks, and he is not sure whether he will return to Seattle.

J.R. Sweezy is expected to get lots of interest in free agency.

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Free agency, NFL draft

Will Schneider use any of top options to fix OL?

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OsemeleAs the Seahawks plot to rebuild their offensive line this offseason, they appear to face a steep and slippery uphill climb — one where it could be easy to backslide and end up right back where they started.

If the Hawks were forced to play a game today, they could barely field a line with the guys they have under contract. Garry Gilliam likely would move to left tackle, Drew Nowak would return to center, Justin Britt would move back to right tackle, Mark Glowinski would step in at right guard (J.R. Sweezy reportedly is expected to have a hot market in free agency) and Kristjan Sokoli probably would be the de facto left guard.

What an underwhelming, overmatched line that would be, eh?

The offensive line is the one spot where the Seahawks simply have not “competed” well in personnel. In six years, John Schneider has signed just eight free agents — and none have lasted more than a year. He also has drafted just four linemen in the first three rounds — and Britt (a major reach in the second round) is the only one from the past four drafts.

Will Schneider change that this year to get the Seahawks back atop the NFC? Will he be willing to spend resources — money and draft picks — to fix it?

Continue reading Will Schneider use any of top options to fix OL? →