Moffitt was Schneider’s worst draft pick

John Schneider’s worst draft pick is coming out of retirement.

John Moffitt was so bad that Schneider and the Seahawks actually changed the way they evaluate draft prospects largely because of him, focusing on football character over skill starting in 2014.

“There’s certain guys you spend a lot of time with, because you’re trying to figure out the man,” Schneider said before the draft last year. “What’s in his heart? What his personality’s like. Would he fit in in the locker room? There’s certain guys that we haven’t done that good of a job with, in my opinion, in the past.”

That’s a clear reference to Moffitt, who was traded by the team after Tom Cable got tired of his lackadaisical attitude — which it turns out was caused by his drug problem.

Moffitt started 15 games in 2011 and 2012, alternating with J.R. Sweezy toward the end of the latter year. Cable was never impressed by Moffitt, whose drug addiction apparently scuttled whatever ability or desire he had.

Moffitt always came across as a buffoon, running into trouble with the law and the NFL more than once. Apparently he has addressed his drug problem and wants back in the NFL. The Seahawks clearly are not an option.

We consider him the worst pick in Schneider’s six drafts. Here’s our bottom five:

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How guaranteed money & franchise tags are affecting Wilson talks

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 -- Week in review

Brandon Mebane says he will be ready to go full speed when training camp starts.

Cliff Avril talked about his concussion in the Super Bowl (which had a big effect on the defense). He said he has no fears about further concussions and is ready to win another Super Bowl while playing the full game. Avril also talked about Michael Bennett’s contract squabble, saying he understands both sides and isn’t concerned Bennett won’t play in 2015.

Jesse Williams is working out again after kidney surgery.

In news Sea Dawgs will like, the Seahawks signed Kasen Williams. (We couldn’t care less.)

Kevin Williams wanted to return to the Seahawks, but he ended up signing with the Saints.

Field Gulls broke out the Seahawks’ coaching candidates that were included in a MMQB survey.

Here’s a bunch of midweek CHAWK LINES on OTAs and contract issues.

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

“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.

Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson plan to be clapping about their offense a lot this season (Getty Images)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.

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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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CHAWK LINES -- Week in review

While not working out with teammates in Seattle, Bruce Irvin apparently still would like to play in Seattle past this year.

John Clayton thinks Russell Wilson will sign a four-year deal worth up to $87 million, with up to $49 million guaranteed, by the time training camp starts in late July.

Contract analyst Joel Corry thinks the Hawks could get away with a $25 million signing bonus for Wilson. Seems light, considering they need to pay him at least $31 million this year. (Just mute the video of that goober Doug Gottlieb.)

Tom Cable and Rocky Seto got very detailed at the Seahawks Town Hall on Wednesday, discussing O-line technique and the Hawk tackle.

Kam Chancellor talked about the effect his knee injury had on him in the Super Bowl and how happy he is he didn’t have to undergo any kind of surgery this offseason.

Jimmy Graham talked to Clayton about his excitement to be playing with Wilson and the Hawks. In a little revisionist history, the high-scoring tight end joked the red zone was named after him due to his red hair.

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Irvin now says he wants to stay in Seattle

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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Wilson & Wagner are in, Bennett & Irvin are not

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.

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Wilson and Graham have been bonding since trade

Wilson and GrahamRussell 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.

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Is Wilson necessary? And would he hold out?

Lynch and Wilson trophyAs we wait to see how Russell Wilson’s contract negotiations play out, some are asking whether Wilson is even necessary to the Seahawks and others are wondering whether he might put the Hawks in a bind by holding out.

Some argue the Seahawks could have reached the Super Bowl the past two years with almost any quarterback. Others vehemently disagree.

Neither group is completely right. And the argument is largely irrelevant anyway.

Continue reading Is Wilson necessary? And would he hold out?