Contracts

Newton’s deal shows Hawks must pay Wilson at least $30M in 2015

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Carolina QB Cam Newton congratulates Russell Wilson after the Seahawks won the season opener on Sept. 8, 2013 (Getty Images)Last week, Russell Wilson’s agent said he would meet again soon with Matt Thomas, the Seahawks’ lead contract negotiator, and discuss new ideas and information as they work on a contract extension.

They should now have all of the information they need after Carolina gave Cam Newton a five-year extension reportedly worth $103.8 million, including $31 million guaranteed in 2015 and a record $67.6 million being paid in the next three years ($60 million of it at least partly guaranteed).

If John Schneider thought Ryan Tannehill’s deal cost the Seahawks at the bargaining table, he’ll hate seeing Newton’s numbers. But that’s the way it goes in the big-money world of franchise quarterbacks, and Schneider and Thomas should have been prepared for that.

Agent Mark Rodgers might argue Wilson is worth more than Newton, but the fact is Newton’s financial numbers are where Wilson and the Seahawks are going to have to end up — the middle ground from where both sides would prefer to be.

Continue reading Newton’s deal shows Hawks must pay Wilson at least $30M in 2015 →

CHAWK LINES
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CHAWK LINES -- Week in review

Holdout Michael Bennett said he wants to be paid like the top seven players at his position, which would mean $10 million a year.

Russell Wilson’s agent, Mark Rodgers, talked to 710 ESPN about contract negotiations.

Danny Kelly of Field Gulls wrote about the detailed technique Pete Carroll’s staff teaches cornerbacks. As we wrote a couple of years ago, the Pete Carroll Secondary School has been in session for 30 years.

Cary Williams appears to fit right in with the Legion of Boom. The Hawks think the 30-year-old’s best football will come in Seattle.

Field Gulls rounded up some radio interviews by Jordan Hill, Luke Willson and Jermaine Kearse.

K.J. Wright talked to 710 ESPN about new LBs coach Lofa Tatupu and new DC Kris Richard (recall that both of those guys played for Carroll at USC).

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” fan Bobby Wagner was voted by NFL peers as the 69th best player in the league, per NFL Network. Michael Bennett was No. 90. Six other Seahawks will be listed higher.

Kam Chancellor and Carroll think the Hawks are Super focused in the wake of the crushing end to last season.

Matt Bowen and Chris Simms of Bleacher Report look at Jimmy Graham and Tyler Lockett — Seattle’s two awesome new weapons.

Wilson was a guest speaker at Rodgers’ daughter’s graduation.

Contracts

Rodgers addressed ‘baseball agent’ label and contract concepts

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Wilson and the RodgersIn his interview with Brock and Salk on 710 ESPN yesterday, Mark Rodgers left Seahawks fans feeling pretty optimistic about the chances of him and the team striking a deal for Russell Wilson at some point.

Brady Henderson and Bob Condotta both transcribed the interview, offering up key points such as (1) the sides feel no pressure to get a deal done, (2) Wilson would be fine playing out his rookie deal at $1.54 million in 2015, (3) the sides have had positive talks and made progress and (4) Wilson hopes to remain in Seattle for a long time.

Not covered in those recitals of the interview were two related concerns regarding Rodgers and his inexperience in negotiating a major NFL contract.

Continue reading Rodgers addressed ‘baseball agent’ label and contract concepts →

Contracts

Is Wilson close to a deal? His agent will talk

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Wilson and the RodgersThere has been a lot of handwringing over Russell Wilson’s future with the Seahawks, amid reports that the Hawks are lowballing him and the sides are millions of dollars apart.

But, according to Rob Rang, Wilson and the Hawks “are closer to an extension than some believe.” Pete Carroll did not go that far, but he said Tuesday, “The communication has been great.”

On Thursday, Wilson’s agent, Mark Rodgers, will talk to 710 ESPN — although it remains to be seen whether he offers any details on negotiations.

Continue reading Is Wilson close to a deal? His agent will talk →

Injury report, OTAs, State of the team

Chancellor having his best offseason; Carroll updates other injuries

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Seahawks bandagesThe 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

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Jimmy Graham scores against the SeahawksDespite 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.

CHAWK LINES
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CHAWK LINES -- Week in review

Jon Ryan will be on “America Ninja Warrior” on Monday, proving he can do more than punt, pass and kick.

Tough-luck Jesse Williams got more bad health news with the diagnosis of kidney cancer.

Kris Richard talked about the defense, the new coaches, Tharold Simon and Cary Williams.

Bob Condotta looked at whether the Seahawks might consider going for two points rather than kicking a PAT from the 15-yard line.

Michael Bennett said Pete Carroll is like Willy Wonka. That was part of an interview in which Bennett complained some more about NFL economics. Prepare for a holdout.

Bobby Wagner said he would like to get a new contract soon, but he said, “I’ve heard nothing.”

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Contracts

Tannehill deal proves Hawks need to pay Wilson more up front

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Wilson HBO clipAfter Ryan Tannehill signed his contract earlier this week, his agent, Pat Dye, said what a lot of others were thinking: “Russell Wilson is going to have his argument that Ryan Tannehill is the starting point for him.”

And then John Schneider apparently called Dye and said, “Congrats. You just cost me a lot of money.”

The Seahawks already were offering more new money overall, according to reports, but the Tannehill deal probably made clear to them that they need to up the ante on guaranteed cash.

Continue reading Tannehill deal proves Hawks need to pay Wilson more up front →

Contracts, Free agency, Injury report, State of the team, Trades

Irvin wants out, Williams wants in, Bennett & Wilson want to get paid

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Kevin WilliamsLots of news around the Seahawks today, with Bruce Irvin already thinking of playing elsewhere in 2016, Kevin Williams wanting to return, Robert Turbin apparently recovering from hip surgery, Michael Bennett hinting at a holdout, and Russell Wilson seemingly sending the Seahawks messages via social media.

If Irvin wants to play in Atlanta, the Seahawks should oblige and try to trade him there now. Dan Quinn’s club drafted Vic Beasley, but Quinn surely could use another pass rusher, especially one who can play linebacker. The Falcons are thought to have called about Irvin before the draft, so why not revive those talks and see if Seattle can get a 2016 second-rounder? If not Atlanta, find another team (Jacksonville and Gus Bradley?).

The Hawks are a bit thin at linebacker, but they could replace Irvin with Kevin Pierre-Louis. On the pass rush, rookie Frank Clark figures to take some of Irvin’s snaps anyway.

Continue reading Irvin wants out, Williams wants in, Bennett & Wilson want to get paid →

NFL draft, The roster

Cable: College has ruined offensive players

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SokoliTom Cable says college football has ruined offensive players, and that’s why he chooses to take defensive linemen and make them offensive linemen in the NFL.

Five linemen were drafted after the Hawks took conversion project Kristjan Sokoli in the sixth round, and the Hawks passed on Kansas State center B.J. Finney and Florida State guard Josue Matias, who were thought to be mid-round options but ended up going undrafted. The Hawks also signed another conversion project after their rookie minicamp, Kona Schwenke.

“I’m not wanting to offend anybody, but college football offensively has gotten to be really, really bad fundamentally,” Cable told 710 ESPN, referencing the gimmicky spread option that so many teams now use.

Continue reading Cable: College has ruined offensive players →