Hawks had to cut someone; now, what about Chancellor?

Kam and BennettOnce the Seahawks signed Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner to their megadeals, it was obvious someone probably was going to get cut.

While Brandon Mebane (and his $5.5 million salary) had been the rumored candidate for months, it turned out to be Tony McDaniel, whose release added $3 million to the $2 million or so the Hawks had left under this year’s cap. They typically like to have at least $4 million in reserve for practice squad and injury replacements during the season.

Pete Carroll was not happy to lose the 30-year-old McDaniel, who had been a key member of Seattle’s top-seven run defense in each of the past two Super Bowl seasons.

“It is a significant loss,” Carroll said. “Tony has been a really good core player for us, and we really liked him and what he’s brought to our club. This decision sucks, but you know we had to do something. Maybe there’s a chance we can get him back someday; I don’t know how that will work. Unfortunately, that’s what had to happen today.”

It weakens the depth on a defensive line that had looked pretty stout, especially at tackle, and means Mebane and Ahtyba Rubin will have to carry the weight as the run stoppers.

The next immediate roster concern is holdout safety Kam Chancellor.

Continue reading Hawks had to cut someone; now, what about Chancellor? →

Schneider loves trading with Mayhew’s Lions

John Schneider (via Fresh Files)John Schneider loves trading with the Detroit Lions.

His deal Sunday to acquire cornerback Mohammed Seisay for a 2016 sixth-round pick was his seventh trade with Lions general manager Martin Mayhew since Schneider became Seattle’s GM in 2010.

It was his 35th trade overall and his third this year — although it pales in comparison to the deals for Jimmy Graham and Tyler Lockett.

Continue reading Schneider loves trading with Mayhew’s Lions →

CHAWK LINES -- Training camp new

Some observations from Day 3 of camp from those who were there:

In the wake of the big deals signed by Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner, someone was going to have to go to give the Hawks a little more cap space for this season — they were around $2 million and need to be around $4 million. Rather than cut Brandon Mebane, as had been rumored for months, the Seahawks released fellow defensive tackle Tony McDaniel instead. The move adds $3 million to Seattle’s cap, giving them comfort for the season.

The Hawks — short on cornerbacks with Jeremy Lane and Tharold Simon out — also acquired Mohammed Seisay from the Detroit Lions for a 2016 sixth-round pick.

Continue reading →

CHAWK LINES -- Training camp new

Some observations from the first two days of camp from those who were there:

Field Gulls focused on the Legion of Boom, with new corner Cary Williams and without the starting safeties.

For Day 2, The Seattle Times guys kept a close eye on the offensive line.

John Boyle of Seahawks.com says the Seahawks are bigger and deeper at receiver.

OC Darrell Bevell says Tyler Lockett will “be a big factor at wide receiver” (as we have always thought).

Hawk Blogger Brian Nemhauser noticed the receivers, too.

Gregg Bell of The News Tribune says players support Kam Chancellor in his holdout.

Brandon Mebane, 30, says he feels more like 24 or 25 as he comes back from a bad hamstring injury.

Can the Hawks really please them all?

Kam and BennettOne down. Three to go?

The Seahawks got Russell Wilson signed just in time, but Bobby Wagner, Kam Chancellor and Michael Bennett all are unhappy and showing it in different ways.

It’s funny how back-to-back Super Bowls can make people feel entitled — all three of those guys are signed, Chancellor and Bennett very recently, but they all feel like they deserve more than they agreed to.

Basically, they are flipping the script — knowing NFL teams can cut them at any time and trying to use the power of their all-star play as leverage before they lose it. Pete Carroll understands.

“They’re trying to make the most of their opportunity and trying to figure out what’s best for them,” he said after the Hawks finished their first practice Friday. “They’re difficult decisions, and they’re hard for them.

“Sometimes when they sign, they love what they sign, and it just looks different after a while,” Carroll said, referencing how contracts quickly become undervalued in the constantly growing NFL economy. “I’m compassionate towards these guys.”

Continue reading Can the Hawks really please them all? →

Quick thoughts on Wilson’s contract

Wilson signing contract(Update No. 2: We had it the first time)

Some thoughts on Russell Wilson’s reported four-year, $87.6 million extension:

**The $21.9 million average puts Wilson right behind Aaron Rodgers ($22 million) for No. 2 in average annual salary among NFL QBs.

**The $31 million signing bonus matches the bonus Pittsburgh gave Ben Roethlisberger and the guaranteed money Carolina gave Cam Newton this offseason. Agent Mark Rodgers said they split it up for tax purposes, but it is all guaranteed.

**The $61.5 million in total guarantees is the most Seattle has paid to a player. Richard Sherman received $40 million in rolling guarantees. It also trumps Newton’s $60 million in total guarantees.

Wilson's deal**Although Wagner tweeted out an ominous statement — “Can’t keep everyone” — the Seahawks still could afford Wagner if he’s amenable to something like a four-year, $38 million deal with a $10 million signing bonus. Pete Carroll said, “We’re on it. Anything you’ve heard otherwise is wrong. I hope he’s with us for a long time.” Wagner said the deadline for a deal is “now” and said he had considered holding out, a la Chancellor, until a deal was done.

**Now that Wilson is signed, Brandon Mebane might be in danger. The Hawks have around $4 million left under the salary cap; and, if they want to sign Wagner, they might need some breathing room from somewhere to account for practice squad and injury replacements during the season.

**Holdout Kam Chancellor congratulated Wilson on his deal via Twitter, and Carroll made it sound like the Hawks might try to accommodate him, saying: “Kam Chancellor is an amazing Seahawk. We want to make something happen. We want him back immediately.”

Moon: Wilson doesn’t want ‘obsolete’ deal

Moon and WilsonRussell Wilson is trying to avoid the situation Michael Bennett and Kam Chancellor find themselves in, but that’s not how the NFL marketplace works — and that’s why no deal is likely.

As the presumed deadline (Friday) for a deal rapidly approaches, Warren Moon said Wilson and his agent, Mark Rodgers, actually are negotiating based on the future market for quarterbacks.

So, instead of trying to beat Aaron Rodgers’ $22 million a year and $54 million guaranteed, they are trying to get ahead of the market so they can avoid getting trumped next year by Andrew Luck, Philip Rivers, Eli Manning, et al.

“I don’t think Russell necessarily wants to be the highest paid in the league,” Moon told SI.com. “He understands where the QB market is going. If Russell was able to get $22 million right now, there are going to be four or five guys who leapfrog him. He just wants to stay in suit with the guys at the top. He doesn’t want to sign a deal that becomes obsolete.”

Continue reading Moon: Wilson doesn’t want ‘obsolete’ deal →

Why Chancellor is unhappy — and why it doesn’t matter

Kam Chancellor and Tony McDaniel celebrate a stop vs. Carolina on Saturday (Seahawks.com)It probably should be no surprise that Kam Chancellor reportedly has joined the chorus of Seahawks wanting more money, but John Schneider has to be simultaneously laughing and crying over yet another request for a raise.

As if Schneider and contract dealer Matt Thomas don’t have enough going on …

So, why is Chancellor unhappy? Since he signed his four-year, $28 million deal in 2013, four safeties have come along and trumped his $7 million annual average. That includes his own Legion of Boom sidekick, Earl Thomas, who makes $10 million a year.

Chancellor has gone from fourth in annual value among safeties to eighth, with Devin McCourty ($9.5 million), Jairus Byrd ($9 million), Eric Berry ($8.34 million), Dashon Goldson ($8.25 million), Eric Weddle ($8 million) and Reshad Jones (just over $7 million) trumping him.

Like Michael Bennett, Chancellor apparently is upset that his deal has been surpassed by the market. And, like Bennett, Chancellor must know that is how it works and there is almost no chance the Hawks are going to adjust his deal this year.

Continue reading Why Chancellor is unhappy — and why it doesn’t matter →

CHAWK LINES -- Week in review

The latest in Russell Wilson talks: The Hawks reportedly have offered a deal worth $21 million per year but paying less than $20 million in 2015.

Field Gulls said the Hawks offered $54 million guaranteed last month. Former Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, who once was John Schneider’s boss, apparently has heard the Hawks’ offer, too, and thinks it is “very fair” and Wilson should take it. Easy for him to say, of course.

The gossip queens went wild over Mike Sando’s QB survey, which placed Wilson eighth or something. We couldn’t care less. (And no, it has no impact on his contract situation.)

Meanwhile, Wilson is working on his boxing in San Diego ahead of training camp starting Friday.

Word also came that the Seahawks are closing in on a deal with Bobby Wagner.

Ricardo Lockette wrote that he refuses to watch a replay of the ill-fated pass at the end of the Super Bowl. But he said Wilson told him, “We’re going to get back there; and, if we’re in that same position again, I’m going to throw you the ball again. We’re going to get it done. I trust you.”

Continue reading →

Wagner is worth $9M to league’s No. 1 defense

Defense with and without WagnerWhen Bobby Wagner signs his new contract — and it appears that could be in time for training camp next week — every offense that has to face the Seahawks’ defense for the next three seasons is going to shed a few more tears.

You would too if you knew the No. 1 defense of the last three years likely will remain that way for the next three — with Wagner, Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, K.J. Wright and Cliff Avril (and maybe Michael Bennett) all under contract. That’s seven starters signed through at least 2017. And that doesn’t count Cary Williams, Frank Clark or Kevin Pierre-Louis — expected key contributors all signed through 2017 as well. Continue reading Wagner is worth $9M to league’s No. 1 defense →