Contracts

More indicators that Wilson’s agent is being unreasonable

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Wilson and the RodgersWe’ve long suspected that Russell Wilson’s agent, Mark Rodgers, was going to be a problem for the Seahawks in contract negotiations, and it is becoming increasingly clear that he is indeed the problem.

The most recent tidbits over the last couple of days come from some guys with a little insider info: former Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren and Field Gulls.

On Wednesday, Holmgren said on KJR-AM that the offer he has heard is “very fair” and “the Seahawks are not lowballing” Wilson. Of course, that is coming from a guy who has always been on the management side of such talks. But Holmgren has been involved in enough deals to know what is fair.

Add to his comments what the guys at Field Gulls said in their podcast Thursday: They were told last month by a trusted source that the Seahawks had offered Wilson $54 million in guaranteed money, which would match the record amount the Packers gave Aaron Rodgers in 2013.

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Contracts, State of the team

Okung knows his worth, but what is it?

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Russell Okung talks with GM John Schneider during minicamp in June (AP)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.”

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Contracts

If Wilson wants to stay past 2017, he might need to fire Rodgers

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Wilson and the RodgersIf Russell Wilson wants to remain a Seattle Seahawk beyond 2017, he might have to fire Mark Rodgers and bring back Bus Cook.

Once Wilson dismissed Cook, a veteran NFL agent, last December, it was easy to see the handwriting on the wall: Rodgers, an inexperienced NFL contract negotiator, would use baseball economics in his negotiations with the Hawks and drag out a process that should have been relatively simple.

Ta da! Here we are.

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CHAWK LINES
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CHAWK LINES -- Week in review

Marshawn Lynch went Beast Mode during a kickball game at his community barbecue in Oakland.

Lynch’s biopic has been canceled because it is “terrible.” If you care to know more, Field Gulls interviewed the director.

In the TMI department, Russell Wilson told a San Diego church that he and Ciara are abstaining from sex. And he joked that he needs everyone to pray for them.

In that same interview, Wilson said God challenged him to respond immediately after he threw the interception in the Super Bowl. A lot of people criticized him for claiming that God spoke to him, but take it with a grain of salt: People feel their faith in different ways. Some people used to rip Steve Largent for his strong faith in God as well. Leave ’em alone.

Meanwhile, Richard Sherman took a lot of flak for inviting woman-beating boxer Floyd Mayweather to his charity softball game. (Maybe Sherman doesn’t realize Mayweather is nearly as much of a scumbag as convicted rapist Mike Tyson.)

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Contracts, Fun & games, It's bigger than football

Bennett, Wilson and Lynch talk contracts and much more

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Lynch jumps into Skittles ZoneIt’s vacation time for the NFL, but on Monday the Seahawks hogged the sports spotlight as three of their top players talked about their contract situations and more.

While Michael Bennett babbled more nonsense about holding out, Russell Wilson made it clear he will show up no matter how much he is making. And then Marshawn Lynch finished the day with another hilarious appearance on “Conan,” saying (among other things) the $12 million the Hawks are paying him this year was a good reason to put off retirement.

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CHAWK LINES
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CHAWK LINES -- Week in review

Bob Condotta recapped the Week in Russell Wilson Reports.

Michael Bennett, who lives in Hawaii in the offseason, says he might hold out for an upgraded deal: “I don’t mind staying home for a little while.” It’s an empty threat, and he knows it.

Cliff Avril said contract stuff won’t affect how the Seahawks come together on the field.

Danny Kelly of Field Gulls put together a nice piece on the Seahawks’ focus on “sleep as a weapon.” This dovetails with an old Vince Lombardi quote that Jimmy Johnson loved to repeat: “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.”

Frank Clark was at the rookie symposium, where he hopefully learned a few lessons on how to stay out of trouble. He said he is not dwelling on the past and is looking forward to finding his role with the Hawks.

Rob Rang wondered whether the Seahawks might be interested in intriguing, though slightly troubled, left tackle Isaiah Battle in the supplemental draft. Probably would require a third-round pick.

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Contracts, State of the team

How tagging Wilson would affect the roster

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Salary cap logoIf 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.”

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Contracts, State of the team

What if Wilson leaves?

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Wilson HBO clipWe 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:

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

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