Tag Archives: Jeremy Lane

Contracts, Free agency, State of the team

Hawks at 3-3 in free agency, with Okung remaining

March 10, 2016 cc Leave a comment

Russell Okung talks with GM John Schneider during minicamp in June (AP) The Seahawks went 3-3 with their top free agents in the first two days of free agency, and Russell Okung will be the tiebreaker — perhaps on Day 3.

The Hawks gave very good deals to Jeremy Lane ($23 million over four years) and Jermaine Kearse ($13.5 million over three years), which is in line with reports that the Hawks have made competitive offers to their free agents (Bruce Irvin and Brandon Mebane being exceptions). J.R. Sweezy, who signed for $6.5 million a year, said they were in the running, and Seattle reportedly has made a “strong” offer to Okung.

Of course, it might not be strong enough. Okung is off to visit the New York Giants and Detroit Lions. The Giants have spent heavily this week and still have around $20 million in salary cap space left. Detroit has $25 million (numbers via OTC).

The San Francisco 49ers also reportedly are interested, which would seem to indicate they are ready to move on from Joe Staley.

Continue reading Hawks at 3-3 in free agency, with Okung remaining →

Contracts, Free agency

2012 picks get paid; Mebane’s tenure ends

March 10, 2016 cc 1 Comment

The Seahawks had a busy first day of free agency, saying goodbye to three Super Bowl stalwarts, watching their 2012 draft class continue to get paid, retaining another starting defender and celebrating their first Super Bowl quarterback as he retired.

It was no surprise that Bruce Irvin, J.R. Sweezy and Brandon Mebane signed elsewhere (even though we expected Mebane to be back). In fact, the Seahawks already were busy trying to replace Irvin and Mebane as former Hawk Chris Clemons reportedly was coming for a visit and Seattle reportedly showed interest in the Eagles’ Cedric Thornton and the Steelers’ Cam Thomas.

A return by the 34-year-old Clemons would be poetic, since he mentored Irvin through his first two NFL seasons. Clemons played with Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril in 2013, when the Seahawks won the Super Bowl.

The Seahawks didn’t try very hard to keep Irvin or Mebane, knowing Irvin would be too expensive and declining to pay Mebane as much as they gave Ahtyba Rubin ($4 million a year) the other day. Irvin ended up getting $9 million a year from Oakland, while Mebane also headed to the AFC West, getting $4.5 million a year from San Diego. Sweezy received a $6.5 million average from Tampa Bay.

Continue reading 2012 picks get paid; Mebane’s tenure ends →

Contracts, Free agency

As league year nears, UFA picture clears

March 4, 2016 cc 4 Comments

UFA projections As the start of the league year fast approaches, we are starting to get an idea of how it is going to play out for Seattle’s top free agents.

Reports over the past two days indicate that Bruce Irvin and Jermaine Kearse aren’t going to be back. Irvin is expected to get around $10 million a year, with Jacksonville and Atlanta among the expected top suitors.

On Wednesday, Irvin told 710 ESPN, “If the money was close, I would definitely consider” signing with the Seahawks. But it won’t be close — Seattle can’t afford more than perhaps $6 million a year.

Meanwhile, Kearse reportedly is planning to sign elsewhere — a sign that the Seahawks have told him their limit (likely $3 million a year) and he knows he can get more elsewhere (maybe $6 million). Speculation has him replacing Roddy White in Atlanta, where former Seattle DC Dan Quinn is entering his second year as coach.

Continue reading As league year nears, UFA picture clears →

CHAWK LINES, Free agency, NFL Combine

March 1, 2016 cc Leave a comment

chawk lines -- Combine

You know that meeting between the Seahawks and Doug Hendrickson? It wasn’t really about Michael Bennett’s contract, per Gregg Bell.

Brandon Mebane, the longest-tenured Seahawk at nine seasons, would love to finish his career in Seattle. Seems like it should get done.

At the Combine, Pete Carroll talked about the process of learning about draft prospects.

Hilarious: Marshawn Lynch was rappin’ while “ghost-ridin'” a camel in Egypt.

Russell Wilson debuted his new clothing line at Nordstrom.
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Injury report, State of the team

Hawks likely will take their time with Graham

February 25, 2016 cc Leave a comment

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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CHAWK LINES, Free agency

February 20, 2016 cc 1 Comment

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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Contracts, Free agency, The roster

Projecting market value for Seattle’s top UFAs

January 22, 2016 cc 1 Comment

Top UFAs market Thanks to going minus-five in free agency last year, the Seahawks are going to get three compensatory draft picks this year — including a rare third-rounder.

You can bet John Schneider would be fine with getting another third next year — and he has two free agents who might be able to net him that.

The Seahawks have eight key unrestricted free agents — four defensive starters, three offensive starters and punter Jon Ryan — and are not going to be able to keep all of them. In fact, Seattle could end up losing six UFA starters.

But Schneider would be fine with that — because it would mean another nice haul of comp picks (up to the maximum four) in 2017.

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Playoffs: At Carolina

How have Hawks changed since Week 6?

January 16, 2016 cc Leave a comment

Panthers Olsen Week 6 With Arizona’s exciting overtime win over a resilient Green Bay team, the Seahawks know where they will be going if they can knock out Carolina for the second straight year.

So, the big question: Can the Seahawks exact some revenge on the Panthers for the last-minute, 27-23 win in Week 6?

That loss — a second straight fourth-quarter collapse — sent the Seahawks to 2-4, where their historic odds of making the playoffs were 8.3 percent. But, since then, they have won nine of 11 — including the “football gods are smiling on you” wild-card win in Minnesota.

What has changed since that Week 6 loss to Carolina?

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CHAWK LINES, State of the team, Week 12: Pittsburgh

Like 2012, Wilson is heating up

November 29, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Wilson and Baldwin vs Steelers Seattle’s record-setting win over Pittsburgh is the latest evidence that this season is shaping up a lot like 2012.

That year, Russell Wilson’s first, the offense did little to help through the first half of the season — relying on the defense to carry the way for the rookie quarterback. The unit held five of the first six opponents under 14 points, and Wilson did just enough to help keep the Hawks floating around .500.

But then things swung the other way around this time of the season, as the defense faltered and Wilson took over the offense and led the charge into the second round of the playoffs.

On Sunday, the defense gave up 538 yards to Pittsburgh and Wilson put together his most prolific passing day (345 yards and five touchdowns), and it looks like that 2012 pattern is repeating itself.

Continue reading Like 2012, Wilson is heating up →