Tag Archives: John Schneider

CHAWK LINES -- Sherman

John Schneider reiterated Pete Carroll’s comments about the Seahawks being open to trading Sherman. Schneider called the possibility “real” but also echoed Carroll’s thought that a deal seems unlikely.

Sherman responded via MMQB, saying, “There is no bad blood.”

The Seahawks reportedly want a high pick and a “very good” veteran player — which makes perfect sense.

The Seahawks reportedly are being proactive about dealing Sherman as well.

The Patriots reportedly are interested — but seem like a long shot. Another report said the Patriots are not interested.

The Tennessee Titans, who have two first-round picks, seem to be the best match, considering their combination of draft capital, cap space and need.

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Despite skepticism, Sherman trade looks very possible

Hawks vs Packers Sherman all aloneDespite the skepticism by Pete Carroll and John Schneider that a Richard Sherman trade will materialize this offseason, it sounds like there is a better chance than anyone might have thought a month ago.

As Schneider today reconfirmed that the Seahawks are fielding offers, a report out of Boston indicated that the Patriots are still ones to watch in this drama.

Other teams have pursued Sherman more aggressively, a source told the Boston Herald, but the Patriots could become top suitors if they lose Super Bowl XLIX hero Malcolm Butler (the Saints have been the team most linked to acquiring the restricted free agent).

Talking with 710 ESPN today, Schneider called the trade talk “real.”

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Hawks’ Day 2 bonanzas are well-timed

NFL draftDRAFT COUNTDOWN: 4 weeks. Every Friday until the April 27-29 draft, we look at draft topics related to the Seahawks.

Thanks to two very good years of compensatory picks, the Seahawks are in the middle of some of the best draft positioning they have ever had.

It comes at the right time as John Schneider faces a key reload period over the next couple of years. With about a dozen core players due to become free agents in 2018-19, Schneider needs to fortify his roster.

As much as Schneider has been lauded for his Day 3 draft finds, Day 2 is where teams really are built. Schneider’s Seahawks are no different.

Most of their best players were found on Day 2. Of the team’s top 17 returning players, just two were first-rounders while eight were Day 2 picks (six by Seattle). That doesn’t include the three third-rounders from last year. And the Hawks are currently slated to add four more on Day 2 in this draft.

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Sherman trade seems very unlikely, but it is an odd year, after all

John Schneider draftingJohn Schneider likes to make unexpected blockbuster deals in odd years.

In 2011, he gave big contracts to Sidney Rice and Zach Miller. In 2013, he acquired Percy Harvin and then signed Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril. In 2015, he made another huge trade to get Jimmy Graham. So what’s he going to do in 2017?

One former NFL exec thinks he might trade Richard Sherman.

It’s an idea plenty of fans have bandied around ever since the egomaniacal Sherman started going off the emotional rails last season. Now Michael Lombardi, who has bounced around the league for 30 years, says his sources indicate the Seahawks are open to trading Sherman.

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Schneider’s options on Lynch: There might be only one

Lynch hanging them upJohn Schneider surely knew this was a possibility: Marshawn Lynch wanting to come back.

And he had to know he might have to make a tough decision on how to handle Beast Mode if he did want to return, considering the Seahawks had already made their plans to move on.

So here come the Raiders, reportedly wanting to lure Lynch out of retirement and hope the Seahawks basically give him to them — a “friends and family” discount from Schneider to former Green Bay cohort Reggie McKenzie, who runs the Raiders. Unlike last year, when the Raiders reportedly tried to trade for Lynch, it sounds like Lynch is amenable to playing. And it sounds like he wants the Seahawks to release him so he can play in his hometown for another year or two.

If all true, Schneider has a decision to make on Lynch: Keep him, trade him or cut him. Keeping him is not really an option — both sides seemingly have moved on. Trading him might be tough, if the Raiders refuse to cooperate. So that could leave Schneider with only one option: Just let him go for nothing. Well, almost nothing.

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Hawks a distant No. 2 in Peterson scenario

Logo -- Free agency

In 2014, Jared Allen chose money over a Super Bowl chance with the Seahawks as he left the Minnesota Vikings.

Three years later, Adrian Peterson appears interested in making the opposite choice as he prepares to depart Minnesota.

Peterson reportedly favors Oakland, Seattle and New England — places where he could contend for an NFL title. But consider the Seahawks a distant second in that possible free-agent pursuit.

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Schneider admits O-line error, expected to contact Okung

Pic -- Schneider at CombineThe Seahawks have made a lot of errors regarding their offensive line in the last two years, and John Schneider admitted another one Wednesday at the Combine.

“We probably got a little bit too young,” he said of the 2016 starting crew that included neophyte George Fant, fellow first-year starters Mark Glowinski and Germain Ifedi, first-year center Justin Britt and undrafted right tackle Garry Gilliam.

Schneider told reporters he regretted not keeping veteran guard Jahri Evans — that probably would have been smarter than keeping J’Marcus Webb, who ended up starting three games at right guard (when Ifedi was hurt) and was later released.

The youth mistake of 2016 follows on the heels of trying to use untested Drew Nowak at center for too long in 2015 — an error Pete Carroll later lamented.

Schneider surely will try to do better with veteran linemen this offseason. He is expected to contact Russell Okung next week about a possible return. Okung reportedly is going to remain his own agent — that netted him a one-year deal worth $5 million with Denver last year. Schneider probably won’t be interested in paying anything more than $7 million a year on a short, incentivized contract.

Schneider officially can talk to Okung on March 7. Free agency begins March 9.

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Are Hawks prepping to court Campbell?

campbell-wilsonThere’s a lot of chatter from fans wanting the Seahawks to pursue Calais Campbell in free agency to improve their interior pass rush.

On first blush, it seems like a lot of wishful thinking — John Schneider usually goes younger and cheaper on veteran defensive linemen — but there are increasing signs the Hawks could indeed make a play for the 30-year-old Arizona tackle.

Seattle’s hiring of his former college position coach, Clint Hurtt, adds to the intrigue created by Russell Wilson, who appeared to be recruiting Campbell after their December game.

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Offseason priorities

Draft -- Schneider and CarrollIt has been three years since the Seahawks reached the NFL’s summit and stood at the peak of franchise history. The next year, they were a mere yard from the top, looking like they were going to conquer the mountain for a second straight year and set up a climb toward a dynasty.

But a series of wrong steps has sent them tumbling from the top, the dynasty chance sliding down the other side. In 2016, Pete Carroll lost control of his team and failed to fix its most glaring problem, and now this stands as the most important offseason since he and John Schneider clumsily went quarterback hunting in 2012.

Seattle is in the same spot it has been for the last two offseasons — key players (Earl Thomas, Tyler Lockett, DeShawn Shead) dealing with major injury rehabs and an offensive line that is far from settled.

To avoid continuing the gradual slide back down the mountain, Carroll will have to get some of his difficult stars (Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett) back in line, some of his other stars healthy and the line functional. And Schneider is going to have to put together one of his best offseasons to help the Seahawks get going in the right direction again.

Here’s a look at the 2017 priorities:

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Are the Seahawks still ‘in the middle of it’?

logo-playoffsAre the Seahawks “in the middle of it” or coming to the end of it? That is the big question after three straight disappointing playoff seasons.

Pete Carroll, of course, says the Super Bowl window is still open. Just as he said after the XLIX debacle in 2015 and after the near blowout in Carolina last year, he reiterated Saturday night that the Hawks “are right in the middle of it.” But are they?

All of this team’s best players are signed for another year, but Carroll’s club has been on a steady slide ever since the ridiculous decision to throw the ball from the 1 vs. the Patriots. In 2015, Kam Chancellor’s holdout fractured the defense and the offensive line had trouble against good fronts — a big reason they were nearly blown out by Carolina in the divisional playoffs. In 2016, injuries and attitude problems messed up the defense and the offensive line was even worse than it had been in 2015– the main reason they were blown out by Atlanta.

This team is not the aging crew Mike Holmgren had left after his Seahawks’ five-year playoff run in the mid-2000s; but, as constituted, Carroll’s club is not a strong contender anymore.

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