Tag Archives: John Schneider

Rodgers addressed ‘baseball agent’ label and contract concepts

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

Tannehill deal proves Hawks need to pay Wilson more up front

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

Looks like two big problems in Wilson talks

Wilson and SchneiderIf recent reports about Russell Wilson negotiations are true, the Seahawks clearly are not changing the way they do business just because he is a quarterback.

And there apparently are two problems with negotiations: (1) The Hawks are lowballing Wilson on the signing bonus and (2) Wilson’s agent does not know how to view NFL contract extensions.

Based on three recent reports, this is the picture we have: The Seahawks have offered Wilson a four-year deal worth $20 million a year and guaranteeing no more than about $13 million upon signing, but potentially guaranteeing closer to $40 million overall.

Continue reading Looks like two big problems in Wilson talks

Rosenhaus’ smoke and mirrors won’t work

Michael Bennett and Drew RosenhausWhere there’s smoke, there must be fire — unless Drew Rosenhaus and some mirrors are involved.

Jason La Canfora, who has had some recent scoops regarding the Seahawks (Marshawn Lynch’s deal and the drafting of Frank Clark), dropped another one Wednesday when he wrote that Bennett “and his agent have made it clear he’d rather not be back in Seattle.”

This is the second report indicating Bennett wants out — although he and the Seahawks both denied last month that he asked for a trade. He does, however, want his contract beefed up — and that clearly is the crux of the “he wants out” reports, surely propagated by his notorious agent, Rosenhaus.

Don’t expect the Seahawks to fall for his cheap tricks.

Continue reading Rosenhaus’ smoke and mirrors won’t work

Mercilus deal sets market for Irvin

Salary cap logoJohn Schneider clearly is trying to smooth Bruce Irvin’s feathers after the Hawks decided not to pick up his 2016 option — perhaps hoping Irvin will be amenable to the kind of deal Whitney Mercilus signed with Houston on Monday.

Schneider told 710 ESPN on Monday that the team had not decided on the option yet, which was an odd thing to say considering Pete Carroll admitted Saturday that they were not going to pick it up and Irvin himself indicated the same with his series of bitter tweets Sunday night.

Continue reading Mercilus deal sets market for Irvin

On Clark: Trust the Seahawks, not the self-righteous media

NFL draftThe Seahawks were not comfortable pursuing Greg Hardy once they learned the details of his domestic-violence case, but they clearly think Frank Clark is another story. And Seahawks fans should trust them — even if some self-righteous media folks want to condemn them.

Too many people fell into the trap of convicting Clark in the court of public opinion and sentencing him to life as a social pariah based on one inflammatory police report. As John Schneider said Friday, you have to look beyond the report to find the real Clark.

On 710 ESPN on Monday, Schneider expanded on the Seahawks’ investigation into Clark’s situation. Schneider said he and two other Seahawks scouts were involved in gathering information, which included talking to people in Los Angeles and Cleveland about the player’s early background, getting information from the court and counselors in Michigan and talking to other teams to see whether they had gotten similar information and viewed him the same way Seattle did. (After the Hawks picked Clark on Friday, Schneider said he got calls from three teams that were poised to grab the pass rusher in the third round.)

Continue reading On Clark: Trust the Seahawks, not the self-righteous media

As expected, Hawks decline option on Irvin

As we expected, the Seahawks did not pick up the $7.75 million option on Bruce Irvin — at least according to his Twitter rant Sunday night.

Continue reading As expected, Hawks decline option on Irvin

Eight picks were Schneider’s fewest

NFL draftThe Seahawks finished the 2015 draft with eight picks — the fewest they have had under John Schneider. They had never had fewer than nine.

They started with 11, of course, but spent four on Tyler Lockett, a two-time Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year who tied the conference record for kick-return average (28.5) while averaging 15.2 yards per punt return and setting 17 school records as a receiver and returner.

“We wanted a returner in this program so badly,” Pete Carroll said. “John just needed to figure out where we were going to get him, and I am thrilled we got him. He is such a special return guy.”

Lockett was the only playmaker the Hawks added — unless you count Jimmy Graham, which they do.

The pick breakdown this year: 3 OL, 2 DE, 2 DB, 1 WR. It isn’t much different than the five-year trend coming in, as OL, DL and DB have been Schneider’s highest-drafted positions. He now has used 12 picks each on OL and DB and 11 on DL.

“John did a great job again,” Carroll said. “The board came off like we were hoping and so many guys fit some issues that we had, some needs that we had. It was an awesome job.”

Continue reading Eight picks were Schneider’s fewest

Wilson and Hawks appear $20M apart in guarantees

Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson plan to be clapping about their offense a lot this season (Getty Images)Negotiations with Russell Wilson are going “a little slow” because the Seahawks and the quarterback apparently don’t agree on his value.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, via Bob Condotta, the hang-up in extension talks is the amount of guaranteed money — with the Seahawks wanting to pay Wilson about what they gave Richard Sherman and Wilson’s agent wanting elite quarterback money.

The difference equals up to $20 million.

Continue reading Wilson and Hawks appear $20M apart in guarantees

Schneider makes rare move up: Check out his 33 trades with Seattle

NFL draftWhen John Schneider finally showed up to explain his first moves of the 2015 draft on Friday, he cracked of being so late, “Sorry about that; we’ve never traded up before.”

It was a joke about his penchant for moving down in the draft and a reference to his big move up in the third round to get return wiz Tyler Lockett.

It was just the second time Schneider moved up in six drafts since he was hired as Seattle’s GM. He also moved up to get defensive tackle Jesse Williams in the fifth round in 2013.

Continue reading Schneider makes rare move up: Check out his 33 trades with Seattle