Tag Archives: Michael Bennett

May 28, 2017 cc Leave a comment

CHAWK LINES -- Week in review

We returned from vacation to a lot of depressing Seahawks news. Here’s the latest on the team …

Hall of Famer Cortez Kennedy stunningly died at age 48. Many former teammates and coaches spoke glowingly of him as both person and player.

The Seahawks darkened their stadium, the only light the one shining on Kennedy’s No. 96 hanging from the rafters. Kennedy also had close ties to the Saints, who are honoring him during their offseason workouts.

Dave Boling gave a revealing look at former Seattle star Curt Warner’s difficult family challenges since he retired.

We learned further details on the reason Richard Sherman has become a team pariah: He reportedly still harbors a grudge over the Super Bowl XLIX debacle and is jealous of Russell Wilson. As expected, Sherman dismissed the story.

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State of the team

Not hungry? Not healthy? Not listening?

February 21, 2017 cc 1 Comment

Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson plan to be clapping about their offense a lot this season (Getty Images) The Seahawks obviously had a lot of problems in 2016 — a JV offensive line, a revolving M*A*S*H lineup and too many B.A. Baracus impersonators.

On top of that, they apparently did not want it enough.

“The team was not as hungry as we were four years ago,” Sherman Smith, recently ousted as running backs coach, told 710 ESPN on Friday. “When you have the type of success that we’ve had — you win a Super Bowl, you have a heartbreaking loss in the Super Bowl, you’ve been to the playoffs, what, five years in a row, you have this reputation — guys aren’t as hungry.

“We’ve got to get that hunger that we had when we weren’t winning,” Smith said. “How do you get that back when you’ve won and you’ve got the big contracts and endorsements and everybody loves you? How do you get that back? I think there’s only so much Pete (Carroll) can do, but the players … (have) got to do some things themselves.”

Obviously, it would help if they stayed healthy. But the make-or-break questions for this franchise this offseason: Were the injuries the reason for the lack of so-called hunger? Or has Carroll’s message simply grown stale? And, if it’s the latter, what can Carroll do to regain the interest and control of his team?

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Free agency

Are Hawks prepping to court Campbell?

January 21, 2017 cc Leave a comment

campbell-wilson There’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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Playoffs: At Atlanta, State of the team

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

January 15, 2017 cc Leave a comment

Are 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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CHAWK LINES, Playoffs: At Atlanta

January 12, 2017 cc 1 Comment

chawk-lines-hawks-at-falcons

The Richard Sherman-Julio Jones matchup is the one everyone will be keeping an eye on. (We hope Kris Richard learned a lesson from last time.)

Gene Steratore, who tries not to get in the way, will ref the game. He was the ref for the excellent Seahawks-Patriots game earlier this season.

Jones will be curious to find out how Steratore’s crew plans to call the game.

C.J. Prosise is unlikely to return or this game.

Will the Seahawks use Jimmy Graham in the red zone more in this game?

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CHAWK LINES, Playoffs: Detroit

January 5, 2017 cc Leave a comment

CHAWK LINES -- Lions at Seahawks

Five things the Seahawks need to change vs. Detroit and beyond, per Dave Boling.

A detailed look at the matchup, which seems to favor the Seahawks unless Detroit wins big on special teams.

A look at the key figures for the Lions.

Russell Wilson says he is feeling fast and might get rid of the knee brace.

Tony McDaniel won’t play due to a concussion suffered vs. the 49ers.

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Contracts, Free agency

2017 moves will be based on 2018 salary cap

December 31, 2016 cc Leave a comment

Michael Bennett’s new deal is the first of several extensions John Schneider figures to consummate in the coming months as he presumably focuses on keeping the core of this Seattle team intact.

With no major free agents — Steven Hauschka and RFA DeShawn Shead will be the biggest — Schneider’s 2017 offseason will be more about setting up 2018 and beyond. And, if we’re lucky, he might do something about Seattle’s biggest weakness.

Some fans are giddy about the apparent salary cap boon of up to $38 million, thinking the Hawks can go hog wild on offensive linemen in free agency. But Schneider and contract specialist Matt Thomas know their 2017 offseason is really based on the 2018 salary cap — and they don’t have the flexibility fans think they do, assuming they plan to stick with their MO of keeping their own stars.

With Kam Chancellor, Jimmy Graham and Justin Britt also due for extensions in 2017 and a bevy of star defenders, plus Tyler Lockett, signed only through 2018, every move Schneider makes now has to be made with those players (or replacements) in mind.

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Contracts

With Bennett deal, Schneider gets a jump on 2017 extensions

December 30, 2016 cc Leave a comment

John Schneider has several big extensions to consider in 2017, so it makes sense that he started early — removing any doubt about Michael Bennett remaining with the team beyond 2017.

Schneider and Doug Hendrickson, Bennett’s new agent, had been talking about a new deal since the summer, so it is not a big surprise they finished it off before this season ends.

The extension, reportedly for three years and $31.5 million, is almost the terms of the deal they worked out for Marshawn Lynch after the 2014 season.

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