Tag Archives: Russell Wilson

Contracts, The roster

Hawks aren’t sure Irvin is worth $7.75 million

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Salary cap logoAs expected, the Seahawks are not sure Bruce Irvin is worth $7.75 million.

That much is clear after John Schneider said Wednesday that they have not decided whether to pick up the 2016 option on the 2012 first-round player.

“Those options can be tricky,” the GM said. “That’s all I can get into right now.”

He might not want to get into it, but his meaning is clear: Picking up the option would set a baseline for any future contract negotiations while also forcing the Hawks to take a certain direction with their 2016 salary cap.

It’s hard to see the Hawks exercising the option when they don’t know what Russell Wilson’s contract will look like in 2016 and might not have decided what they are doing with Russell Okung.

Continue reading Hawks aren’t sure Irvin is worth $7.75 million →

Contracts, It's bigger than football, State of the team

Wilson: ‘I can’t wait to play (football) again’

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Wilson HBO clipRussell Wilson has been the center of attention in Seattle all month — whether it has been talk of his contract, the recent team-building trip to Maui he organized or his talk about baseball.

His HBO interview with Bryant Gumbel caught a lot of attention due to his comments about his “dream” of playing baseball. We’ve already dismissed all of the conspiracy theories surrounding those comments, and Wilson today waved off any concerns himself, saying he is focused on his future as a football player.

“I didn’t say I was going to leave the NFL,” Wilson told ESPN’s The Herd. “I love playing the game of football. To be one of 32 men in the world who get to do what I do, it’s a special thing, and I’ve been able to play in two Super Bowls and I’m only 26 years old. That’s been a blessing.”

Contract negotiations with the Seahawks reportedly have not gone very far, and neither side is saying much.

Continue reading Wilson: ‘I can’t wait to play (football) again’ →

NFL draft

Would the Seahawks draft a QB in the third?

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NFL draftDRAFT COUNTDOWN: Two weeks. A weekly look at draft-related topics involving the Seahawks.

Three years ago, the Seahawks surprised everyone with their third-round pick, selecting an undersized quarterback even though they had just signed a presumptive new starter.

As it turned out, the rookie, Russell Wilson, beat out the favorite, Matt Flynn, and then helped lead the Seahawks to consecutive Super Bowls.

The Seahawks clearly expect to sign Wilson to an extension and have him be their quarterback for the next decade, but it would not be a surprise if the Hawks used another third-round pick (or a fourth) on a QB this year.

Continue reading Would the Seahawks draft a QB in the third? →

Contracts, State of the team

Schneider needs Wilson’s agent to be a team player

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Wilson and SchneiderJohn Schneider sent a pretty strong message Wednesday about Russell Wilson’s contract, making it clear the Seahawks are not going to mortgage the rest of the roster for the sake of the quarterback.

Talking to KIRO Radio, he twice referred to football as the “ultimate team sport,” talked about keeping as many players as possible and said the Hawks need to “protect” themselves and “make smart decisions.”

The Seahawks are negotiating with Wilson’s agent, Mark Rodgers, but reportedly have not made much progress. Speculation is that Rodgers — a baseball agent — is working in baseball terms rather than football terms, not in sync with NFL economics. That was the fear when Wilson moved off veteran NFL agent Bus Cook and let Rodgers handle it.

“Every negotiation is unique … and this is no different,” Schneider told KIRO’s Dori Monson. “It’s the ultimate team sport. He’s our quarterback. We’d love him to be our quarterback. But the thing is we need to keep as many of these guys together as we possibly can.”

Continue reading Schneider needs Wilson’s agent to be a team player →

Fun & games, It's bigger than football, State of the team

Wilson, Chancellor & the gang enjoy Aloha spirit

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The Seahawks are having a good time bonding on Maui (my favorite vacation spot).

Russell Wilson has been joined by 20 teammates, including new additions Jimmy Graham and Cary Williams and all of the team’s starting linebackers.

The other players in attendance, according to Seahawks.com (and photos): tight ends Luke Willson, Cooper Helfet and RaShaun Allen; wide receivers Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse, Kevin Norwood and Chris Matthews; running backs Demitrius Bronson and Derrick Coleman; cornerbacks Richard Sherman, Eric Pinkins and Will Blackmon; linebackers Bruce Irvin, Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright and Mike Morgan; safeties Kam Chancellor and Dion Bailey.

Not surprisingly, Marshawn Lynch is not there. The guy’s a maverick loner, as we all know. Not sure why Robert Turbin and Christine Michael are not there. Earl Thomas, Paul Richardson, Jeremy Lane and Tharold Simon are recovering from surgeries.

Contracts, It's bigger than football

Baseball talk is about dreams, not contracts

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Wilson HBO clipEveryone’s going gaga over Russell Wilson’s comments to HBO about wanting to play two sports, with some conspiracy theorists going so far as to claim the quarterback is trying to threaten the Seahawks amid contract negotiations.

Apparently no one paused to consider (1) Wilson was merely answering a question, (2) Wilson is not as arrogant as John Elway and (3) Wilson is not stupid.

In the preview clip for the April 21 edition of HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryan Gumbel,” Wilson said, “You never want to kill the dream of playing two sports.”

Key word: Dream.

Continue reading Baseball talk is about dreams, not contracts →

CHAWK LINES
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CHAWK LINES -- Week in review

At Texas Rangers camp, Russell Wilson didn’t have anything to say about his contract. But he talked about a lot of other things, including what he said to Max Unger after the center was traded to New Orleans: “Max, at least you are going from one short quarterback to another (Drew Brees).”

Brees also talked about losing Jimmy Graham and gaining Unger.

John Schneider talked to John Clayton at UW’s Pro Day. Not much new stuff, but the GM did explain the signing of Ahtyba Rubin and talk a little bit about the big picture with Wilson and Bobby Wagner.

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Contracts

Which QB’s deal will Wilson’s most resemble?

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Russell Wilson runs against the New York Giants on Sunday (Getty)At UW’s Pro Day on Thursday, Pete Carroll was asked how contract talks with Russell Wilson were going.

“Ongoing. Just ongoing,” he said, per Bob Condotta. “Really that’s all you can really say about it. But it’s under way.”

Wilson’s contract has been a big topic ever since the Super Bowl ended, with plenty of speculation about how and when it will be done. Carroll and John Schneider both have made it clear it will get done (probably this month), although they obviously have not shared any specifics.

At the owners meetings, Carroll said the contract would have “extraordinary ramifications” and “there is so much magnitude in this deal and it affects so much.”

All you have to do is look around the league to see how QB deals affect teams.

Continue reading Which QB’s deal will Wilson’s most resemble? →

Free agency, NFL draft

Draft month begins

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NFL draftFree-agency month is over. Draft month has begun.

Sure, the Seahawks are still working to address some minor holes in the roster, looking for cheap veteran linemen while bringing back some of their remaining free agents.

And, they obviously will be looking to get Russell Wilson’s contract extension done by the end of the month.

But with just four weeks left until the draft, the Hawks are in the final stretch of evaluations.

With James Carpenter and Max Unger gone, they clearly need offensive linemen. And they are looking everywhere.

Continue reading Draft month begins →

CHAWK LINES
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CHAWK LINES -- Week in review

The Seahawks got four comp picks for the first time, giving them 11 picks in the draft.

The Seahawks added three defensive coaches — including former Seattle assistant Dwaine Board and one of Pete Carroll’s former USC defensive backs.

John Schneider talked about Russell Wilson, Michael Bennett and Brandon Mebane at the owners meetings.

Carroll said he is “fueled” by the Super Bowl loss and doesn’t want to let it go because he wants to learn from it.

He also said, “I’m confident that this team is going to come back and fricking roar. We are going to roar back into this offseason. These guys are working hard for it.’’

Carroll said all reports on Wilson’s contract so far were incorrect, and he talked about many of the players along the defensive line.

Carroll also said the Hawks are working on re-signing several of their remaining free agents.

Schneider said the Seahawks chose Michael Bennett over Golden Tate last year because the draft had a better class of receivers than pass rushers. (The Hawks ended up drafting receivers Paul Richardson and Kevin Norwood.)

The NFL is going to change the PAT in some fashion. Here’s Carroll’s idea:

The Saints reportedly talked to the Dolphins about Jimmy Graham, too.

The Kingdome was imploded 15 years ago this week. And the debt for that structure was finally paid off this week as well.

Carroll helped Mike Williams, former USC star and one-time Seahawk, get a gig coaching high school football in Los Angeles.

Marshawn Lynch will appear in a Ludacris video for the rapper’s riff called — what else? — “Beast Mode.” (Did he have to pay Lynch royalties for using that title?)

Lynch has a strain of pot named after him, but he doesn’t smoke, according to Snoop Dogg, who said, “My homeboy got a career to play. He’s still in the NFL. He’s got a commissioner to deal with.”

Clare Farnsworth, who had covered the Seahawks for nearly their entire existence, retired this week.