Former Seahawk Lofa Tatupu Again Tears Pec

Seahawks Come to Terms With DE Chris Clemons

For quite a while this offseason, it seemed like Chris Clemons wouldn't be returning to Century Link Field for the 2012-2013 season. But like every offseason, things can change fast, and the Seahawks have reached a multiyear deal with Chris Clemons.

Chris Clemons, Seattle Seahawks agree on multiyear contract - NFL.com

According to NFL.com, the contract hasn't been signed and the terms are not immediately available.

Clemons seemed on his way out after skipping a mandatory minicamp - and in turn forfeiting $1 million in salary - and also turned down a two-year $14 million extension. He has been a bastion of consistency in the Seattle defense, starting all 32 games over the past two seasons and racking up 100 tackles in the process.

Seahawks first-round pick Bruce Irvin is expected to start across from Clemons in the upcoming season.

For more on the Seattle Seahawks this offseason, make sure that you check out SB Nation Seattle's offseason StoryStream as well as Field Gulls, SB Nation's hopelessly devoted Seahawks blog.

SI.com's Don Banks: 'In Reality, It's Flynn's Job to Lose'

If you follow Seahawks football, you already know: there is a three-way quarterback competition going into training camp and there is no clear front-runner (if you ask this coaching staff). Incumbent Tarvaris Jackson has played well enough in the practices, mini-camps, and OTAs to hold on to his position to receive the 'first snaps' come next week's start of training camp, but in reality, that distinction matters little. Each player, Jackson, Matt Flynn, and Russell Wilson, are liable to receive equal reps until (hopefully) someone separates themselves from the pack.

SI's Don Banks weighed in on the situation, and put his chips on free agent acquisition Matt Flynn emerging as starter. Per Banks:

Logic tells us free-agent addition Matt Flynn is in the driver's seat in Seattle, ahead of both 2011 starter Tarvaris Jackson and rookie third-round pick Russell Wilson. But Flynn's meager track record -- two NFL starts -- means there's no reason to anoint him the clear-cut No. 1, so Carroll didn't. He wants Flynn to work and earn the job in the preseason, because it'll count for more in the locker room if he does. That's just the way the NFL works.

The QB storyline will consume all the oxygen in Seattle's training camp, but in reality, it's Flynn's job to lose. If the Seahawks were happy with Jackson, they wouldn't have signed Flynn and spent their highest pick on a quarterback in 10 years by taking Wilson. And despite Carroll's infatuation level with Wilson's potential, the smart and resourceful rookie figures to be a Wildcat package option this year, with a better chance of beating out Jackson for the backup job than truly pushing Flynn for the starting gig. Unless he falls on his face(mask) in August, Flynn should be the last man standing under center in Week 1.

Thankfully, training camp starts July 28th for the Seahawks, a week from tomorrow. Soon enough, we'll have a clearer picture of who will end up on the top of the depth chart at QB for Seattle.

Marshawn Lynch Apologizes For Recent Troubles

Marshawn Lynch Charged With DUI: Seahawks' Options If He Collects A Suspension

Facing the specter of a several game suspension for Seahawks' running back Marshawn Lynch, fans are rightfully concerned. Lynch is, more or less, the face of the franchise and makes up a big part of their offensive identity. Over the final eight games of 2011, Lynch led the NFL in rushing and helped the Seahawks to instill a tough, hard-nosed attitude and install a run-heavy offensive system. With his recent DUI arrest and charges though, he could conceivably miss the first several games of the year. Who will the Seahawks turn to if this becomes a reality?

Next in line behind Lynch is his presumptive backup, rookie running back Robert Turbin. The Seahawks purposefully went out and got a player that they saw as a nice complement and capable replacement for Lynch, who runs with a bruising style that can easily accrue injuries. Because Seattle didn't want to be left out in the cold in this case, as they were last season against Cleveland when Lynch was a late scratch with back spasms, they wanted a player with toughness to run inside, enough size to punish defenses and break tackles, and enough receiving/pass blocking ability to mask run/pass playcalling. In theory, Turbin brings all that, but obviously, he's a rookie and will face a steep learning curve. Still, I have confidence that Turbin can fill the void -- mid-round rookie running backs last year saw some success across the league, whether it was Roy Helu Jr, DeMarco Murray, Taiwan Jones, or Kendall Hunter.

Also a factor in the run game, Leon Washington should see some carries if Lynch is suspended. He's the Seahawks' dedicated punt and kick returner, but has potential in the run game as well as a change of pace to Turbin. Leon has nice burst and one of the traits that makes him a great kick returner -- an ability to put his foot in the ground and get downhill quickly -- is advantageous in the Seahawks zone-blocking scheme.

Also in the mix, there are several running backs vying for a roster spot that could have an impact early on. Tyrell Sutton was picked up during the offseason and showed some promise previously in his career in Carolina. He's a bit undersized, but has excellent balance and plays bigger than his 5'9, 211 frame. In that way, he reminds me a bit of Justin Forsett, so Sutton could be an option.

Also in the picture could be recently signed running back Kregg Lumpkin. Lumpkin packs a punch at 5'11, 228, and though he's not dynamic as a runner, he offers reliable hands in the passing game (40+ catches last year for the Bucs). Lumpkin would likely be used as a third down back behind Turbin and/or Washington, because of his experience in the league in picking up blitzes and in pass protection, and his abilities as a release or outlet receiver for what's likely to be an inexperienced quarterback for the Hawks.

Vai Taua, the former Nevada star running back, is also a possible option and could surprise with a spot on the roster. He's also not the most dynamic runner -- neither especially fast nor laterally explosive, but he rushes with toughness and physicality, and could operate in the Seahawks' scheme.

Finally, fullback Michael Robinson could see his carries increase. The leader in the lockerroom also can pack a punch as a between-the-tackles runner at 6'1, 240. Robinson could hear his name called in short yardage sitiuations and as a release/outlet option in the passing game as well.

All in all -- obviously, this is not the ideal situation. Lynch has a style and skillset that meshes perfectly with what the Seahawks want to do on the ground, and that's why he was given a new deal with $17 million in guarantees. But, if he can't go, the Seahawks have some options already on their roster.

Of course, if they don't feel comfortable with Turbin, Washington, Sutton, Taua, or Robinson carrying the load in the case that Lynch gets suspended, there are several free agents still on the market, including Cedric Benson and Ryan Grant.

For more on Marshawn Lynch and the rest of your Seattle Seahawks this offseason, make sure that you check out SB Nation Seattle's offseason StoryStream as well as Field Gulls, SB Nation's hopelessly devoted Seahawks blog.

Marshawn Lynch Arrest: Seahawks RB Charged With DUI

Things have gone from bad to worse for Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch as it was reported on Wednesday that the Pro-Bowl back will indeed be charged with DUI after being arrested this past Sunday for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Per Dave Mahler on Twitter:

Alameda County DA spokesperson confirms Lynch will be charged for DUI and having blood alcohol content of .008 or higher #Seahawks

— Dave Softy Mahler (@Softykjr) July 18, 2012

According to an incident report released by the California Highway Patrol on Tuesday, Lynch was seen driving a Ford Econoline van, nearly colliding with two other vehicles while weaving in and out of lanes.

Authorities say Lynch was pulled over around 3:20 a.m. PT Saturday in Emeryville. After field sobriety tests came up suspicious, Lynch was arrested and booked. He took a chemical test instead of a blood test.

Lynch signed a four-year contract in March worth $31 million, $18 million of that guaranteed. Lynch's prior history of legal troubles may force the NFL to suspend him, but that remains unclear at this point.

For more on Marshawn Lynch and the rest of your Seattle Seahawks this offseason, make sure that you check out SB Nation Seattle's offseason StoryStream as well as Field Gulls, SB Nation's hopelessly devoted Seahawks blog.

Marshawn Lynch Arrest: Seahawks RB Might Or Might Not Be Charged In Court Or Suspended By NFL

What most Seattle Seahawks fans are wondering about in the wake of the Marshawn Lynch arrest is how deep his punishment will be. Will he earn a substantial suspension? Or will he get off with a smaller suspension or even warning on the issue?

It's not exactly the simplest of situations regarding Lynch because he's been punished for multiple transgressions that run across different codes of conduct. Albert Breer of NFL.com has more.

There is some grey area on whether or not Marshawn Lynch will be treated as a repeat offender if he's convicted of DUI, believe it or not.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) July 17, 2012

Lynch's first suspendable offense was under the personal conduct policy, this one would fall under the substance abuse policy. ...

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) July 17, 2012

... Under personal conduct policy, repeat offenders are those "who have had previous violations of law or of this policy." ...

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) July 17, 2012

... The issue is that the second offense was under the substance abuse policy, and that's where the grey area is. We'll see where it goes.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) July 17, 2012

Of course, things get a little bit clearer for Lynch if he manages to get out of court, which could still very well happen if no charges are brought against him. Tim Booth of the Associated Press has more.

Teresa Drenick, director of communications for the Alameda County district attorney's office, said Lynch was scheduled for an Aug. 14 preliminary court appearance and that any decision on charging Lynch will be made by then.

Drenick said the office has yet to receive the police report from the CHP.

The Lynch situation thus remains very fluid. If he gets charged, he probably earns a suspension, although we're not sure of the length. But he also might not get suspended if the league believes this is a first-time punishment rather than a series of reckless transgressions.

Talk about Lynch with Seahawks fans by heading on over to Field Gulls.

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Marshawn Lynch Arrest: Running Back Has Not Been Charged Yet, According To Reports

According to a tweet from the Seattle Times' Danny O'Neil, the Alameda County District Attorney still must review the case against Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch after receiving the police reports for Lynch's suspected DUI.

According to a tweet from Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune, Lynch was observed weaving from lane to lane in a white van according to the police report and now has an August 14 court date.

According to a tweet from the Associated Press' Tim Booth, the DA's Office says the charging decision will be made by the time of the court date.

One of the reasons the Buffalo Bills could not get back even compensation from the Seahawks when the trade for Lynch happened was because he was one strike away from a significant suspension, according to a tweet from Evan Silva via ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Talk about Lynch with Seahawks fans over at Field Gulls.

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Seattle Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch Arrested For Suspected DUI

Marshawn Lynch is in trouble with the law again. Good God Beast Mode.

Susan Schena reports from the Dublin Patch.

Oakland-native Lynch, 26, who two days earlier presented a scholarship to an Oakland gunshot victim, was arrested by the California Highway Patrol and booked at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, said Sgt. Ray Kelly of the sheriff's department.

County records indicate he was cited for the charges and released on Sunday.

This is the third time in the NFL that Lynch has had a legal situation. Lynch has had one black driving mark on his record when he struck a pedestrian with his car late at night in Buffalo when he was a member of the Bills in 2008; Lynch's lost his driver's license as a result of this infraction. The following season, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor weapons charge in 2009 when he was stopped and searched by police officers.

While this is Lynch's first DUI, this being his third public infraction could come back to bite him. The league suspended him three games for the weapons charge, and don't be surprised if he invites further punishment from the NFL for his actions here. The league is kind to first offenders, but not so much to players with a sustained history of off-the-field misconduct.

Talk about Lynch with Seahawks fans over at Field Gulls.

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Former Seahawks Coach Jim Mora Still Wants His Dirtbags, This Time With UCLA

Mike Williams Thankful For Opportunity With Seattle Seahawks

The Mike Williams experiment with the Seattle Seahawks is now over, but don't think for a minute that he holds any ill will towards the organization. They stuck with him as long as they could, and with Williams set to earn at least $3 million next season, it only made sense to part ways with the once-promising receiver.

Here is what he had to say upon learning of his release.

WR Mike Williams on his release from #Seahawks: "I have nothing but gratitude towards Seattle for giving me the opportunity..."

— Liz Mathews 710 ESPN (@Liz_Mathews) July 13, 2012

Williams: "... to play in front of such great fans in a great sports city.I wish my former teammates n coaches all the best..."

— Liz Mathews 710 ESPN (@Liz_Mathews) July 13, 2012

It will be interesting to see how the Seahawks spend their extra cash with Williams now off the roster. The team could always look to add a free agent wide receiver, or they could hold onto their money with hopes to make a deal during training camp or even in the season.

For more on the Seahawks and what their next move may be, be sure to check out Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

Seahawks Chris Clemons NFL's Most Underrated Player?

ProFootballWeekly has compiled their rankings and the Seahawks' Chris Clemons comes in at #1 on their list of the NFL's most underrated players. Clemons, who is currently in a mini-holdout prior to Seahawks' Training Camp as he tries to get a contract extension, is coming off of two straight 11-sack seasons for Seattle, and is an integral part of the defensive scheme they run. However, with the Seahawks' decision to use their first-round pick on Bruce Irvin, Clemons isn't feeling the love he thinks he deserves.

Clemons plays the LEO in Pete Carroll and Gus Bradley's defense, responsible for the weakside defensive end spot. In short, he must rush the passer with enthusiasm but also be there to contain and hold the edge against the run. This is not an easy task, but Clemons has excelled at it the past two seasons once Carroll/Bradley identified him while he was sitting deep on the Eagles depth chart.

Still, the Seahawks were poor at getting to the quarterback in 2011 as a team, and one main reason for this was that they relied almost exclusively on Clemons to get the job done. It would be in the Seahawks' best interest, and they know this, to use two rushers on passing downs, and pairing Clemons with Irvin, to go along with new signee Jason Jones, the Seahawks' pass rush could improve significantly.

See PFW's reasons below as to why they believe he's the NFL's most underrated player.

Seahawks Set To Upset in NFC West?

With good reason, the San Francisco 49ers enter the 2012 season as not only the favorites to win the NFC West but also as a contender for the Super Bowl. They've got a top-five (top-three, probably) defense and have added some playmakers on offense like receivers Randy Moss, Mario Manningham, A.J. Jenkins and running LaMichael James. They can hope that a full offseason together as a team with the same offensive coordinator will mean improvement from Alex Smith. Many variables point to the Niners as the favorites, but don't count the Seahawks out, say Pro Football Weekly.

Seahawks Release WR Mike Williams

The Seahawks have announced that they've released wide receiver Mike Williams. General Manager John Schneider issued a statement in the press release, noting, "We would like to thank Mike for his contributions over the past two seasons and we wish him well in the future."

Williams' story is an interesting one -- after being drafted tenth overall by the Detroit Lions in 2005, he struggled at the NFL level and eventually found himself out of the league. When Pete Carroll took the reins of the Seahawks in 2010 he offered Williams a tryout and the former Trojan playmaker impressed. "BMW" -- 'Big Mike WIlliams' ended up leading the Seahawks in receiving that year after developing a nice rapport with Matt Hasselbeck, and ended with 65 catches for 751 yards and two touchdowns. He couldn't find the same comfort with Tarvaris Jackson in 2011, became an afterthought on offense, and his year was ended prematurely when he suffered a broken leg against the Bears in Week 15.

Williams will likely now look to get healthy and catch on with a WR-needy team going forward.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

NFL Supplemental Draft: Lottery System Decides Order

Seahawks Offseason: Matt Flynn and Doug Baldwin Workout In Pensacola, FL

NFL Stadiums Will Enjoy "Liberalized" Rules On Creating Crowd Noise in 2012

NFL Hot Seat Rumors: Is Pete Carroll's Job On the Line in 2012? PFW Examines.

Seahawks Expect Chris Clemons At Training Camp, Per Report

Apart from the obvious and conspicuous quarterback competition that awaits the Seattle Seahawks at the end of July as training camp begins, the other main storyline to watch will be Chris Clemons and his contract mini-holdout and negotiations. The situation hasn't yet reached full 'hold-out' status and that probably wouldn't even be possible until well past training camp has ended, but the team and fans alike have reason to be concerned that the two sides could remain at a stalemate even into the season.

But, as ProFootballWeekly reports,

"[The Seahawks] totally expect him to show up for training camp," said one team insider of Clemons, who opted to skip the team's mandatory minicamp and bite the bullet to the tune of $73,000 in fines and a forfeited $100,000 workout bonus. "But they also thought he was going to show up for the mandatory minicamp, and that didn't happen, so ...

"But I really think he'll show up for camp, whether he's signed a new deal or not."

Clemons is looking for a contract extension after two straight seasons with 11 sacks. He enters the final year of his deal on the heels of the Seahawks' decision to draft a pass rushing defensive end in Bruce Irvin, but both sides know that the Seahawks are better off with both players rushing the quarterback in 2012. How soon they come to an agreement remains up in the air, but here's to hoping Clemons doesn't skip training camp and fall behind in his training.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

Seahawks Zach Miller Among Worst NFL Contracts?

Seahawks CB Brandon Browner Makes ESPN's Most Overated Players List

Rookies Bruce Irvin and Bobby Wagner Take Adam Jones Story To Heart

Before Bruce Irvin there used to be a B.J. Irvin. B.J. was a highly touted football prospect in Atlanta who dropped out of high school in the 11th grade and flirted with drugs and crime. Bruce Irvin is a more grown-up B.J., a pass-rush specialist drafted by the Seahawks with the 15th overall pick.

Because of his less than flowery background, Irvin paid close attention to what fellow West Virginia alumni Adam Jones said to the rookies during Monday's symposium. The Cincinnati Bengals cornerback is attempting to make a clean comeback off of his troubled Pacman moniker, and spoke to the rookies about his past career and how he hopes to fix it.

"I wouldn't want any of those guys to go through what I've gone through," Jones told NFL.com. "It's not fun being on the news everyday for this mistake or that mistake because your boy did this or you did that. At the end of the day, my oldest girl is six right now, and she can read. She can type my name into a computer. You don't want her to see all of those negative things."

Irvin can relate to shedding a past image, he said in an interview with NFL, comparing how Jones has tried shedding the Pacman nametag with how Irvin stopped going by B.J.

"Everybody knows, I'm sure has heard of, what his situation was and his recent incidents, but I honestly feel like he's a changed man, and like you said, he's Adam today," Irvin said. "We're both from Atlanta, we both went to West Virginia. We both have faced a lot of adversity in our lives. We both came from inner city Atlanta and faced a lot of troubles; ... we both bounced back from it, and I think it made us both better men today. I think Adam really got the message across."

Fellow rookie linebacker Bobby Wagner waited until the room was empty before he spoke privately with Jones after the speech.

"He was going through something that I was going through, so I asked him personally what he did so I can try to apply it to my life," said Wagner, who said the matter was too private to discuss during the interview. "It helps knowing that somebody went through what you went through. You can take what you need from it and apply it to your life.

Stick with this storystream for more from the Seattle Seahawks offseason. For full time Seahawks news and analysis, check out Field Gulls.

LB K.J. Wright and CB Richard Sherman Score High Marks On 2011 Draft Recap

Yahoo! Sports is counting down the players taken in the 2011 draft that impressed the most last season. The column is now on players taken in the third day of the draft, and the Seahawks scored high marks for taking linebacker K.J. Wright in the 4th Round and cornerback Richard Sherman in the 5th Round.

Wright was tasked with replacing fourth-overall pick Aaron Curry and did quite the solid job at it, racking up 65 tackles and 2.0 sacks. Yahoo! Sports ranked Wright as the best of the third-day picks.

Great Starts: 2011′s best third-day draft picks | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports

His ability to pick up the defensive playbook allowed him to perform at a preternatural level, and Pete Carroll sees him as a potential inside linebacker in the future. Wright could develop into that rarest of linebackers -- capable of playing inside and outside in multiple fronts, and doing so at a very high level all around.

Sherman originally played wide receiver at Stanford but was converted to cornerback for the 2009 and 2010 season. Last year he registered 55 tackles and 4 interceptions, averaging 11 yards run back on each. Yahoo! Sports ranked him number five and had this to say:

Sherman fit the Seahawks' profile when it comes to defensive backs -- big, physical, and aggressive -- but few expected the rookie season he had. Replacing injured cornerback Walter Thurmond, Sherman showed early flashes when he did a fine job against Cincinnati's A.J. Green in late October, and he finished his initial campaign with four interceptions - including three in his last six games.

Stick with this storystream for more from the Seattle Seahawks offseason. For full time Seahawks news and analysis, check out Field Gulls.

SB Nation Studios Checks in From the NFL Broadcasting Bootcamp

Sidney Rice Injury Update: Seahawks Wide Receiver "Feeling Better...Getting Stronger Every Day"

Sidney Rice had a tear in his right labrum that impaired his playing ability for much of the 2011 season, and while doctors examined that injury they discovered another tear in his left shoulder. That led to two surgeries during the off season, from which Rice is now recovering. Rice is recovering well, as he told the team's official website (via Pro Football Talk):

“I’m feeling pretty good,” he said, shrugging his shoulders and then lifting both arms. “I’m going to continue this rehab and get back out as soon as possible.

“I’m feeling better and better every day, and getting stronger every day.”

Rice places the blame for his troubles in the 2011 season with concussions, not his shoulders, but recognizes the importance of functional shoulders to the game of football:

“Basically, yeah, because you need those shoulders to get up in the air,” he said. “You fall on the ground a lot. Things like that. So you want your shoulders to be stable and in place.”

Seahawks fans that Rice will be ready for the 2012 season, and that stable shoulders will allow him to do a lot more than fall on the ground.

Stick with this storystream for more from the Seattle Seahawks offseason. For full time Seahawks news and analysis, check out Field Gulls.

Seahawks Mini-Camp from the Real Rob Report [VIDEO]

Seahawks Advance to Semifinals in PFW Bracket For Best Defense In NFL

Seahawks Offseason: Tight End John Nalbone Released, Tackle Edawn Coughman Signed

The Seahawks made a few changes to the roster this afternoon as they released tight end John Nalbone and signed tackle Edwan Coughman to the 90-man roster.

Nalbone signed to the Seahawks practice squad last year. The Miami Dolphins drafted Nalbone in the fifth round (161^st overall) by after he played college ball at Monmouth University. Nalbone also spent short stints on the Minnesota Vikings, the Denver Broncos, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Cincinnati Bengals.

The 6'4" 305 pound Coughman spent the 2011 season playing with the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL League but was released earlier last May. He attended Dodge City Community College in Atlanta and later transferred to Shaw University. He earned All-CIAA first-team honors in 2009.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion

Seahawks QB Matt Flynn Talks About Development As A Player, Competition for Job

Seahawks Offseason: Chris Clemons Reportedly Rejects 3-Year Offer From Seattle, Another Report Refutes That Information

The Seattle Seahawks are attempting to shore up the best possible team for the upcoming 2012 season. While defensive end Chris Clemons will be returning for the upcoming season, it appears as though he is balking at a new extension.

Danny Kelly at Field Gulls relays the information that FOX Sports has learned Clemons rejected a three-year deal from the Seahawks.

"The Sports Xchange has learned that the Seahawks offered Clemons a new three-year contract through 2014 that would essentially have boosted his 2012 compensation to $8 million (from a scheduled base of $4 million), and added two years, at salaries of $4.5 million (for 2013) and $5.5 million (2014). That's a total of $18 million for three years. Clemons could have earned a $500,000 bonus for registering 10 or more sacks. The two add-on years, though, at a total of $10 million, exclusive of bonuses, would have "bought out" Clemons from a chance at free agency. And that clearly wasn't enough for the player to sacrifice the chance to market himself as early as next spring, and so the deal was rejected."

Clemons may feel that -- especially if he can put up another big season in 2012 -- the lower base salary for the 2012 will be worth what he can fetch on the open market. This will not, of course, necessarily rule out him still possibly returning as a member of the Seattle squad after the season is over.

UPDATED: A club source close to the situation has told Tacoma News-Tribune's Eric Williams "that contrary to the report, the Seahawks have not received a formal rejection on any deal, and the two sides continue to negotiate."

At the end of the day, it's still early in the offseason, and time will tell whether the two sides can come to an agreement.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

Seahawks Sign LB Kyle Knox, Release DE Monte Taylor

The Seahawks made a pair of roster transactions today, adding a linebacker and releasing a defensive end. Unfortunately for his proponents, Brian Banks was not the linebacker that the Seahawks added to their 90-man payroll, instead going with former Fresno State Bulldog, Kyle Knox.

Knox previously had a tryout during the team's Rookie Mini-Camp and returned for the Mini-Camp this week. He apparently impressed enough to warrant a longer look, and according to Seahawks.com, he worked with the no. 3 unit at outside linebacker this week. As for just-released Taylor, who had signed as an UDFA after the draft, he had the chips stacked against him as he missed the first several weeks of camp waiting for school to get out, then had to sit out Wednesday and was limited Thursday with an injury.

Knox is 6'1, 230, ran the 40 in 4.72, had strong times in the 3-cone (6.95) and short shuttle (4.44) and showed explosiveness in the vert (36.5") and broad jump (10'11") at his Pro Day back in March. He projects as a special teams contributor and backup OLB if he ends up sticking with the roster.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

Sidney Rice Injury: Seahawks WR Had Two Offseason Shoulder Surgeries, Accoridng To Report

Everyone has been wondering what Seattle Seahawks wideout Sidney Rice has been doing with himself this offseason, and after speaking with the press recently we all now know. Rice had two offseason shoulder surgeries according to the Seattle Times, but noted that he will be ready for training camp despite having two procedures done.

Here is SB Nation's football genius Ryan Van Bibber talking about Rice:

Rice's shoulder operations resulted from his request that doctors take a look at his left shoulder. Dr. James Andrews discovered a full 360-degree tear in the left shoulder. He tore his right labrum in training camp last season, an injury that put him on the shelf for the first two games of the season, his first since signing a free agent deal with Seattle.

Rice has not been cleared for contact.

Rice's injury history has to be of concern to the Seahawks. The team did not make any major additions at the position this year. With a quarterback competition between Matt Flynn andTarvaris Jackson, and questions about each player, the Seahawks could really be lacking without Rice.

Hopefully he can make a speedy recovery and get back out there and help the 'Hawks.

For more on the Seahawks check out Field Gulls.

Seattle Seahawks Tryout Antonio Bryant, David Anderson

The Seattle Seahawks could always use some depth at wide receiver, as they really don't have a classical number one wideout. Ben Obomanu, Mike Williams, Golden Tate, Doug Baldwin, Deon Butler are all solid young players, so Seattles does have a lot of guys at the position. But it couldn't hurt to have more.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times reports that the Seahawks will look at a receiver who used to be one of the best in the league in Antonio Bryant. Bryant hasn't played in awhile (two years) due to injury, but you figure if he rehabs right there's a chance he could get back into league form.

Wide receiver Antonio Bryant will get a tryout with the Seahawks at this week's minicamp, according to a report from Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.

Bryant has been a really productive NFL receiver. At least he was four years ago when he had a career-high 1,248 yards receiving.

He also hasn't played the past two seasons. The Bengals signed him in 2010 to a significant contract, which included some $8 million up front, but he never played a down for the team.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk says Seattle will also look at another receiver who has played a little bit more recently in David Anderson.

Anderson, a seventh-round pick in 2006, spent five-plus seasons with the Texans, starting eight games in 2009. He was cut by Houston during the 2011 season. Anderson later signed with the Redskins, appearing in four games and catching six passes for 70 yards and a touchdown.

Talk about the Seahawks trying out Bryant and Anderson by heading on over to Field Gulls.

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Seahawks' Russell Wilson Ready for This Week's Mini-Camp

The Pete Carroll Philosophy: Win Forever. Always Compete.

Last Thursday night, I was able to attend the Nike WinForever Workshop at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center (VMAC). Here's what I took away from the experience.

Seahawks' K.J. Wright Slated for Breakout Year

Gary Horton, of ESPN's Scouts, Inc, recently put together a list for breakout players in the NFC this upcoming season, and Seahawks' linebacker K.J. Wright cracked the top ten. Said Horton:

9. K.J. Wright, OLB, Seattle Seahawks
As a fourth-round rookie in 2011, he did a nice job of replacing veteran Aaron Curry at OLB, and he finished with 65 tackles and eight tackles for loss. He is good versus the run, a physical player and wrap-up tackler, and he has good instincts. He identifies the play quickly, and he is better in pass coverage than you might think. He has the skill set to move to MLB in this 4-3 defense if the Seahawks don't get more comfortable with their personnel at that position. At strongside LB, he lines up a lot next to sack artist DE Chris Clemons (11 sacks in 2011), forming a tough duo to block for an offensive line.

Wright busted onto the scene last year as a rookie, won a starting job immediately, and didn't look back all year while putting together an impressive campaign. The fourth round pick out of Mississippi State played a little in the middle and most of the time at the strongside position, and surprised coaches and fans with his savvy and knack for being in the right place on the field for the Seahawks defense a vast majority of the time.

For a player that not a lot of Seahawks fans knew much about prior to the 2011 Draft, he's emerged as a potential starter on this team for many years to come. I'd agree with Horton - a breakout season in 2011 wouldn't be surprising.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

VIDEO: Brian Banks Works Out With Seattle Seahawks

Pete Carroll On Losing OTA's: 'We Were Practicing Too Physical'

Former Seahawk Brandon Stokley Looking to Catch On With Broncos Again

Former Seahawk Atari Bigby May Start for Chargers

Seattle Seahawks Violate Contact OTA Rules, Lose Two OTAs

The Seattle Seahawks will lose their two OTAs as a result of violating non-contact rules in offseason workouts.

NFL Plans to Hire Replacement Referees

Seahawks WR Golden Tate Breaks Hand, Won't Practice

Golden Tate is one of the young and promising wide receivers the Seattle Seahawks are counting on to revive their offense. He might be out for a period of time though, as Mike Sando of the ESPN NFC West Blog has this to say about his current status.

Receiver Golden Tate has a broken hand and is not practicing. The team expects Tate to return for training camp. Seattle has high expectations for Tate this season, so the missed time is costly in the short term, especially since the lockout prevented him from practicing last offseason as well.

Tate was drafted by the Seahawks in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame, where he was a Biletnikoff Award winner in 2009, and has been making a steady impact with the team without standing out too much. He caught 21 passes for 227 yards in his rookie season, then managed to start five out of 16 games in 2011, catching 35 passes for 382 yards, including three receiving touchdowns. Tate figures to be an integral part of Seattle's offense moving forward, so his absence might hurt if it doesn't heal before the onset of training camp.

To talk about Tate and the Seahawks, head on over to Field Gulls.

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Seahawks Offseason 2012: Seattle Taking Interest In Recently Exonerated Brian Banks

You may or may not have heard of Brian Banks, a top prospect out of Long Beach Polytechnic High School back in 2002, but you will now as Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks are reportedly showing some interest in him depsite the fact he hasn't played football in over a decade.

Banks was wrongly convicted of rape in 2002, spending six years of his life in jail and another four as a sex offender. But the victim, Wanetta Gibson, and the state of California recently exonerated him of all of his charges, making Banks truly a free man once more. Now all he wants is to get back to the game he loves.

Banks been keeping his body busy and in rather excellent football shape despite not taking the field in years, still able to do some impressive things as the tremendous athlete he is.

dead-lift 545 pounds, box jump 55 inches flat-footed, broad jump 10-plus feet and run a 4.6 40, all at 6-foot-2 and 245 pounds. NFL trainer Gavin Macmillan, who has volunteered to train Banks for free, says he has a shot. "You see him run and you can see why USC wanted him."

Seattle is not the only team interested in Banks' services as the Redskins and Chiefs are also giving him a workout, though none of the teams are guaranteeing him anything.

"I'll make 'em happy," says Banks, who's been training non-stop since October. "After all I've been through these last 10 years, I can still do some things that will impress you."

For more on the Seahawks, make sure to check out Field Gulls.

ESPN's Tedy Bruschi Picks Seattle to Win NFC West

Two-time All Pro and three-time Super Bowl Champion Tedy Bruschi, in an appearance on ESPN's "SportsCenter" spectacular on the NFC West, made an eyebrow raising prediction by picking the Seahawks to win the NFC West.

ESPN's Mike Sando relays some of Bruschi's insights:

ESPN's Tedy Bruschi played for Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll in New England years ago and seemed to have a strong feel -- and respect -- for Carroll's current team. He picked Seattle as an upset division winner in 2012. He pointed to Earl Thomas as the heir to Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu. He picked Marshawn Lynch as the division's MVP for the upcoming season. Bruschi was high on Seattle all the way around. He also defended Carroll's handling of the quarterback situation, noting that it's only May -- too early to worry about having a starter in place. Bruschi also thought Matt Flynn would become the signing of the year in the division.

With the obvious caveat that this is, in fact, still May, and picks like these mean little to nothing - it is still interesting to read about/hear a player as respected as Bruschi pick the Seahawks over a team, the San Francisco 49ers, that went 13-3 last season and were a play or two away from a Super Bowl berth.

Bruschi was the only analyst to pick the Hawks to surprise in the West, and we still have a lot of time to wait to see if his prediction comes true, but for now, we here in South Alaska (AKA Seattle) will bask in the national glory. I'm only kidding. Mostly.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

Earl Thomas Among the Best Defensive Backs in the NFL?

2012 Seahawks Offseason: Pete Carroll Speaks About Winslow, Hard Knocks

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll spoke with Bob and Groz of 710 ESPN in Seattle to discuss a few things surrounding the Seahawks including the addition of Kellen Winslow and the team's decision to turn down HBO's ‘Hard Knocks'.

With the addition of Winslow., there are those wondering how he will fit in with an offense that already features Zach Miller at tight end.

"Zach Miller had a really good year for us last year. He did a good job of blocking and making the plays we asked him to make. ...We wanted the two tight end group and the factor that it brings to have a catching tight end that can really strike you. A guy that can block and do all the stuff. Zach can do everything. This matchup gets us back on track on how we wanted to express our offense."

Even with all that Miller did last season, Carroll is pretty excited to have such an accomplished catching tight end like Winslow.

"I think this was a tremendous get for us and as we manage our way through bringing him into our team, we see so many aspects of how he can help us and you can just picture the third down and end zone stuff that he can really be a star and we'll fit that in together."

But even with a personality like Winslow in the fold, it didn't change the conservative approach the Seahawks are taking with their team. An invitation to be on HBO's ‘Hard Knocks'? They'll pass.

"...It's a cool show and a great effort for somebody that does it for them, but with the way we are focusing and our process we just don't need that distraction. We are going to move on. It's enough of a challenge putting this thing together for the football season let alone creating a hot sitcom."

It's official. Pete Carroll has lost all affiliation with Southern California. He is now a part of Seattle.

For more on Carroll and Seahawks' offseason, check out Field of Gulls.

Former Seahawk RB Justin Forsett to Work Out With Texans

Former Seahawk and free agent Justin Forsett has a workout lined up with the Houston Texans next week, Pro Football Talk has learned. The 5th year running back out of Cal was a 7th round pick back in 2008 for the Seahawks, was released at final roster cuts after an impressive preseason that year. He spent some time in Indianapolis before being released, then wound up back on the Seahawks practice squad. After making the active roster that season as a return specialist, he's stuck with the team since, even starting seven games at running back in 2009 and 2010.

In 2011, his production declined in a more limited 3rd down role, rushing for 145 yards on 46 attempts - a 3.2 ypc average, and catching 23 passes for 128 yards. The Seahawks appear to have gone away from Forsett after signing Kregg Lumpkin and drafting Robert Turbin in the 4th round of the Draft this year.

Still, if Forsett sticks in Houston, they'll be getting a reliable running back in pass protection on third downs that has a lot of experience in the zone-blocking scheme that Gary Kubiak runs down there. He's a consummate pro and I'm sure Seattle fans are rooting for him to find himself a home in with the Texans.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

NFL Coaches Power Rankings: Seahawks Pete Carroll 22nd

The Sporting News' Clifton Brown has compiled an offseason Power Rankings for NFL coaches and unsurprisingly, Super Bowl Champion New York Giants' head coach Tom Coughlin tops the list. With two Super Bowl wins on his resume, the oldest coach in the NFL is also one of the most respected.

When it comes to the Seahawks, who missed the playoffs and ended the season in third place in the NFC West in 2011, Pete Carroll shows up on the list about where you'd expect him to. Though Carroll is one of the league's higher paid coaches, he inherited a team that needed to be rebuilt, and the results have shown this fact. Two 7-9 seasons in Seattle, an overall record of 47-49 in the NFL, and Carroll can pretty easily be situated right in the middle of the pack in these power rankings.

Per Brown:

22. Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks

We'll know more about Carroll's tenure when we know whether Matt Flynn can handle being a starting quarterback.

Overall record (6 years): 47-49. Record with Seahawks: 14-18. Playoff record: 2-3.

Carroll would probably be a little lower if not for the Seahawks' surprising 2010 NFL Playoffs run, and could vault himself up the list even more if the Seahawks overachieve in 2012.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

Kellen Winslow Sees Seahawks As 'Perfect Fit'

Seahawks Decline HBO's Hard Knocks

NFL In Canada: Seahawks Face Bills In 2012, Series Extended Through 2017

The Seattle Seahawks will be doing something a little differently in December: instead of playing a normal game, they will head north to Toronto to take on the Bills in what will be billed as a neutral site game on December 16. With many Bills fans living in Ontario and the surrounding areas it will hardly be a neutral site game, and the Seahawks will likely be right in the hunt for a playoff bid in late December. A big game to say the very least for the team.

Could the Seahawks made an annual trip to Canada in the coming years? According to this story from NFL.com, the Bills received a five-year extension to play in Toronto through the 2017 season. Other teams have played across the pond over in London, but this is strictly something set up by the Bills franchise.

With the Seahawks being awfully close to the Canadian border themselves, you have to wonder if they will look to keep the series with the Bills going in the coming years. Assuming the game in December is a success, it only makes sense for the two front offices to discuss the logistics of working something out.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

Kellen Winslow's Role With Seattle Seahawks Remains A Mystery

The Seattle Seahawks made an interesting move this week when they acquired veteran tight end Kellen Winslow. He is hardly the player he once was earlier in his career, but he appears to still have a little something left in the tank. Or at least he thinks he does. And while his talent used to be undeniable, many around the NFL don't think Winslow can be a productive member of a team anymore.

Clearly the Seahawks do not share that opinion, and that has led to many wondering just how head coach Pete Carroll will use Winslow in his offense next season. According to this story from NFL.com, at least one scout and new Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano think Winslow is nothing more than a rotational player at this point.

We have yet to learn how Winslow will be used in Pete Carroll's vertical-power offense, but one league personnel executive, who spoke with Adam Caplan of Sirius XM NFL Radio, painted a less-than-hopeful picture of the tight end's playing future:

"We talked to the Bucs before the draft and talked about (Winslow) further internally," the source said. "We just didn't think he could be more than a rotational player at this point (in his career) after examining his tape and performance."

During his best days with the Cleveland Browns, Winslow was an unusual pass-catching threat who caused regular headaches for defensive coordinators. Even in Cleveland's often punchless offense, Winslow could hurt you. He was productive in Tampa, catching 77, 66 and 75 passes in three seasons there from 2009 to 2011. Schiano ruled that Winslow was no longer a difference-maker, and at least one scout agrees.

It will be very interesting to see how Winslow operates once practices begin, and all eyes will be on the Seattle coaching staff to see just what they have in store for the veteran tight end.

What do you think the team should do with Winslow next season? For this and more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

NFL Owners Vote to Change Trade Deadline, Injured Reserve Rules, Pending Union Approval

The NFL Owners met this week to talk about some possible rules changes, and approved two major proposals - moving the trade deadline back two weeks and creating an Injured Reserve exemption rule that gives teams one spot for a 'marquee player' that can return in the same season he is placed on IR.

Pending approval and agreement from the Management Council and the NFL Players Association, the NFL Trade Deadline will move from Week Six to Week Eight, giving teams two extra weeks to assess their injury and competitive situations and make moves based on all the accompanying factors. This change makes a lot of sense, as injuries are a part of the game, but comes early enough in the season to maintain the competitive balance. Teams that lose major players at certain positions now have an extra couple of weeks to address their deficiencies mid-season.

As for the Injured Reserve exemption, teams will now have the option of placing one injured player on what becomes, essentially, an 8-week Disabled List, similar to the 60-day DL in baseball. If said player is on the team's 53-man roster to start the year, then subsequently suffers a major injury - but one that can be returned from in several months - they no longer face a lost season.

Teams would likely save this option until absolutely necessary, as it could only apply to one player. If a 'marquee' player goes down with an injury that would sideline them for a month or more, instead of taking up a valuable roster spot for that amount of time while that player rehabs, teams can instead elect to use their IR exemption. Said player could rejoin the team after six weeks to practice, then return to the field after eight weeks from being placed on the DL (so to speak).

Again, these rules will need to be approved and agreed upon by the players union, but as they do seem to be player-friendly, opposition is doubtful, in my opinion. We'll find out.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

Tampa Bay HC Greg Schiano Insists Trading Kellen Winslow Wasn't A Message to Team

When Kellen Winslow announced that Buccaneers Head Coach Greg Schiano had told him that he'd be traded or released, many in the media assumed it was a way for Schiano to send a message to his players that you're either all-in or you're out. Winslow revealed what Schiano had told him - intimating that Schiano was not pleased that the tight end was missing some voluntary OTAs. Shiano's reputation is that of a disciplined and detail oriented old school coach, and cutting a high-production player that wasn't fully dedicated to the team is a strong message to his new team.

Schiano denied those notions.

"There is really not a message. It's not one of those situations," Schiano said Tuesday. "The only message I want to address is we need to be the best football team we can be. Time is our enemy. We are running out of time. Teams in our division have a head start on us. Kellen (Winslow) is no longer a Buc. I'd like to focus on the guys that are here. When we do make decisions, I am going to hesitate to look back and really just talk about guys that are Bucs right now."

Whatever the reason - whether it was productivity or attitude, or a little of both, Schiano wanted no part of Winslow, and the former first round pick is now a Seahawk.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

Seahawks LB Heath Farwell: Special Teams Ace

The Seahawks didn't waste any time on the first day of free agency back in March, making waves by re-signing one of their core defensive players in Red Bryant. Flying under the radar in the news and in stories that day was the fact that the Seahawks also had re-signed special teams standout Heath Farwell, a seventh-year linebacker out of San Diego State.

A month and a half later, the NFL Draft came and went with the Seahawks adding a couple more linebackers - a 2nd and 5th rounder - in Bobby Wagner and Korey Toomer. Leroy Hill was re-signed and suddenly the situation at that position seemed a little clearer and we analysts and writers began to formulate our predictions for the Seahawks final 53-man roster. But, one thing I need to keep reminding myself of is to not forget Heath Farwell.

Farwell, despite only playing in 11 games last season, amassed 21 tackles on special teams, tops in the NFL.

Football Outsiders does a great job of collecting and developing statistics, and featured Farwell recently in their 2011 Special Teams Tackles summation. In that, they noted Farwell "led all special teams players with 21 tackles in 2011. He also led in percent of team tackles, being in on 22 percent of all kickoff and punt returns against Seattle."

That's not all. Now, as FO notes, "of course, it isn't enough to just make the tackle on a return. You want to get downfield and tackle that return man before he has a chance to get his team great field position. That's where the Return Stop comes in." The Return Stop statistic is a metric designed to track the amount of times a coverage player makes it downfield to get a tackle (or assist) that stopped a return for less-than-average value, with the average value determined by FO.

Farwell, impressively, also led the NFL in this category. "Farwell and [Atlanta's Akeem] Dent also led the league with 16 Return Stops each last year. In fact, no other player had more than 13."

Seattle takes their special teams very seriously and often keep one to three specialists around solely for their prowess in the return game. It wouldn't surprise me to see Farwell again on the final-53 and playing a big role for the Seahawks in 2012.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

Seahawks Have 3-Day OTA to Kick Off Phase Three of Offseason Programs

The Seahawks began a three-day OTA Tuesday that helped kick off phase three of the team's offseason programs. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, offseason activities and practices are much more limited, so players and coaches have to make the most of every second of organized on-field practice that they can. During this third phase, Seahawks' coaches are now allowed to begin installing their offensive and defensive playbooks on the field and not in the classroom, walking through everything with the players and making sure everyone is up to speed before training camp. Once training camp hits, things will move extremely quickly, so days like today set the stage.

Clare Farnsworth of Seahawks.com shared a few interesting nuggets of information in his column today that give us a glimpse into the Hawks closed practice. Farnsworth noted that Bruce Irvin and Bobby Wagner ran with the first-team defensive unit - Wagner at the middle linebacker spot, and Irvin filling in for Chris Clemons, who wasn't present today.

He also shared a few anecdotal notes -

On offense, leading rusher Marshawn Lynch broke a nice run on the first play of the first team period. Matt Flynn found wide receiver Charley Martin for a 21-yard gain in a two-minute drill. Russell Wilson dropped a beauty of a pass over a couple of defenders to Martin for another impressive gain. Ben Obomanu made a nice grab of a Wilson pass along the sideline. Right tackle Breno Giacomini supplied the block that allowed Flynn time to roll to his right and find an open receiver.

On defense, Pro Bowl free safety Earl Thomas got his hands on several balls, and was upset on a couple occasions that he didn't make the interception. Hill and rookie cornerback Jeremy Lane had "sacks" during the blitz period. Pro Bowl cornerback Brandon Browner broke up a pass and linebacker K.J. Wright almost intercepted the carom. Cornerback Richard Sherman made a lunging deflection of another pass.

Make sure to head over to Seahawks.com for a slew of quotes and notes from the first day of the Seahawks OTAs.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

Kellen Winslow Trade Reactions Mainly Positive From A Seahawks Perspective

In case you missed it, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded Kellen Winslow to the Seattle Seahawks. Winslow could become a valuable member of the Seahaws given their propensity to use tight ends like Zach Miller and Cameron Morrah, and could provide more versatility up front.

Here are some links to further gauge how Seahawks fans and analysts feel about the deal.

Brian McIntyre of NFL.com files this report examining the details of the trade.

Danny Kelly broke down his reaction to the trade at Field Gulls. He likes the potential upside of bringing in Winslow, and also feels like what they gave up in the trade is a small price to pay for production from the tight end.

Former quarterback and current member of the Brock and Salk Radio show Brock Huard believes the Seahawks could really use Winslow, and breaks it down here.

Here are some other reactions gathered from Eric Williams of the News-Tribune, which all make interesting points.

To discuss the Winslow trade with Seahawks fans in general, hit up Field Gulls.

Check out the SB Nation NFL YouTube channel for more coverage.

NFL Will Mandate Wearing Thigh And Knee Pads Starting In 2013

Seahawks QB Russell Wilson Shows His Personality At NFLPA Trading Card Event [VIDEO]

NFLPA Rookie Premiere: Seahawks Rookies Unveil New Uniforms, Absurdly Enormous Biceps

Seahawks' Russell Wilson Wasn't Even On Some Teams' Draft Boards, Per Report

Yahoo! Sports and the SportsXchange's Len Pasquarelli included one interesting tidbit about Seahawks' new draft pick Russell Wilson in a recent column, revealing that some NFL teams didn't even have the 5'10 3/8" quarterback on their boards.

Wilson overcame a lot of odds in his college career, but his height had him off the draft boards of a few teams last month, and some of Carroll's colleagues in the NFL privately question using a third-round pick on a prospect who, competitiveness aside, was graded by some as just a career No. 3 guy.

This isn't super surprising, considering there aren't any sub-6'0 quarterbacks starting in the league, but obviously Seattle thinks Wilson can buck that trend. Some teams likely decided that, despite his obvious talents, the odds were just too stacked against Wilson for them to invest a valuable draft pick in that particular player.

In their defense of the pick, the Hawks have consistently noted Wilson's high release of the football ("that of a 6'2 QB"), long arms for his height, and very big hands. As Pasuarelli points out, "while Wilson was the shortest of the 19 quarterbacks at the combine (by nearly 1 1/2 inches), he had a hand measurement of 10 1/4 inches. That was a bigger hand than 14 of the combine quarterbacks. The ability to wrap his fingers around the ball, however, might not compensate for the height deficiency."

Certainly not, but it can't hurt - it does tend to help in the rain and wind though, and playing in Seattle he's liable to come across conditions like that. Short or not, there's buzz growing about Wilson in Seattle and it will be fun to see how he performs in the upcoming OTAs and Training Camp.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

NFLPA Rookie Premiere Gives Russell Wilson, Robert Turbin Chance to Interact With Fans, Media

O'Dea's Donny Lisowski Gets Shot At Seahawks' Roster

Local product Donny Lisowski wowed the Seahawks' coaching staff so much at the team's Rookie Mini-Camp that they signed him to a contract. He'll try to impress them enough now to make the final 53.

Bruce Irvin's Long Road To the Seattle Seahawks

Sports Illustrated's Dennis Dillon wrote a wonderful piece about Seattle Seahawks first round pick Brune Irvin, and his interesting tale of how he made it into the NFL.

It all started in high school, when Irvin had issues keeping himself in school and on the field. He played only three high school games as a sophomore at wide receiver in total, but he was stil determined to play. He would eventually transfer schools, become academic ineligible, and get kicked out of his mother's house.

Thus began a miserable 18 month-span for Irvin. He became a teen nomad, moving from one friend's house to another. He hauled around his personal belongings -- usually consisting of some shirts, a couple pairs of shoes and underwear -- in a plastic bag. At one point, Irvin was charged with burglarizing a drug dealer's house and had to spend two weeks in jail.

Irvin wound up at an Atlanta prep school for troubled students, but the institution had to close its doors before he completed his time. That's when Chad Allen came into Irvin's life -- and promptly turned it around.

A former football player at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Allen visited the prep school and spoke with the students. According to Irvin, since he was the last student to leave the school -- he had nowhere else to go -- Allen invited him into his home, where Irvin lived for three months.

With the aid of Allen Irvin earned his GED, got into a junior college, and after two years he would head to West Virginia to play ball, where he caught the eye on the Seahawks immediately. Many saw Irvin as a later round pick, but the Seahawks play by their own rules when it comes to the draft, and have a specific plan for his utilization:

But as general manager John Schneider put it, the Seahawks draft for themselves, not for the rest of the league.

The Seahawks have a plan and a vision for Irvin, 24, who played only two years of Division-I football following a checkered adolescence. He'll back up end Chris Clemons (11 sacks last season) at the "Leo" position, then play opposite of Clemons on pass-rushing downs.

Essentially, it's a 3-4 outside linebacker who rushes the passer about 75 percent of the time. The Leo lines up on the open side, away from the tight end.

Raheem Brock played that position for Seattle last season -- Schneider estimates Brock was on the field for about 65 percent of defensive snaps -- but his contract expired in the offseason and he became a free agent. Hence, the need for Irvin.

Seattle has a vision for how to utilize Irvin, but none of that would have happened it if wasn't for Chad Allen and the game of football.

You can check out Dillon's entire piece on Irvin here.

For more on the Seahawks, head over to Field Gulls and SB Nation Seattle.

Seahawks Offseason 2012: Matt Flynn Contract, By The Numbers

The Seattle Seahawks certainly have some questions to answer at the QB position moving forward, though haven't had much time to formulate an opinion on how Matt Flynn will do as a member of the 'Hawks. None of those questions will be about his contract though, which is broken down for us by the NFL Network's Albert Breer.

Here Breer breaks it down for us laypeople:

· 2012: $6 million signing bonus; $2 million base salary (fully guaranteed); $200,000 Pro Bowl bonus; $200,000 NFL MVP bonus.

· 2013: $5.25 million base salary ($2 million guaranteed); $200,000 Pro Bowl bonus; $200,000 NFL MVP bonus.

• 2014: $6.25 million base salary; $200,000 Pro Bowl bonus; $200,000 NFL MVP bonus.

What it means: If the Seahawks cut Flynn next spring, the cap hit would be $6 million, whereas the hit would be $7.25 million to have him on the roster. That makes the deal almost like a two-year pact with a third-year option.

He didn't have a lot of opportunities to shine sitting behind Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, though when he did he was rather impressive. Pete Carroll is hoping that his time in wait behind the perennial Pro Bowler Rodgers will mean great success in Seattle.

For more on the Seahawks head over to Field Gulls.

Seahawks QB Matt Flynn Discusses Seattle, QB Competition on 710 ESPN

Seahawks G Breno Giacomini Has Fifth Best Individual Performance In 2011

Breno Giacomini has bounced around the NFL his first five seasons. He spent his first three years with the Green Bay Packers from 2008 to 2010. He was then signed off the practice squad by the Seattle Seahawks, was released, then put back on the active roster. Due to injuries on the roster, he did manage to start eight games in 2011.

Pro Football Focus ranked the top five performances by right tackles, and Giacomini came up 5th. Find out more here.

5. Breno Giacomini, Seattle Seahawks: Week 15 at Chicago (+5.2)

This will come as a surprise to Packers fans who watched Giacomini fail to develop, but he earned himself a contract extension with some good play at the end of the 2011 season. The Week 15 matchup with the Bears was the best example of this. A false start penalty and poor work on a screen pass being the only blemishes on an otherwise perfect game. Stephen Paea in particular got taught some things by his more experienced foe here.

Giacomini has bounced around for most of his career, but he might be a starter next season after bouncing around. And if he has performances like the one he had with the Bears, he could be around for a long time.

Talk about Giacomini with Seahawks fans at Field Gulls.

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Seahawks' Russell Wilson Discusses Competition, Determination On The Big 1070 In Madison, WI

Seahawks Offseason 2012: Matt Flynn, Tarvaris Jackson QB Competition Taking Shape

With the NFL offseason starting to ramp up, the quarterback battle for Seattle Seahawks will be on of the most intriguing to follow as recently acquired Matt Flynn looks to take the job from the inconsistent Tarvaris Jackson heading into the 2012 season.

Elliot Harrison of NFL.com picked out his seven QB competitions to keep an eye on this offseason, and Flynn vs. Jackson was right up there with the best of them:

Seattle signed Matt Flynn to three-year deal in March that includes $10 million guaranteed. Considering Jackson is due to make $4 million this season, which is non-guaranteed, you can see where this might be headed, unless Jackson plays out of his freaking mind. The odds-on favorite appears to be the former Green Bay Packers backup, who has thrown nine touchdowns and compiled a 123.0 passer rating in two career starts.

The other possibility would be to keep them both with the expectation that this is a playoff team in need of two vets. It's just going to cost GM John Schneider a healthy chunk of change. Don't forget third-round pick Russell Wilson, who the Seahawks reportedly think can compete, too. The smart money says that's a year away.

Advantage: Flynn. You don't guarantee a guy $10 million and sit him for a player of Tarvaris Jackson's ilk.

Very good point, but you never quite know to expect with Jackson, who may impress enough to maintain the top spot on the depth chart. Only time will tell at this point.

For more on the Seahawks, head over to Field Gulls and SB Nation Seattle.

Pete Carroll's Nike WinForever Workshops Provide Unique Opportunity For Coaches & Fans

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is using his Nike WinForever Workshops to take coaches, fans and others behind the scenes, and equip them to maximize their own potential.

Seahawks Among "Best of the Worst" In NFL in 2011

Lance Zierlein, a highly respected analyst for the Sideline View (and other outlets), recently compiled his list of teams that will go from losing records in 2011 to contention for a playoff spot in 2012, and the Seahawks were one of four teams on that list, along with the Chiefs, Bills, and Panthers.

Per Zierlein:

Seattle is the beneficiary of playing in a week division (outside of the 49'ers) and they have a chance to rack up as many as four wins inside the division. Over the second half of the season [in 2011], the Seahawks beat the Ravens and the Eagles and gave the 49'ers all they could handle. If QB Matt Flynn can live up to the hype and if RB Marshawn Lynch can follow up on his strong 2011 season, the offense should improve on their pedestrian offensive output. The Seahawks defense features some young, core players who might be ready to step their game up enough for a run at the playoffs.

Can't say I disagree with his assessment, though ultimately anything can happen. The Seahawks are poised to make a splash in 2012 though with continued improvement on the defensive side of the ball and a few key additions to the offense. They're in a weak division, especially when it comes to opposing quarterbacks, so the competition for the NFC West title should be wide open.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

NFL Power Rankings: Seahawks 19th In NFL.com's Latest

The post-Draft, post-Free Agency (for the most part) but pre-Training Camp NFL Power Rankings are in over at NFL.com and Elliot Harrison has the Seahawks sitting at the #19 spot, with the following explanation:

If the Lions shocked people with the second-round selection of Broyles, how would you qualify the Seahawks taking Bruce Irvin in the top half of the first round? Seattle has been bold, signing Matt Flynn just days after ticking off Peyton Manning with an unannounced visit (We're here!), then making a move for a linebacker that several teams didn't think was a first-round pick. It will all work out in the end if a) Jason Jones slides up and down the line en route to 8-10 sacks, and B) Flynn plays within himself. There's no need to throw for 490 and win games on his own.

The Seahawks come in behind the Chiefs, Titans, Falcons and Jets, and just ahead of Raiders, Chargers and Cardinals, which seems to be about their range as far as it goes with their NFL 'peers.' However, Harrison's explanation does leave me scratching my head a little bit, especially in the fact that he calls 'reach' Bruce Irvin a linebacker. Irvin will be a defensive end, and should be the one racking up 8-10 sacks in 2012 (Jason Jones is likely to play on the interior, and if he were to grab 8-10 sacks I would do backflips).

The portion about Peyton Manning is completely irrelevant at this point but nonetheless, I do agree with his assessment of Flynn's expectations. If Flynn can 'play within himself', he'll likely succeed, assuming he's the Seahawks' starter. Distribute the ball to the playmakers, hand off to Marshawn Lynch, don't turn the ball over, and the offense should function well.

It's early, Power Rankings at this point in the offseason are pointless, but I still find interested and reading. Blasted NFL.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

Seahawks Tough at the CLink, According to NFL Home Field Advantage Rankings

National Football Post's Joe Fortenbaugh recently came up with a ranking system for NFL teams and their ability to 'handle their business' at home. He took each team's home record from 2009-2011 (regular season) and their record against the Vegas spread to compile his rankings. Per Fortenbaugh:

I've devised a rudimentary formula for these rankings that consists of both home field record and ATS (against the spread) record. The team that posted the best home field record since 2009 is awarded one point, while the organization with the worst record is awarded 32 points, and so on. If two teams had the same record and occupied spots No. 4 and No. 5 in the rankings, the difference was split and both teams were awarded 4.5 points. As I'm sure you could have already guessed, the goal is to have the fewest total points between the two categories.

As explained in the article, the ATS rankings become important because it "provides an accurate assessment of how well a team plays at home against inferior competition. [I.e.], how much value would you assign a Ravens win in Baltimore over a team like St. Louis? Probably not all that much. But if the Ravens failed to cover the Vegas number, that would serve as an indicator that maybe it's not as tough to play in Baltimore as the team's 21-3 straight-up home record since 2009 indicates."

Regardless, despite the Seahawks mediocre 19-29 record the past three seasons, they came in 11th in the NFL in 'home field advantage' behind their 13-11 home record straight up and their 15-9 record against the spread. Though it's obviously not a perfect way to measure the 'home-field advantage', it is an interesting look at team records at home, both straight up and against the spread, over the last few seasons. The Seahawks pride themselves on playing well at the CLink - and so do their fans - so these numbers affirm that it's a tough place for teams to come play in.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

Seahawks Have Advantage of Playing In Division With Sub-Elite QBs

NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah put together an interesting article this week that looked to rank the NFL's divisions by their starting quarterbacks. Not surprisingly, the NFC South led the way with Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, Cam Newton, and Josh Freeman. The NFC North wasn't far behind, with Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, Jay Cutler, and Christian Ponder throwing the football for their respective teams.

Also not surprising was where the NFC West fell on this list -- dead last. With starting quarterbacks (or, presumptive starters) in Alex Smith, Sam Bradford, Kevin Kolb/John Skelton, and Matt Flynn, the Seahawks' division rivals all sit in similar positions of uncertainty at quarterback.

Says Jeremiah:

This division only returns one QB (Smith) that started more than 10 games in 2011. Smith wasn't flashy last year, but he did a great job of protecting the ball and making clutch throws. Bradford has the most ability in the division, but he is going to have a hard time thriving with the lack of help around him. The Cardinals paid a steep price for Kolb, but Skelton outplayed him last year and should be the favorite to win the job. Flynn is a good decision maker, but his overall skill set is average at best.

For the Niners, Alex Smith is coming off a strong year but has been anything but consistent or flashy in his career since becoming the first pick of the 2005 Draft. He received a new incentive-laden contract from San Francisco but could conceivably be jettisoned without losing too much money if he reverts to his earlier ways. He'll likely have Josh Johnson and Colin Kaepernick nipping at his heels and if Seahawks fans get their way, he'll struggle enough to create a quarterback controversy.

Sam Bradford has a ton of potential and displayed that in his first season with the Rams while breaking several records for Rookie quarterbacks. His sophomore campaign was a step back with a new offensive coordinator in Josh McDaniels and a plethora of injuries sustained at receiver. Going forward, Bradford will have to learn a new system under yet another offensive coordinator and new receivers so development could lag again in 2012. As Jeremiah says, he's got a lot of ability, but the situation isn't ideal.

Kevin Kolb battled concussions and poor play and had to deal with being outplayed at times by backup John Skelton last year, and should be in for a challenge to beat Skelton out for the starting job this fall. He has yet to prove he's worth the great cost the Cardinals paid for him and despite adding another offensive playmaker in Michael Floyd, the Cardinals figure to have some strife at QB this year yet again.

Finally, the Seahawks, and their three-headed quarterback monster. Will it be Matt Flynn, Russell Wilson, or Tarvaris Jackson? The Hawks have a lot of uncertainty at that position, but that uncertainty is on par with their inter-division rivals, making the division fairly wide open, relatively.

The point being -- if you're going to have a shaky quarterback situation, and the Seahawks currently have major question marks there -- you should be damn glad Seattle is a part of the NFC West.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

Seattle Seahawks Sign Donny Lisowski, Andrew Mitchell, Alex Barron, Cooper Helfet

The Seattle Seahawks have signed four players and released four players. Let's take a look at the guys they hung onto.

Alex Barron is probably the most notable name. The 19th pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, Barron never really flourished with the St. Louis Rams and struggled ad nauseum with penalties. Here's what he told Seahawks.com:

"I just wanted to get somewhere. I'm pretty confident in my play. I've made some mistakes in the past, also. But I've gotten to the point where after last season, and coming into the offseason as a free agent, all I want to do is come in and just show that I can play, because it can't be talked about, it always has to be shown."

Donny Lisowski from Montana also got signed. According to Field Gulls, Pete Carroll was ecstatic with the athlete:

"He was all over the place out here. I had no (idea about him), other than he ran extremely fast when he showed up for a workout day. And then he went out there and made a bunch of plays. So I was really fired up about him."

Duke tight end Cooper Helft also got signed and also received some rave reports from this weekend. He has some decent athletic ability and could flourish as an H-back. Tackle Andrew Mitchell (undrafted from Oklahoma State) figures to be a project developmental type player that the Seahawks will have to bring along.

Seattle also let the following players go.

#Seahawks have also released CB London Durham, LB Adrian Moten, T Jon Opperud and G/C Brent Osborne.

— Curtis Crabtree (@Curtis_Crabtree) May 15, 2012

To talk about the new signings with Seahawks fans, go to Field Gulls.

Seahawks Rookies Join Veterans In Phase Two of Offseason Program

The Seahawks continue their offseason in phase two, and the rookies are now able to join the team and begin competing for their roster spot against the vets.

Russell Wilson To Compete For Seahawks Starting QB Job

Everyone is a buzz around Seahawks camp about the announcement that rookie Russell Wilson will compete for the starting quarterback position with the Seahawks, or at the very least, the backup role.

Many believe it's still Matt Flynn's job to lose but Wilson will get every opportunity to supplant him, and you cannot discount Tarvaris Jackson, who got first-team reps with the offense in practices the last few weeks. It's an all-out open competition at this point.

Scouts have been talking about the possibilities for Wilson on twitter the past two days.

Optimum Scouting's Eric Galko said: "Very excited to see Russell Wilson battle for Seahawks job. Can he win it? Absolutely. Smart, very fundamental. Higher ceiling than Flynn... Despite size, Wilson can make it. High release, decisive footwork, underrated velocity. Limited does not equal low ceiling. EVERY QB is limited someway."

NFL Draft Scout's Rob Rang said: "If taking a QB with Russell Wilson's size, he'd better get top grades in every other criteria. He does. May not be [Drew] Brees, but best short QB since."

Wilson clearly has the attention of football minds and the Seahawks' quarterback battle is turning into one of the offseason's better stories. It's on John Clayton of ESPN's top 10 positional battles list as well.

This should be fun to watch.

For more on the Wilson, Flynn, Jackson and the Seahawks, visit Field Gulls.

Russell Wilson Impresses At Seahawks Minicamp, Thrusts Himself Into QB Competition

When the Seahawks drafted QB Russell Wilson in the 3rd round of last month's NFL draft, it was one of the rare moves made by the franchise that pundits actually praised. The lone knock on Wilson was his height, or else he would have likely gone in the Top 10, according those same pundits.

Based on reaction from his performance at the Seattle Seahawks' rookie minicamp this weekend, it sounds like size doesn't matter.

Most notably, Carroll saying that Wilson had shown enough to get a chance to compete for the starting QB spot with Matt Flynn and Tarvaris Jackson:

Pete Carroll says Russell Wilson is going to be in the competition for starting QB with Matt Flynn & Tarvaris Jackson.

— Curtis Crabtree (@Curtis_Crabtree) May 13, 2012

Carroll on Wilson: "He's going to be in the competition. He's shown us enough. He's in the competition."

— Curtis Crabtree (@Curtis_Crabtree) May 13, 2012

Following that news, a football mind that we greatly respect here at SBN Seattle, Doug Farrar, took to twitter and fired off this series of tweets on Wilson:

Wilson impressed right away with command of the offense. When the bullets are flying, how high is his ceiling, literally and otherwise?

— SC_DougFarrar (@SC_DougFarrar) May 13, 2012

Wilson is a very unique player in that he has one very obvious physical debit, but he absolutely maxes out in everything else.

— SC_DougFarrar (@SC_DougFarrar) May 13, 2012

This isn't one of those gritty underdog stories -- you watch Wilson play and it's perfectly clear that he has everything else to succeed.

— SC_DougFarrar (@SC_DougFarrar) May 13, 2012

Saints do all kinds of rollouts with Brees -- designed bails, boot-action half rolls to get clear and open lanes. Wilson would need similar.

— SC_DougFarrar (@SC_DougFarrar) May 13, 2012

I'll say this: Based on tape/minicamp, Wilson already throws receivers open and sells play action as well/better than anyone on the roster.

— SC_DougFarrar (@SC_DougFarrar) May 13, 2012

Also, this from ESPN's Liz Mathews:

More Carroll on Wilson: "He really left no doubt that he needs to be in the competition of this thing."Going to be an interesting battle!

— Liz Mathews 710 ESPN (@Liz_Mathews) May 13, 2012

Now, the comparison to Drew Brees is an obvious one, because both QB's are vertically-challenged. But In reality, Wilson doesn't need to be measured against Brees, he needs to be measured against Flynn and incumbent starter, Jackson.

That's where Farrar's analysis perks our interest. The fact that Wilson can do certain things "as well or better than any QB on the roster" means we may actually get the first real QB competition of the Carroll Era.

---------------

For more Seahawks talk and analysis be sure to visit SB Nation's Seahawks blog, Field Gulls.

Seahawks Rookie Mini-Camp Invitees Announced

The Seahawks are hosting a Rookie Mini-Camp this weekend at VMAC, and it gives the front office and coaching staff their first real chance to see their 2012 NFL Draft haul in action. The team will host their ten draft picks, their ten signed undrafted free agent rookies, four members of the practice squad that haven't accrued a season yet, and 30 others on a tryout basis, giving the team a close look over the next three days at 54 players that may or may not be a part of the 53-man roster come fall.

Here is a list of the players involved and the numbers they'll be wearing this weekend, courtesy of Eric Williams and the Tacoma News Tribune:

1- Jeremy Lane - CB (Northwestern State)
2 - Pat Carter - WR (Lousiville)
3- Russell Wilson - QB (Wisconsin
4 - Chris Hart - QB (Webber International - Florida)
5 - DeShawn Shead-DB (Portland State)
6 - Carson Wiggs - K (Purdue)
8 - Jermaine Kearse - WR (Washington)
10 - London Durham - CB (McNeese State)
13 - Phil Bates - WR (Ohio University)
14 - Josh McGregor - QB (Jacksonville)
20 - Dionte Dinkins - CB (Fort Valley State)
21 - Donny Lisowski - CB (Montana)
22 - Robert Turbin - RB (Utah State)
27 - Winston Guy - SS (Kentucky)
28 - Josh Gatlin - CB (North Dakota State)
32 - Bryson Kelly - FB (Central Washington)
35 - James Stampley - FB - (LSU)
36 - Craig Ray - S (Indianapolis)
37 - Austin Cassidy - SS (Nebraska)
38 - Kareem Moore - FS (Nicholls State)
39 - Shane Horton - LB (USC)
40 - Vai Taua - RB - (Nevada)
41 - E.J. Savannah - LB - (Washington)
42 - Braedyn Eagle - LS (Portland State)
43 - Mychal Sisson - LB (Colorado State)
44 -Shawn Nelson - TE (Southern Mississippi)
45 - Sean McGrath - TE (Henderson St. - Arkansas)
46 - Cooper Helfet - TE-(Duke)
47 - Korey Toomer -LB (Idaho)
51- Bruce Irvin - DE (West Virginia)
53 - Najel Byrd - LB (Arkansas State)
54 - Bobby Wagner -LB (Utah State)
57 - Jayson Palmgren - C (Missouri)
58- Kyle Knox - LB (Fresno State)
61 - Renard Williams -DT (Eastern Washington)
62 - Brent Osborne C/G (Harvard)
63 - Rishaw Johnson OG (California (Pa.))
64- J.R. Sweezy - OG (North Carolina State)
65 - Julian Gray - OG (North Carolina Central)
66- Joe Figueroa -OG (Miami)
68 - Andrew Mitchell -OT (Oklahoma State)
70 - Cordarro Law -DE (Southern Mississippi)
72- Alex Barron - OT (Florida State)
74 - Chima Okoli - OT (Penn State)
77 - Jon Opperud - OT (Montana)
78 - Mark Huyge -OT (Michigan)
83 - Cam Kenney -WR (Oklahoma)
84 - Lavasier Tuinei - WR (Oregon)
85 - Josh Smith - WR (UCLA)
93 - Zach Masch - DT (Hawaii)
94 - Jaye Howard - DT (Florida)
95 - Pierre Allen - DE (Nebraska)
97 - Monte Taylor - DE (Cincinnati)
98 - Greg Scruggs -DE (Louisville)

For more in depth discussion and analysis of the Seattle Seahawks this offseason, make sure you check out Field Gulls and SB Nation Seattle. For more on the NFL in general, please check out SB Nation's NFL hub.

The SB Nation Rookie FanChat Contest - Win a Chance to Interview Russell Wilson or Robert Turbin

SB Nation and the NFLPA Rookie Premiere are excited to announce the Rookie FanChat, a contest where the winner gets to Skype with their favorite NFL team's top draft pick.

Seahawks Offseason 2012: Seattle Signs 4th Rounder Jaye Howard, Waive WR Raymond Webber

The Seattle Seahawks were busy making a couple of moves this Friday, signing fourth round draft pick DE Jaye Howard, while effectively releasing wide receiver Raymond Webber as well.

Per Adam Caplan on Twitter:

The #Seahawks waived WR Raymond Webber, who was claimed off waivers earlier this week from the Buccaneers.

— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) May 11, 2012

As for Howard, the University of Florida product, he was one of the two remaining draftee's to sign with the club, now leaving running back Robert Turbin as the lone unsigned holdout. As a Gator Howard worked with former Seahawks Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn, which could help his transition process into the pros already having some knowledge of a Pete Carroll system.

For more in depth discussion and analysis of the Seattle Seahawks this offseason, make sure you check out Field Gulls and SB Nation Seattle. For more on the NFL in general, please check out SB Nation's NFL hub.

Seahawks Rookie Mini-Camp Gives the Staff a Chance To Evaluate Draft Class

The Seahawks host 10 drafted rookies, another 10 signed rookie free agents, plus some 30+ players on tryouts to the VMAC this weekend for the team's Rookie Mini-Camp.

Matt Hasselbeck or Jake Locker? ESPN Debates Which QB Should Start In Tennessee

Even though both of these men no longer play football in the pacific northwest, they will always be a place in the heart's of football fans of Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker. Now these two are competing for the starting position with the Tennessee Titans, but who's the better choice?

ESPN's Paul Kuharsky took it upon himself to hash out some of the talking points, and see who really is the top QB in Tennessee.

Kuharsky admits that the veteran Hasselbeck has to bee seen as the favorite going in, especially with his significant amount of experience as an NFL quarterback and a decent season last year. But, Locker could find himself atop the depth chart if a few things happen:

I believe, ultimately, it will take one of three things for Locker to get the starting job:

A tremendous training camp and preseason paired with poor play by Hasselbeck, an injury to Hasselbeck, or a gut feeling from Munchak and offensive coordinator Chris Palmer that it's time to turn to the QB of the future.

If Locker impresses this summer he could certainly make the leash a lot shorter for Hasselbeck next season, but that is of course if he can stay healthy. Locker is their man moving forward, though it may take a little more time before he gets his chance.

For more on the Seahawks check out Field Gulls and SB Nation Seattle.

Seahawks Offseason 2012: Duece Lutui Goes To Vegan-Based Diet

Seattle Seahawks newcomer Deuce Lutui knows a little something about eating, you don't become an offensive lineman in the NFL without that knowledge. But it's not just stuffing your face, it's eating smart, which Lutui has done by going to an almost completely vegan diet.

"A lot of people wouldn't call it vegan, but as the vegan concept goes, it is something I eat pretty much vegan throughout the week," Lutui said over the phone Tuesday."I've been at this for four months, and so I've lost tremendous weight."

Lutui still eats lean meat like chicken and fish a few times a week for protein purposes, though the Tongan born 29-year old knows that this is what will keep him in the game as long as possible. He weighed in at 396 when he reported at USC where his weight fluctuated immensely, but now is down to a svelt 340, making him much more agile while still being able to throw his weight around as well.

"It has always been a part of me to play big," Lutui said. "I had to humble myself to see what coaches are seeing out there."

Lutui has committed to make this change for not only his playing career, but his health in general, noting that he's still got the best years ahead of him.

"I am stepping into my prime. I haven't even yet scratched he surface of that. I am so optimistic about this year as far as my training has been. I can't wait to prove to this organization who I am and who they are getting."

For more on the Seahawks, check out Field Gulls and SB Nation Seattle.

Seahawks Draft Grades: NFL Experts Not High On Bruce Irvin, Other Picks

The Seahawks made a couple of surprising picks in the 2012 NFL Draft, and many analysts from around the country have been quick to call them the 'losers' of the draft. I fail to see how any team's draft can be evaluated before any of the players even take the field to practice, but there's a time and place for everything I suppose. Anyway, the folks at NFL.com were not big fans of Seattle last week and gave their draft a 'C+' rating.

Here's a bit more on the Seahawks' picks:

Best pick: Robert Turbin, RB, Utah State (Round 4, 106).
The second of two Aggies the Seahawks picked this year (along with Wagner), Turbin's value in the fourth round was too much to pass on, despite the team's signing of Marshawn Lynch to a four-year, $31 million contract in March. He can carry the mail a few times per game if Lynch is still hitting his stride, or be a reliable 20-carry back if Lynch is ever sidelined due to injury.

Questionable pick: Bruce Irvin, DE, West Virginia (Round 1, 15).
Irvin's ability as a pass rusher is well-documented, and the fact he had any success playing on a three-man front at 235 pounds is a tribute to his work ethic. He weighed 245 at the combine, but will need to prove himself either a capable every-down player in the 250-pound range or effective enough as a nickel rusher to warrant a top-15 selection (particularly when Melvin Ingram, Quinton Coples and Chandler Jones were still on the board). Staying out of trouble off the field will also help him win over doubters.

They also listed Florida DT Jaye Howard as the sleeper pick of the lot.

Given all the questioning of their selections last week, you can bet Irvin, Turbin and the rest of the 2012 draft class in Seattle will be playing with a chip on their shoulders. That can't mean good things for the rest of the NFC West.

For more on the Seahawks and their draft picks, please check out Field Gulls.

Seahawks Roster Battles: Russell Wilson, Tarvaris Jackson Competing Behind Matt Flynn

The Seattle Seahawks signed Matt Flynn this offseason with hopes of him leading their franchise back to the playoffs (and eventually a Super Bowl). While Flynn impressed just about everyone while playing sparingly with the Packers last season, a little insurance at the quarterback position is never a bad thing. The Seahawks plan to start Flynn from day one, but what about his backup? If he were to go down to injury during the playoff stretch, who would step in to lead the team?

The battle for the No. 2 quarterback job in Seattle will be between Tarvaris Jackson and rookie Russell Wilson. Here is Sports Illustrated on the situation and how they think it may work out.

My way of thinking, if the Seahawks were happy with what they got out Jackson as their starter for 14 games last season, they wouldn't have signed Matt Flynn in free agency or drafted Wilson in the third round. So I'm not buying it's a three-man quarterback competition in Seattle. It's last year's starter against this year's rookie to see who earns the No. 2 job, behind Flynn.

Jackson has seen this movie before, in Minnesota, and he knows the advantage always goes with the new option, because there's no taint or stain of defeat on the quarterback who just walked through the door. The sense is that Pete Carroll and Co. are intrigued with Wilson's skill set and will find ways to get him on the field, perhaps even using him in a Wildcat role. Jackson clearly enters with the edge in experience, and his knowledge of the offense should give him a healthy advantage. But if Wilson proves himself a quick study, don't be surprised if he's only relegated to the team's No. 3 quarterback role for a little while this season.

It will be interesting to see how things play themselves out in the coming months at training camp. Wilson has a lot of versatility and may see some immediate playing time in a hybrid role as SI suggests, but Jackson is probably the safer bet should Seattle need a starter other than Flynn. Wilson provides upside, though, and that's the risk the Seahawks' coaching staff is going to have to weigh moving forward.

For more on the Hawks, check out Field Gulls.

Study Suggests NFL Players Live Longer Than General Populace

On Pete Carroll and Giggling Like a Schoolgirl

Seahawks Acknowledge Risk With Bruce Irvin Pick, But Feel Confident In It

Many eyebrows were raised in the media when the Seahawks used their 15th overall pick to select an outside linebacker/defensive end out of West Virginia, Bruce Irvin. Irvin had a 2nd or 3rd round grade according to most draftniks, with the principal reason for this being Irvin's character concerns. As Dane Brugler of NFLDraft Scout.com put it shortly after the pick was made, "Big reason I gave Bruce Irvin a 4th round grade was because of character...worry about making him a millionaire, high risk/high reward for Seahawks." Brugler also noted a team he had talked to had taken Irvin completely off their board because of this baggage. The Seahawks felt differently.

Seahawks general manager John Schneider talked to National Football Post's Dan Pompei recently, noting:

"Look, he has had a rough background. He was so desperate. He dropped out of school. He basically was living on the street. But he was able to pick himself up, get his GED, get into a junior college, then get a scholarship."

"Is it a risk?" Schneider said. "Sure it is. But we were as comfortable with it as you can get. Obviously you would like a guy be clean as a whistle, have them all be like Shea McClellin. Sometimes a guy like this comes along and is worth a shot. We felt he was."

It helped that Pete Carroll had recruited Irvin for USC and Seahawks defensive passing game coordinator Rocky Seto also had first hand knowledge of Irvin as well. Seto, an alum of Mount San Antonio College, worked with and convinced Irvin to attend the junior college.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

Seahawks Selecting Bruce Irvin Ended Steelers-Jets Trade

It looks like the Seahawks were on to something.

The Seahawks selecting Bruce Irvin with the 15th overall pick in the NFL Draft was considered to be a reach. Irvin had his issues off the field and was a one-track pony on the field as a pass-rush specialist. But at the end of the day, the concerns surrounding Irvin were media created.

Teams were fighting to get him.

According to Jason LaCanfora of the NFL Network, the Steelers and Jets had a deal in place that would have moved the Steelers up to get David DeCastro and moved the Jets back where they would pick between Quinton Coples or Irvin. With the Seahawks taking Irvin at 15, the Jets just took Coples instead of making the deal and the Steelers ended up with DeCastro anyway at no. 24.

But what the failed deal shows is that Irvin was taken right where teams saw him being taken. If the Seahawks hadn't pulled the trigger, someone would have. So all the talk about Irvin's slot being too early for him to come off the board was just media contrived talk.

For more on Irvin and the Seahawks offseason, go to Field Gulls.

Seahawks Among Non-Playoff Teams Poised To Make A Push

The optimism isn't just in Seattle. Pundits around the league see the same momentum building in Seattle as the Seahawks continue to work earnestly to improve their 7-9 ballclub.

As CBS Sportsline's Clark Judge points out, the Seahawks have continued to build a defense to rival the San Francisco 49ers' defense, the one team standing in the way of the Seahawks in the NFC West. While the defense continues to build upon itself, the offense is what kept the Seahawks from truly contending last year but they feel like they've rectified those issues with the signing of quarterback Matt Flynn. Run the ball with Marshawn Lynch, play good defense and make the occasional big play in the passing game. That formula sounds just like the Niners and there is nothing wrong with that.

Something else Judge pointed out was that four of the Seahawks' first five opponents this season didn't have a winning record last season

Now, Judge isn't completely sold on Flynn. He sees risks in his lack of experience. But it's his only concern. If he can be solid, then the Seahawks' improvements in other areas will make them a well-rounded team capable of making the playoffs.

For more on the Seahawks offseason, check out Field Gulls.

Seattle Seahawks Sign Eight Draft Picks, Two Remain Unsigned

Eight of the Seattle Seahawks draft picks are signed, and two remain. Will Seattle go ten for ten in signings?

Here are the ones who are already on board.

• Second round linebacker Bobby Wagner of Utah State, who figures to get in the mix and try and crack the two-deep this upcoming season.
  
• Third round quarterback Russell Wilson of Wisconsin, who will be part of the mix to try and make the quarterback rotation.
• Fifth round linebacker Korey Toomer of Idaho, who has great defensive skills and should be a great player in time.
• Sixth round cornerback Jeremy Lane of Northwestern State, who should provide more defensive depth.
• Sixth round safety Winston Guy from Kentucky, who also should make sure the secondary depth chart is stronger.
• Seventh round guard J.R. Sweezy and defensive end Greg Scruggs to deals as well.
• There still remain two undrafted free agents: Fourth round running back Robert Turbin from Utah State and fourth round defensive tackle Jaye Howard from Florida.

Talk about the Seahawks over at Field Gulls.

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Seattle Signs Defensive End Bruce Irvin To Rookie Contract

Seattle Seahawks and rookie Bruce Irvin have agreed to their rookie contract. Irvin became the first player from the first round to have agreed to a contract.

Seahawks Claim WR Raymond Webber Off Waivers; Release Three

The Seahawks set all kinds of world records the last couple of seasons (not really) in terms of roster churn, and it looks like that churn has started anew for the 2012 season after a quiet couple of weeks leading up to the Draft.

#Seahawks have waived LB Tressor Baptiste, DE John Graves and DB and CB Jesse Hoffman.Claimed WR Raymond Webber via Bucs.

— Liz Mathews 710 ESPN (@Liz_Mathews) May 4, 2012

Webber is a 2nd year receiver out of Arkansas Pine-Bluff that received a $17,500 signing bonus from the Buccaneers last season as an undrafted free agent (meaning - he was highly sought after). The Seahawks had apparently expressed interest in the 6'3 220 pound receiver, but couldn't match the Bucs' bonus numbers after offering large parts of their bonus allotment to Doug Baldwin and Ricardo Lockette (who are still both with the team, by the way). Webber sat out last year with a hamstring injury and was recently released by Tampa.

Baptiste, Graves and Hoffman were all developmental or depth type players that were around last year on the Seahawks practice squad or with the team during the offseason.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

Seahawks Draft Pick Greg Scruggs' First Passion Was The Drums

NFL Power Rankings: Pete Carroll at #20 on the Coaches List

"Power Rankings" have become an American institution, and just because the offseason has barely started in earnest for NFL franchises, the pre-season 2012 Power Rankings have come out in force. The fine people over at the National Football Post did a spin on the normal power ranking format and applied them to NFL Head Coaches.

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, going into his third season back in the Pros after dominating at the college ranks for a decade, hits the charts at #20. Joe Fortenbaugh explains:

20. Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks: The former USC head coach has gone just 14-18 in two seasons with the Seahawks, but his first year did include a divisional crown and wildcard upset win over the then-defending champion New Orleans Saints. If free agent acquisition Matt Flynn lives up to expectations, Carroll could land in the top ten of these rankings by midseason.

Not surprisingly, the top seven coaches on this list also just happen to coach some of the best teams in the NFL. Success breeds respect and acclaim. That said, I think Fortenbaugh gives Carroll a better ranking than a lot would, considering the mediocre 14-18 record. As stated, Carroll led the Seahawks to the playoffs in his first season, upset the World Champs, and has added talent and enthusiasm to the franchise. If Matt Flynn can elevate his game, the Seahawks, and Carroll, might surprise some people in 2012.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure you head to Field Gulls and join in on the discussion.

Seattle Seahawks Announce Minicamp And OTA Dates For 2012

The Seattle Seahawks will have all their minicamp and OTAs taking place during the next two months of May and June. The OTAs are meant to be a bridge between the end of last season and the start of training camp. The Seahawks will have their OTAs take place over three weeks. The first take place on May 22nd, 23rd and 24th; the second takes place on May 30th, May 31st and June 1st, and the third takes place on June 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th.

The minicamps are meant for acclimating rookies to the new schemes of the NFL and getting them ready before training camp starts. The rookie minicamp takes place on May 11th, 12th and 13th, while the minicamp for all players on the roster on June 12th, 13th and 14th.

Talk more about Seahawks minicamp and OTA dates over at Field Gulls.

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2012 NFL Power Rankings: Seahawks Move Up One Spot To 23rd

The NFL landscape for 2012 has taken much of it's shape already with the draft and much of the free agent signings already under wraps. But who's going to the be top dog heading into this season? Well, SB Nation's very own Joel Thorman has been trying to figure that out with his latest installment of his NFL Power Rankings.

Unfortunately for Seattle Thorman doesn't have a lot of faith at the moment, with a big question mark at the quarterback position his number one concern for this team moving forward.

Here is Joel Thorman with the commentary:

23. Seattle Seahawks (7-9, LW: 24): With the 49ers, the NFC West isn't so easy anymore. Matt Flynn needs to play like he did in his only two career starts, but do it for 16 games.

Seattle moved up a spot from the last rankings, so that's saying something.

With three of of the four teams in the NFC West in the bottom 1/3 of the league someone is going to have to step up and challenge the 49ers for supremacy in the division. The Seahawks certainly have some talent, but the question will be can Pete Carroll put it all together enough to garner a playoff spot.

For more in depth discussion and analysis of the Seattle Seahawks, make sure that you check out Field Gulls and SB Nation Seattle.

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