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The Hawks have several Unrestricted &
Restricted Free Agents this year with kicker Josh Brown already designated
the Franchise player. Free Safety Ken Hamlin has signed a 1 year contract
with the Cowboys and Guard Floyd Womack has signed a deal of the same length
back with the Seahawks. Tight End Jerramy Stevens was not offered a contract
by the Hawks but then appeared to self destruct by getting himself arrested
for drink driving. More recently Wide Receiver Bobby Engram has also agreed
to a 1 year deal to stay in Seattle.
That leaves Guard Chris Gray who has decided to continue after 14 seasons in
the NFL. He is currently talking with the Hawks so don't be surprised if he
comes back for a 15th season. There has been a suggestion that he will
rotate at Right Guard with Floyd Womack.
One player who has retired is Center Robbie Tobeck. Tobeck played just 8
games during the 2006 season owing to both injury & illness. Turns out Mack
Strong was serious about retiring but then a month later stated he would
return for the 2007 season.
Looking further down the list of Seahawk Free Agents the signing of RFA Sean
Locklear is a must. With Tobeck's retirement and the failure to sign number
1 target Kris Dielman it is thought the Seahawks are looking weak at the
line and that may be a draft priority. Other RFAs include DB Jordan
Babineaux, DT Criag Terrill & WR DJ Hackett. Hackett looks like another
priority with Engram's absence through illness & the news that oft injured
wide out Darrell Jackson is available for trade.
One player who is definitely not going to be a Seahawk in 2007 is former
Long Snapper JP Darche. Darche had recovered from his hip injury but the
Hawks decided to go with Derek Rackley for 2007. Rackley was formerly with
Atlanta & listed as a Tight End but was rarely used at that position but has
been preferred due to his greater blocking skills.
Front Office & Coaching Changes
The inevitable departure of Mike Reinfeldt finally happened as he became the
General Manager of the Tennessee Titans. Seahawks Team President Tim Ruskell
swooped instantly to snare his former colleague John Idzik from the
Cardinals. The two spent eleven seasons together at Tampa Bay.
The biggest coaching change came when Defensive Backs Coach Teryl Austin
contract expired & was replaced with former Falcons Head Coach Jim Mora Jr.
There was some confusion over whether Mora was taking over from Defensive
Co-ordinator John Marshall. Coach Holmgren corrected this rumour
immediately.
The Hawks also changed Special Teams coach during January with the departure
of Bob Casullo & arrival of Cowboys coach Bruce DeHaven. Casullo's departure
was not unexpected, particularly after conceding two Touchdowns on Kick
Returns during the playoffs.
In other news construction started on the new
training facility in Renton which is expected to be ready by 2008 and is
pictured on the home page.
Early Free Agency News
After failing to land the Chargers Guard Dielman the Seahawks went after and
signed Falcons Defensive End Patrick Kerney. Grant Wistrom was called to
renegotiate his contract and was cut.
The other big signing for Seattle, was safety
Deon Grant and he was closely followed by another safety Brian Russell. With
Mike Green scheduled to come back from injury it could signal Boulware
returning to the linebacker corps.
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