Free Agency in Review
I’d like to start by apologizing to my loyal readers (all 3 of you) for my extended hiatus. I’ve had a lot of commitments of late that have drained me of my time and energy. With the Rangers on a hot streak nearing the NHL playoffs, and with my Mets getting into spring training, I’ve also lacked the motivation to write about football. But alas, I have returned, and I shall do my best not to leave you hanging once again.
It seems like I picked a terrible time to stop writing, with the mass of recent activity. First up:
Like it or not, for better or worse, the front office has delivered on its promise to revamp the running game. Signing T.J. Duckett and Julius Jones to 5- and 4-year deals, respectively, has all but assured that the Seahawks will not be selecting a running back on draft day. The moves also call into serious doubt the futures of Shaun Alexander and Maurice Morris. Alexander was already on thin ice, and being part of a 4-way committee doesn’t exactly cement his position on the team. The prevailing argument is that if Alexander was going to be cut, he would have been out on his ass by now. After all, the NFL CBA now allows teams to designate 2 players as “post-June 1st cuts” — meaning that their cap hits are spread out over 2 seasons instead of 1 — regardless of when they are actually released. My analysis? The front office is likely waiting for draft day to make a move, if they are in fact going to make one. If last year’s Randy Moss trade is any indication, teams are very amiable to low risk, high reward trades on draft day. Perhaps more likely is a trade of Mo Morris to a team that missed out on a coveted prospect. He would net at least a 4th rounder, allowing the Seahawks to add more young depth, which is crucial to aging teams.
Next up is the whole Josh Brown fiasco. I was ambivalent on re-signing Brown to begin with. While he has been incredibly clutch over his young career, he has also been extremely average (albeit, consistently average). I couldn’t see justifying Vinatieri-type money to a guy who in my mind isn’t one of the best at his position. Apparently the brass felt differently, offering him exactly that kind of money. Welcome back, Browny! Wait. He rejected it? He spurned us to take the same amount of money with… the Rams!?!? I’m sorry Josh, I didn’t realize a 3-13 team could have a winning attitude. I hope you enjoy playing 8 games in a dome, where you flourish to the tune of 73%. You’re going to find out pretty soon what it’s like to have an entire city hate you.
On a brighter note, Lofa Tatupu signed a 6 year, $40 million contract extension over the weekend. The Seahawks could have traded for the entire AFC Pro Bowl roster, and this extension still would have been the best move they made. What’s more, Lord Lofa took less money to stay here, in the hopes that his benevolence would leave enough money for extensions to Marcus Trufant and, next year, Leroy Hill. As if Pro Bowl appearances in his first 3 seasons weren’t enough, here is yet another reason to love this guy. On a similar note, Patrick Kerney, Jordan Babineaux, Craig Terrill, and Deon Grant all restructured their contracts to free up some extra cap room. Hello? Shaun Alexander? Are you listening? Team called. It wants you to know there’s no I in it.
And with that lame joke, I must return to the shadows.
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