Posted by DHarp75 on March 14, 2010 under PartyHawks Central | 
TE Chris Baker was the Seahawks' first successful free agent grab.
wasn’t the first foray into free agency most fans thought the Hawks would make. Afterall,
John Carlson is one of the league’s rising young talents at the position, right? But Baker’s signing does make sense on more levels than it first appears.
Baker is primarily a blocking tight end, and a veteran new offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates can utilize in two-tight end formations. He has also been a good red-zone target in the past, although he never became a significant factor in New England’s passing game last season. Ironically, the Hawks turned to Baker after former teammate Ben Watson chose Cleveland over Seattle.
On another front, the Hawks and Cardinals have both made offeres to Chargers restricted free agent QB Charlie Whitehurst. It’s an interesting tug of war between the division rivals for a backup quarterback who has yet to throw a regular-season pass through four NFL seasons. Arizona needs a backup for Matt Leinart, while the Hawks are looking for more experienced help than just Mike Teel behind Matt Hasselbeck.
Whitehurst was given a third-round tender by San Diego. So if he chooses Seattle and San Diego doesn’t match – which it’s not expected to – then the Chargers and Hawks would have to agree on compensation as the Hawks don’t have a third-round pick this year.
Posted by DHarp75 on March 12, 2010 under PartyHawks Central |
The Hawks need help everywhere, and they’re doing their due diligence vetting any free agent seemingly willing to pay the Northwest a visit.
The latest is Broncos guard Ben Hamilton. He’s a 32-year-old who was a long-time starter for the Broncos before losing his job last season when he struggled in Denver’s new scheme. He’s considered a better fit for the zone-blocking scheme that Seattle will run under offensive line guru Alex Gibbs, who is familiar with Hamilton from when the two were both in Denver.
On a side note, it appears Seattle’s inquiries to Philly were solely regarding Kevin Kolb, and not Donovan McNabb. That makes a heckuva lot more sense – little point in bringing in an injury-prone quarterback in his mid-30s to compete with … an injury-prone quarterback in his mid-30s.
We be in favor of shipping the No. 14 overall pick and perhaps a mid-rounder to the Eagles for Kolb. Problem is, Philly is highly unlikely to part with Kolb, who the franchise likes and has deemed the quarterback of the future. But if the new brass can pull that off without getting raped for a slew of draft picks, power to them. Rather have a fairly established up-and-comer than go through the pain of developing a rookie over the next few years.
Posted by DHarp75 on March 10, 2010 under PartyHawks Central |
Could Donovan McNabb's No. 5 be sporting Seahawks colors in 2010?
The Hawks haven’t made any big splashes this offseason, but it’s not for a lack of trying. Rumors are that
Pete Carroll wants to win now and that Seattle has been pushing hard for Philadelphia to trade
Donovan McNabb or
Kevin Kolb.
Kolb isn’t going anywhere. He’s the Eagles’ quarterback of the future, and the team really likes him. McNabb, on the other hand, is standing in his way, getting up in years and could be dealt this offseason.
So Pete wants to win now. Great, no arguments here. But hopefully he doesn’t mortgage the future by giving up a first-round pick for a quarterback with 2-3 years tops left in his prime. The best plan is still to give Matt Hasselbeck another year while mentoring a rookie drafted in the first three rounds – Central Michigan’s Dan LeFevour is a good sleeper pick. Sign a veteran backup as an insurance policy, but don’t overpay in your zealousy to “win now.”
On another note, Patriots TE Ben Watson, Saints RB Mike Bell and Panthers DL Tyler Brayton all official visited headquarters earlier this week.
Posted by DHarp75 on March 9, 2010 under PartyHawks Central |
QB Seneca Wallace is the latest vet sent packing by the new regime.
The Seahawks have dipped their toes into free agency, testing the waters by bringing in WR
Brandon Marshall, RB
Mike Bell and DE
Dwan Edwards for visits, among others.
But while there have been no additions to the team yet, the new regime is making it clear it believes a roster overhaul is in store. After some tepid tender offers to several restricted free agents, WR Nate Burleson was allowed to walk to Detroit and QB Seneca Wallace was dealt to Cleveland, where he’ll be reunited with Papa Holmgren.
Right now, Mike Teel is the only other quarterback on the roster behind Matt Hasselbeck. And as a fifth-round pick by Tim Ruskell, the new staff has no allegiances to the untested second-year player.
The safe bet is two quarterbacks will be added by training camp. Expect the Hawks to use a pick in the first three rounds on a signal-caller to build the offense around in the future, and then add a veteran to back up the ever-brittle Hasselbeck in 2010.
Wallace wasn’t the long-term answer. The Sene-cat was fun, and he was a serviceable NFL backup, but he certainly wasn’t the future at the position. When given extended playing time, Wallace was skittish in the pocket and highly innacurate as a passer. So he gets a real shot to continue his career-long backup status back with the man who gave him his shot in the NFL.
Posted by DHarp75 on March 6, 2010 under PartyHawks Central |
Brandon Marshall is scheduled to hit up the Hawks' complex Saturday.
The good news is the Hawks won’t give up their No. 6 overall pick for
Brandon Marshall. The Broncos receiver is visiting team headquarters today — on a nice Chamber of Commerce type of day, no less — and if he agrees to a deal, Seattle would work out a trade with Denver.
As one of my draft gurus, Rob Rang, pointed out, the Broncos have limited options with Marshall. He has an extremely strained relationship with coach Josh McDaniels, and the team has to deal its star receiver. So the most likely scenario is a trade for a package of lower picks. It would be more than the third- and fourth-rounders Arizona got for injury-plagued Anquan Boldin, however.
Regardles of the price, it’s a bad move. Marshall has been involved in off-field issues every years since he entered the league four years ago. He’s a head case who battles with coaches and can’t be counted on from year to year.
Why bring that presence into a team that needs to rebuild with a bevy of young talent? Marshall isn’t a team leader or a role model for the younger players. And it’s not like one of the most talent-deprived rosters in the league is one prima donna receiver away from contending again.
