Posted by DHarp75 on March 15, 2010 under PartyHawks Central | 
WR Ruvell Martin has 58 catches in four NFL seasons.
Whether the Seahawks are being prudent or overly cautious in free agency is a matter of opinion. In either case, they continue to only dabble their pinkie toe into the shallow end of the water.
Ruvell Martin became the second middling veteran to sign with Seattle this offseason. A four-year veteran, Martin caught six passes for St. Louis last year after three years in Green Bay in which he struggled to climb any higher than the No. 4 receiver.
It’s a bad sign when you can’t crack the Rams’ JV-level receiving group from last season.
Like TE Chris Baker, Martin hardly solves the team’s lack of downfield playmakers, but does provide a solid veteran presence on a frighteningly thin roster.
Martin is a big target at 6-4, 220 pounds, which gives him better size than most of the Hawks’ receivers. But he also lacks downfield speed to separate from corners – just like the rest of Seattle’s receiving corps. Martin has caught fewer passes in each of his four NFL seasons … so don’t go out looking for those “Martin” jerseys just yet.
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.
