Posted by DHarp75 on September 4, 2010 under PartyHawks Central | 
T.J. Houshmandzadeh was given the boot, even with the Seahawks thin at receiver and still on the hook for the majority of his $7 million salary.
So Mr. and Mrs. PartyHawk spend a few days in the hospital welcoming in the newest PartyHawk to the world, and all hell breaks loose while we’re gone.
Anyone who has asked me about Pete Carroll has received a standard “cautiously optimistic” response. As for GM John Schneider — never been a big fan, and the moves he and Carroll are continuing to make are enough to make even the most diehard Seahawk supporter extremely anxious.
On Saturday alone, the team released WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh and watched venerable offensive line coach Alex Gibbs resign.
Releasing T.J. insinuates he continued to be an issue off the field – at least we hope so, because otherwise it is the second mind-numbing move of the week (trading starting cornerback Josh Wilson for a fifth-round pick boggles the friggin’ mind). Housh is due $7 million this season, and Seattle will still have to pay him whatever his new team doesn’t. So, assume his new team signs Housh for the veteran minimum – Seattle is on the hook for the rest. And it leaves three-time NFL loser Mike Williams as a starter and unproven Deon Butler and Golden Tate with very significant roles.
Losing Gibbs might be the biggest red flag yet. He was brought in to teach the zone-blocking scheme, and departs eight days before the start of the season. Unless there’s something health related we don’t know about, Gibbs either didn’t believe in the direction Seattle is going or clashed with those in the front office – both of which are very disturbing options. He was the lone hire during the offseason that we felt really good about. Now even that silver lining has left the building.
The trade for Eagles offensive lineman Stacy Andrews was a decent move to patchwork a potentially frightening tackle situation if Russell Okung isn’t ready for the regular-season opener, especially after Ray Willis was placed on injured reserve.
All of these items are worth of their own blog post or three – but since we’re on the two-hour feeding rotation schedule with the newborn, we’ll leave off with this 10,000-foot view for now.
Tags: Alex Gibbs, Deon Butler, Golden Tate, John Schneider, Josh Wilson, Mike Williams, Pete Carroll, Ray Willis, Russell Okung, Sean Locklear, Stacy Andrews, T.J. Houshmandzadeh
Posted by DHarp75 on August 18, 2010 under PartyHawks Central |
Lawrence Jackson can wave a flag. The Seahawks can wave good-bye.
In the latest blight against the resume of former GM
Tim Ruskell, 2008 first-round pick
Lawrence Jackson is the latest Seahawk to be banished to Detroit.
Too small to be a dominant force against the run and too inconsistent to put in a pass-rushing role, even being a former player for Pete Carroll at USC couldn’t save Jackson. He had just 6.5 sacks in three seasons with the Seahawks, who drafted him 29th overall even though most NFL teams had him rated as a late second-round pick.
When Seattle acquired Kentwan Balmer on Monday, Jackson became even more expendable. Ironically, Balmer was selected one spot in front of Jackson in 2008 and has been an even bigger bust so far.
So off goes Jackson to Detroit, where he’ll be reuinited with a bunch of former Seahawks including Nate Burleson, Julian Peterson, Rob Sims, Mo Morris and Will Heller.
Posted by DHarp75 on August 16, 2010 under PartyHawks Central |
We're showing a picture of Balmer from his UNC days because he hasn't done squat in the NFL.
If only a few of
John Schneider and
Pete Carroll’s low-risk gambles pay off, the Seahawks will have significantly upgraded their athletic talent this year.
The latest castoff to join Seattle’s burgeoning list of high draft pick busts, character red flags and various other physically talented but NFL never-were’s is Kentwan Balmer. A 2008 first-round pick by San Francisco, the 49ers wanted to get rid of him so badly that they traded him within the division for a measley sixth-round pick.
The 29th overall pick in 2008, Balmer has yet to start an NFL game. And he sealed his fate in San Francisco by leaving training camp last week to deal with NCAA allegations that he paid for plane flights for some former teammates that now has North Carolina, and top draft prospect Marvin Austin in hot water.
Balmer failed to return to the team, and even reportedly gave back some of his signing bonus to get shipped out of town. He’s a big body and a potential much-needed run-stuffer along the interior of the defensive line. But that’s all Balmer has ever been in the NFL – potential. His work ethic is questionable, and he hasn’t registered a single sack in his NFL career.
But hey, it’s certainly worth a sixth-round draft pick. And if Balmer doesn’t prove himself quickly, he won’t even make the final roster.
In scrub watch news:
–WR Marcus Maxwell had his contract terminated from injured reserve with an injury settlement Friday (Aug. 13).
–FB Ryan Powdrell was waived from injured reserve with an injury settlement Friday (Aug. 13).
Posted by DHarp75 on August 12, 2010 under PartyHawks Central |
LeRoy Hill's time in Seattle could be running short following a knee injury,
Already battling an uphill fight with the new coaching staff, LB
Leroy Hill suffered a sprained knee that will sideline him the rest of the month.
Hill got off to a very bad start with Pete Carroll & Co. with a domestic abuse incident that led to a one-game suspension to open this season. That came on the heels of last year’s marijuana possession charge, and Hill was banished from the team for most of the offseason.
By all accounts, Hill has kept out of trouble and worked hard during training camp – which is exactly what he needed to do to stay a part of the Seahawks’ 2010 plans. But the knee injury is a significant setback. Not only will Hill miss the entire preseason slate, but David Hawthorne now has the clear upperhand on the weak-side job.
Hawthorne was already pushing for the spot after filling in admirably for Lofa Tatupu last season. With the entire preseason to solidify his grasp on the spot, and with the Seahawks bringing in veteran Tyjuan Hagler this week, Hill’s roster spot is anything but guaranteed to be waiting for him when he’s ready to return to the field in September.
Hawthorne has shown plenty of promise and racks up tackles at an impressive rate. Meanwhile, the Seahawks are looking to get more of a pass rush from Aaron Curry, which had been more of Hill’s specialty in the past. So the writing appears to be on the wall that this knee injury might be the final straw for Hill’s tenure in Seattle.
Posted by DHarp75 on August 9, 2010 under PartyHawks Central |
Isaiah Stanback's NFL future is handing by a thread - or a torn Achilles - following his latest season-ending injury.
If he wasn’t a local UW product, WR
Isaiah Stanback would most certainly qualify for scrub status on any team. Trying to stick with the Seahawks, the former Huskies quarterback saw his laundry list of injuries since he entered the NFL continue to mount with a torn left Achilles’ tendon that ended his 2010 season.
Stanback’s injury led to the signing on tight end Nick Tow-Arnett and LB Alvin Bowen. Tow-Arnett played for Seahawks quarterback coach Jedd Fisch when he served as offensive coordinator at Minnesota, while Bowen was a fourth-round pick by Buffalo in 2008 who spent last year on Washington’s practice squad.
For all of you smart cookies who noticed that’s two players signed with one gone, FB Ryan Powdrell is headed to injured reserve along with Stanback. Powdrell is one of several former USC players to join Pete Carroll in Seattle. Powdrell, who has had stints with Green Bay, Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, hadn’t been in the league since being released by the Steelers last June.
Posted by DHarp75 on July 20, 2010 under PartyHawks Central |
Kevin Elllison need to bring the pain ... not numb it.
As the one really “dead” time in the NFL schedule winds to a close, we’re now in single digits until rookies report July 29 so it’s time to update on three items of interest:
Pete Carroll told 710 ESPN on Monday that the Seahawks will not sign WR Terrell Owens. That’s too bad for anyone looking forward to seeing T.O. and T.J. run down the field simultaneously flailing their arms in the air, looking exasperated when the ball goes to John Carlson for three yards and then both barking at Matt Hasselbeck as soon as they get back to the huddle.
Leroy Hill has been suspended for the first game of the season. With it only being a one-game suspension, look for the Seahawks to give Hill a third life with the team. He’s expected to be in more of a traditional linebacker role this year with Aaron Curry rushing the passer more often.
Kevin Ellison pleaded not guilty to drug possession charges and has an October court date after being caught with 100 Vicodin in his car without a prescription. Let’s hope he’s more focused on delivering the pain come this season rather than trying to numb it, because the Hawks desperately need a fierce secondary presence.
Posted by DHarp75 on July 1, 2010 under PartyHawks Central |
Kevin Elllison will be in the secondary mix afterall.
We were a little dismayed when
Kevin Ellison was waived after apparently failing a physical. As it turns out, the Seahawks only let Ellison go so he could clear waivers and then sign a new contract.
Don’t worry about the contract finagling, the loopholes in the labor agreement are ridiculous. The important point is Ellison is back to compete for the starting strong safety job, which might have been the biggest hole on the team. The Seahawks had been looking at ageless Lawyer Milloy, rookie Kam Chancellor and maybe even ‘tweener defensive back Jordan Babineaux battling for the job. And none would have been a suitable option.
Ellison was a sixth-round pick who started nine games for the Chargers after playing for Pete Carroll at USC. But he was a mid-round talent who dropped due to injury concerns. The Chargers then dropped him because he was arrested for having 100 pills of Vicodin in his car during a traffic stop. If he can handle the pain on his own, Ellison can deliver some pain for Seahawks opponents. He’s not the fastest defensive back in the world, but he is a hard hitter who can bring some much-needed intimidation to a defense that was steamrolled last season.
Posted by DHarp75 on June 25, 2010 under PartyHawks Central |
Kevin Elllison could have helped the Hawks, if he could have passed a physical.
We were excited by the small risk, big reward pickup of former Chargers safety
Kevin Ellison off waivers. But the Hawks decided there was indeed too much risk after he apparently failed a physical, so Ellison was waived before ever hitting the practice field.
A big hitter with the potential to win the starting strong safety job, Ellison played for coach Pete Carroll at USC. He was a sixth-round pick last year for San Diego and went on to start nine games.
Oh well, it’s back to nailbiting every time we see a receiver challenge the seem or try to stretch the field deep, because the Hawks’ current list of contenders at strong safety includes veterans who should be backups and a rookie who isn’t ready to start.
In other news, the team parted ways with DT Barrett Moen, a free agent rookie out of Minnesota, and Oregon rookie DL Will Tukuafu. Both had been signed earlier this month.
In their place, Jonathan Lewis was added to the roster. After finishing last season on Cleveland’s practice squad, he was waived by the team earlier this month.
Posted by DHarp75 on June 24, 2010 under PartyHawks Central |
The Hawks are installing a new offense, so it was good to see WRs T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Deion Branch back on the practice field as the offseason program winded down this week. T.J. had sports hernia surgery, while Branch underwent another knee procedure.
They both got in two days of work before the team shut things down for six weeks leading up to training camp.
“It’s just great to see these guys back in,” coach Pete Carroll said, “so we have a feel for them.”
T.J. and Deion are the team’s top two receivers, but the offense still lacks a dynamic, playmaking threat. Golden Tate was drafted to be that weapon, but the only playmaking he’s done so far was a 3 a.m. post pattern through the back door of Top Pot doughnuts.
Posted by DHarp75 on June 23, 2010 under PartyHawks Central |
Kevin Elllison started nine games as a rookie for the Bolts. ... He's also a fan of painkillers.
He played for USC and he’s had off-field issues, so
Kevin Ellison had all the prerequisites to be tossed onto the Hawks’ roster by coach
Pete Carroll.
OK, that’s a little flip. Ellison was actually a very wise pick-up who could help the Seahawks immediately.
A sixth-round pick out of USC by San Diego last year, Ellison was impressive as a rookie, eventually earning the starting job the second half of the season. He was often-injured while with the Trojans, which led to his draft stock plummeting. But he’s also a hard hitter who could provide a physical presence the Hawks’ secondary is SORELY lacking.
All those big hits and bumps and bruises apparently led to a fondness of Vicodin, as Ellison was caught with more than 100 pills this offseason. The arrest and controversy eventually led to the Chargers dumping him this week.
The Hawks could be the beneficiary if Ellison can learn the playbook. Deon Grant was cut loose, leaving Jordan Babineaux, who can’t cover well enough to be a starting corner or tackle well enough to be a starting safety, and aging Lawyer Milloy as the likely candidates on the strong side if rookie Earl Thomas takes over at free safety (looks unlikely to play corner at this point). Rookie Kam Chancellor is probably a year away from being a factor on the defense.
So the Hawks potentially filled a significant area of need by bringing Ellison on board – if he fulfills more of his potential and less of his prescription drug bottles.
