Seahawks Gab

With just days to go until the deadline for teams in the National Football League to trim their rosters from 75 to the regular-season limit of 53, the Seattle Seahawks have a high-profile player they wouldn’t mind getting rid of.

According to sources cited by Jason La Canfora of the NFL Network, the Seahawks are shopping veteran wide receiver T.J.  Houshmandzadeh.

With the emergence of free agent signee Mike Williams along with solid play from second-year pro Deon Butler, rookie Golden Tate and veteran Deion Branch, Houshmandzadeh and his sizable contract have become unnecessary.  Houshmandzadeh is set to make over $7 million guaranteed this season.

The sources used by La Canfora indicate a desire by Seattle to ship their wide receiver for money.  The news comes two days after the team sent veteran cornerback Josh Wilson to the Baltimore Ravens for a conditional draft pick.

Can’t get enough SeahawksGab?  Follow Editor Devon Heinen on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DevonHeinen.

Courtesy of Pepsi, I got to take in a free Mariners game last night, truth be told I wouldn’t have gone if King Felix wasn’t on the mound.

The stink that is the Seattle Mariners offense didn’t fail to disappoint either, for seven long excruciating innings I got to watch them in person pull the same act I have seen too many times.

A rare occurrence went down though, and literally right when my sister and my brother in law decided to bounce, an uber rare late offensive rally sparked the ridiculously porous Mariners offense to victory.

It turned out to be worth going to, and in the last four games I have turned out for (in the last four years), we are 4-0, so I guess when I grace the nosebleeds with my presence some mojo rises up from the dust that is the pitiful Mariners franchise.

Despite the rare pleasantry of taking in a come from behind win, my night started out with some unpleasant stench arising from a certain complex on the shores of Lake Washington.

As I had arrived 20 minutes early to the game, I had my Droid in hand searching the online sports scene for anything I had missed on the drive down; did I ever miss something that had me confounded.

“Josh Wilson traded”.

The headline was cut off, so at first glance, as taken aback I was, I thought… Ok, reserve judgment until you see where and for what.

To the Baltimore Ravens, for a conditional fifth round pick.

“What the f***?”

I always knew Uncle Pete was akin to the naughty uncle who would not be opposed to giving his nephew a shot of liquor.

I didn’t figure he was smoking dope on the job as well.

I understand that a new regime has minimal ties to anyone on the roster; hence the reasons of cutting ties with busts like Lawrence Jackson, or wanting to bring in “their guy”, like quarterback Charlie Whitehurst.

I don’t understand why on earth you would gift wrap one of the leagues better young pass defenders for a draft pick that has a very low probability of ever surpassing the potential Josh Wilson has.

Apparently, the same personnel group (plus Walter Thurmond), has somehow transformed from dead last in pass defense to a position of considerable depth in the span of nine months according to John Schneider (via Seattle Times):

“This is an opportunity for us that came along because of our depth and our situation at the cornerback position that we’re very happy with.  Tru, (Marcus Trufant), Kelly Jennings and Walter Thurmond and Roy Lewis and a couple of the young kids too that have done very well gives us an opportunity to make a move here.”

Continue reading Seahawks: Just One Mans Rant About The Dreadful Josh Wilson Trade

Thursday Oakland Coliseum plays host to two long-time rivals that are searching for the answer to the same question: how do you turn around a franchise that’s entrenched in losing?

The Oakland Raiders and the Seattle Seahawks were one-time division foes that faced each other 50 times during a 25-year stint in which both played in the AFC West.

The Raiders haven’t taken the field for a playoff game since 2002.  In that time, the team’s gone through five coaches and 11 starting quarterbacks.  Complicating things is the fact that picking atop the draft board in the annual rookie Draft hasn’t paid the kind of dividends one would hope for.  The team’s former quarterback of the future, JaMarcus Russell, is out of the league.  The team’s game-changing running back coming out of college, Darren McFadden, has failed to eclipse 500 rushing yards in his two seasons as a professional.  The team’s newest offensive threat, wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, inked nine catches in the record book during his rookie season in a Raider uniform.

Seattle hasn’t been much better in recent years.  After claiming the NFC West Division Championship for four consecutive years, the Seahawks have fallen to the bottom of barrel.  Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, along with his offensive line, have seen their better days.  Both have aged and become riddled with injuries.  Hasselbeck alone missed 11 games over the past two seasons.

The 2010 season will showcase new names for both teams that could change the tide of recent performances.

Oakland traded with the Washington Redskins to bring in quarterback Jason Campbell.  Campbell, with his ability to make plays out of the pocket when necessary and his strong arm, provides the Raiders a quarterback that should meet owner Al Davis’ penchant for big plays.

On the other side of the ball, the Raiders spent their top pick in April’s Draft on a run-stuffing middle linebacker.  At Alabama, Rolando McClain earned several honors including the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top collegiate linebacker.  Behind the on-field direction of McClain in his final season in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide ranked fourth nationally in total defense and second in rush defense.

Seattle also drafted a defensive anchor in 2010.  Former Texas safety Earl Thomas showcases a reported 4.45 40-yard dash time and hands that dismiss and gobble up passes, be them on target or errant, with ease.

Helping to solidify the other side of the line of scrimmage, the team spent its first draft choice in April on a left tackle that was tabbed the team’s starter from day one.  Oklahoma State product Russell Okung was one of the nation’s top prospects along the offensive line in this year’s Draft.  Known as a protector from early on in his life when he helped stabilize his family, Okung will be looked upon to keep quarterback Matt Hasselbeck’s blind side stain free and to help open up holes for a running game that hasn’t featured a 1,000-yard rusher since 2005.

Can’t get enough SeahawksGab?  Follow Editor Devon Heinen on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DevonHeinen

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Seahawks have traded veteran cornerback Josh Wilson to the Ravens for a conditional fifth-round draft pick.

Depending on how many games Wilson starts for Baltimore, the pick could increase to a fourth-round selection.

Wilson (5-9, 192) has started 24 games for the Seahawks since being chosen in the second-round of the 2007 NFL Draft out of the University of Maryland. In 40 career games, Wilson has totaled 130 tackles, with a pair of quarterback sacks and 6 interceptions, returning 3 for touchdowns.

Wilson has also averaged 25 yards on 94 kick returns with one touchdown.

The Ravens have been in the market for a starting-caliber cornerback after losing Dominique Foxworth for the season to a torn ACL.

After being asked to stay away from the team for much of the offseason, Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill now has taken a pay cut.

According to source cited by ESPN’s Mike Sando, the former star linebacker’s salary will now drop from $6 million to $2.125 million; however, Hill will have the ability of receiving $300,000 in incentives and a $60,000 roster bonus.

The agreement also eliminates the life of Hill’s previous contract, making him a free agent after the upcoming season.

Can’t get enough SeahawksGab?  Follow Editor Devon Heinen on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DevonHeinen

Another Tuesday means another chance to sound off on the Seahawks at SeahawksGab.  Cast your vote on today’s two poll questions and don’t hesitate to let your voice be heard in the comments section!

Can’t get enough SeahawksGab?  Follow Editor Devon Heinen on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DevonHeinen.

Russell Okung has an ankle sprain.  Ben Hamilton, a sore knee.  Just when Seattle could use some help the most along the offensive line, the team will get it this week.

According to Danny O’Neil of the Seattle Times, Chester Pitts will take the practice field today as Seattle prepares for its Thursday matchup against the Oakland Raiders.  Pitts has been recovering from microfracture surgery and, at one point, was thought to miss much of the beginning of the regular season.

Can’t get enough SeahawksGab?  Follow Editor Devon Heinen on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DevonHeinen.

According to canadafootballchat.com, the Seahawks have released linebacker Ricky Foley.

Foley (6-2, 245) posted 12 quarterback sacks for the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League last season, and signed a three-year deal with the Seahawks in February. Foley has been vying for a spot as a back-up option at linebacker and the “Leo” defensive end position, and has a pair of tackles in the Seahawks’ three pre-season games.

Vancouver radio station News1130 is reporting (via Greg Johns of seattlepi.com) that the B.C. Lions have already reached out to Foley about a return to their team.

In Minnesota, a slow start Saturday derailed Seattle’s hopes of beating the Vikings and gaining momentum toward the regular season as the Vikings beat the Seahawks 24-13.

Despite failing to score an offensive touchdown all game, Seattle (1-2 preseason) took a 13-10 lead into the last 15 minutes of play.  In the final minutes of the game, Minnesota (2-1 preseason) amassed 107 yards over two possessions.  Each were capped off by touchdown passes from Vikings backup quarterbacks.

Facing fourth-and-four on Seattle’s 25-yard line with 7:16 remaining, Sage Rosenfels found newly acquired wide receiver Javon Walker down the right sideline for the go-ahead touchdown.

On the Vikings’ next drive, rookie Joe Webb connected with running back Ryan D’Imperio for a 7-yard score.  A Ryan Longwell extra point gave Minnesota an 11-point lead with less than three minutes to play.

Seattle’s lone touchdown came in early in the second quarter thanks to one of the team’s highly touted rookies.  On first-and-ten from the Seattle 25 with 12:57 remaining in the second quarter, free safety Earl Thomas plucked a tipped ball out of the air – a pass intended for wideout Bernard Berrian by Brett Favre – and raced down the left sideline 87 yards for a touchdown.

While Thomas shined, his teammaters didn’t.  Of Seattle’s 11 offensive possessions, six resulted in punts.  One resulted in a missed field goal; the other, a Charlie Whitehurst interception.  Defensively, the Seahawks allowed 358 yards of total offense and 21 first downs.

Can’t get enough SeahawksGab?  Follow Editor Devon Heinen on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DevonHeinen.

Can Leon Washington be the opening day starer for the Hawks? It looks like it could happen, as he is going to start the teams preseason game vs the Jaguars.

Leon Washington is writing one of the most remarkable comeback stories of the season. After landing on Injured Reserve with a horrendous compound leg fracture with the Jets last season, Washington was traded to Seattle for a fifth-round pick. He returned to the field against the Packers last week, finishing with four carries for 19 yards and a touchdown. Saturday night, Washington wrote another chapter in his story by getting the starting nod against the Vikings. Justin Forsett and Julius Jones started the first two preseason games, though some are speculating that Washington is the favorite to win the competition and line up with the first unit September 12.