Seahawks Notes: Sherman, Offensive Line
The Seahawks made several changes to their offensive line this summer, adding free agents Luke Joeckel and Oday Aboushi and drafting second-rounder Ethan Pocic. While offensive line coach Tom Cable is generally bullish about this unit prior to training camp, he was especially happy with the organization’s offseason additions.
“I’d like to get to camp, but I’m the most excited coach on the staff right now,” Cable told ESPN.com’s Sheil Kapadia. “That’s what I’ve told coach [Pete Carroll] and John [Schneider, Seahawks general manager]. I appreciate them putting this together in a year’s time and doing a fantastic job. Our personnel guys nailed this, so it’s just a matter of getting them in the right spots and going and playing ball.”
- Following news that Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman had been holding a grudge against both quarterback Russell Wilson and Carroll over the past two seasons, the veteran was quick to dismiss the story. “He asked a few questions to a few cowardly people,” Sherman said of USA Today writer Seth Wickersham (via, ironically, Liz Mathews of USA Today). “And I’ll be calling you cowards if you’re afraid to put your name on it. If you have a comment, if you’ve got something to say, you’ve got something to ask or something and you’re not willing to put your name on it, you’re kind of a coward. But maybe they’re not cowards and maybe these people never existed. Because who knows? You don’t even have to exist. You don’t have to prove anything in this world anymore…And that’s what I mean when I say there are a lot of TMZ-like media going on because guys like this — nobody is going to ever question him if they come to find out, hey, he could have fabricated this whole story and, I mean, outside of him saying there was an interaction at practice, none of the rest of it was true. But heck, what did he have to lose? I think it’s really unfortunate that’s it’s come to that.”
Seahawks Sign Ethan Pocic
- The Seahawks have announced the signing of second-round offensive lineman Ethan Pocic, the 58th overall pick. With Pocic under contract, the Seahawks have signed nine members of their 11-player draft class. After mostly serving as a center at LSU, where he was a first-team All-American in 2016, Pocic has lined up at both guard and right tackle with Seattle this spring. As of now, Oday Aboushi (LG), Mark Glowinski (RG) and Germain Ifedi (RT) are the Seahawks’ penciled-in starters at those positions.
Seahawks Add One TE, Cut Another
- The Seahawks have signed tight end Steve Donatell and cut fellow TE Bryce Williams. Donatell, the brother of Seahawks quality control coach Tom Donatell, signed as an undrafted free agent from Wake Forest. Williams went undrafted last year out of East Carolina and spent some time with the Patriots and Rams.
NFC West Rumors: Maclin, Cardinals, Rams
Here’s a look at the NFC West:
- The Cardinals have no interest in Jeremy Maclin, according to an NFL source who spoke with Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic (on Twitter). The Cardinals, in theory, could have used Maclin as a No. 2 option opposite of Larry Fitzgerald, but they’re apparently not giving him much thought. For now, the Cards will have the speedy John Brown, JJ. Nelson, Brittan Golden, and Jaron Brown as the WRs behind Fitzgerald. While the Cardinals are not interested in Maclin, at least four teams are in on the veteran.
- Cornerback Trumaine Johnson was missing from Rams OTAs until Monday, but that was not due to any issues over his contract, as Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times writes. “Right now, I’m happy to be here and playing ball,” Johnson said. “I’m controlling what I can control. When that contract stuff comes up, I’ll handle it.” The Rams have until July 15 to sign Johnson to a new contract. Otherwise, he will play under his one-year, ~$17MM franchise tender.
- Austin Davis‘ deal with the Seahawks is for the veteran’s minimum, as Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. The quarterback will earn a $775K base salary with a $50K signing bonus plus a $30K roster bonus if he makes the team. Seattle inked Davis earlier this week, effectively choosing him over Colin Kaepernick.
Colin Kaepernick, Seahawks Didn’t Exchange Offers
Likely having closed the door on a Colin Kaepernick addition after signing journeyman Austin Davis, the Seahawks may not have been deep into financial discussions with the 29-year-old quarterback’s camp. Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweeted on Friday the Seahawks and Kaepernick were apart on money but took an opportunity Monday to clarify that wasn’t necessarily the case.
Garafolo reports Kaepernick and the Seahawks did not exchange formal offers. While the reporter notes (video link) the sides did discuss expectations of a contract before Kaepernick trekked to Seattle, but numbers-wise, the talks didn’t progress into detail beyond that.
ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reported late last month the Seahawks were looking for quarterback help at closer to the veteran minimum, and Garafolo expects Davis’ deal to come in around that. Davis did not see any time last season as the Broncos’ third-string quarterback, and he eventually was waived in December. Garafolo and Steve Wyche note Davis isn’t a lock to wrest the backup job away from Trevone Boykin, either. Wyche also relays an NFL.com report that indicated more Seahawks fans called the team to voice negative opinions of a Kaepernick addition than vice versa.
A report emerged in March that Kaepernick was potentially seeking low-end starter/high-end backup money, but nothing substantial has come out on that front since. Kaepernick has seen several teams go elsewhere to fill their backup spots, with franchises like the Cowboys and now Seahawks bringing in less accomplished players, and the No. 2 signal-caller market for players like Kaepernick and Robert Griffin III continues to dry up.
Seahawks Sign QB Austin Davis
The Seahawks have added a backup quarterback… and no, it isn’t Colin Kaepernick. ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the team has signed signal-caller Austin Davis. Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times tweets that the team has waived quarterback Jake Heaps to make room on the roster. Davis had reportedly visited the Seahawks last week.
The 28-year-old didn’t play in a single game for the Broncos during the 2016 season, and he was ultimately waived by the organization in December. The former undrafted free agent out of Southern Mississippi does have some NFL experience, as he played in 13 games (1o starts) with the Rams and Browns between 2014 and 2015. Over his career, Davis has completed 62.4-percent of his passes for 2,548 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. The quarterback reportedly met with the Giants and Ravens earlier this offseason.
Barring another addition, Davis will be competing with Trevone Boykin to serve as Russell Wilson‘s primary backup. The Seahawks had actually added Heaps last week to compete for the backup gig, although it seemed unlikely that the former undrafted rookie would be sticking around for the long haul.
This acquisiton will presumably put to rest the persisting Kaepernick rumors. We learned last week that the organization wouldn’t be signing the veteran quarterback, with coach Pete Carroll citing the 29-year-old’s ability to still start in the NFL. Subsequent reports indicated that the two sides were actually in disagreement over money, although some wondered if the Seahawks were looking to avoid a potential quarterback controversy.
Earl Thomas To Be Fully Ready By TC; Lockett "On Schedule"
- Steve Wyche of NFL.com reports that Seahawks safety Earl Thomas is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a broken left left leg, and head coach Pete Carroll has no doubts that Thomas will be at full speed in training camp. WR Tyler Lockett, who is also recovering from a broken leg, is not as far along as Thomas, but Carroll indicated that Locket is still “on schedule.”
Are Seahawks Avoiding QB Controversy By Not Signing Kaepernick?
While it doesn’t sound like the Seahawks are going to add quarterback Colin Kaepernick, starter Russell Wilson indicated that he’d welcome the former division rival.
Reports indicated that the Seahawks weren’t going to sign Kaepernick because they believe he deserves a starting role, and there were whispers that the two sides also couldn’t agree on a monetary value for the quarterback. However, Florio wonders if Pete Carroll and the organization may be trying to avoid a controversy.
There have been murmurs that Wilson hasn’t received the full support of his teammates. If the Seahawks faced any adversity next year, Florio wonders if some members of the Seahawks would push for Kaepernick to take over the starting role.
Seahawks, Colin Kaepernick Were Apart On Money
While the Seahawks did have interest in free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick, the two parties’ inability to come to an agreement was based on money, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Reports earlier this offseason indicated Kaepernick might be searching for a salary “befitting a high-end backup quarterback or a low-end starter,” and that type of pay might not be palatable for the Seahawks, who are already paying Russell Wilson nearly $22MM per year. But Seattle clearly had sincere interest in Kaepernick, who remains the top quarterback available on the free agent market.
“Colin has been a fantastic football player and he’s going to continue to be,” said head coach Pete Carroll, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. “At this time we didn’t do anything with it but we know where he is and who he is and we had a chance to understand him much moreso. He’s a starter in this league and I can’t imagine — we have a starter. But he’s a starter in this league and I can’t imagine somebody won’t give him a chance to play.’’
For now, the Seahawks will forge on with only Trevone Boykin and Jake Heaps behind Wilson. Of the pair, only Boykin boasts any NFL experience (18 passing attempts), but the second-year pro has already been in legal hot water this offseason.
Seahawks Pass On Colin Kaepernick
The Seahawks won’t be signing Colin Kaepernick. At least, not right now. Today, coach Pete Carroll told reporters that while the door remains “open” to a union with Kaepernick, there is nothing imminent on that front. 
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This jibes with a report from earlier this week which indicated that no deal would be coming together at this time. Still, all signs indicate that the Seahawks’ meeting with Kaepernick was not just done as a courtesy. The team had real interest in him, reports say, and Carroll insists that there is some degree of interest in the former 49ers signal caller. Carroll said that Kaepernick demonstrated that he is still a starting-caliber quarterback and he can’t imagine that he won’t get an opportunity to play somewhere in the NFL this year.
Austin Davis worked out for the Seahawks on the same day as Kaepernick, but he also remains unsigned. If the Seahawks want to continue looking at outside backup QB options for starter Russell Wilson, they could explore vets such as Robert Griffin III, Shaun Hill, and Christian Ponder.