Well, that lasted quick. The Seahawks’ Monday trade of guard John Moffitt fell through Tuesday when he apparently didn’t pass his physical exam with the Cleveland Browns. The Akron Beacon Journal reported Moffitt was already on the practice field when Browns coach Rod Chudzinki escorted him off.
After Moffitt’s rights reverted to the Seahawks, the club sent back to the Browns DT Brian Sanford, then moved Moffitt to Denver in exchange for 325-pound defensive lineman Sealver Siliga, the Broncos announced. The Seahawks did not announce the deal by mid-afternoon. Coach Pete Carroll addressed the media post-practice about Sanford’s virtues, then stopped himself and said he shouldn’t have said anything because the transaction was not complete.
Siliga is a third-year pro from the University of Utah. He was on the active roster the 2012 season but played in only one game. He signed with San Francisco as a free agent in July 2011, then was released from the 49ers practice squad in October, after which he signed with the Broncos.
In his rookie season of 2011 out of Wisconsin, Moffitt started his first nine games before knee surgery was required to repair torn ligaments. Last season, he had elbow surgery during training camp, and was suspended four games by the NFL for use of the stimulant Adderall. Apparently the health issue had to do with Moffitt’s knees, but it didn’t preclude another trade.
Before the deal fell through, Carroll said that Moffitt’s departure was merely from the fact that second-year guard J.R. Sweezy, who was a defensive lineman throughout his career, beat him out.
“We gave (Moffitt) a really good chance,” he said. “We alternated all through camp to see if he could get J.R., and J.R. beat him out.”
Carroll said the unexpected progress of two rookies, free agent guard Alvin Bailey and seventh-round draft choice Michael Bowie, gave the Seahawks enough depth to make Moffitt expendable.
“We would not have been able to do a trade like that if the young guys hadn’t been doing such a great job,” he said. “Those guys have surprised us. Michael did a real nice job. Alvin was a guard his whole college career. We’ll continue to give them opportunities. We think that they could help us on either side.”
NOTES — FB Michael Robinson was not at practice after becoming “violently ill,” Carroll said . . . Rookie DT Jordan Hill hurt his arm in practice but Carroll didn’t know the extent of the injury . . . Four key injured players returned to practice Tuesday: TE Zach Miller and DL’s Cliff Avril, Tony McDonald and Bruce Irvin. But participation in drills was limited. It wasn’t clear who among them would be available for the Seahawks’ third exhibition game at 5 p.m. PT Friday in Green Bay.
2 Comments
Evidently the Hawks had a backup plan in place, however not sure how they can trade a player who failed a physical? And it seems they were anxious to get rid of Moffitt. I imagine his off the field issues came into play.
They claim it’s because Sweezy beat him. The off-field stuff wouldn’t have mattered if he could be a difference-maker. He wasn’t.