The Seattle Seahawks agreed to terms Friday with CB Roy Lewis, OG Deuce Lutui and LB Barrett Ruud. Of the three, Lewis resonates most since he is a former Washington Husky and spent the last three seasons with the Seahawks, appearing in 33 games with one start and 37 tackles (26 solo), 1.5 sacks and six passes defensed.
Lewis served as Seattle’s special teams captain in 2010 and was also voted the Largent Award winner by teammates and named Seahawks Man of the Year for 2010.
Lewis entered the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2008, playing in one game.
The Arizona Cardinals selected Lutui in the second round (41st overall) of the 2006 NFL draft. He started 72 of 93 career games at right guard. He started all 16 games played from 2008-10 and all 15 games played in 2007.
Lutui played two seasons at USC (2004-05) and started at right tackle as a junior and left guard as a senior, helping protect Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart, and was named USC’s Offensive Lineman of the Year after his final season.
Lutui, whose given first name is Taitusi, re-unites with former Trojans coaches Pete Carroll, Chris Carlisle, Ken Norton, Jr., Pat Ruel, Rocky Seto, Carl Smith and Jamie Yanchar in Seattle.
Ruud originally was selected in the second round (36th overall) of the 2005 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he spent six years before signing as an unrestricted free agent with the Tennessee Titans July 31.
He played in 104 career games with 77 starts, collecting 642 tackles (469 solo), 5 sacks, seven interceptions and 23 passes defensed.
In 2011, he started all nine games that he played for the Titans, posting 57 tackles (40 solo), one interception and three passes defensed before being placed on injured reserve (groin).
HAWTHORNE BOLTS: David Hawthorne, Seattle’s leading tackler in each of the past three seasons, has signed a five-year contract with the New Orleans Saints. “From Day One, they were one of the first teams to contact me in free agency,” said Hawthorne. “I think they valued me and my body of work, and I had never played a snap for them.”
Hawthorne is the fourth unrestricted free agent to leave Seattle, following TE John Carlson (Minnesota), OG Mike Gibson (Philadelphia) and DE Anthony Hargrove (Green Bay).
Free Agents Signed
| Date | Player | Pos. | Terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 10 | *Breno Giacomini | OL | $1.5 million base in 2012, $3 million in 2013 |
| March 4 | *Marshawn Lynch | RB | 4 years, $31 million, $18 million guaranteed |
| March 14 | *Red Bryant | EE | 5 years, $35 million, $14 million guaranteed |
| March 14 | *Heath Farwell | LB | Contrat terms not yet disclosed |
| March 15 | *Paul McQuistan | OL | Contract terms not yet disclosed |
| March 16 | *Michael Robinson | FB | Signed two-year deal; terms not disclosed |
| March 17 | ^Jason Jones | DL | Signed one-year deal; terms not disclosed |
| March 18 | ^Matt Flynn | QB | Signed 3-year $24 million, $10m guaranteed |
| March 23 | ^Kregg Lumpkin | RB | Terms not disclosed for ex-Buc back |
| April 6 | *Roy Lewis | CB | Hawks originally didn’t offer contract |
| April 6 | ^Deuce Lutui | OG | 72 NFL starts since 2006 |
| April 6 | ^Barrett Ruud | LB | Effectively replaces David Hawthorne |
Free Agents Lost
| Date | Player | Pos. | Terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 15 | John Carlson | TE | 5 years, $25 million with Minnesota Vikings |
| March 16 | Charlie Whitehurst | QB | Signed 2-year deal with San Diego Chargers |
| March 16 | Atari Bigby | S | Signed 2-year deal with San Diego Chargers |
| March 31 | Anthony Hargrove | DL | Signed with Green Bay Packers |
| April 3 | David Hawthorne | LB | Signed 5-year deal with New Orleans |
*=Own free agent; ^Outside free agent