The Seahawks cut D.J. Fluker, two-year starter at right guard, and center Justin Britt, recovering from ACL surgery. Combined cap savings is about $12 million.
Author: Art Thiel
Art Thiel
Never having met a metaphor he could not twist beyond recognition, Art has been illuminating, agitating, amusing and annoying Puget Sound sports readers for a long time. Along with Steve Rudman, he co-founded Sports Press Northwest because it didnt seem right that the Google monster should aggregate daily journalism into oblivion without at least a flesh wound from somebody. Thiel and Rudman labored under the Seattle Post-Intelligencer globe until the print edition died an undeserved death in March, 2009. Art continued on at its online successor seattlepi.com while working on SPNWs creation. His radio commentaries can be heard Friday and Saturday mornings and Friday afternoon on KPLU-FM 88.9. In 2003 he wrote the definitive book about the Seattle Mariners, Out of Left Field, which became a regional bestseller. In 2009, along with Rudman and KJR 950 afternoon host Mike Gastineau, Thiel authored The Great Book of Seattle Sports Lists, a cross between historylink.org and Mad Magazine that has become mandatory reading for any sports fan who has an indoor bathroom. A graduate of Pacific Lutheran University as well as two dead papers and a live one, the News Tribune of Tacoma, he has become a fan of entrepreneurial online journalism because it allows him to continue a lifelong passion to take the English language to places it rarely visits willingly, and does not involve the cleaning of kennels or stables.
As TV entertainment, the virtual NFL draft was a big success. Now comes the more difficult task of edging into real football. Pete Carroll isn’t sure how that works.
The Seahawks’ predictably went hard for defense, with two linemen and and a linebacker in the first five rounds. They also went late to get a receiver with a backstory.
The Seahawks scored a top-tier pass-rusher from Tennessee in the second round, and in the third round, a right guard from national champion Louisiana State.
No trading down for more draft picks. No pursuit of higher-profile players. Seahawks used their top pick on LB Jordyn Brooks, who seems much like Bobby Wagner.
Sure, Seahawks need a better pass rush. But they have a higher directive: Preserve Russell Wilson. A left tackle is needed as a future anchor tenant. Here’s a good one.
Pete Carroll likes the tech of this year’s NFL stay-at-home draft. John Schneider is not so sure, especially after installers tore up part of his house.
GM John Schneider says the door isn’t closed to a return of DE Jadeveon Clowney, but the Seahawks have begun to backfill his position.
Absent a decision from DE Jadeveon Clowney, Seahawks’ off-season so far has been about maintaining. Improvement has to begin Thursday with the draft.
Given the absence of a vaccine and effective national testing, and the ubiquity of the coronavirus, pro sports leagues shouldn’t risk firing up mid-pandemic.