Seahawks.com Blog

Josh Portis released

Clare Farnsworth — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:45:10 +0000

Quarterback Josh Portis has been released, the team announced today.

Portis signed with the Seahawks as rookie free agent in 2011, when he made the 53-man roster as the No. 3 QB. He was inactive for 15 games and the backup in one because then-starter Tarvaris Jackson was injured. Portis was released from the practice squad last November and re-signed with Seattle on April 3.

Portis had been competing for a backup spot behind starter Russell Wilson with Brady Quinn, a former first-round draft choice by the Browns who was signed in free agency last month; and Jerrod Johnson, who also was signed last month.

Super Bowls awarded to Bay Area and Houston

Clare Farnsworth — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:22:15 +0000

San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York speaks at a groundbreaking ceremony at the construction site for the San Francisco 49ers’ NFL football stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, April 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

The NFL has made its decisions, and the 50^th and 51^st Super Bowls will be held in the San Francisco Bay Area and Houston.

Team owners voted in Boston today for the championship games that will be played in 2016 and 2017.

The 2016 game, or Super Bowl L, will be played at the 49ers’ new stadium in Santa Clara that is schedule to open in time for the 2014 season.

“We’re just excited that the owners voted for the Bay Area to host Super Bowl L,” 49ers CEO Jed York told the NFL Network. “It’s an awesome, awesome thing that they’ve allowed us to host one of the biggest games; the golden anniversary in the Golden State. We’re just really, really excited.”

Houston, meanwhile, was awarded the 2017 title game, or Super Bowl LI. Houston also hosted the Super Bowl in 2004.

“We had a wonderful time in 2004,” Texans founder, chairman and CEO Robert McNair told the NFL Network. “We love having the NFL in Houston and celebrating the Super Bowl. I think we are even better prepared this time. It is just going to be a wonderful celebration. We just look forward to having people from all over the world come to Houston.”

The Super Bowl will be played in East Rutherford, N.J., in the stadium shared by the Giants and Jets, in 2014. The 2015 game will be played at the home stadium of the Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz.

Russell Wilson gives offense even stronger legs to stand on

Clare Farnsworth — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:36:34 +0000

Russell Wilson has given new meaning to the term base offense.

The Seahawks’ second-year quarterback says he has added five pounds this offseason – and it’s all in lower body.

“I’ve worked on my legs a lot,” Wilson said Monday after the team’s first OTA session. “That’s kind of the main thing that I’ve been working on all offseason, in terms of squatting a lot more (weight) and doing a lot more of movement stuff on my feet just to have that strong base.

“I’ve gained a couple of pounds here and there in my legs.”

Wilson played at 210 pounds last season, when he tied the NFL rookie record by throwing 26 touchdown passes and also broke the franchise mark for rushing yards (489) by a quarterback. He said he now weighs about 215.

“I would like to be where I’m at right now when the season starts.”

If Wilson’s on-field performance Monday was any indication the extra work has paid off. He displayed quickness and an impressive initial bust while breaking from the pocket on several runs – not that Wilson wasn’t already proficient in those areas while being productive running the zone-read last season.

Monday in Hawkville: Russell Wilson picks up far beyond where he left off

Clare Farnsworth — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:30:18 +0000

A recap of the activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for May 20, as the Seahawks kicked off the OTA portion of their offseason program:

FOCUS ON

Russell Wilson. The Seahawks’ second-year quarterback made it difficult to not watch him, and coach Pete Carroll summed up the situation when asked how much farther along Wilson is this year compared to last year – when he had just been selected in the third round of the NFL Draft and still was competing for the starting job with the since-departed duo of Matt Flynn and Tarvaris Jackson.

“There’s no way of even calculating that,” Carroll said after a crisp, spirited practice on yet another gorgeous day along the shores of Lake Washington. “His awareness and his sense for the finest details, we jumped offside today and he’s working on hard counts on the first play of team (drills).

“He didn’t know what a hard count was last year at this time.”

That might be stretching it just a tad, but saying that Wilson had a very impressive outing in the first of the team’s 10 OTA practices is not.

In that first team segment Carroll mentioned, Wilson completed passes to wide receivers Doug Baldwin and Golden Tate and also scrambled twice, before throwing a touchdown pass to tight end Anthony McCoy. Wilson remained almost as sharp, and aware, for the rest of the session.

“It’s really hard to equate what it is, because he’s applied himself so much that he’s taken an extraordinary amount of information and he’s processing it,” Carroll said. “He threw a couple of balls today – things that we’ve talked about over the offseason we’d like to take a shot at – and he did it today just to see what would happen. With full awareness of why he was doing it.”

Before the OTA session was over, Wilson had completed passes to 10 receivers – running back Robert Turbin; Baldwin and McCoy; Tate, running back Derrick Coleman, rookie tight end Luke Willson, Percy Harvin, tight end Zach Miller, wide receiver Bryan Walters and wide receiver Jermaine Kearse.

The pass to Kearse was vintage Wilson – and that’s saying something, as well, that a second-year QB already has established trademark nuances to his game. It came on the final play, as Wilson avoided pressure and got off a pass that caught Kearse as much as Kearse caught the pass.

“Russell is the kind of players that will affect other guys,” Carroll said. “He affects everybody around him and hopefully that will help everybody play better.”

Photo gallery

UNIT WATCH

Offensive line. Right tackle Breno Giacomini participated fully, after being limited in Phase 2 of the offseason program following elbow surgery. His returned allowed the No. 1 offense to field the same line that closed last season – Pro Bowl left tackle Russell Okung, left guard Paul McQuistan, All-Pro center Max Unger, right guard J.R. Sweezy and Giacomini.

Comprising the second unit, from left tackle to right: Mike Person, who had been working for Giacomini with the No. 1 line; Rishaw Johnson, Lemuel Jeanpierre, John Moffitt and Michael Bowie. In the third unit: Alvin Bailey, Johnson, Jared Smith, Ryan Seymour and Jordon Roussos.

PLAYER WATCH

Cliff Avril. And that’s what the defensive end who was signed in free agency was doing – watching, because he’s dealing with plantar fascia that he got a month ago.

But with Bruce Irvin facing a four-game suspension to start the regular season and Chris Clemons still recovering from surgery to repair the ligament and meniscus damage in his left knee from the wild-card playoff win over the Redskins in January, Avril is slated to be the starter at the Leo end spot in the Sept. 8 opener against the Panthers in Carolina.

“I like the fact that Cliff is here because he gave us a cushion for Clem,” Carroll said. “That now changes for the first month of the season.”

Today, Irvin continued to work at Leo end in the No. 1 nickel line, with Mike Morgan taking over with the second unit and Ty Powell going with the third unit. In the base defense, Michael Bennett was the Leo end with the No. 1 line.

ROSTER MOVES

Tight end Darren Fells was re-signed this morning, while snapper Adam Steiner was released to clear a spot on the 90-man roster.

Fells, a basketball player in college who also played professionally in Belgium, Ireland and Argentina, was released two weeks ago. But he attended the May 10-12 rookie minicamp on a tryout basis. Steiner had been claimed off waivers last week.

Also, running back Christine Michael, who was selected in the second round of the NFL Draft last month, signed his rookie contract.

UP NEXT

The players also have OTA sessions Tuesday and Thursday this week. Next week, they’ll go Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

YOU DON’T SAY, PLAYER EDITION

“We really don’t care. Coach said we’ve got a lot of hype, but he also said let’s make it natural. Everybody around here expects us to win, but we expect ourselves to win, too. We don’t come out here saying we hope to lose. With a good team comes a lot of talk, but we put all that behind us. We’re out here having fun, we’re competing and that’s how it’s going to be.” – Harvin, when asked how the players were handling the heightened expectations that have come from being regarded among the “favorites” in the league this offseason by the national media

YOU DON’T SAY, COACH EDITION

“It was a very, very good first day for us.” – Carroll

Christine Michael signs; Darren Fells re-signs

Clare Farnsworth — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:40:40 +0000

Running back Christine Michael, the Seahawks’ top draft choice last month, signed his rookie contract this morning.

The club also announced that tight end Darren Fells has been re-signed, while snapper Adam Steiner was released to clear a spot on the 90-man roster.

The 5-foot-10, 221-pound Michael was selected in the second round of the draft. His signing leaves two of the team’s 11 draft choices unsigned: cornerback Tharold Simon (fifth round) and tackle Michael Bowie (seventh round).

Fells, a basketball player in college and then professionally in Belgium, Finland and Argentia, had been released two weeks ago. But he was invited to the May 10-12 rookie minicamp on a tryout out basis. Steiner was claimed off waivers from the Raiders last week.

The team will hold the first of its 10 OTA sessions today.

Seahawks well represented in Top 100 Plays of 2012

Tony Drovetto — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:18:11 +0000

NFL Network’s NFL AM has been counting down the Top 100 Plays of 2012, and 46 plays into the countdown, the Seahawks are well represented on their list.

We take timeout to pay homage to the seven plays on the list that feature some of Seattle’s very own.

No. 96 - Golden Tate’s 14-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown that gave the Seahawks a three-point lead with 32 seconds left in the game against the Chicago Bears in Week 13. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler would connect with wide receiver Brandon Marshall on the ensuing drive to set up a field goal that would tie the game at 17, but Russell Wilson led an 80-yard touchdown drive in the opening possession of overtime to give Seattle a 23-17 victory with a play that we’re sure will show up later on this list.

No. 89 – It’s only appropriate that play No. 89 on their countdown goes to the Seahawks’ No. 89 – wide receiver Doug Baldwin. His 43-yard juggling catch against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16 made the cut on the countdown. Baldwin was the club’s leading receiver that day, hauling in four catches for 53 yards and two scores, as Seattle topped the division rival Niners, 42-13, on Sunday Night Football.

No. 88 - Eighty-eight goes to Golden Tate, who shows up for the second time in the countdown’s first 12 plays. Tate’s acrobatics are on display again in this one, as he takes a quick pass from Russell Wilson and dodges defenders for 11 yards before diving into the end zone for a touchdown in Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings. The play gave the Seahawks a 20-17 lead they would not surrender, as they bested the Vikings 30-20 at CenturyLink Field.

No. 77 – Russell Wilson checks in at No. 77 on the countdown, but not for one of the many plays he made with his arm last season. It’s Wilson’s feet that get the recognition here, as he practically out-maneuvers the entire New England Patriots defense on a 3rd-and-4 play to pick up nine yards and a first down. No offense to CBS Sports play-by-play man Ian Eagle, but this play gets much more entertaining (and equally more appropriate) when the slapstick comedy “Yakety Sax” tune is played over the top of Wilson’s scramble. Mute the video of the play below and queue up “Yakety Sax” on YouTube, try to start both videos at nearly the same time, and enjoy.

No. 69 – The Legion of Boom makes their presence known for the first (and we’re pretty sure it won’t be the last) time on the Top 100 plays of 2012, as free safety Earl Thomas snagged a Ryan Fitzpatrick pass and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown to cap off a 50-17 win over the Buffalo Bills in Toronto. Aided by Thomas’ effort, the Seahawks became the third team in NFL history and first since 1950 to score 50 points or more in back-to-back games, after posting 58 in a shutout of the Arizona Cardinals the week prior.

No. 61 – Tight end Zach Miller makes the list for his tremendous one-handed touchdown grab in Week 8 against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Miller hauled in a 16-yard pass from quarterback Russell Wilson for his first touchdown as a Seahawk.

No. 59 – Golden Tate shows up for the third time on this list, this time when he connects with fellow wide receiver Sidney Rice on a 23-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of a Week 10 game against the New York Jets at CenturyLink Field. Quarterback Russell Wilson fakes a hand-off to running back Robert Turbin and then pitches the ball back to Tate, who acts like a runner before winding up his left arm and delivering a strike to Rice in the back of the end zone.

That’s it for now. The Top 100 Plays of 2012 continue this week, as plays No. 51-55 are unveiled throughout the week on NFL Network’s NFL AM.

Earl Thomas highlighted at No. 66 in NFL’s Top 100 of 2013

Tony Drovetto — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:54:26 +0000

Free safety Earl Thomas joined teammates Max Unger and Percy Harvin on NFL Network’s list of the Top 100 Players of 2013, checking in at No. 66.

It’s yet another recognition for the hard-to-believe-he-is-already-in-his-fourth-year pro. Thomas, who turned just 24-years-old earlier this month, has garnered Pro Bowl honors (2011, 2012) and first-team AP All-Pro (2012) selections since coming into the League out of the University of Texas with the 14th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. He has led a Seahawks defense that has jumped from ranking 27^th in the NFL in 2010 to ninth in 2011 to fourth last season.

Despite a stellar 2012 where he racked up 66 tackles, nine passes defensed, forced and recovered a fumble, and picked off three passes – one of which he returned 57 yards for a touchdown, Thomas’ ranking at No. 66 is the exact same spot where he showed up last year on this same list.

That’s why it’s not too surprising that the hyper-competitive Thomas isn’t all that satisfied with his rank, saying he’ll use it as “fuel to the fire.”

Fuel to the fire!!!! RT @Seahawks: Congrats, @Earl_Thomas! No. 66 on @nflnetwork's #NFLTop100! #LegionOfBoom—
Earl Thomas (@Earl_Thomas) May 17, 2013

Chiefs hire Will Lewis as director of pro scouting

Clare Farnsworth — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:47:58 +0000

Former Seahawks Director of Pro Personnel Will Lewis (right)

Will Lewis, who worked in the Seahawks’ scouting department and front office for 13 years, has been hired as director of pro scouting by the Chiefs.

The move was announced on the team’s website. Marvin Allen was added as director of college scouting on the staff of first-year general manager John Dorsey, who also worked for the Seahawks in 1999.

“Will and Marvin are tremendous at what they do,” Dorsey said. “I had the privilege of getting to know Will while working with him in both Seattle and Green Bay, and he has a lot of experience that will benefit us.”

After playing for the Seahawks in 1980-81, Lewis returned in 1999 as the team’s director of pro personnel and was vice president of football operations from 2010-12.

Spencer Ware Signs Contract

Clare Farnsworth — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:40:54 +0000

Running back Spencer Ware, the Seahawks’ sixth-round pick in last month’s NFL Draft, signed his rookie contract today.

Ware is being used at fullback and tailback by the Seahawks, and his wares have been on display at last weekend’s rookie minicamp as well as the team’s offseason-program workouts this week.

“I want him to learn how to play fullback for us and compete at that spot,” coach Pete Carroll after watching Ware over the weekend. “We’ve seen him run the ball a lot and we know he can. He’s a really aggressive, tough runner and we love that about him. So we’re trying to transfer that nature to the fullback spot.”

In three seasons at LSU, the 5-foot-10, 229-pound Ware rushed for 1,249 yards, including 707 in 2011; and caught 39 passes, with 18 of his receptions coming last season.

The club signed seven of its 11 draft choices last week: defensive tackles Jordan Hill (third round) and Jesse Williams (fifth); wide receiver Chris Harper (fourth); tight end Luke Willson (fifth); defensive end Ty Powell (seventh); and offensive linemen Ryan Seymour and Jared Smith (seventh).

Still unsigned are running back Christine Michael, who was drafted in the second round; cornerback Tharold Simon (fifth) and tackle Michael Bowie, the last of the team’s four selections in the seventh round.

Patriots at Seahawks featured as 12th-best game of 2012

Tony Drovetto — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:00:09 +0000

It’s quite fitting that the 12th-best game on NFL.com’s list of the Top 20 games of 2012 goes to the home of the 12th Man.

The Seahawks’ 24-23 victory over the New England Patriots in Week 6 of last season at CenturyLink Field was unveiled today at No. 12 on their list. In that game, the Seahawks battled back from a 23-10 deficit midway through the fourth quarter, as quarterback Russell Wilson threw scoring passes to wide receiver Braylon Edwards and again to wide receiver Sidney Rice with less than 90 seconds to play. The Seahawks defense then closed the door on Tom Brady and the Pats by forcing a turnover on downs on New England’s ensuing possession to secure the 24-23 win.

The game was somewhat of a coming out party for Wilson, who completed 16 of 27 passes for 293 yards and three touchdowns, good for a 133.7 quarterback rating. Until that point, Wilson’s arm had been kept under wraps by head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who asked Wilson to avoid risks and play it safe with the football.

Wilson’s counterpart that day, Brady, threw 31 more times than the Seahawks rookie, completing 36 of 58 for two touchdowns and two interceptions – one by cornerback Richard Sherman and another by free safety Earl Thomas.

Elliot Harrison of NFL.com has his full recap of the game here, and below he explains why this game was ranked where it was:

“Patriots-Seahawks featured two of the better clubs from last season, with the bonus being that we rarely see this interconference matchup.

Going a step further, you couldn’t find two more contrasting styles if you tried. Seattle pounds the ball, tries to completely shut down your offense and asks its quarterback to make plays in spots. Meanwhile, New England often places the whole game on its quarterback’s shoulders, while living off takeaways on defense. Consider: Brady attempted 31 more passes than Wilson in this game, despite the fact New England had a two-score lead in the fourth.

All that made for an intriguing matchup decided by one point. Not bad.”