Seahawks sign Duckett to 5 yr deal (1 Viewer)

[JohnnyU]

Headlines

Seahawks sign T.J. Duckett to five-year deal

NFL Network's Adam Schefter reports that the Seahawks and T.J. Duckett have agreed to terms on a five-year contract.

Mar. 4 - 5:52 pm et

Looks like he could have some real value as Seattle sours on Alexander even more.

 

[Ripleys]

5 years? For Duckett? Is it one of those deals where its really only good for 1 or 2 years?

 

[scott72]

Wow. Wonder how much is guaranteed. Goal line back time. SA just dropped even further down the draft boards.

 

[teamroc]

Wow. Wonder how much is guaranteed. Goal line back time. SA just dropped even further down the draft boards.

Duckett is awful. He's not a very good goal line back. He's run like he's 190lbs (constantly breaking it outside) not like he's 250lbs. He's an awful RB.Regardless, looks like Mora is rebuilding the Falcons. I guess we know where Vick is going to land when he gets out of jail. Waiting for Dunn to be signed as a player/coach.

 

[prymetyme25]

Wow. Wonder how much is guaranteed. Goal line back time. SA just dropped even further down the draft boards.

Duckett is awful. He's not a very good goal line back. He's run like he's 190lbs (constantly breaking it outsite) not like he's 250lbs. He's an awful RB.Regardless, looks like Mora is rebuilding the Falcons. I guess we know where Vick is going to land when he gets out of jail. Waiting for Dunn to be signed as a player/coach.

Dude score 31 tds in his first 4 years and wasn't even a starter. Duckett may not be very good but I can't agree with this at all.

 

[RBM]

Doubt they go rb in the 1st now

 

[teamroc]

Wow. Wonder how much is guaranteed. Goal line back time. SA just dropped even further down the draft boards.

Duckett is awful. He's not a very good goal line back. He's run like he's 190lbs (constantly breaking it outsite) not like he's 250lbs. He's an awful RB.Regardless, looks like Mora is rebuilding the Falcons. I guess we know where Vick is going to land when he gets out of jail. Waiting for Dunn to be signed as a player/coach.

Dude score 31 tds in his first 4 years and wasn't even a starter. Duckett may not be very good but I can't agree with this at all.

I've seen every Falcon game he played. Yes the stats look pretty on paper. They had a very good rush offense, very good run blocking o-line, and Vick moved the offense. He got the GL work because Dunn was an AWFUL short yardage RB. Probably the worst short yardage starting RB in the league.And since his "glory" years, he's scored 5 tds in 2 years. Not exactly trending upwards. Clearly Mora likes him. There was no chance he'd get this kind of deal from any other team in the league. He was awful with the skins, and awful with the lions.

 

[prymetyme25]

Wow. Wonder how much is guaranteed. Goal line back time. SA just dropped even further down the draft boards.

Duckett is awful. He's not a very good goal line back. He's run like he's 190lbs (constantly breaking it outsite) not like he's 250lbs. He's an awful RB.Regardless, looks like Mora is rebuilding the Falcons. I guess we know where Vick is going to land when he gets out of jail. Waiting for Dunn to be signed as a player/coach.

Dude score 31 tds in his first 4 years and wasn't even a starter. Duckett may not be very good but I can't agree with this at all.

I've seen every Falcon game he played. Yes the stats look pretty on paper. They had a very good rush offense, very good run blocking o-line, and Vick moved the offense. He got the GL work because Dunn was an AWFUL short yardage RB. Probably the worst short yardage starting RB in the league.And since his "glory" years, he's scored 5 tds in 2 years. Not exactly trending upwards. Clearly Mora likes him. There was no chance he'd get this kind of deal from any other team in the league. He was awful with the skins, and awful with the lions.

he got to Washington late in the offseason and 5.2ypc is awful?ETAffseason

 

[supermark_28]

Doubt they go rb in the 1st now

My dream of Stewart going to Seattle just got flushed..

 

[scott72]

Wow. Wonder how much is guaranteed. Goal line back time. SA just dropped even further down the draft boards.

Duckett is awful. He's not a very good goal line back. He's run like he's 190lbs (constantly breaking it outsite) not like he's 250lbs. He's an awful RB.Regardless, looks like Mora is rebuilding the Falcons. I guess we know where Vick is going to land when he gets out of jail. Waiting for Dunn to be signed as a player/coach.

Dude score 31 tds in his first 4 years and wasn't even a starter. Duckett may not be very good but I can't agree with this at all.

I've seen every Falcon game he played. Yes the stats look pretty on paper. They had a very good rush offense, very good run blocking o-line, and Vick moved the offense. He got the GL work because Dunn was an AWFUL short yardage RB. Probably the worst short yardage starting RB in the league.And since his "glory" years, he's scored 5 tds in 2 years. Not exactly trending upwards. Clearly Mora likes him. There was no chance he'd get this kind of deal from any other team in the league. He was awful with the skins, and awful with the lions.

I didn't really follow his games, but he didn't receive a whole lot of playing time with these teams did he? You can't throw him out there once or twice a game and expect huge things. Obviously Seattle sees something they like hence the 5 yr deal. I'm not sure he would be an effective change of pace back, but you have to think goal line opportunites are going to be his given the questionable health of SA.

 

[bigmurd]

I agree that I've been less than impressed with TJ this last couple of years but he did run quite well at the end of last season. The thing that surprises me the most is the length of the contract; I guess we'll need to see the details to figure it out.

So what does this mean for the 'Hawks running game going forward? It muddies the waters as to whether they'll draft a 1st round RB. I'm inclined to believe that the team thinks that there is a good possibility that all three top RB's will be off the board by the time they get around to picking. Could be a RBBC mess!

 

[teamroc]

I didn't really follow his games, but he didn't receive a whole lot of playing time with these teams did he? You can't throw him out there once or twice a game and expect huge things. Obviously Seattle sees something they like hence the 5 yr deal. I'm not sure he would be an effective change of pace back, but you have to think goal line opportunites are going to be his given the questionable health of SA.

If he didn't get playing time, it means he wasn't very good. What other reason could there be?He's in Seattle because Mora coached him in Atlanta. Yes I'm sure he'll get some GL work. But I still maintain he's not a very good running back. I can't see you ever starting him in FF, and he's on his 4th team in 4 years, that's not a formula for success. That means you're a journeymen RB, and maybe you can fill some small roles. He might get 2-3 TDs next year; I'd be shocked if it was anything higher.

 

[hitmenssharpshooters]

Doubt they go rb in the 1st now

My dream of Stewart going to Seattle just got flushed..

You never know..you can never have too many RB's.

 

[scott72]

I didn't really follow his games, but he didn't receive a whole lot of playing time with these teams did he? You can't throw him out there once or twice a game and expect huge things. Obviously Seattle sees something they like hence the 5 yr deal. I'm not sure he would be an effective change of pace back, but you have to think goal line opportunites are going to be his given the questionable health of SA.

If he didn't get playing time, it means he wasn't very good. What other reason could there be?He's in Seattle because Mora coached him in Atlanta. Yes I'm sure he'll get some GL work. But I still maintain he's not a very good running back. I can't see you ever starting him in FF, and he's on his 4th team in 4 years, that's not a formula for success. That means you're a journeymen RB, and maybe you can fill some small roles. He might get 2-3 TDs next year; I'd be shocked if it was anything higher.

Nah I don't buy into that. Look at Ryan Grant. Practice squad material with the Giants, now starting for us. Sometimes these guys need to be given a chance. I always thought Tatum Bell was a good back that never got a fair shake in Detroit. Sometimes guys that can be good backs get buried on the depth chart for whatever reason.

 

[prymetyme25]

I didn't really follow his games, but he didn't receive a whole lot of playing time with these teams did he? You can't throw him out there once or twice a game and expect huge things. Obviously Seattle sees something they like hence the 5 yr deal. I'm not sure he would be an effective change of pace back, but you have to think goal line opportunites are going to be his given the questionable health of SA.

If he didn't get playing time, it means he wasn't very good. What other reason could there be?He's in Seattle because Mora coached him in Atlanta. Yes I'm sure he'll get some GL work. But I still maintain he's not a very good running back. I can't see you ever starting him in FF, and he's on his 4th team in 4 years, that's not a formula for success. That means you're a journeymen RB, and maybe you can fill some small roles. He might get 2-3 TDs next year; I'd be shocked if it was anything higher.

Nah I don't buy into that. Look at Ryan Grant. Practice squad material with the Giants, now starting for us. Sometimes these guys need to be given a chance. I always thought Tatum Bell was a good back that never got a fair shake in Detroit. Sometimes guys that can be good backs get buried on the depth chart for whatever reason.

This is exactly why I expect Tatum to be here in Houston. Just like Duckett went to someone who believes he can be used in a highly productice way.

 

[Sea Bass]

Doubt they go rb in the 1st now

I don't think that this should influence the draft at all. If you sign a talented rookie to go with Duckett, Seattle would be set to move Alexander.

 

[redman]

I didn't really follow his games, but he didn't receive a whole lot of playing time with these teams did he? You can't throw him out there once or twice a game and expect huge things. Obviously Seattle sees something they like hence the 5 yr deal. I'm not sure he would be an effective change of pace back, but you have to think goal line opportunites are going to be his given the questionable health of SA.

If he didn't get playing time, it means he wasn't very good. What other reason could there be?He's in Seattle because Mora coached him in Atlanta. Yes I'm sure he'll get some GL work. But I still maintain he's not a very good running back. I can't see you ever starting him in FF, and he's on his 4th team in 4 years, that's not a formula for success. That means you're a journeymen RB, and maybe you can fill some small roles. He might get 2-3 TDs next year; I'd be shocked if it was anything higher.

Nah I don't buy into that. Look at Ryan Grant. Practice squad material with the Giants, now starting for us. Sometimes these guys need to be given a chance. I always thought Tatum Bell was a good back that never got a fair shake in Detroit. Sometimes guys that can be good backs get buried on the depth chart for whatever reason.

This is exactly why I expect Tatum to be here in Houston. Just like Duckett went to someone who believes he can be used in a highly productice way.

People are forgetting how bad this running offense was last year. It got so bad that they completely changed their MO and became a pass-crazy team. I think they're completely restocking their RB inventory, and they figured that at a minimum they ought to have a guy who can convert 3rd and 2 into a first down, and "and-goal" situations into TD's. I think they're primed to pick a RB in the draft who can move the ball between the 20's on first and second downs and be the backbone of drives.

 

[Brutis]

Doubt they go rb in the 1st now

Thats what im thinking. I doubt stewart or mendenhall would have fell that far anyway.

 

[Bri]

Old Shaun is probably a better GL back than Duckett is

 

[Brutis]

Old Shaun is probably a better GL back than Duckett is

They both are pretty good. Ol Shaun looked like he had the Eddie George disease last year. The "running with cement cleats" I call it. Wouldnt suprise me if they grabbed a RB in rd3 or so, I think some good ones will still be out there.

 

[Coogar]

Can we please change the name of the Seahawks to the Northwest Falcons. This is getting ridiculous. Ruskells' drafts have been very hit and miss as have his free agent pickups. Overall I think the Seahawks are headed South.

 

[vandyt]

Doubt they go rb in the 1st now

I don't think that this should influence the draft at all. If you sign a talented rookie to go with Duckett, Seattle would be set to move Alexander.

I don't see the Duckett signing affecting SEA's draft plans at all. If they have a RB they want available to them in the draft, they'll take him. Alexander will only be on the team if they can't fill the starters role through the draft.

 

[B Maverick]

maybe this signals the end of Mo Morris? Anyone think of that?

SA, Duckett and Stewart? Depending on ducketts contract of course......

 

[Brutis]

Doubt they go rb in the 1st now

I don't think that this should influence the draft at all. If you sign a talented rookie to go with Duckett, Seattle would be set to move Alexander.

I don't see the Duckett signing affecting SEA's draft plans at all. If they have a RB they want available to them in the draft, they'll take him. Alexander will only be on the team if they can't fill the starters role through the draft.

I'll agree with that, i just dont think mendenhall or stewart last to the Seahawks pick.

 

[pollardsvision]

duckett's not very good, but he may very be better than the artist formerly known as shaun alexander

 

[moderated]

Doubt they go rb in the 1st now

I don't think that this should influence the draft at all. If you sign a talented rookie to go with Duckett, Seattle would be set to move Alexander.

I don't see the Duckett signing affecting SEA's draft plans at all. If they have a RB they want available to them in the draft, they'll take him. Alexander will only be on the team if they can't fill the starters role through the draft.

The Duckett signing has no bearing on whether they go RB in the 1st.

 

[FUBAR]

Wow. Wonder how much is guaranteed. Goal line back time. SA just dropped even further down the draft boards.

Duckett is awful. He's not a very good goal line back. He's run like he's 190lbs (constantly breaking it outsite) not like he's 250lbs. He's an awful RB.Regardless, looks like Mora is rebuilding the Falcons. I guess we know where Vick is going to land when he gets out of jail. Waiting for Dunn to be signed as a player/coach.

Dude score 31 tds in his first 4 years and wasn't even a starter. Duckett may not be very good but I can't agree with this at all.

I've seen every Falcon game he played. Yes the stats look pretty on paper. They had a very good rush offense, very good run blocking o-line, and Vick moved the offense. He got the GL work because Dunn was an AWFUL short yardage RB. Probably the worst short yardage starting RB in the league.And since his "glory" years, he's scored 5 tds in 2 years. Not exactly trending upwards. Clearly Mora likes him. There was no chance he'd get this kind of deal from any other team in the league. He was awful with the skins, and awful with the lions.

It's funny, back when he was doing well, it seemed like Duckett was very similar to Alexander. Now, he probably still is

 

[az_prof]

Does anyone know how much $$$ is guaranteed? Just because he signed with a team doesn't mean he is going to be their featured back or even their GL back--obviously he was signed by WA and then Detroit and yet he barely got to play. I suspect this is insurance and that they will also draft a back.

 

[Brutis]

Does anyone know how much $$$ is guaranteed? Just because he signed with a team doesn't mean he is going to be their featured back or even their GL back--obviously he was signed by WA and then Detroit and yet he barely got to play. I suspect this is insurance and that they will also draft a back.

I think its a given they will be drafting a RB within the first 3 rounds. If one of the top 3 rb's are sitting there when Seattle picks they probably take him.

 

[Finless]

Doubt they go rb in the 1st now

My dream of Stewart going to Seattle just got flushed..

You never know..you can never have too many RB's.

Sweet sig you got there

 

[az_prof]

Does anyone know how much $$$ is guaranteed? Just because he signed with a team doesn't mean he is going to be their featured back or even their GL back--obviously he was signed by WA and then Detroit and yet he barely got to play. I suspect this is insurance and that they will also draft a back.

I think its a given they will be drafting a RB within the first 3 rounds. If one of the top 3 rb's are sitting there when Seattle picks they probably take him.

Right. But if they just gave Duckett a 20 million dollar payday then the odds of going RB in the first round is slight; on the other hand, if it is a five year 10 million dollar contract, with two million a year and with only 3 or 4 million guaranteed, then this signing doesn't mean thatmuch to those who want to trumpet Duckett.

 

[Beaumont]

With the amount of $$$ they committed to SA, I am not sure that a Round One RB will be palatable to Sea.

Round 3 may be a different story.

I think either SA or MoMo is in trouble.

 

[Splicer]

I think it ups the odds of going RB in the 1st. They can now draft a guy and allow him to sit back and learn to pass protect for 1 year watching Alexander and Duckett plod for 3 yards and a cloud of dust. Some of the top RB's in the NFL sat the majority of their rookie seasons.

Duckett allows them to not be hit as hard when Alexander goes down.

 

[Boston]

Duckett falls into that JAG category the Tuna likes to use...Just Another Guy.

 

[SmoovySmoov]

I remember how awesome he was at Michigan State. And how badly I wanted to trade up in a Rookie Draft to get him. And when that didn't happen, I was forced to take Julius Peppers.

 

[Spartans Rule]

Wow. Wonder how much is guaranteed. Goal line back time. SA just dropped even further down the draft boards.

Duckett is awful. He's not a very good goal line back. He's run like he's 190lbs (constantly breaking it outsite) not like he's 250lbs. He's an awful RB.Regardless, looks like Mora is rebuilding the Falcons. I guess we know where Vick is going to land when he gets out of jail. Waiting for Dunn to be signed as a player/coach. :X

Dude score 31 tds in his first 4 years and wasn't even a starter. Duckett may not be very good but I can't agree with this at all.

I've seen every Falcon game he played. Yes the stats look pretty on paper. They had a very good rush offense, very good run blocking o-line, and Vick moved the offense. He got the GL work because Dunn was an AWFUL short yardage RB. Probably the worst short yardage starting RB in the league.And since his "glory" years, he's scored 5 tds in 2 years. Not exactly trending upwards. Clearly Mora likes him. There was no chance he'd get this kind of deal from any other team in the league. He was awful with the skins, and awful with the lions.

Duckett was by no means awful with the Lions. Had a 5.2 YPC and was effective almost every time they used him. I think Marinelli and Millen expected him to be used fairly often as a power back, but Martz wasn't into the whole "running the ball" thing. I was hoping the Lions would keep him around for cheap, but if Seattle wanted him bad enough to give him a long-term deal than Detroit was probably best off letting him go.

 

[Spartans Rule]

I remember how awesome he was at Michigan State. And how badly I wanted to trade up in a Rookie Draft to get him. And when that didn't happen, I was forced to take Julius Peppers. :X

As good as Duckett was at MSU, a problem I noticed was that he had no vision/instincts at all. He just took the ball, ran where he was supposed to go and if there was no opening he wasn't going to make much out of it. Duckett can be like a runaway freight train when he gets through the line, but that doesn't happen enough to make him a star.

 

[Poppa]

Wasn't Weaver (RFA) just tendered at a 2nd rounder...? Why bring in Duckett...and what the heck are their plans for Weaver? By the end of the year...Weaver was the best looking back on the roster. (Not saying much there admittedly...)

 

[Fiddles]

Wasn't Weaver (RFA) just tendered at a 2nd rounder...? Why bring in Duckett...and what the heck are their plans for Weaver? By the end of the year...Weaver was the best looking back on the roster. (Not saying much there admittedly...)

exactly. not sure why weaver is so underused up there

 

[Banger]

I don't really understand this signing.

 

[zamboni]

Wow. Wonder how much is guaranteed. Goal line back time. SA just dropped even further down the draft boards.

Duckett is awful. He's not a very good goal line back. He's run like he's 190lbs (constantly breaking it outsite) not like he's 250lbs. He's an awful RB.Regardless, looks like Mora is rebuilding the Falcons. I guess we know where Vick is going to land when he gets out of jail. Waiting for Dunn to be signed as a player/coach.

Dude score 31 tds in his first 4 years and wasn't even a starter. Duckett may not be very good but I can't agree with this at all.

I've seen every Falcon game he played. Yes the stats look pretty on paper. They had a very good rush offense, very good run blocking o-line, and Vick moved the offense. He got the GL work because Dunn was an AWFUL short yardage RB. Probably the worst short yardage starting RB in the league.And since his "glory" years, he's scored 5 tds in 2 years. Not exactly trending upwards. Clearly Mora likes him. There was no chance he'd get this kind of deal from any other team in the league. He was awful with the skins, and awful with the lions.

Duckett was by no means awful with the Lions. Had a 5.2 YPC and was effective almost every time they used him. I think Marinelli and Millen expected him to be used fairly often as a power back, but Martz wasn't into the whole "running the ball" thing. I was hoping the Lions would keep him around for cheap, but if Seattle wanted him bad enough to give him a long-term deal than Detroit was probably best off letting him go.

I was thinking the same. Duckett is no world-beater, but he looked pretty good last year. I wouldn't totally discount his chances this year, and as noted, the size of the contract dollars is very interesting to to see.

 

[zamboni]

Nothing confirmed, but an estimate of the deal size:

Although the team did not confirm the contract agreement, Duckett told The Associated Press that he was going to sign a five-year deal.

While the details that were circulating called for a $17 million package and $4 million in guarantees, the deal will more likely turn out to be a three-year contract with Duckett earning almost $7.5 million, according to ESPN.com.

And the beat writer's thought on his use:

Duckett's arrival prompts the obvious question: What does this mean for leading rusher and former league MVP Shaun Alexander, who has been plagued by injuries the past two seasons?

The 254-pound Duckett is being brought in as a tandem back to complement the current runners. He has the size and explosiveness to also be used as a backup to Leonard Weaver at fullback and as the short-yardage back -- where the Seahawks have had problems the past two seasons.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/353753_hawk05.htmlLooks like he's going to have more than a token role, but certainly doesn't preclude the team from drafting a young buck in the first few rounds.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Doubt they go rb in the 1st now

I don't think that this should influence the draft at all. If you sign a talented rookie to go with Duckett, Seattle would be set to move Alexander.

I don't see the Duckett signing affecting SEA's draft plans at all. If they have a RB they want available to them in the draft, they'll take him. Alexander will only be on the team if they can't fill the starters role through the draft.

The Duckett signing has no bearing on whether they go RB in the 1st.

Wholeheartedly agree. And the runningbacks are going to fall farther in the draft than most think.

 

[zamboni]

And the runningbacks are going to fall farther in the draft than most think.

They almost always do.

 

[Brutis]

And the runningbacks are going to fall farther in the draft than most think.

They almost always do.

I'll be suprised if the top 3 fall. Not with the workouts they did at the combine. I think the lower tier RB's will fall and thats where the bargains will be for teams.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

And the runningbacks are going to fall farther in the draft than most think.

They almost always do.

I'll be suprised if the top 3 fall. Not with the workouts they did at the combine. I think the lower tier RB's will fall and thats where the bargains will be for teams.

My mock is almost done (three rounds is TOUGH). I have Mendenhall to the Lions and Stewart to the Seahawks in the first.As an aside - there are a lot of really good backs and receivers that are going to go in the 2nd and 3rd rounds.

 

[az_prof]

If the contract boils down to really 3 years and 7.5 million as alluded to in a post above, then it doesn't mean a whole lot. That's good money, but not starter money. They could easily draft a starting RB AND keep duckett as insurance or as a RBBC to ease the rookie into things.

 

[B Maverick]

And the runningbacks are going to fall farther in the draft than most think.

They almost always do.

I'll be suprised if the top 3 fall. Not with the workouts they did at the combine. I think the lower tier RB's will fall and thats where the bargains will be for teams.

My mock is almost done (three rounds is TOUGH). I have Mendenhall to the Lions and Stewart to the Seahawks in the first.As an aside - there are a lot of really good backs and receivers that are going to go in the 2nd and 3rd rounds.

as a holder of Mendenhalls rights i have to ask why you got to do that too me?!?!?!? On the duckett notes, for what its worth, here is CBS' take:

T.J. Duckett, RB DET

News: T.J. Duckett is heading to the Seattle Seahawks with a five-year contract, the free agent running back told The Associated Press on Tuesday night. After a year of being mostly misused in Washington, T.J. Duckett landed with the Lions in 2007 and notched 65 carries for 335 yards (5.2 avg. -- a career-best) and three touchdowns with 54 receiving yards.

Analysis: Both the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Seattle Times point out that Duckett was someone the team wanted last offseason to help with their short-yardage game. Thus, it is expected that Duckett will be a short-yardage/goal-line type with the Seahawks. That does suggest that goal-line carries will be out for Shaun Alexander. In turn, it gives Duckett minimal upside as a reserve Fantasy RB since he'll be a part of an explosive offense in 2008 and might have a shot at as many as 10 touchdowns.

10 tds???? WOW. Now i know the disgust for CBS here, but I post it as another analysis.

 

[rock753]

Wow. Wonder how much is guaranteed. Goal line back time. SA just dropped even further down the draft boards.

Duckett is awful. He's not a very good goal line back. He's run like he's 190lbs (constantly breaking it outside) not like he's 250lbs. He's an awful RB.Regardless, looks like Mora is rebuilding the Falcons. I guess we know where Vick is going to land when he gets out of jail. Waiting for Dunn to be signed as a player/coach.

He was the most prolific goal line back in the league for three years in a row while in Atlanta.

 

[Tecmo]

the signing bonus is not much at 4 million. Pretty good bargain for Duckett. shoot, Greg Jones got a 2.5 million SB in Jax and he's been injured.

Seattle still hasn't ponied up 20 million guaranteed for Trufant even though he's considered an elite corner in the league. A CB in round 1 is very possible if they don't get get Trufant signed.