Conversation with Tim Ruskell
Thursday, February 28th, 2008
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 04:25:35 pm
On the verge of free agency opening, here is what emerged from a 37-minute conversation with Tim Ruskell:
* The team is very tight on the $116 million salary cap because of Marcus Trufant's franchise tag. In fact, to make any moves in free agency, there is going to have to be some other movement on the roster in terms of cutting players or restructuring contracts.
* Ruskell does not anticipate either cutting Shaun Alexander or asking him to restructure his contract. He said they are convinced that Shaun can return to his former exploits, and that the retooling of the running game (Mike Wahle, Mike Solari) will help him get there.
[More:]
* Restricted free agents Leonard Weaver, Lance Laury and David Kirtman were tendered offers, which Ruskell said they would sign. Alvin Pearman was not tendered an offer.
* Ruskell said they do not anticipate Deion Branch missing the entire season. He said he will miss training camp, but based on what the doctors are telling him they fully expect him to be back during the season at some point.
* Negotiations with Josh Brown are ongoing, but Ruskell thinks he is going to test the market. If Brown leaves -- and after speaking with his agent a few days ago it sounds like that is a good possibility -- Ruskell said there are a few free agents they could go after, or a couple guys in the draft that they like.
* D.J. Hackett sounds as good as gone. Ruskell said he told Hackett's representatives to see what he is worth on the market, and the Seahawks would see if they could get to that number. But he also said they love the potential of Courtney Taylor, Ben Obomanu, Jordan Kent and Logan Payne. Ruskell was especially effusive about Payne.
* Jeff Robinson's career as a long snapper is over. Ruskell said he anticipates their next snapper to be a veteran free agent who is let go by another team. There is a chance that a young guy who is not drafted is found, but more than likely a veteran who is let go will be picked up.
* The only pick the Seahawks do not have this year is a fifth-rounder, which was given away for Pearman. Ruskell said he also anticipates getting a compensatory pick, which should be distributed at the end of March, beginning of April. He said he does not know what the compensatory pick will be because the formula is virtually impossible to decipher.
* Despite what I wrote on the blog yesterday about Chris Gray's agent saying he likely will back, Ruskell said he does not know what Gray's future is. He said Holmgren needs to have a conversation with Gray to see where he stands on things. So that is still up in the air.
* Ruskell said he anticipates taking an offensive tackle in the draft because this draft is so deep. It is not that strong at the interior line positions but the tackle spots are strong, and he said it is his philosophy that you should always draft at least one offensive lineman.
* They anticipate naming a running backs coach sometime next week.
Shaun could still be somewhat useful if the o-line improves. Nothing more than a decent RB3 but somewhat useful.
