The Seattle Seahawks had a light practice in shells this morning, as the team began its sixth day of practice without the services of linebacker Aaron Curry.
Head coach Jim Mora again reiterated his policy of staying out of negotiations and focusing on the players on the field.
“You may not believe it but I don’t think about him every day,” Mora said. “I don’t go, ‘When’s Aaron going to be here?’ I don’t worry about it. When he gets here, he gets here, and we’ll go to work.”
With Curry gone, guys like D.D. Lewis, Will Herring and Lance Laury have been getting valuable reps with the first unit. Having a guy like Lewis, a veteran that has experience playing as a starter in league, helps fill the void until the team can get a deal done and get Curry into camp.
Mora also provided a little more information on how cornerback Marcus Trufant tweaked his back. Coach said Trufant suffered the injury a week ago today, while working on back peddle drills on the field with fellow cornerback Josh Wilson.
He said the team will continue to be conservative in how they handle Trufant and Walter Jones, who also sat out this morning’s practice with back spasms.
“You want them all to practice every day,” Mora said. “But Marcus is a conscientious guy who knows the scheme. He knows how to play football. So I’m not as concerned with him missing time as I maybe would be with a young guy.
“I want to make sure he’s healthy. We’re going to make sure that he’s healthy before we put him back out on the field.”
Mora went on to say he’s not at the point where he’s concerned about Trufant being ready for the regular season.
“What’s important is we don’t put Marcus back out on the field, and we don’t put Walt back on the field – guys like that – until they’re really ready to go,” Mora said. “Because we don’t want them to have a setback. That jus wouldn’t serve any purpose right now.”
Mora also said the cooler weather was a nice respite from the hotter temperatures during the early days of camp, but that he liked the players having to work in the hotter weather early on.
“From a coaches’ standpoint I think it makes them dig a little deeper, work a little harder” Mora said. “I’m not of a belief that you need it to be 110 degrees and 90 percent humidity to get good work done. But I think every once in awhile to have to suffer through a little bit of heat and feeling uncomfortable is good for them.”
Running back Julius Jones talked to reporters today, and said he feels more comfortable about his role with the team heading into this season.
“I feel more at ease,” Jones said. “And I feel like the coaches have more confidence in me. Last year I was coming into a new situation and everything was brand new. What happened last year is over. It’s a brand new year. Coach Mora’s got this team right where we need to be, and I’m happy to play for him.”
Along with Trufant and Jones, Billy McMullen (knee) and Tony Taylor (knee) sat out of practice. Ray Willis (knee) also sat out this morning’s practice for his scheduled rest.
I also talked to offensive line coach Mike Solari about the progress guys are making on the offensive line. Solari said that Sean Locklear and Ray Willis continue to compete for a spot at right tackle, and that the loser of that battle could move to right guard. Ultimately, as we talked about before, the best five guys are going to start, and if that means Willis or Locklear will play right guard, that’s what will happen
Solari said Unger continues to improve, and that the team needs him to be ready sooner rather than later, not so much as a starter, but to serve as one of the top seven lineman on the active roster during the regular season.
During the practice itself, Ben Obomanu continues to distinguish himself out on the field, and may be creating some separation between himself and the other receivers in the battle for the last two receiving spots on the roster.
Cory Redding was again impressive during pass rush drills. Mansfield Wrotto also did a nice job against Brandon Mebane. Courtney Greene also picked off another pass today, this time during 7-on-7 drills.
That’s all for now.
Eric,
I have a question about the switch of positions for Kearney.
First of all, I had a chance to talk with Cory Redding while he was signing autographs for the kids after practice on Monday night. After that conversation, and after reading some of the articles about him, he is already one of my favorite players, and he hasn’t even played a down yet. I am excited about how Cory can help our team as a defensive left end.
Redding on the left side means Kearney moves to the right. Isn’t there a learning curve as far as technique is concerned? We saw Sims have trouble trying to change from left guard to right guard; he said all the foot work was opposite. Is it the same for a pass rushing end? For example, doesn’t a spin move need to spin the other way? A spin move generally spins to the outside so a spin move from the left end position goes clockwise and a spin move from the right end position goes counter clockwise. Kearney has commented on the position change as it relates to going against the other teams left tackle, but not in terms of the changes to his technique.
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Tompage, just a note here: up through 2005, Kerney’s position was RDE for Atlanta. In 2006 he started switching to LDE on 1st and 2nd downs. He didn’t play fulltime at LDE until he came to the Seahawks.
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Hola Y’all. Long time no see. Red the news and your posts quietly. So far_so
good….but, this game that Curry and his agent are playing is going to far against the grain.
At the draft time i was very happy we got him instead of Sanchez or Crabbie,
but the “love-fest” is fast approaching the end (in my book) . He might be a GREAT player but, LBs are everywhere and many more and possibly better are coming out next year.So, I think Mr. Curry should come beck down to the Earth.
( I dislike myself for my impatience and lack of diplomatic skills among other worst shortcomings) but, if Curry is NOT interested in playing for the Seahawks ,than maybe, we should consider trading him for a 1st pick in 2010 + RB or a DB. I’d also go for Ravens’ LT Oher and + one more player. Or, trade with the G-man for next year first + QB Rhett Bomar. I also like Cincy’
LT Andre Smith but, I can’t think of any other of their players I care for.
I am sure most of You will be screaming at me for this post….but, I also know that it makes HUGE difference if a player plays for the team that he cares for (and a paycheck) VS playing for a paycheck only. Exceptions are the true pros.
Mr.Curry is turning into a big disappointment for me. Hope I am wrong.
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Eric, why do you keep on bringing up Trufant? My point is, if he’s on the PUP he’s going to miss the first six weeks of the season automatically. At least, that was what I was lead to believe. If that’s the case, A) his back is hurt more than they are saying and B) asking when he’s going to return to practice is a waste of time. So, could you verify that being on the PUP means Trufant will miss the first six weeks of the season? Was there a particular reason (roster perhaps) that they made this move beyond just the injury?
I just find it curious that they put him on the PUP immediately at the start of camp like that.
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He only misses the first 6 games if they designate him to the PUP list prior to the 1st regular season game, after final cut down. He will be free to practice and play now, as soon as he passes a physical. All it means now is that he is in camp but has not passes a physical and been cleared to practice.
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I totally agree with seahawklovertoo….
If Curry doesn’t want to play for the Hawks, maybe it’s time for us to say goodbye-farewell-so long-good luck!
I guess if you really think about it, he’s affecting the team more than anyone. Maybe it’s Curry, maybe it’s his agent, but I don’t care how good he did in college… This is the NFL, it’s a completely new game!
I really don’t think that rookies should be looking for these long term astronamical dollar contracts, nor do I think they should be entitled to one until the end of their Rookie season once the team gets a better look at them!! Just because they were “studs” in highschool and college doesn’t mean they’re going to be NFL standouts! LOOK AT RYAN LEAF!!! HAHA, what a joke!
Am I the only one who thinks this way?
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Plenty of 1st round picks haven’t signed – it will happen, I’m not worried, and I definitely don’t hold it against Curry. He’s gonna have to live with this deal for several years – and it’s football, so you never know when a knee injury is going to end your career. Now, guys who agree to a deal, and then try to re-negotiate a year in, that’s a different story.
Let’s not turn on Curry yet . . .
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Re JJ, I do understand how he must have felt last year, and why he’s feeling so much better about the way things are stacking up for him this year. I think if he stays healthy (and I suppose, provided the OL stays relatively healthy too), he’s gonna give us a solid year, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him 1,200 yrds or so.
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It has nothing to do with what Curry wants fellas (ladies?). There’s an obscene rookie top-pick hierarchy that has to be satisfied before he comes to terms. It’s the business side that has nothing to do with wants and desires and loyalty and team pride and such. It’s frustrating that he isn’t in camp but it’s not the end of the world and it’s certainly not time to talk about getting rid of him. Merriman wasn’t in camp for a decent amount of time either and he still won the DROY.
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Forgot to add that if he isn’t on the field for the preseason game against SD then I’m going to start getting pissed. Front row in the end zone ticket, just to the left of the left upright when they cut to the FG camera angle. Look for the old school Cortez jersey!
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Whatever they give him, he better be worth the Hawks waiting around!!!
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longco44,
you probably aren’t the only one who thinks “If Curry doesn’t want to play for the Hawks, maybe it’s time for us to say goodbye-farewell-so long-good luck!” But Count Me Out of That.
Curry is just a kid. All this NFL multi-million dollar contract stuff is brand-new to him and I can just about guarantee that everyone has advised him to Just Let The Agent Handle Things.
Your beef is with Curry’s agent, not Curry. No one can say Curry isn’t raring-to-go and wanting to practice asap.
Missing a week of practice isn’t good for anyone, but look at it this way. There was not another player drafted in 2009 who is more ready to step in and play than Aaron Curry is. And I’m including all three guys who were drafted ahead of him. He’s more ready than any of them. And from all accounts, this is a really good citizen and person we just drafted. Let’s give the kid a break before we start blaming him for the holdout.
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What I find interesting is that it’s the quietest holdout I can remember. We’ve heard rumors about what the demands are but nothing directly from his camp. It’s feels more like a face off between the 1st round picks than contention between the ‘Hawks and Curry. Whoever blinks, er signs first of the top 6 or so, seems as though that will trigger all the others to fall in line. The same for say 7 down to 11 or 12. And no one is willing to use the QBs as a template. Whatever, it’s disappointing either way.
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“No one can say Curry isn’t raring-to-go and wanting to practice asap.” No one can say he is either. And yes, by all accounts a quality person, and seemingly NFL ready. But of course we don’t know that until he actually takes the field. I would also agree that most every one, rightly so, places the contract in the experts, the agents, hands. That however does not absolve the player of responsibility in the matter. The agent is his employee, not the other way around.
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So newly drafted players with zero experience in the league’s contracts and negotiations should overrule their agent and tell them to take whatever the management offers? If he’s unhappy with the agent then he can fire the guy, but the next one is going to do the exact same thing. Just business.
If you guys want to get mad at someone, get mad at the Jets for overpaying Sanchez before the picks before him were signed.
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While I agree with Dukeshire that this has to be one of the quietest rookie non-signings (can’t call it a hold out because he has never been under contract), I can put the blame on Curry and his agent from my standpoint.
Seattle has not been stingy in their signings. The ‘he who must not be named’ mis-step aside Seattle has shown that they pay their players well (see overpaying Branch, Housh getting a good contract, Lofa, Trufant, the Alexander mistake, Hasselbeck and so on). Seattle by all accounts has supposedely made a fair offer. Curry and his agent want the contract to match or beat Sanchez’ contract.
Seattle has said that’s not gonna happen and I can’t blame them. That would make Curry, an unproven rookie, the second highest paid LB in the entire NFL. Suggs new contract is higher, but the guy has earned the right to be the highest paid LB in the league. Curry has shown nothing to date except a world of potential. But a world of potential and $2.50 will get you a cup of coffee at your nearest Starbucks. A world of potential alone gets you nothing.
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Of course that’s not what I said, nor did I say I was angry. I stated that when a player holds out, even a rookie, he must share a measure of responsibility for that. I have all the confidence he will be a great Seahawk for years to come. I’m anxious for that to begin.
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Its settled, then. Let’s go lynch Curry’s agent, and Sanchez’s agent while we’re at it.
Seriously though, I doubt that Aaron Curry has any idea how to negotiate a contract or how to supervise his agent. I also doubt he knows exactly what is going on in those negotiations until his agent calls his cell phone and tells him to go to camp.
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“What do you call 32 Sports Agents at the bottom of the ocean?”
“a good start.”
Bahahahaha!
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bull honk, this rookie even as the 4th pick is at the mercy of his agent and his GM, who among us would not get $$$ in the brain, The fault lies with the fact that, the NFL has not been smart with draftee dollars, If I was king of the nfl, I would give all 1st rounders ( all other Rookies less) a small Guaranteed contract, for one year say 5 mil just in case they were injured in a carreer ending way but they would have that one year to prove they were worth a longer , more lucrative contract. Dang I could live for the rest of my life on 5 Mil, ….How many millions have been wasted on 1st rounder flops?? the money should be made in Free agency not, in the rookie roulette rule.
But that said give the kid the contact and get on with building a winner!!
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By all means, give Curry a contract. But what has he done to suddenly be the 2nd highest paid LB in the game? That is my problem. He has a chance to be a great LB. If that’s the case he can make his money on his next contract. Why does he need a 50+ million, 5 year, 28 million guaranteed contract now when he hasn’t done squat at the NFL level?
This isn’t so much a rant against Curry (well maybe it is to some extent) as it is to this whole system. One thing is sure. The owners have made their point and there is no way the players association doesn’t agree to a rookie cap system come next CBA when the truly deserving veterans see all these rookies suddenly becoming the highest paid players at their respective positions.
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I think Curry will be a great player, and that the deal will get done. As to how much, when, all that, is up to the GM, the agent, what the other first rounders get paid. I’m not ready to throw him off the bus quite yet. I hope the deal will get done sooner than later, of course, and I’m sure he’ll make a great deal of money. Hopefully he’ll realize the potential we are paying him for.
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The last time the Hawks played the Stealers (at their place) it was the heat probably more than the Stealers that caused them to lose 21-0. Why can’t the Hawks wear cooling vests in those situations, like these:
http://www.stacoolvest.com/vests.php
?
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With each passing day I wish more and more that we would have drafted Knowshon Moreno.
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Maybe the hawks should call Detroit and get some advice. There were reports that Curry and the Lions had a deal worked out and agreed on before the draft just in case a deal couldn’t be reached with Stafford.
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