Well, LenDale White is gone. And of course, he received the lion’s share of the votes in the last poll we conducted asking who would be the Seahawks’ starting running back when the regular season starts. So I thought it appropriate that we hold a revote. Here’s your second chance to weigh in on the running back situation.
Now that the Seahawks have released LenDale White, the team appears to be in need of a running back. And a bruising runner who could be available is Buffalo’s Marshawn Lynch.
Allen Wilson of the Buffalo News wonders if the Seahawks could come calling for Lynch.
The Seahawks reportedly had internal discussions about Lynch a couple weeks before the draft, but Buffalo wanted a second round draft choice as compensation, which was too rich for Seattle. But with Lynch not reporting to Buffalo’s offseason workout program, the Bills probably have lowered their asking price. Further, the Bills seemed to have moved on by drafting C.J. Spiller to go along with Fred Jackson.
Lynch could be the power back that Seattle is seeking to pair with Julius Jones, Justin Forsett and Leon Washington. He’s familiar with the zone blocking scheme from his time at Cal, and is good friends with Forsett. However, Seattle could be facing the same issues with Lynch as they did with White. Lynch has had his share of off-the-field issues.
Michael Silver of Yahoo Sports recently wrote a story on Lynch that provides some good insight into his situation in Buffalo.
Jason LaCanfora of the NFL Network shed some more light on the Seattle Seahawks waiving running back LenDale White this afternoon. According to the report, White is facing a four-game drug suspension. LaCanfora said that the team did know that White had a suspension pending when they made the trade.
However, further pushing the Seahawks to make a move with White is that he had problems making meetings on time, appeared to have a sense of entitlement and was not coachable. According to the report, White didn’t appear committed to the team’s new philosophy preached by new head coach …
LenDale White’s honeymoon with the Seattle Seahawks came to an abrupt end this afternoon, as the Seahawks announced the 25-year-old running back had been released.
“It became apparent at this time that LenDale was not ready to be a member of the Seattle Seahawks,” said General Manager John Schneider. “It just did not appear to be the right fit at this point in our program. We wish LenDale all the best with his future.”
It’s a surprising ending to the brief tenure of White with Seattle, who appeared to be the front runner to earn the starting running back job in a competition that included last year’s runners, Julius Jones and Justin Forsett, and newcomer Leon Washington.
A few programming notes. I’ll be taking next week off to burn some vacation time, but don’t worry. Ryan Divish will be filling in to keep you informed and entertained beginning on Monday.
The Seahawks will take the next 10 days off, and then get after it again starting on June 7. I’ll have a full report a day later from the team’s OTA workout.
Also, Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will be appearing on the NFL Network from team headquarters on this afternoon’s NFL Total Access, which begins at 4 p.m. Pacific Time.
For the second year Fox Sports’ Adam Schein ranks every organization in the NFL, taking into consideration things like the team’s owner, front office, head coach, coaching staff, the quarterback and intangibles,. This year Schein ranked the Seattle Seahawks 20th overall.
Here’s what he had to say:
“The Seahawks facility is beautiful, and the fan support is excellent. And I believe in the new brass with GM John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll. But if Charlie Whitehurst is the answer at QB, I’d love to know the question.”
The Seattle Seahawks announced that they have waived defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger this afternoon.
The Oklahoma product was one of 15 free agents the team signed after the final day of the draft on April 24.
The move leaves Seattle with four defensive tackles on the roster in Colin Cole, Brandon Mebane, Craig Terrill and Kevin Vickerson, although defensive ends Red Bryant, E.J. Wilson, Robert Henderson and Lawrence Jackson all have the ability to play inside.
Judging by the poll readers here participated in a few weeks ago, many expect LenDale White to emerge from the Seattle Seahawks running back competition. Nationally, the fantasy football gurus expect the same thing, rating White as a sleeper prospect in the upcoming season.
That sentiment is understandable. White, 25, should have fresh legs after rushing for a career-low 222 yards in 2009, watching much of the second half of last season while teammate Chris Johnson marched to 2,000 yards. And he’s playing for his former coach at USC Pete Carroll, who understands how to you use White’s physical running style.
Explosive playmaker Leon Washington is another possible candidate for the starting job, but questions linger on how he will return from a broken leg. I’m still bullish on Julius Jones, although the readers are not, giving him a three percent chance of earning the starting job. Jones seems to have a better feel in the zone blocking scheme during OTAs, and probably has the best overall package of strength, speed and pass-catching and pass-blocking ability out of all the candidates.
Quinton Ganther and Louis Rankin also have had their moments of brilliance in camp, but a somewhat forgotten player who could emerge as Seattle’s starter come Sept. 12 is third-year pro Justin Forsett.
With New York (New Jersey actually at New Meadowlands Stadium) winning a vote by NFL owners to host the Super Bowl in 2014 on Tuesday, Sean Leahy of USA Today asks what other stadiums with winter conditions now have a chance to host future Super Bowls. Seattle, of course, is way down his list of suitors
The NFL waived its policy of not awarding to Super Bowls to cities where the average temperature is less than 40 degrees in order to bring New York on board, so could other locales like Washington D.C., Baltimore and Chicago be looking at hosting a Super Bowl in the future?
Eric Edholm of Pro Football Weekly points out that the reason New York is hosting the Super Bowl is pretty simple – money.
If the league wants to hold the Super Bowl in cold-climate city every once in a blue moon, then why not Seattle? The weather is usually not as harsh as the Midwest and Northeast in January and February, and Seattle is an attractive destination with enough hotel space to serve as a good host city.
And the city also has a significant bargaining chip in Paul Allen, owner of the Seahawks and one of the richest men in the world. Allen could have some sway if Seattle were to pursue hosting a Super Bowl.
ESPN’s John Clayton raises the possibility that with New York getting a Super Bowl the Seahawks might bid on the game in the future.