Receiver Doug Baldwin and free safety Earl Thomas were made available to reporters after the Seattle Seahawks conditioning workout this morning.
The Seahawks went through drills for about 45 minutes outside at the VMAC.
Seattle’s first OTAs begin next week, when the team will have a Tuesday through Thursday session.
Baldwin talked about avoiding a sophomore slump after leading the Seahawks in receptions last season, and says he sets the …
In my story today, University of Montana defensive back Donny Lisowski wowed Seattle head coach Pete Carroll during the team’s rookie minicamp last week, earning a three-year contract and a spot on the team’s 90-man roster.
Now, Lisowski’s looking to do enough to make it to training camp, with the hop of landing on the team’s final roster for the regular season.
Also, we’ll get a chance to watch one of the final workouts of Phase II for the Seahawks this morning, as they transition into the OTAs’ portion of the offseason next week.
So I’ll have a report from practice this afternoon
Here’s what Carroll had to say about Lisowski:
“He was all over the place out here. He ran extremely fast when he showed up for a workout day, and then he went out here and made a bunch of plays. So I was really fired up about him. I think he’ll surprise you. I’m anxious to see what he can do on special teams and all kinds of stuff.”
Dwight Jaynes of CSNNW.com, a veteran reporter in the Portland area for decades, writes that according to people he’s talked to Paul Allen might be willing to part ways with both the Portland Trail Blazers and the Seattle Seahawks as a package deal, and has had preliminary discussions about potentially selling both teams.
Here’s the paragraph you’ll want to read.
Jaynes:There is a persistent rumor that all of Allen’s sports properties are available, in one giant buy or individually. I was told by two separate sources that the total asking price for the Trail Blazers, the Rose Garden and his NFL Seahawks would be $2 billion — which is too high, particularly now with the values of NFL teams in something of a turmoil due to pending lawsuits from concussed former players.”
Allen denied the report that the Trail Blazers were for sale via twitter.
Dwight & Canzano get played by unnamed sources & show true colors lobbying for a sale of @pdxtrailblazers. The team is not for sale period!
— Paul Allen (@PaulGAllen) May 13, 2012
It’s an interesting report. I’ll make some calls this morning to see if it has any teeth to it. There’s been some thought around the league that Allen might be willing to sell because of his recent health issues, but I’ve heard nothing substantive to confirm that thought.
And really, if Allen hadn’t stepped up when he did the Seahawks likely would not be here. And if there was a good time to step away, right now might be it, with the franchise enjoying a record number of sellouts and fan interest. And it also could be fueling Allen’s desire to win a Super Bowl.
KJR’s Ian Furness talks with Jaynes about his report in this audio link. Fast forward to the 22-minute mark. Jaynes says he stands by his report during the interview.
After playing well during the rookie minicamp over the weekend as a tryout player, the Seattle Seahawks rewarded veteran offensive tackle Alex Barron with a spot on the 90-man roster, the team announced this afternoon.
Along with Barron, the Seahawks agreed to terms with tight end Cooper Helfet, cornerback Donny Lisowski and tackle Andrew Mitchell.
To make room for those four, Seahawks released cornerback London Durham, linebacker Adrian Moten, tackle Jon Opperud and guard/center Brent Osborne.
For Pete Carroll this offseason the idea was simple – add more speed to the team’s pass rush to create more sack opportunities, similar to the way New York Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell drew up his NASCAR package with four defensive ends on third down, Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka
As pointed out by Pat Kirwan in this article for CBS Sports I linked to yesterday, the Seahawks struggled to get pressure on the passer on third downs with just 12 sacks last season, fourth-worst in the league.
With big bodies like Red Bryant, Brandon Mebane and Alan Branch, the Seahawks have been effective stopping the run the past two years. But they need to give defensive end Chris Clemons some help on passing downs.
The Seahawks believe they have done that by adding Jason Jones in free agency, and drafting Bruce Irvin, Jaye Howard and Greg Scruggs to rush the passer in obvious throwing situations.
Dave Boling of The News Tribune provides an overview of some of the rookies who flashed at last weekend’s minicamp, including his thoughts on the much-talked about elevation of Russell Wilson to the starting quarterback competition.
Boling: The ball leaves his hand in a hurry and gets to where it needs to be quickly. Of some 500 plays over the weekend, the Seahawks only had to re-rack the offense one time to get the right play processed. So he has a surprising command of the huddle already.
He completed balls deep and wide, and as impressive, he has the touch and accuracy to find flaring backs in perfect stride.
He had a few balls tipped at the line on Friday, but fewer as the weekend progressed. Questions of durability and adaptation and performance against big-time defenders remain, but coach Pete Carroll said he’s already shown enough to be tossed into competition for the starting job.
That is a significant accomplishment in just three practices in shorts – for a quarterback of any size.
The Seattle Seahawks rookie minicamp over the weekend offered a rare opportunity for local prospects to show what they can do for the team they grew up rooting for as kids.
In my story today, tight end Kavario Middleton and defensive tackle Renard Williams are two players who took advantage of that opportunity.
A Parade All-American and ranked as the No. 2 tight end in high school, Middleton saw his college career take a detour when the University of Washington dismissed him after his sophomore season for team rules violations, which reportedly included a failed drug test.
But Middleton landed on his feet at the University of Montana, where he played two seasons for the Grizzlies, helping them reach the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoff semifinals as a senior.
“It was a humbling, humbling development for me,” Middleton said. “But it was fun. I met some cool people over there.
“Being a local city kid from out here, and going out there, it was quite the transition for me. But it helps you grow up quickly and learn from your mistakes.”
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll did not mince words when asked about third round quarterback Russell Wilson and his role in this team’s quarterback competition once training camp begins in July.
Carroll said Wilson will be competing for the starting job with incumbent Tarvaris Jackson and Matt Flynn.
“He’s showed us enough,” Carroll said. “He’s in the competition. And that is going to tax us, as you know. It was already going to be taxing with two. But he’s shown us enough that we need to see where he fits in with these guys.”