Showing posts with label Seattle Seahawks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seattle Seahawks. Show all posts
Monday, January 26, 2015
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Richard Sherman Presser about Contract Extension, Seahawks CB, NFC West
The +Seattle Seahawks just shelled out a lot of money to safety Earl Thomas. And now they are giving even more to cornerback Richard Sherman.
The team is set to announce that Sherman has signed a four-year contract that will make him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, which was first reported by +FOX Sports' Jay Glazer and then confirmed by — natch — Sherman himself, on Twitter and also on his own website.
Sherman posted the whopping financial details of the extension — four years for a total of $57.4M, with $40M guaranteed — on his official website, a move we almost never hear of in sports. We believe that this would be tacked onto his current 2014 deal and the $1.43 million he's owed this season, so essentially he's locked up through 2018 for nearly $60 million.
On his blog, Sherman wrote:
“I am blessed to announce that the Seattle Seahawks and I have reached an agreement on a contract extension. The goal has always been to stay in Seattle and continue to play for the Seahawks. With this chapter closed, I can continue to focus on what is important – defending our Super Bowl Championship and being the best cornerback in the NFL.”
The boisterous, outspoken and wildly talented Sherman is the tone setter and perhaps best player on the world champions' outstanding defense.
But being the highest-paid player in the +NFL was not his goal, Sherman said, per the Seattle Times.
“I don’t care for that,’’ Sherman said. “The only list I care about being at the top of is interceptions.
“It’s about respect,’’ he said. “Whatever the team feels I deserve, the respect they feel — that (money) is the respect from the team. That’s how they show it, at least in this game. In other aspects of life it may be different. You may show respect in different ways. But in this game that’s how they show it.’’
The Seahawks certainly showed it.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Sherman Giving a Salute to all Prospects for their Journeys that Start Over Next Couple Nights
From pick 154 to my new contract, good luck to all the draft guys waiting. My message to you: http://t.co/Oe5iaXQWie #YouGetOutWhatYouPutIn
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) May 8, 2014
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| Richard Sherman during +Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl parade ( +FOX Sports ) |
Richard Sherman just Acquired some very deep Pockets
The Seahawks just make Richard Sherman the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. DETAILS: http://t.co/8sq4WM1hPz pic.twitter.com/vgLdjZVyzD
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) May 7, 2014
The Super Bowl-winning +Seattle Seahawks and star +Richard Sherman have agreed on an extension that makes Sherman the highest-paid cornerback in the +NFL, +FOX Sports insider Jay Glazer reports.
The four-year extension is worth a total of $57.4 million over the next five seasons, according to FOX Sports insider Mike Garafolo.
Sherman himself confirmed the deal on his blog Wednesday, saying "there is no other city or team that I would want to play football for."
Sherman signed a four-year deal in 2011 as a rookie and is set to make $1.4 million this year as part of that, +The Seattle Times reports.
According to the Times, Sherman said last week that becoming the highest-paid player at his position was not really a goal.
"I don't care for that," the Times quotes Sherman as saying. "The only list I care about being at the top of is interceptions."
But that doesn't mean money isn't a part of the equation, as Sherman has suggested.
"œIt'€™s about respect," he told The Seattle Times. "€œWhatever the team feels I deserve, the respect they feel -- that (money) is the respect from the team. That'€™s how they show it, at least in this game. In other aspects of life it may be different. You may show respect in different ways. But in this game that'€™s how they show it."€™
From pick 154 to my new contract, good luck to all the draft guys waiting. My message to you: http://t.co/Oe5iaXQWie #YouGetOutWhatYouPutIn
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) May 8, 2014
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Richard Sherman, Seahawks reach 4 year extension, highest paid CB in the NFL
It's a new 4 year extension agreed upon with Richard Sherman making him top paid CB in league
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) May 7, 2014Thursday, April 24, 2014
Justin Gilbert, 2014 Defensive Backs Draft Prospects, Appears to have the Physical & "Social" Tools
Justin Gilbert plans visit to Broncos ahead of 2014
NFL Draft
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Oklahoma State defensive back Justin Gilbert runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis on Feb. 25, 2014. (Michael Conroy, +The Associated Press ) |
They are looking to add depth, if not immediate contributors at cornerback, linebacker and the offensive line. Even with the addition of Aqib Talib, the Broncos could use help on the perimeter to protect themselves as Chris Harris recovers from knee surgery.
Justin Gilbert fits the bill. The 6-foot, 202-pound Oklahoma State star tweeted that he will visit the Broncos this week in advance of the upcoming May 8-10 draft.
Would love to see @JGil_4 in that Black and Gold! #whodat #wedat #saints @CowboyFB @OSUAthletics pic.twitter.com/P1sDRolaAK— MsMayHemDat (@msmayhemfamous) April 15, 2014Gilbert is long, rangy and fast. He clocked a 4.37 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine and ran back six kickoffs for scores for the +Oklahoma State Cowboys. From his account @JGil_4: New York Tmrw to visit the +New York Jets, followed by +Denver Broncos, +Detroit Lions, & +Atlanta Falcons ✈️✈️ wish me luck #Business #BusyWeek #Blessed #Grateful
Never hate on others success. We all making it. Just taking different ways to get there! @jgil_4… http://t.co/LppJEIhiSQ
— Chris Parks (@cparks01) April 22, 2014Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Seahawks trade for Pryor from Oakland Raiders: for 7th Rounder
Report: Raiders trade quarterback Terrelle Pryor to Seahawks
BY JOHN SODARO |
Terrelle Pryor threw nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions in two seasons with Raiders. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) |
Reports earlier in the day said that the Raiders were sending out “feelers” in an attempt to trade Pryor and if they weren't able to finalize a trade by the end of the day, the team was going to waive him.
Now, Pryor, a third-round pick in the 2011 supplemental draft, will move on to the defending Super Bowl champs. Last season, he completed 57.4 of his passes and threw seven touchdowns and 11 interceptions in nine starts.
+Adam Schefter, citing a league source, reported that the +Seattle Seahawks gave up a 7th-round pick for Pryor.
In the Oakland Raiders’ 2013 preseason finale, quarterback Terrelle Pryor threw for 31 yards on three completions and ran for 48 yards on three attempts in a 22-6 win for Seattle. Though Pryor’s effort wasn’t impressive enough to come close to helping the Raiders get the win, the quarterback seemed to make an impact on the defending Super Bowl champions. On Monday evening, the Seahawks announced that they had traded a 2014 seventh-round pick to Oakland for Pryor, who is in the last year of his rookie contract. The Raiders, who acquired quarterback Matt Schaub this offseason, were planning to release Pryor if no trade offers were forthcoming.
Referring to Pryor as a “athlete” has some wondering if the Seahawks have it in mind to convert Pryor to an H-back or receiver role, which was a point of discussion among some NFL teams when he was selected by Oakland in the third round of the 2011 supplemental draft. Pryor had left the +Ohio State Buckeyes team after it was discovered that he was part of the memorabilia-for-cash scandal that cost then-head coach Jim Tressel his job. When Pryor entered the NFL, Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him for his first five games — the same suspension he would have received had he stayed with the Buckeyes.
Pryor didn’t attempt a pass in his first NFL regular season, and completed just 14 of 30 passes for 155 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in 2012. Last season, he was given the opportunity to take the Raiders’ starting job, but lost it to Matt McGloin late in the season. He ended his third NFL campaign with 156 completions in 272 attempts for 1,798 yards, seven touchdowns and 11 picks.
GALLERY: Quarterbacks who started over - +Sports Illustrated
Of course, what makes Pryor intriguing to +NFL teams after all this time (the 49ers were also involved in trade talks) it his pure athleticism. Last season, he gained 576 yards on just 83 carries, including a 93-yard run that was the longest anyone in the league had in 2013.
I talked to Pryor after that preseason game in Seattle, and he seemed to have a pretty good head on his shoulders about how far he had to go as a quarterback, and how things played out for him in college.
“Accuracy, and timing with receivers,” he said of the things he was learning. “I think I’ve definitely gotten better with that. Making strides. Today, I threw one to Rod [Streater], and he wasn’t even out of his break yet. That’s just throwing with timing and understanding where he’s going to be. What I did badly today? Throwing that pick. I was late [on the throw], and that’s something that can’t happen. We were moving the ball, and got three points two times, and I believe we could have kept it moving on the first drive. We’ve just got to make that play.”
He sounded less certain about the NCAA’s motives, though he’s hardly the only person with that problem these days.
Raiders traded QB Terrelle Pryor to Seahawks, as @ProFootballTalk reported.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 22, 2014Pryor has one year and $705,000 left on his rookie contract. Pryors’ future with the Raiders became more clear when the +Oakland Raiders acquired QB Matt Schaub last month from the +Houston Texans.
Seahawks acquire Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor in trade
BY DOUG FARRAR
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Terrelle Pryor had more rushing yards than passing yards in a 2013 preseason game against his new NFL team. (Otto Greule, Jr./Getty Images) |
“Terrelle is an incredibly explosive athlete and we’re excited for him to come in and compete,” general manager John Schneider said in a statement.
Referring to Pryor as a “athlete” has some wondering if the Seahawks have it in mind to convert Pryor to an H-back or receiver role, which was a point of discussion among some NFL teams when he was selected by Oakland in the third round of the 2011 supplemental draft. Pryor had left the +Ohio State Buckeyes team after it was discovered that he was part of the memorabilia-for-cash scandal that cost then-head coach Jim Tressel his job. When Pryor entered the NFL, Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him for his first five games — the same suspension he would have received had he stayed with the Buckeyes.
Pryor didn’t attempt a pass in his first NFL regular season, and completed just 14 of 30 passes for 155 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in 2012. Last season, he was given the opportunity to take the Raiders’ starting job, but lost it to Matt McGloin late in the season. He ended his third NFL campaign with 156 completions in 272 attempts for 1,798 yards, seven touchdowns and 11 picks.
GALLERY: Quarterbacks who started over - +Sports Illustrated
Of course, what makes Pryor intriguing to +NFL teams after all this time (the 49ers were also involved in trade talks) it his pure athleticism. Last season, he gained 576 yards on just 83 carries, including a 93-yard run that was the longest anyone in the league had in 2013.
I talked to Pryor after that preseason game in Seattle, and he seemed to have a pretty good head on his shoulders about how far he had to go as a quarterback, and how things played out for him in college.
“Accuracy, and timing with receivers,” he said of the things he was learning. “I think I’ve definitely gotten better with that. Making strides. Today, I threw one to Rod [Streater], and he wasn’t even out of his break yet. That’s just throwing with timing and understanding where he’s going to be. What I did badly today? Throwing that pick. I was late [on the throw], and that’s something that can’t happen. We were moving the ball, and got three points two times, and I believe we could have kept it moving on the first drive. We’ve just got to make that play.”
He sounded less certain about the NCAA’s motives, though he’s hardly the only person with that problem these days.
“At the end of the day, it’s their world,” he said. “They get to choose and set the rules. All I can do is speak for myself. I broke rules, and I paid for it. I made those mistakes when I was 18. I took it as a man, and I’m moving on.”
Fact of day: If Seahawks QB T. Pryor makes team, he will make $705,000; This season, Russell Wilson will make $662,434. Via @SportsTaxMan.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 22, 2014Sunday, April 13, 2014
5 Headliners from NFL Preseason Schedule Release - Super Bowl rematch of Broncos - Seahawks
Seahawks - Broncos to rematch in Broncos first NFL preseason game (despite slated in regular season as well)
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| Nate Irving (#56 of Denver) breaks up pass intended for J. Kearse (#15 of Seattle) in 1st quarter of Super Bowl. They'll rematch in the 2014 regular season as well. Photo Courtesy +Denver Broncos (AP) |
The Five Most Intriguing Games On The 2014 NFL Preseason Schedule
Are you ready for some (pre-season) football? With the release of the NFL Preseason schedule earlier today, football-starved fans across the Internet finally have something concrete to look forward to, and talk about. While the games will be meaningless come December, there will be position battles to be won and lost and, of course, the longer extra point experiment. For the first two weeks of the preseason, the ball will be spotted at the 20-yard line for extra point kicks, which will turn extra points from 20-yard chip shots into something slightly more interesting. Last year, close to 99% of extra points were converted, which created little incentive for fans to stay in front of their televisions after the first six points. With that in mind, we've broken down the five most interesting preseason games, starting with the Chargers opener against the Cowboys.Week 1: Cowboys at Chargers: Last season Chargers PK Nick Novak had the worst success rate for kicks between 30-39 yards, going 13-16, or 81%. At the equivalent of a 38-yard field goal, the extended extra point could be an adventure for Novak. The game may also be as expensive some of the games on the Chargers schedule for the regular season, as the Cowboys almost always drive up prices on the road, even for their preseason games.
Week 4: Jets at Eagles: Week 4 is typically the week when starters take a seat. If Geno Smith beats out Michael Vick for the Jets starting job, this game could be a match-up of Michael Vick vs.Mark Sanchez, two once-franchise QBs. While not exactly the return of Andy Reid last year, it will be the most interesting pre-season game on Eagles schedule for reasons that have nothing to do with football. Vick spent five years in Philadelphia and he has the franchise to thank for giving him a second chance and a deal worth $100 million. In return, he delivered two wild-card playoff losses, and it will be interesting to see how the ever-honest fans at Lincoln Financial Field greet Vick in his return.
Week 2: Broncos at 49ers: If not for Richard Sherman, this could have been a rematch of last year’s Super Bowl. It will be the second year in a row the Broncos Schedule sets up a pre-season visit to San Francisco. While last year was Peyton’s final visit to Candlestick Park, this year will be his first to Levis Field. It will also be the first football game played in the $1.2 billion stadium, aka, the Field of Jeans. Given that novelty element, it will likely be sold out or close to sold out. Levis has a capacity of 68,500, which makes it on the small side for a football stadium. As a point of reference, the first ever game at Metlife Stadium brought in 67,511 fans for a game against the Jets and the Giants. The game was technically a home game on the Jets schedule, which may have been part of the reason almost 20,000 seats went unfilled.
August 3rd, Hall Of Fame Game: Giants Vs. Bills: While this would have been a potential Super-Bowl Matchup in the early 90s, in 2014, it’s a match-up of two teams just looking to compete. It is, however, the first snap of the football, and therefore, exciting.
Week 1: Seahawks at Broncos: While the preseason is often meaningless, this rematch of Super Bowl XLVIII should have a lot of meaning for the +Denver Broncos. After getting demolished by the Seahawks in the SuperBowl, a win in the rematch could allow the Broncos to shake some of the nightmares that they’ve surely lived with since February. For Broncos fans, a close game will give them a chance to imagine what could have been. A win would likely give them confidence about success for the Broncos schedule that’s ahead. Another blowout loss could lead to some serious soul searching, even if Peyton manning only takes a quarter of the snaps. (This statement should put any sports, football casual journalist on suspension for its miraculous attempt at making keyboard millennial trolls jump all over this and ride it for what it is worth, nothing) Something we see on +Bleacher Report and others horrifying articulation of pointless things. Sports CR3W would like to hope that we admit when we are following the lead of such a fuss on anything and will delineate what is worth keeping up in the brain for future use, reference.
We say, "In what way is this even feasible?? Soul searching from ONE quarter in the "bleep,,, bleeping,, bleeeping" PREASEASON!! You're 'bleeeeep!ng' joking, right?"
+SPORTS CR3W will have to disagree with this statement or any other 'pundit' and/or 'analysis / insight' about a PRESEASON match whether it is a rematch or not. The same will be said of the +Seattle Seahawks and Broncos regular season matchup in Seattle that has all sorts of variables in it that weigh no significance regarding the Super Bowl debacle.
To say and buy into ANY hype of a preseason game and its results is just plain misleading, ignorant, and naive. Sorry to all those expert journalists that will make so much of this matchup and the writers that are actually qualified to vote on matter of Hall of Fame inductees to MVP awards, etc. If qualifications pass for them on the latter matter's mentioned, they should know better than to say the result of this preseason game merits a single ioda towards a possible meeting about 5 months from then. Sorry preseason, John Fox and the Broncos use base defense, do not gameplan on offense and the point of the preseason is to give fringe players (especially the 1st and 2nd preseason games) a look at how they mesh or play with starters and players that are deeper on the depth chart. Mainly to see if they can make the cut or not, of course.
Especially, in special teams analysis of who could/should make the team for defense/special teams and hone their other skills at the perspective position. Simply said, do not give a damn about the result here, it has no relevance as to how the regular season will unfold for either club. Broncos will be using a lot of new faces on defense as well as old that were not on the team's Super Bowl roster. A reminder to all those that forget. 8 turnovers, the Broncos would have lost to the Canadian Football League champs to put it lightly. Suffice it to say, the Seahawks did not beat the Broncos "A" team as we've written before.
h/t +Forbes
Friday, April 4, 2014
Carroll, Super Bowl Champ, Seahawks Come to terms on Contract Extension with one year Remaining on current one
Pete Carroll's championship defense with the Seattle Seahawks will start with a new contract.
NFL Media Insider, Ian Rappaport, broke the news the Seahawks have reached an agreement with Carroll on a contract extension, per a source informed of the situation. The Seahawks plan to announce the deal with the Super Bowl-winning coach at a news conference Friday.
Carroll had one season left on his five-year, $35 million contract. Armed with a new extension, the Super Bowl-winning coach now will be one of the three highest-paid coaches in the league, a source informed of the deal told Rappaport.
Carroll, along with general manager John Schneider, has managed to turn around the fortunes of the franchise in a short period. In his first season with the team, Carroll led the 'Hawks to an NFC West title despite a 7-9 record. In just his fourth season, the Seattle Seahawks won their first Super Bowl in franchise history, defeating the Denver Broncos 43-8 in February.
Carroll has a professional record of 71-57 in three head coaching stints with the New York Jets, New England Patriots, and the Seahawks.
Report: Seahawks reach extension with Pete Carroll
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| (Photo: Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports) |
The Seahawks announcement did not specify the nature of the news conference and team officials would not confirm the report of an extension for Carroll.
Carroll reached the top of the +NFL last season, leading the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl title. Lured away from USC in 2010 with the chance at complete control over the football operations, Carroll tore down then rebuilt the Seahawks roster into one of the best in the NFL. He's 38-26 in four regular seasons with Seattle and 5-2 in the playoffs.
The Seahawks announcement did not specify the nature of the news conference and team officials would not confirm the report of an extension for Carroll.
Carroll reached the top of the NFL last season, leading the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl title. Lured away from +USC Trojans in 2010 with the chance at complete control over the football operations, Carroll tore down then rebuilt the Seahawks roster into one of the best in the NFL. He's 38-26 in four regular seasons with Seattle and 5-2 in the playoffs.
Carroll has made competition the benchmark of his time in Seattle. It's why quarterback Russell Wilson and cornerback Richard Sherman have become stars — because they were given opportunities in Carroll's system.
Carroll, 62, is the second oldest coach in the NFL, but rarely appears his age. He came to Seattle because of the chance he didn't have in his two previous stops as an NFL head coach: control. Seattle gave him the reins to the franchise, and hired him before adding general manager John Schneider to the mix, a relationship that has been marked by stability and success.
Carroll lacked control in his previous positions with the +New England Patriots and the +New York Jets. But after a decade of winning with the Trojans and having that control, it was something Carroll demanded if he was going to get back into the professional ranks and the Seahawks were willing.
Seattle also let Carroll imprint his attitude on the locker room. He wanted a fun atmosphere filled with accountability. Competition was at the crux of everything Carroll did from the day he inherited a 5-11 team. Carroll took Seattle to the playoffs in his first season despite a 7-9 regular season record.
The Seahawks plateaued in 2011 going 7-9 again but took a jump in 2012 after drafting Wilson. The Seahawks went 11-5 in the regular season and reached the divisional round of the playoffs. The roster turnover had been completed and there were massive expectations going into 2013.
Seattle matched and surpassed those expectations. Carroll guided Seattle to 13 wins in the regular season, the NFC West title and home-field advantage in the playoffs. Seattle knocked off New Orleans Saints in the divisional round, then edged San Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game to reach its second Super Bowl.
At the Super Bowl, Carroll got to celebrate the way he did watching USC's run of dominance in the mid-2000s. Seattle's defense stifled the highest scoring offense in NFL history, humbling Denver in a 43-8 beating to give Seattle its first title. After the season Carroll sounded as if he was locked in to a long future with the Seahawks.
"We're trying to do something really good for a really long time and we want to see how far we can go and someday, we look back and see what we accomplished," Carroll said.
Carroll reached the top of the NFL last season, leading the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl title. Lured away from +USC Trojans in 2010 with the chance at complete control over the football operations, Carroll tore down then rebuilt the Seahawks roster into one of the best in the NFL. He's 38-26 in four regular seasons with Seattle and 5-2 in the playoffs.
Carroll has made competition the benchmark of his time in Seattle. It's why quarterback Russell Wilson and cornerback Richard Sherman have become stars — because they were given opportunities in Carroll's system.
Carroll, 62, is the second oldest coach in the NFL, but rarely appears his age. He came to Seattle because of the chance he didn't have in his two previous stops as an NFL head coach: control. Seattle gave him the reins to the franchise, and hired him before adding general manager John Schneider to the mix, a relationship that has been marked by stability and success.
Carroll lacked control in his previous positions with the +New England Patriots and the +New York Jets. But after a decade of winning with the Trojans and having that control, it was something Carroll demanded if he was going to get back into the professional ranks and the Seahawks were willing.
Seattle also let Carroll imprint his attitude on the locker room. He wanted a fun atmosphere filled with accountability. Competition was at the crux of everything Carroll did from the day he inherited a 5-11 team. Carroll took Seattle to the playoffs in his first season despite a 7-9 regular season record.
The Seahawks plateaued in 2011 going 7-9 again but took a jump in 2012 after drafting Wilson. The Seahawks went 11-5 in the regular season and reached the divisional round of the playoffs. The roster turnover had been completed and there were massive expectations going into 2013.
Seattle matched and surpassed those expectations. Carroll guided Seattle to 13 wins in the regular season, the NFC West title and home-field advantage in the playoffs. Seattle knocked off New Orleans Saints in the divisional round, then edged San Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game to reach its second Super Bowl.
At the Super Bowl, Carroll got to celebrate the way he did watching USC's run of dominance in the mid-2000s. Seattle's defense stifled the highest scoring offense in NFL history, humbling Denver in a 43-8 beating to give Seattle its first title. After the season Carroll sounded as if he was locked in to a long future with the Seahawks.
"We're trying to do something really good for a really long time and we want to see how far we can go and someday, we look back and see what we accomplished," Carroll said.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Seahawks DB, Browner, signs with Patriots
Patriots sign suspended DB Brandon Browner
By JIMMY GOLEN
Suspended former Seattle cornerback Brandon Browner said on Friday that he has agreed to a contract with the +New England Patriots, giving the AFC East champions another potent defender in pass coverage.
A day after representatives for Darrelle Revis confirmed that the three-time All Pro would be joining the Patriots, Browner said on Twitter: "I am proud to announce that I am a New England Patriot." The team has not confirmed either deal, but Browner's contract was reportedly worth $17 million over three years."I am honored that the Patriots are making me part of their legendary organization," Browner wrote. "I intend to diligently work with the same passion and dedication that I have displayed since coming into the NFL to uphold the great traditions and qualities that are embodied by the Patriots."
After winning the AFC East for the fifth consecutive year, the Patriots lost the AFC championship game in Denver 26-16 as Peyton Manning threw for 400 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. This week, No. 1 cornerback Aqib Talib agreed to a reported six-year, $57 million free agent contract with the Denver Broncos.
+BRONCOS CR3W wrote an article that touched upon Browner and his stance on marijuana violating the league's substance abuse program
Another Patriots defensive back, Alfonzo Dennard, is serving a 60-day jail term in Lincoln, Neb., for a 2012 assault on a police officer. He is expected to be out in time for training camp.
Revis, one of the top players on the free agent market, reportedly agreed to a one-year, $12 million deal Thursday.
Browner, who was suspended four games in 2012 for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs, was suspended in December for again violating the league's substance abuse policy. He will miss the first four games of the 2014 regular season, but he will be allowed to attend training camp and play in exhibition games.
The 29-year-old Browner had 19 tackles and one interception before he was injured in Week 10 last season. He missed the Super Bowl, which the Seahawks won 43-8 over the Broncos.
"I would be remiss if I didn't thank the Seattle Seahawks for giving a CFL player the once in-a-lifetime opportunity to return to the NFL, making a young boy's dream come true," he wrote on Twitter. "I say thank you for everything you have done for myself and my family. I am a truly blessed person."
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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org
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A day after the Patriots made huge waves by agreeing to contract terms with cornerback Darrelle Revis, they've reportedly made another splash on the defensive back market.
+SPORTS CR3W shows what Revis will look like as a Patriot.
According to ESPN's Josina Anderson, the Patriots have agreed to a three-year contract with former Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner. NFL.com's Albert Breer reports the deal is worth $17.5 million.
Although he was recently reinstated from a year-long suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy, Browner will be suspended for the first four games of the season and won't be paid for the next four games after that.
But he seems happy with his new team. Wrote Browner on his Twitter page:
Today, I am proud to announce that I am a New England Patriot. I am honored that the Patriots are making me part of their legendary organization, and am grateful for the opportunity Mr. [Robert] Kraft, Coach Belichick, Nick Caserio and the entire team have given me. I intend to diligently work with the same passion and dedication that I have displayed since coming into the NFL to uphold the great traditions and qualities that are embodied by the Patriots. I would be remiss if I didn't thank the Seattle Seahawks for giving a CFL player the once in-a-lifetime opportunity to return to the NFL, making a young boy's dream come true. To Coach Pete Carroll, GM John Schneider, John Idzik, Coach Richard, Rocky Seto, the LOB, my teammates, the training staff, the equipment guys the Seahawks organization as a whole and most importantly the 12th Man, I say thank you for everything you have done for myself and my family. I am a truly blessed person.Topics: Brandon Browner, Darrelle Revis, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, NFL
Monday, March 3, 2014
What Could Have Been, Wilson with the Rangers, not NFL
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| Russell Wilson got to show off his 'solid to average-plus' baseball arm during infield practice. (USATSI) |
"We love you Russell," shouted one of many fans on the back field there to witness Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson, a Rule 5 Rangers pickup, stretch and work out with Fielder, Choo, Adrian Beltre, Elvis Andrus and the rest of the World Series hopefuls. It's a brief feel-good story (Wilson is in camp only for a day) centering around a player who was once very serious about his baseball playing, and maybe never got it completely out of his system.
Even when the Rangers made the surprise selection of Wilson this winter, general manager Jon Daniels said he held "maybe a one percent" thought that he could possibly one day appear in a game as a Texas Ranger. This wasn't that day.
The fans who showed up in Seahawks jerseys and other Seattle garb and various assorted football followers had to be satisfied with infield practice, which Wilson performed ably. When he came in to make a barehanded play, the fans let out a big cheer. When he called off Fielder for a pop fly, the other infielders happily mocked Prince.
"He looked good, he looked real good," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "It's in him, it's in him. Baseball is definitely in him."
Wilson agitated to pinch run in the game vs. the Indians, but the Rangers, appreciative of the Seahawks' approval to borrow their superstar, said no. Andrus teased Wilson for not taking up Washington's invite to "take some hacks." (That also was not part of the deal.) And Hall of Famer Greg Maddux, here to assist Rangers pitchers, gently tried to coax him to throw a few off the mound.
"You're too smart to be a position player," Maddux told him.
Wilson is smart, all right, but the biggest reason he's here to is to bring a message of how far attitude and work ethic can take a person. As a baseball player, his makeup was "off the charts," said Joe Mikulik, who managed him at with the Rockies' Single A club in Asheville, NC, and is now managing in the Rangers' system.
"The guy is a champion," Washington declared. "Anybody who is a champion has something to offer to every walk of life."
In this case, Wilson once walked this difficult walk. While Wilson batted just .229 his two seasons of A ball with the Rockies, everyone involved now believed he would have found a way to the big leagues. Somehow, some way.
Wilson is recalled by scouts as someone who was an extraordinary person and leader, a great athlete (big surprise there, huh?), someone with good but not blazing speed ("he wasn't a burner," one scout said), a decent arm but not stellar (baseball throws are different than football, but while one scout said his arm was "nothing special," another called it "solid to average-plus") and a bat that needed developing.
In 315 minor-league at-bats, Wilson had five home runs but 118 strikeouts, not shocking considering his short baseball résumé. Beyond all that time spent honing his football ability, the right-handed hitter only played against lefty pitchers his final season playing at North Carolina State. One scout recalled that he needed work with pitch recognition, no surprise since most of his days were spent throwing a football and learning to run an offense, first at North Carolina State then at Wisconsin.
"He had a chance, but it was going to take a lot of at-bats, maybe 1,500 to 2,000 at-bats," one scout said. "Ultimately, he didn't have the time."
Given more time, many have little doubt he would have made it. He could play all over the diamond, and his desire would have carried him to the bigs, many believe.
"He would have found a way," Mikulik said. "The last two, three weeks, he was showing more quality at-bats, driving the ball into gaps, cutting down on strikeouts to the point where you would say, 'OK man, he's getting it.'"
At one point Wilson went to the Rockies and asked what his chances were, and they told him they would have a better idea after three or four more years of swings. But Wilson was on a faster track in football. Though he was only a third-round pick of Seattle, he won the starting job as a rookie, then quickly became a star, then a Super Bowl winner.
"I could tell he was on a mission," recalled Mikulik.
Wilson once seemed similarly focused on baseball. Rockies executive Bill Geivett recalled Wilson coming at 11 a.m. before night games to work on his bunting.
"He's probably the hardest working kid I've ever seen," Geivett said.
Even when he was struggling at the plate, Mikulik recalls he was the one shouting encouragement toward others from the bench.
Baseball was once a great love of Wilson's, and even today, he will slip in a sly suggestion that it isn't completely out of his blood, even after establishing himself as an NFL star at age 25. He told a gathering of Rangers ownership Sunday night regarding his baseball career, "It's probably never going to happen," before adding, with a smile, "... but you never know."
Wilson is believed to have been kidding about that. But as for the Rangers, they got more than their $12,500 (the price of a Rule 5 pick) worth in terms of encouragement and advice for their minor leaguers (Wilson was slated to talk to them Monday afternoon) and publicity.
"We wanted to be associated with the best," Daniels said.
We probably never will know whether this former fourth-round pick of the Colorado Rockies ever could have been good enough to play among the best in baseball. But there was no one here daring to bet against it.
H/T +CBS Sports Network - Original here:
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