KING 5 Seahawks

Controversy brewing?

Foxsports.com writer John Czarnicki recently posted a story called 10 burning questions for NFL off-season. Check out #4 - Sleepless in Seattle. The Czar implies that Hawks owner Paul Allen agreed with GM Tim Ruskell about not giving head coach Mike Holmgren an extension. Thus giving Holmgren only 1 more year in Seattle, his final year of his contract. I was talking to Paul Silvi about it tonight. He co-hosted the Mike Holmgren Show with Mike for the past 2 seasons. Paul says he got the feeling from Holmgren that next season was it. And that a contract extension really wasn't in the cards. So who knows! Either way, in a round-a-bout way, it brings up an interesting situation. How will Mike Holmgren and head coach in waiting Jim Mora handle the season? Will Mora get any input? If the Czar is correct, will that lead to a rift between Holmgren and the front office/owner? Next season should be an interesting season with many plot lines ahead.

]]> (a side note, is possible for the rest of America to stop refering to us or limiting us in pop culture terms like Sleepless in Seattle or playing "grunge" music during nationally televised games and/or articles? both happened many moons ago. Sure it was fun to live in Seattle when Nirvana, Pearl Jam, etc... exploded onto the scene in the early 90's and changed the music industry. And I'm sure a lot of people enjoyed Meg Ryan's alluring cuteness in 1993's Sleepless in Seattle. But aren't we little more than that? Hasn't the Northwest contributed something else that isn't 15 years or older? Sure, for those who don't live here, they may feel like they're being clever. But I just want to puke at their lack of originality. OK, enough of my rant. Let me know what you think of the Czar's comments)

Hawks Sign OG Wahle

Wow! That was quick. The Seahawks announced they've signed OG Mike Wahle to a multi-year deal. Wahle just came to town yesterday. He'll definitely give Seattle a nice 1-2 punch on the left side. I'm sure this isn't good news for Chris Gray. Wahle will probably start at left guard and Rob Sims will move to right guard. Gray turns 38 in June. He's likely to move into a backup role or look for another team.

I'm not sure what that means for the Seahawks in free agency. Everyone speculated the Hawks were gonna focus on Steelers guard Alan Faneca (if he's not franchised by Pittsburgh). But do the Hawks now have the money to chase Fancea, or do they even need to. Wahle definitely plugs a hole for Seattle. Just another note on Wahle, if you read Justin's post yesterday, you know the former Pro Bowler has a history with head coach Mike Holmgren.

]]> Hawks Press Release

Seahawks Sign Veteran Guard Wahle to Roster
Kirkland, Wash. - The Seattle Seahawks have signed 10-year veteran and two-time Pro Bowler Mike Wahle to a multi-year contract, the team announced today. He started all 16 games for the Carolina Panthers last season at left guard and has started 128 of 142 career games played.

Originally selected in the second round (24th overall) of the 1998 Supplemental NFL Draft by Green Bay, he played seven years for the Packers before signing as a free agent by Carolina in 2005. That season, he started all 16 games and was voted to his first Pro Bowl, starting the game at left guard. He also represented Carolina in the Pro Bowl after the 2006 season, named to the squad as an injury substitute.

Wahle and his wife, Trina, and daughter, Teagan, reside in San Diego.

Hawks formally announce Lazor hire

This afternoon, the Seahawks finally announced they've hired Bill Lazor as their new quarterbacks coach. Here's the press release:

Hawks Press Release:
Seahawks Name Bill Lazor Quarterbacks Coach
Kirkland, Wash. - The Seattle Seahawks have named former Washington Redskins quarterbacks coach Bill Lazor to replace the departed Jim Zorn in similar capacity, the team announced this afternoon. Lazor will begin his sixth NFL season in 2008 after spending the previous four with Washington, serving his final two years as quarterbacks coach. He originally began his Redskins career as an offensive assistant in 2004 after a season with the Atlanta Falcons in 2003. Before breaking in to the NFL, he was an offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for the University of Buffalo from 2001-02. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Cornell, working with running backs, receivers, quarterbacks and tight ends while also serving as the recruiting coordinator from 1998-2000. While at Cornell, he set 26 school passing and total offensive records. He earned his degree in human development and family studies and is married to wife, Nicole, with one son, Nolan.

Qwest Field getting new turf

The home of the Seattle Seahawks is getting a facelift, replacing the existing Field Turf with the same material -- get this, just in time for the Dalai Lama's rally in April. According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, Paul Allen's First & Goal was concerned the playing surface has become faded and impacted, and possibly more injuries. It'll take six-weeks to yank out the exisiting field, pour down rubber and then install the new surface. Hey, if it keeps Shaun (or some other RB) from breaking a bone on the first game of next season, I'm all for it.

Help Wanted: Hawks need RB coach

It's done. Redskins head coach Jim Zorn has stole Stump Mitchell from the Seahawks. Stump will be the 'Skins new running backs coach. Yeah, the same position he held with Seattle. Unless my count is off, Stump is the sixth assistant coach who's left the team or been let go.

Zorn wants former Hawks RB Sherman Smith to run the offense. If the former Seahawks QB coach fails to procure Smith, it's rumored that Mitchell will be promoted to run QB Jason Campbell and crew (of course, with the help of Zorn).

Pro Bowl guard Wahle visiting Seahawks

Inside the Panthers is reporting that former Pro Bowler, Panther and Packers guard Mike Wahle is in Kirkland today to visit Seahawks brass. Wahle played for Holmgren back in the Green Bay days of yore. Wahle was cut by the Panthers earlier this week. He suffered a torn labrum in 2006 while suiting up for Carolina. The 31-year-old Wahle played in the Pro Bowl in 2005. Releasing the 6-foot-6, 304-Wahle freed up cap room. Carolina reportedly owed him a $1 million roster bonus and $3 million base salary.

Soccer at Qwest: does the 12th Man care?

How many Seahawks fans -- season ticket holders or not -- really plan to attend that other football, when MLS starts at Qwest Field? Is the venue simply too big for Pelé's Beautiful Game, or does the stadium fall under the "if you build it..." category? As Houston Dynamos GM Oliver Luck said, "...there's nothing worse than 15,000 people in a 72,000-seat stadium. That's been proven over and over by MLS teams." Yet MLS president Mark Abbott told the TNT, "Seattle was to be able to create in Qwest Field a number of the advantages that we were able to achieve in soccer-specific stadiums." Specifically, using only the lower bowl of The Qwest Field, faking a 25,000-seat stadium. With something like 11,000 season-tickets sold, there is certainly a low-grade buzz about the Seattle's new MLS team. But will the 12th Man go?

Zorn to stump for Stump?

Former Seahawks QB coach turned new Redskins head coach Jim Zorn needs a new offensive coordinator. According to the Washington Post running backs coach Stump Mitchell is in the mix. Although Stump has never been an offensive coordinator (nor has Zorn for that matter), both Mitchell and Zorn could make the calls by committee.

Hasselbeck: A Zorn or Holmgren creation?

That is the question being raised over in that other Washington as sports writers in the nation's capital try to figure out newly hired head coach and Seahawk icon, Jim Zorn. So, who deserves the credit for Matt's growth from boo-bird bullsye at Husky Stadium back in those days to the Pro Bowl moustache-wearing QB he is now? Quarterback guru Mike Holmgren or Zorn? Over at the Post, they're hoping hiring Zorn brightens Jason Campbell's future. Mike Holmgren has the larger resume, including two Hall of Famers -- Montana and Young (and Favre and Matt). Zorn gets credit for helping out Detroit's Charlie Batch (and Matt). So who (besides Matt) gets the credit for molding Matt into a Pro Bowler? Redskins fans and Seahawks fans may not vote for the same head coach.

Free agent, Trufant set to get paid

Now that the Pro Bowl is over (does anyone really watch the game?), all eyes in the NFL can turn to Redskins' head coach Jim Zorn's fumbled first news conference...wait. How about... free agency. For Seahawks fans, FA No.1 is likely Marcus Trufant, commonly known as Mr. Elite Cornerback. 411mania.com has Tru ranked as the number one free agent on the market. And realfootball365 believes Mora's hiring was part and parcel in trying to keep Marcus. So, what will the Seahawks do? Offer a contract slightly below market value and if Tru says no, tag him? The "buzz" at the Pro Bowl, according to the Denver Post was..."Trufant is going to cash in big in free agency and could surpass Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey as the highest-paid cornerback in the league." Whew. Well, if they can't sign him, would the Seahawks franchise Trufant? It'd cost. Something around $9.5 million.

Zorn hiring shocks Fassel

The sudden promotion of Jim Zorn from o-coordinator to head coach is sending ripples of ">wha-huh? throughout the league. Jim Fassel, who was considered the front-runner for the gig told CBS, "This is a shock to me." Fassel goes on to say, "...Jim Zorn has three jobs he hasn't done now...he's a head coach, and he's never done it. He's an offensive coordinator, and he's never done it. And he's calling the plays, and he's never done it." Is Zorn ready? Is he the right choice? You can cast your vote at ESPN. Either way, it'll be interesting to see who else is hired to help coach the offense and quarterbacks.

Hawks hire Lazor to replace Zorn

Take that, Redskins. The Washington Post is reporting that the Seahawks have hired Bill Lazor to replace Zorn as QB coach. Lazor was promoted to quarterbacks coach for the 'Skins back in 2006, replacing Bill Musgrove. In 2003, he was offensive quality control coordinator with the Atlanta Falcons. Lazor was a quarterback for Cornell in the ninties, setting numerous records.

Seahawks to let Trufant hit market?

The NFL network's Adam Schefter is reporting that the Seahawks are toying with the idea of letting Pro Bowl corner Marcus Trufant hit the open market -- and hitting kicker Josh Brown with the franchise tag. This came across Rotoworld.com. It sounds like the thought behind these comments is the high price Trufant will demand on the market. When asked earlier this year by the Seattle Times if he'd give the Seahawks the oppurtunity to get him back, Trufant replied: Asked if he'll give the Seahawks every opportunity to bring him back, Trufant was noncommittal. "I think so, but you just kind of have to play it by ear. The business is the business," he said. "Really, I'm not committing either way." Boy, it would be hard to see Tru go. Which player should the Hawks hit with the tag?

Hawks make Mora heir apparent

In case you haven't seen the blog lately, watched our KING5.com live stream on the Hawks presser, or been out of the country, the Seahawks have named Jim Mora as Mike Holmgren's successor in 2009. Unfortunately, Jim Mora isn't at the press conference (nor is Mike). CEO Tod Leiweke and President/GM Tim Ruskell are making the announcement. Ruskell says it's a four-year extension (five-year if you include 2008). Ruskell and Leiweke gave Holmgren a ton of compliments, mainly for announcing next season will be his last season and giving the franchise an opportunity to find his replacement very early in the process. Ruskell says the team, per the NFL rules, can sidestep the Rooney Rule if they have a "in-house" candidate/replacement. Ruskell heaped a ton of praise over Mora. By the way, they worked together back in Atlanta. The Hawks GM just goes over a laundry list of why Mora is qualified to be the next head coach. I'll link the presser when it's over. In the meantime, it's streaming live on KING5.com.

Wolf backpedals on Holmgren slam

Joel just sent me this: Packers GM Ron Wolf trying to take back last week's slam of Holmgren. You may remember Wolf essentially blamed Holmgren for losing Super Bowl XXXII, going as far as to call Holmgren "pig-headed." “For something like that to come out 11 years later makes me look like an idiot,” Wolf told Mike Vandermause. Wolf says he called Holmgren and apologized. “I told him quite frankly that if he never spoke to me again I could understand it....(Holmgren) is by far the smartest coach I’ve ever been around,” he said. You can read the Packer News article here.