Seahawks Re-Sign Rocky Bernard

Today, the Seahawks re-signed DT Rocky Bernard to a 3-year deal, reportedly worth $13M. After the 2005 season Bernard produced (8.5 sacks), it was expected that it would take $5-6M per year over 5+ years to get a deal done. Locking him up for the prime of his career at a per year average of $4.3M per season is a pretty good move by Tim Ruskell. We'll know more details of this contract later.

Seattle also re-signed WR Peter "P-Dub" Warrick to a 1-year deal worth $1M. Warrick was signed last August after Cincinnati released him, and he filled in occasionally at WR and returned some punts. It was Warrick's first year back after a pretty bad knee injury, one that normally takes 2 years to come back from. A solid 2006 season could set Warrick up for a more secure contract down the road.

Hutchinson Update

There's really nothing much to update, but there's plenty of room to speculate. So that's what I'm going to do right now.

Before the Bernard and Warrick signings, the Seahawks had about $16M in cap room, and that includes the $6.3M tied up by Hutchinson's transition tag. After today's signings, I'd probably estimate that the Seahawks have about $11-12M to play with. If they decide not to match the stupid offer Minnesota made to Hutchinson, Seattle would be approximately $17M under the salary cap.

Right now, the team is meeting with Jets DE John Abraham, the Jets "franchise" player, and could conceivably work out a trade with the Jets if they can agree to a contract with Abraham. It's expected to take $17-18M in guaranteed money to make that happen.

Seattle is also scheduled to meet with former 49ers LB Julian Peterson in the next few days.

Using basic arithmetic: If the Seahawks choose not to match the contract offered to Steve Hutchinson by the Minnesota Vikings, they would have the cap room this year to sign both Abraham and Julian Peterson. They could likely bring in CB Will Allen, as well.

All for not re-signing a left guard? I'm on board with that, if that's the way they choose to go. Here's a look at what our starting lineups would look like:

Offense
QB - Matt Hasselbeck
RB - Shaun Alexander
FB - Mack Strong (they will re-sign him)
WR - Darrell Jackson
WR - Bobby Engram
TE - Jerramy Stevens
LT - Walter Jones
LG - Floyd Womack/Chris Spencer/Robbie Tobeck
C - Robbie Tobeck/Chris Spencer
RG - Chris Gray/Floyd Womack/Chris Spencer
RT - Sean Locklear

Womack was expected to start at RT last year, but got hurt and couldn't supplant Sean Locklear once healthy. Womack has seen considerable time at the guard position, and is earning a starter's salary. Chris Spencer was drafted to play center, but spent some time at the guard position, and it could be argued that a year playing next to Robbie Tobeck would benefit the youngster for when Tobeck's body can no longer keep up. Chris Gray keeps clinging to a starting job, but Spencer and Womack are stronger, more athletic and need to be out on the field. Gray would provide depth inside, should Womack need to move to tackle at some point.
Defense

RDE - Grant Wistrom
DT - Marcus Tubbs
DT - Rocky Bernard
LDE - John Abraham
SLB - LeRoy Hill
MLB - Lofa Tatupu
WLB - Julian Peterson
CB - Will Allen
CB - Marcus Trufant
FS - Ken Hamlin
SS - Michael Boulware

Under this, the team's leader in sacks in 2005 (Bryce Fisher) wouldn't even start. How crazy is that?

So as disappointed I was in the prospect of Steve Hutchinson not being in Seattle anymore, if it means we can improve our already solid defense, I'm on board with not matching that contract.