ESPN received unprecedented, inside-the-ropes access to Tuesday’s Seahawks practice and televised it live for nearly two hours, the Kenny Mayne-hosted telecast providing rare insight into how head coach Pete Carroll and his staff prepare players through intensive unit vs. unit and player vs. player competitions. No news was scheduled, but there was some, most of it bad.
- Tight end Anthony McCoy, attempting a comeback after tearing his right Achilles tendon last year, limped off the field, apparently after tearing his left Achilles. McCoy missed the entire 2013 season. “If it is what they think it is, it’s just a real heartbreaker,” Carroll said after practice. “He worked real hard to get back.”
- In a sideline interview with ESPN’s John Clayton, GM John Schneider made it clear that the Seahawks are not going to re-do Marshawn Lynch’s contract. A holdout, Lynch failed to show for the fifth consecutive practice as the amount of his fines rose to $180,000.
- Veteran offensive tackle Eric Winston, signed Monday night to a one-year deal, participated in his first practice – that after the Seahawks placed WR Taylor Price on injured reserve, released CB Chandler Fenner and G Bronson Irwin and signed WR Randall Carroll and CB Terrell Thomas. Winston started all 16 games for the Arizona Cardinals last season.
When asked by Clayton if he is getting concerned about Lynch, who signed a $30 million deal two years ago and now wants it re-structured, Schneider said that the Seahawks are prepared for life after Beast Mode.
“Everybody loves Beast Mode,” Schneider said. “We love him and respect the guy. I think what he’s done in this community, for this franchise, is outstanding. It’s one of those deals where you can never get inside somebody’s head. We’re just going with our plan, and I know it’s cliché-ish, but . . . next man up. We’ve had a plan in place here for a number of years, and we can’t veer from that plan for one person, because it’s the ultimate team sport.
“You make models two and three years out, and you have to stick to that and know that there’s going to be tough decisions along the way. We had to let guys like Red Bryant and Chris Clemons go. We weren’t able to sign Breno (Giacomini) and Golden Tate. You have to be able to make those decisions along the way knowing you’ll be able to re-sign Michael Bennett and maybe there’s a free agent that comes in and fits in your bracket.
“It’s just one of those deals where you know you can’t keep all of your players and you have to keep going about your business, and you can’t veer off of that. Around here we talk about what’s next, and the next person is up.
“Hey, Marshawn Lynch is phenomenal. Phenomenal player and just a unique part of what we’ve had going on here. Two years ago we were able to redo his deal, and he was a big part of that foundation that we started here.”
If Lynch watched the interview, he had to get the impression that Schneider, at least in his public comments, is starting to view Lynch as part of the team’s past – a message Schneider obviously intended to impart. Of course, Lynch could change his mind at any moment, realize the Seahawks hold all the cards, and cut his losses.
Analyst Jon Gruden, the former head coach who worked the Tuesday telecast alongside Mayne, was asked about Lynch’s holdout and what he would do if he found himself in Carroll’s spot with respect to Lynch.
“I’m working on my contingency plan,” Gruden said.
Back at practice, ESPN took viewers through what Carroll calls “Competition Tuesdays,” an extensive variety of drills that pitted tight ends vs. linebackers, wide receivers vs. defensive backs, offensive linemen vs. defensive linemen, 9 on 7, 7 on 7, and much more. Carroll and his staff, as per custom, kept score.
“They’ll look at that on film as they assess their roster,” explained Gruden. “This is why coaches are in their offices until 11 o’clock at night. The Seahawks have a real good sense of purpose in what they do day in and day out.”
The player who most helped himself Tuesday was rookie wide receiver Paul Richardson, whom the Seahawks selected out of Colorado with their first pick in last spring’s draft. Richardson showed his speed, catching two long touchdown passes.
“This kid has a ton of talent,” Carroll said. “He’s really fast, has exceptional hands, and we’re excited about what he adds to the group.”
“One of the best position battles on this roster is going to be at wide receiver,” added Gruden. “Keep an eye on the young receivers. Paul Richardson can blow the top off things. But the biggest battle on the roster is at right tackle.”
Michael Bowie, expected to win that battle and replace Giacomini, who bolted to the New York Jets in free agency, is nursing a shoulder injury from the first day of training camp. Justin Britt, the club’s second-round draft pick out of Missouri, isn’t ready to start.
10 Comments
great
Isn’t it ironic that a player is willing to be fined hundreds of thousands of dollars to get more money? In 5 days Lynch has been fined almost 4x my annual income. And yet by next week he’ll be back, smile and say “I’m all about the action boss!” Wish he’d just come to camp and if he wants to toss money around to throw some my way.
On to matters of more gravity than some guy claiming to make $63 an hour on internet: Marshawn needs to start listening to his agent, presuming his agent understands that in the NFL the team holds all the cards and he is the one assuming all the risks at this point.
Maybe this is a Walter Jones-style holdout in which Marshawn gets to sit out training camp but show up once they start playing for real, but it’s not wise to take that course when there are still two years left on your contract. So far, he’s been given $14 million since 2012 (including $3 million of his prorated $6 million signing bonus) and that contract has $17 million in total guarantees. He’s willing to walk away from that?
I’m with Schneider: Nobody in this game is irreplaceable and there are at least two RBs in camp who’ll be more than happy to take Marshawn’s touches this year (and there’s something in me that would like to see how Kiero Small would do at RB in preseason even though he’s a step slow). Holding out on a team that’s all about “competing” is as self-defeating as you can get.
Difference betwwen Walt and Beastmode is that Walt would be designated the franchise player. Beastmode is under contract.
It’s proving to be impossible to keep up with these spam bots. As soon as you block/delete/blacklist a group of them, another swarm has hit a different set of articles.
People shouldn’t respond to spambots. That sends a response back to the originator and their system will send more.
Lynch – It’s all bout the MONEY, boss – is now the line he’s living up to. I say trade him for a solid OL player on a non-playoff team.
Radio guy said it. I don’t know what’s going on with Lynch and his agent, but it is not a timely holdout. The final deal may be, “Come back ready and we won’t keep all the fine money.”
being as cryptic and uncommunicative as he is, one is left to judge Marshawn based on his actions. He is looking rather selfish at the moment