Update: Panthers Sign Hackett

by John Morgan on Mar 16, 2008 12:00 PM PDT in Seahawks News

Update: And just like that, I jinx it. Hackett should enjoy playing on the sunny side of Steve Smith and the Panthers get a very talented player for table scraps. Updated Mock Draft will be up in a few hours.

I've held my tongue about this. Like a perfect game, I didn't want to jinx it by discussing the possibility too soon. I was sure that Hackett, his youth, red zone prowess, and built for a West Coast skill-set wouldn't make it out of Tampa Bay. The Bucs have nothing but cap room and needs at wide receiver. If Hackett never played a game for them, missed the entire 2008 season because of injury and was cut the following offseason, his signing would still be justified. And yet...

After meeting with the Redskins, Bucs, and Panthers last week, free agent D.J. Hackett has returned to Seattle to consider his options.

There's speculation among league insiders that Hackett wants to return to Seattle and used his three visits as leverage in contract talks. The 26-year-old wideout may be willing to take a one-year deal from Seattle in the $2-3 million range.

When healthy, Hackett is a huge asset. On a one year deal for a few million, he's almost priceless. When healthy is a big if, but Seattle's in an excellent position. Should Hackett muddle his way through another injury wracked campaign, filled with fits of excellence and faults of injury, Seattle would still have a cheap, sometimes awesome wide receiver. Should Hackett persevere, start all 16 and whatever follows, Seattle will have a top producing wide receiver in 2008, no obligation to his shaky health and the dark cloud it casts over his future plus the supplemental pick that comes from losing a top free agent. Win, Win, Win.

I've said too much.

0 recs | Comment 22 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I sure hope that happens

Definitely a good sign that he didn't sign with the Bucs while he was there.

by notor on Mar 16, 2008 1:42 PM PDT 0 recs

then again, everything you've posted on here

has come to fruition so...

by Matthew on Mar 16, 2008 2:04 PM PDT 0 recs

Ellis Wyms is still out there as well

I wouldn't mind re-signing both Hackett and Wyms.

by MFAN on Mar 16, 2008 2:06 PM PDT 0 recs

Darnit John...

Now the football forces from above will cause DJ to sign immediately with the Patriots or someone else out of left field (not Rauuuuul Ibanez).

Celebrated my 20th birthday on 02/05/2006. Not a good day.

by abender20 on Mar 16, 2008 4:32 PM PDT 0 recs

I disagree

Everytime John tells Ruskell to sign somebody it happens.

Coach Owens = Scruffy's spell check

by Scruffy Lefty on Mar 16, 2008 4:54 PM PDT up 0 recs

John, you've been mum about D-Jack

Doesn't seem like it would be a bad idea for D-Jack to sign here on a cheap 1 year deal either. He knows our system, he's got some speed, and we're weak at WR. So why not take a flier on him on a one year deal for 2-3 million. He'll build up his value, we'll get a nice stop-gap.

D-Jack, Burly, Engram, and potentially Hackett with a half season of Branch looks a lot better than Burly, Engram, Taylor, Obo, and half a season of branch. Plus with potential injury issues from D-Hack and D-Jack, it'd allow Taylor to get some playing time.

If he's cheap, why not? And I don't mean that hypothetically, really--why not? I'd like to hear you weigh in on the subject.

by BrettJMiller on Mar 16, 2008 5:21 PM PDT 0 recs

I think that bridge is burnt.

It was an acrimonious separation. I see him more in Tampa Bay.

by John Morgan on Mar 16, 2008 5:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

PANTHERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR(S)!

Hackett signs a 2-year deal, $3.5 million.

by PositivePaul on Mar 17, 2008 9:45 AM PDT 0 recs

Hackett signed with Carolina

Is it too late to buy D Jack some chocolate and flowers?

by notor on Mar 17, 2008 10:05 AM PDT 0 recs

Knew I'd screw it up.

Had to open my big mouth.

by John Morgan on Mar 17, 2008 10:15 AM PDT 0 recs

Thanks a lot ya jerk

by notor on Mar 17, 2008 10:21 AM PDT up 0 recs

It's finally clear that John Morgan ISN'T

Tim Ruskell. At least we can put that mystery to bed.

In response to the DJ Hackett news: fuck.

Jimmimoose = Phildopip's lover.

by Phildopip on Mar 17, 2008 10:43 AM PDT 0 recs

That officially makes

Hackett the best fantasy #2 receiver in my book. Finally the Panthers have a WR option after teams double up on Smith.

by Snuffleupagus on Mar 17, 2008 10:45 AM PDT 0 recs

Not to go all negative here, but...

was 2 years/3.5 million too much for the Seahawks to swallow? I know the Seahawks are in some cap problems until they cut Shaun Alexander and get Marcus Trufant signed to a cap-friendly, long-term contract, but it seems like Ruskell just let Hackett walk away. While Deion Branch is slated to return sometime this season, he won't get back to 100% until 2009, and that leaves us with Burleson, Engram and Obomanu (and Taylor, too). What gives?

by JL White on Mar 17, 2008 10:47 AM PDT 0 recs

I don't think Ruskell wanted him.

Can't say I agree, but he just didn't seem too jazzed about Hackett from the onset.

by John Morgan on Mar 17, 2008 10:55 AM PDT up 0 recs

T.I.T.

You know, that has been at the back of my brain, too. With Obumanu and Taylor, we have two really young WRs that haven't had the chance to go out and prove their mettle, because of the all the competition here for playing time. Maybe Ruskell thought that, since the Seahawks played just as well for 10 games last year WITHOUT Hackett, that we could live without him. I just hope it all works out for the best.

by JL White on Mar 17, 2008 11:02 AM PDT up 0 recs

Well the guy's as tough as a...

Faberge Egg, so you can see why most NFL clubs were reluctant to dish out too much cash for him. I'll miss Hackett, and don't think Seattle has an on-roster replacement for his talent, but if healthy for Hackett is a IF.

Injuries are one of the only built in protections players get, so Ruskell probably worried about the cap ramifications of signing Hackett to anything longer than one season.

by John Morgan on Mar 17, 2008 11:11 AM PDT up 0 recs

If Hackett's a Faberge Egg

shouldn't he now be playing for this guy?

Jimmimoose = Phildopip's lover.

by Phildopip on Mar 17, 2008 1:08 PM PDT up 0 recs

Dissapointed

I was resigned to losing DJ at the beginning of the off season but that was when I thought some team would give him a large contract. Maybe Hackett turned down the same contract from us to play beside Steve Smith? If not, I'd be a little cheesed with TR.

by Mercenary on Mar 17, 2008 11:10 AM PDT 0 recs