Free Agent of Interest: Drew Carter

by John Morgan on Feb 26, 2009 3:37 PM PST

Free agency isn't so exciting when you're broke.

Name: Drew Carter

Birthdate: September 5, 1981.

Height/Weight: 6'4", 202

College: Ohio State, plagued by injuries, played in 32 games

Notable Stats: 41 receptions, 631 yards, 1 touchdown

Pros: Fifth round pick by Carolina, 33 games played over four season, signed with Raiders, missed entire 2008 season with torn ACL

Notable Stats: 71 receptions, 977 yards, 8 touchdowns

My Interest: Carter signed a one year, 2 million dollar contract with Oakland in 2008. After missing the entire 2008 season, he won't be offered as much in 2009. That means in football terms, he's essentially free. Carter is a developmental prospect beginning to make good. He's also ridiculously injury prone. He's down two ACL tendons and whatever one loses when their ankle is beaten to pieces. Despite all that, he's still ninety percent what he was exiting college: a 6'4" wide receiver, with good hops, an ability to fight for the ball in traffic and 4.4 speed. His speed is a probably a little closer to 4.5 now. The Raiders signed Carter while Knapp was the offensive coordinator, so there's possible interest and at least some relationship. The player profile is pure Al Davis. Seattle is in position to sign high risk/high reward players. Carter is more risk than reward, but the reward is tantalizing.

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No thanks.

I’ve seen him and while he clearly has some potential, so does Logan Payne, Jordan Kent, Courtney Taylor, Mike Hass, and whoever the hell else is a Seahawks WR these days. Plus, if we were going for an injury prone WR with a potential high ceiling, I’d rather us just sign Hackett back. At least he hasn’t torn his ACL or something serious.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Feb 26, 2009 3:40 PM PST reply actions

High ankle sprains are reoccurring

While ACL tears are not. Carter was healthy before 2008, so there’s a (albeit very brief) history of sustained health from him. Hackett has never played in 16 games. Plus, that bridge is burned. Not to say I entirely disagree with you, I liked Hackett and thought Seattle should have at least tried to sign him, but I think Seattle has moved on.

by John Morgan on Feb 26, 2009 3:45 PM PST up reply actions

True.

I’m not advocating Hackett anyway, but just pointing out that I think the team is moving on from players like them.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Feb 26, 2009 3:52 PM PST up reply actions

High ankle sprains...

I’ve heard you say they’re recurring a few times now and thats news to me. I always dread hearing about a player having a high ankle sprain because it seems like they can an entire season or more until a player is back to his normal self but I’ve never heard of a player having repeated problems with them once it’s healed.

by Nate Dogg on Feb 26, 2009 4:21 PM PST up reply actions

I'm out of my depth to explain why

but I’ve read a few reports that ankle sprains have a high incidence of recurring. I think because of instability caused by damage during the initial sprain.

by John Morgan on Feb 26, 2009 4:40 PM PST up reply actions

Out of my league as well

I wonder how many “reinjuries” are actually just reaggravating the original injury. Coming back too soon and what not. I could be completely wrong on that.

by Nate Dogg on Feb 26, 2009 4:42 PM PST up reply actions

A high ankle sprain is a ligament tear (or degrees of tearing) between your two lower leg bones just above the ankle joint.

Ligaments do grow back, but they never really regain the same elasticity. This is the reason many basketball players wear ankle braces all the time for traditional ankle sprains: The more you sprain your ankle, the more prone you are to sprain your ankle. The same holds true for high ankle sprains even, even if it is more difficult to sprain that set of ligaments.

by abender20 on Feb 26, 2009 7:28 PM PST up reply actions

Interesting

I wasn’t aware that tearing ligaments was considered a sprain.

by Nate Dogg on Feb 26, 2009 7:55 PM PST up reply actions

A sprain is tearing in most cases. Even if you don't competely tear ligaments, you can still shred them some.

by abender20 on Feb 26, 2009 8:16 PM PST up reply actions

We'll have to wait and see..

What the hawks MO this offseason is. Will they be operating with an eye to the future, or trying to play patch-up and contend right away. As much as we have resigned ourselves to the former scenario, I could see why the FO might be leaning towards the former. One way or another, the Hawks fate next season will mostly depend on the guys we have already stepping up or not. We know who almost every starter at every position will be next year. Most of those guys are a lot better than they played last year and will determine the outcome next year.

We are not going to be getting any top flight free agents. Whoever we get in round 1 and 2 will be awesome and there will be a good argument for taking them. I am more concerned with getting value from picks 3, 4 and 6. Vance Walker anyone?

by michaelfox99 on Feb 26, 2009 4:44 PM PST reply actions