Seattle Seahawks Release Guard Mike Wahle; Put Marcus Trufant on PUP List

Marcus Trufant has been placed on the physically unable to perform list by the Seattle Seahawks. That's today's big news. Seattle releasing Mike Wahle is formality after Ruskell spelled out the troubles he's had this offseason recovering from shoulder surgery.

Much more on the Trufant situation as news comes in.

Here's the quick and dirty about Wahle. Seattle signed Wahle last season after he was cut by the Carolina Panthers. At the time, Carolina's motivation looked salary-cap driven, but in retrospect even then their were rumblings that Wahle was no longer physically capable of playing in the National Football League. Wahle joined Seattle and immediately assumed the left guard spot. It was a move that was supposed to revamp Seattle's interior line by improving two positions. Rob Sims had struggled at left guard, but his mix of power and sturdiness against pass rushers should have made him a fine right guard.

Sims never got to find out, tearing his left pectoral in week 1 and playing much of that contest injured. Wahle himself may have played some of the year through injury. He started strong, giving Seattle a run blocking presence, especially on the second level, unlike any guard Seattle has had since Steve Hutchinson. But it was obvious Wahle wasn't himself. He was a liability in pass protection. Eventually, Wahle was placed on IR.

News this offseason seemed promoising. Wahle had not re-torn his labrum like many feared. Initially his surgery was considered less serious than the surgery performed on Patrick Kerney. Wahle's surgery wasn't as serious, but his healthy problems were. Ruskell stated yesterday his recovery was "problematic" and today Wahle was released, likely ending his NFL career.

Seattle moves on with Max Unger. Unger is not likely to fulfill the promise of Wahle right away. Not the promise, anyhow. But Unger is likely to be better in 2009 than Wahle was in 2008. He is younger, healthier and should not be a liability in pass protection. He shares with Wahle excellent technique as a run blocker and capability in the second level.

This is say day for Mike Wahle, but a necessary day for the Seahawks. Max Unger represents the future, and this team will be better for starting him this season.