Seahawks Sign UDFA LB Neal Howey

by Danny Kelly on Jul 29, 2011 10:37 AM PDT in Seahawks News & Rumors

The Seahawks continue to bring undrafted free agents into camp, and signed a little known linebacker out of Eastern Michigan, Neal Howey. It hasn't been reported by any of the major Seattle beat writers, as far as I can find, but he appears on the Seahawks' roster on NFL.com so I tend to believe the report from MonroeNews.com.

Howey is an athletic linebacker at 6'1, 230 lbs and led Eastern Michigan in tackles last season with 95. He's got some agility and strength - at his pro day he ran the short shuttle in 4.08 seconds, and the 3-cone drill in 6.83 seconds. The short shuttle time is actually pretty ridiculous - just off of Von Miller's time of 4.06 and would have been good for 4th best among linebackers had he been invited to the combine. Similarly, his 3-cone drill time would have been good for 2nd at the combine among linebackers.

He's probably just a camp body, but again you're seeing what's become a pattern for this front office - giving a shot to extraordinary athletes and hoping they've got the skills to translate to the NFL. People make fun of the Raiders for doing this type of thing but the one major difference here is that the Seahawks aren't drafting these guys in the first round. I'm all for getting the best, most agile and explosive athletes in here and seeing if they can make some plays. Howey, if he can impress, is a potential special teams contributor and again will be looking for competition from the likes of Matt McCoy, Blake Sorensen, Mike Morgan, Malcolm Smith, and others.

Competition, competition, competition.

Follow @FieldGulls on Twitter | Like Field Gulls on Facebook

Tweet Comment 25 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

News like this keeps making me think

That Tats is on his way out.

by The Great Googly on Jul 29, 2011 10:59 AM PDT reply actions

Signing undrafted free agents means the starting MLB is on his way out?

Huh.

by lemonverbena on Jul 29, 2011 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions

Just camp bodies, dude

Formerly Known As Vasilii

by Thomas Beekers on Jul 29, 2011 11:29 AM PDT up reply actions

He might seriously want to think about restructuring his contract, he is valuable to our team when healthy, and one of my favorite players, but he has a big contract. Tru falls into the same catagory. Possible salary casualties.

by overmanjh on Jul 29, 2011 11:07 AM PDT reply actions

Dont forget the Subject line.

Earl Thomas + Mark Legree = Earl Gree. A new flavor of safety coming to you on Sunday's this Fall. They're gonna wake you up!

by Bobby Cink on Jul 29, 2011 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Not complaining

Just find it funny this is the only site I see people harp on subject lines constantly. See it happen alot on other SB blogs but nobody says a word.

by The Great Googly on Jul 29, 2011 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions

It's not a rule on other blogs

It is a rule here

Formerly Known As Vasilii

by Thomas Beekers on Jul 29, 2011 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions

ahhhh

That explains it then

by The Great Googly on Jul 29, 2011 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions

You must not comment over at LL or S@H then

by wyte_lightning on Jul 29, 2011 2:24 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

I am a member of LL

There isnt much to talk about over there. Unless you feel like bitching about how bad the M’s are of course

by The Great Googly on Jul 29, 2011 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Or how great Ackley is.

Or how pitching and defense slowed our demise this year
Wily Mo Pena!
Brendan Ryan’s sweet ’stache…and defense.
Did I mention Ackley?
And why our historicaly bad offense still molests Phil Coke every time we see him.

by BrooklynPreacher on Jul 29, 2011 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Or...

Eric Wedge's Moustache!

Bitches. Aussie Homer Looming.
http://yellingintextform.blogspot.com/

by RagingAlot on Jul 29, 2011 8:13 PM PDT up reply actions

what in the world is

S@h?

Offseason 2011: The purge of Ruskell's Boy Scouts continues.

by Wayward Llama on Jul 30, 2011 5:38 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

But wow. EMU is one of the worst teams in CFB.

And on this defense, this one was a converted DB. Not sure about this one. I get that it’s a team sport and all that, but there must be more to it.

Working on the weakside in place of last year’s leading tackler, Andre Hatchett, will be Neal Howey, a 6-1, 225-pound senior who has been a part of the mix for the last few seasons making 27 tackles and a sack last season. A transfer from Upper Iowa University, he started off his career as a defensive back and worked on the EMU special teams.

Armchair Linebacker

by YoSoyMacho on Jul 29, 2011 11:16 AM PDT reply actions

Personally,

I think ‘the white guy’ would’ve been a great caption for the picture.

An open mind is like a fortress with its gates unbarred and unguarded.

by Corax --Nevermore-- on Jul 29, 2011 11:20 AM PDT reply actions

If we could draft the other guy in the picture, I'd be pretty excited.

Boom Herron is the real deal. No idea where he projects in the draft, but his 3 years at tOSU have been productive. And he’s got some nice tattoos, should Lofa seek to shed the throne.

Armchair Linebacker

by YoSoyMacho on Jul 29, 2011 11:25 AM PDT reply actions

compete, compete, compete

by jellopolis on Jul 29, 2011 11:59 AM PDT reply actions

Another 300 roster moves this year?

That Pete Carroll is one busy dude. I can see him pouring over UDFA’s stats all night long looking for that 1 diamond in the rough

by Shadow Hawk on Jul 29, 2011 3:26 PM PDT reply actions

i dont think carroll has slept

For about a week.

Offseason 2011: The purge of Ruskell's Boy Scouts continues.

by Wayward Llama on Jul 30, 2011 5:39 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

**

He’s probably just a camp body, but again you’re seeing what’s become a pattern for this front office – giving a shot to extraordinary athletes and hoping they’ve got the skills to translate to the NFL. People make fun of the Raiders for doing this type of thing but the one major difference here is that the Seahawks aren’t drafting these guys in the first round.

Another difference is that Seattle is getting guys who generally were pretty productive in school. These aren’t just track guys in pads.

"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin

by dcrockett17 on Jul 29, 2011 3:42 PM PDT reply actions