Courtesy Seahawks Insider.

Brandon Mebane interview with Dave Mahler.

The details aren't real important, knowing that Brandon Mebane is spending his offseason becoming a better football player is.

Wait, "Seahawks' Squawk Box"? That's an embarrassingly dumb name. And I know embarrassingly dumb names.

At least that's what is being reported.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/03/27/seahawks-to-add-mare/

Mare was good on kickoffs and poor on FG. But like John said "field goal percentage is a poor measure of a kicker".

Update: Look at it like this: In his first 5 seasons Brown kicked 145 field goal attempts and converted 116. He's been 80% accurate. In Mare's first 5 season he kicked 161 field goal attempts and converted 136. He was 84.5% accurate. After that Mare had 3 straight seasons where he didn't top 80%. Now, did Mare get worse or did the larger sample size simply give us a better idea of Mare's true ability? Meanwhile, Brown has kicked 417 kickoffs. He averages 62.5 yards and kicks a touchback once every 11.1 attempts. Mare has 774 kickoffs. His career average is 63.9 yards with a touchback every 4.5 attempts. In the last 6 seasons, 392 attempts, Mare has been even better. He's averaged 65.1 yards per attempt and a touchback once every 3.8 attempts. That's something you can hold your hat on.

Update II: ESPN is reporting that the Seahawks have signed Lofa Tatupu to a 6 year 40 million dollar extension that will keep Tats in Seattle through the 2015 season. Excellent move, needless to say.

Update: Word is that the Hawks are looking to lock up Lofa Tatupu for the next 8 years. If so, this would be a happy day in Hawktown.

I had something planned for this morning, but news calls. Seahawks Insider is reporting that Seattle will be holding a press conference at 12:30. Assuming the press conference is broadcast over Seahawks.com I'll take notes and post a rundown. If not, I'll compile what I can and comment where necessary. I don't know the subject of the press conference, but I'd guess the team has signed Marcus Trufant. It's been quiet on that front for a while and I know Ruskell recently upped his proposal. We'll see.

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...

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.

Well Shaun's out. Likely Morris too. Morris'll fetch a pick, even if only a 7th rounder. Alexander is either going to be taken by a sucker GM looking for a proven veteran for something absurd like a 4th round pick or be cut. I don't see a ton of middle ground. Any team with a halfway decent scouting department is going to look at the tape see Shaun's spent and balk at taking on his salary much less offering remuneration. It would be wrong to say he doesn't have value, though, there's Bill Bavasi's in the NFL too.

I'll run a scouting report on Jones tomorrow.

Update: 4 years, 3 million annually. Cheap, but not draft pick cheap. Still don't understand this move. I honestly think Holmgren might be the impetus. I could see him being enamored with Jones ever since he ran a scorched earth campaign on Qwest in 2004.

Update II: One thing that we know is good about this move, Seattle will be using a committee next season. That's a big step forward for team long stuck in the Feature Back Era.

Ahem, this is some seriously cool shit. I've already made the case (does that even require a link? It's literally 5 posts down), so no need to rehash. I'll wait on the number to figure the final coolness of this, but 5 years sounds promising. This makes me very happy, as I was not at all excited about this year's running back class. I only really liked, in fact, that good talent was going to be pushed down by the superstars.

Remember, Priest Holmes and Tiki Barber Thomas Jones were once retreads, too.

The Seahawks signed Jeb Putzier to a one-year deal, a free-agent tight end who most recently played for the Houston Texans.

I like this move. Putz..ier is a decent receiving tight end. Kind of what I call a "company man" player. Above average, won't ask for too much money, shows up to work on time. Something that was very clear but I haven't had much of a chance to talk about is that most of Pollard's value came from the Hawks' system. Nothing Pollard did last season can't be expected of Putzier this season. Take that how you will.

At this point, Seattle is entering the draft with no true need except kicker. How `bout that?

Are you tired of conceding third and short?

And the inevitable heart attacks that come from watching Alexander play?

"Uh-huh!"

Until now, this was the only way a Seattle back could break a tackle.

"You mean there's a better way?"

But that's all changed thanks to the Muscles Bucket. Let's meet the inventor, TJ Duckett.

In 2007, Duckett produced a first down once every 4 attempts and was 5 for 6 in power situations. Duckett was a first round selection in 2002, but has bounced around the league playing behind flashier backs.

A tools monster...

Starting to put it together...

11.7 DVOA/7.0 DPAR

(Behind a rotten O-line no less)

23rd Adjusted Line Yards/50% Power Success

With fresh tread on his tires...

Just Turned 27/655 career carries

(And can catch a little too)

Career 8.7 Yards Per Reception

For less than 3 million?

Yes, please.

O, who has set my heart on a melancholy journey? 'Tis you, my strong-footed minstrel.

Dreamboat won't be floating in Elliott Bay next season.

(Sigh.) Who's gonna cover our kickoff returns now?

Thanks for the memories, J.B.

Update [2008-2-29 20:57:3 by Shrug]: But we'll still see him at Qwest once a year. According to the Seattle Times, Josh is now a St. Louis Ram. Be good to him, seattlesucks... (sniff, sniff).

I'm really not that broken up about it, actually, but there's no denying Dreamboat's place in Seahawks lore.

Update [2008-2-29 21:8:3 by Shrug]: 2: According to that Times article, the Seahawks allegedly offered Brown a deal that would have made him the highest-paid placekicker in NFL history.

Not that Dreamboat wouldn't try to earn every penny in that contract, but personally I think the Hawks just avoided a little financial bullet.

What is Ash Worth? Roughly 2 million against the cap, actually. Well dust to dust for this free agent flop. Don't let the door blow by you and sack the quarterback on the way out.