Late Wednesday evening word leaked out that the Seattle Seahawks would be making a big roster move on Thursday, the signing of free agent defensive end Ziggy Ansah. The team was in desperate need of pass rush following the trade of Frank Clark to the Kansas City Chiefs, and reports from NFL Insiders had the Seahawks as the team expected to add Ansah for the 2019 season.
However, when the Hawks announced the addition of three players to the roster on Thursday, none of signed who were announced, Nick Bellore, Jamar Taylor or Marcus Martin, were the name that many fans were so eager to see added to the roster. Further, having been at 89 players on the roster prior to the addition of Bellore, Taylor and Martin, the team needed to release two players in order to make room for the new additions.
That is when the team made an announcement that sent shockwaves not only through the Seahawks fanbase, but through the NFL community as well.
The @Seahawks have terminated the contracts of two of the most iconic players in franchise history in @KamChancellor and @DougBaldwinJr (failed physicals) this afternoon.https://t.co/AWDSKIqrah
— Seahawks PR (@seahawksPR) May 9, 2019
Just like that, two eras had come to an end. Two players who had represented the underdog Seahawks almost from the time of Pete Carroll’s arrival through the greatest period of success in franchise history had been released. Fans and observers had heard the rumors and knew this was coming, but that appears to have done little to soften the blow of the reception of the actual news itself.
Thus, let’s take a moment and turn to see some reactions from Twitter. However, because I’m on the spectrum and don’t react with what most consider normal human emotions, let’s take a look at the accounting side of things.
By releasing Chancellor and Baldwin the Seahawks should save $7,956,250 of salary cap space in 2019 and $27,493,750 in 2020.
— John P. Gilbert (@JohnPGilbertNFL) May 9, 2019
I will of course be looking at this in greater detail in the coming days, so no need to dig too deep into it right now, just accept that my numbers are correct (even though you’ll see different numbers elsewhere). With the accounting out of the way, let’s take a look at the tributes to each that were sent out by the team in the wake of the announcements.
Two Seattle icons.
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) May 9, 2019
Thank you for everything, @KamChancellor and @DougBaldwinJr. pic.twitter.com/k27vjOMTjU
— Seahawks PR (@seahawksPR) May 9, 2019
— Seahawks PR (@seahawksPR) May 9, 2019
And once you have had a chance to address the fact that it just got really dusty wherever it is that you are reading this piece, you can go ahead and work your way through some of the reactions from fans and media professionals.
My understanding is that this is likely the end of the road for Doug Baldwin just based on his health. He’s battled knee, groin, and shoulder injuries. One of the coolest stories of the last decade. https://t.co/Ujsm7S5j7m
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 9, 2019
my soul is dust
— in mourning (@JasonCheathawks) May 9, 2019
normal Doug things pic.twitter.com/Gl3OH9FeEA
— Sad Online (@NathanE11) May 9, 2019
Antonio Cromartie lost his ankles that day and never found them again. pic.twitter.com/RBbdb8afkV
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 9, 2019
Doug Baldwin’s legacy is pretty simple for me: He is the 2nd best WR in Seahawk history behind only HOF’er Steve Largent. And both got absolutely everything possible out of their God-given talents. Baller pic.twitter.com/Vaxw7eQct5
— Brock Huard (@BrockESPN) May 9, 2019
You could do a top 15 real easy and they'd all be tied for #1 https://t.co/HL6tqypnKr
— Bik Nizzar (@Bik650) May 9, 2019
Doug Baldwin was so good you can stumble on plays like this and be like "oh shit I totally forgot about that" pic.twitter.com/e5Z2FKauMM
— Sad Online (@NathanE11) May 9, 2019
The last era of Seahawks football - the greatest in Seattle history by a decent margin - is over. Two of the greats. https://t.co/6uA9Twfn4l
— Arya Stork (@30AcreFortress) May 9, 2019
Spoiler: he caught it
— John Fraley (@johndavidfraley) May 9, 2019
Spoiler 2: he caught everything
Spoiler 3: yes i mean our hearts too https://t.co/vwR1bZ5s99
Nothing to be ashamed of from Doug. Truly a special player who came from the bottom and only looks up at Steve Largent after all said and done. Lots of lives left to impact in this next chapter. I got a feeling his story isn't close to over. Salute DB89!
— Tony Blakeley (@Cyoplasm) May 9, 2019
I had to sneak one in the end that counter-balanced the other 9
— Field Gulls (@FieldGulls) May 9, 2019
Doug Baldwin is one of my favorite Seahawks ever and probably never fully appreciated for everything he did. What a player.
— Lifelong 4OT Fan (@zjwhitman) May 9, 2019
You are a gentleman. Kind, honest, fun & funny. Outside of being my favorite @Seahawks , you’re my friend. Thank you for the years of fun, encouraging the tweet #hcdb (holy crap Doug Baldwin). Most of all thank you for being a champion on and off the field. pic.twitter.com/pquTDDUyNo
— TracyTaylorTraffic (@TracyTTraffic) May 9, 2019
I’ll have the Doug tribute video finished tonight. I posted this almost a year ago, but man oh man is it sad to officially say goodbye to Kam. https://t.co/Pi2yvv1SVH
— mike (@SeahawkScout) May 9, 2019
The only person from the Super Bowl 48 intro video still on the team is Russell Wilson. Let that hit you. https://t.co/H5O1aBq5BK
— Sean (@SeanFromSeabeck) May 9, 2019
my favorite part of doug baldwin's career was all the times idiot opponents decided to go cover-0, like idiots https://t.co/pr1dVRgl6G
— Danny Kelly (@DannyBKelly) May 9, 2019
Painful https://t.co/6XS5ABo1Q2
— Matty F. Brown (@mattyfbrown) May 9, 2019
man i am actively crying sports are bad https://t.co/Yz5y6XI3JD
— Natalie Weiner (@natalieweiner) May 9, 2019
The failed physical designation for Doug Baldwin should open the door to injury protection payments under the CBA
— Jason_OTC (@Jason_OTC) May 9, 2019
— Josh Cashman (@CableThanos_) May 9, 2019
Doug Baldwin’s route running was always next level. pic.twitter.com/nsNZUi8vqH
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 9, 2019
Doug Baldwin ranked No. 1 in WR DVOA in 2015 and No. 2 in 2013. He was in the top 20 of receiver DYAR (total value) in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017. Not bad for an undrafted free agent.
— Aaron Schatz (@FO_ASchatz) May 9, 2019
As of May 9th, 2019, Russell Wilson, KJ Wright, and Bobby Wagner are the only Seahawks from the Super Bowl winning squad who are still on the current Seattle roster.
— Logo Lillard (@mookiealexander) May 9, 2019
And let's not fool ourselves, both Bobby and KJ could be gone in 2020.
Wow. Didn’t see it ending like this. https://t.co/iDgJhd51JK
— Stephen Cohen (@scohenSEA) May 9, 2019
They'll be missed.. Best of luck to both in the future https://t.co/c36ngn2UNi
— Andre Forbes (@andref1989) May 9, 2019
Somebody hold me https://t.co/bmw4s4Cz4W
— Ben Baldwin (@benbbaldwin) May 9, 2019
Doug Baldwin ALSO made this great one-handed catch after being mauled by the #Chiefs slot cornerback in the same game. Insane concentration.@CoachPaintCH #Seahawks pic.twitter.com/dBASamacsf
— Samuel Gold (@SamuelRGold) May 9, 2019
Wow. Didn’t expect the Baldwin news this soon. What a great Seahawk he was.
— Dan Viens (The Dan Cave Podcast) (@SeahawksForever) May 9, 2019
wasn't expecting today to be the worst day ever but here we are https://t.co/2xFjvFOIbA
— Sad Online (@NathanE11) May 9, 2019
Why did the seahawks have to just die like this
— consider me pass *rushed* (@cmikesspinmove) May 9, 2019
Salute @KamChancellor @DougBaldwinJr pic.twitter.com/bBrB0BBCjb
— Tony Blakeley (@Cyoplasm) May 9, 2019
What can I say about Doug Baldwin?
— Dave “Softy” Mahler (@Softykjr) May 9, 2019
Ultimate respect.
Terrible news today as the NFL has ruled that Doug Baldwin is too unfair to continue to play football pic.twitter.com/uYDbFfUXVl
— Sad Online (@NathanE11) May 9, 2019
good night, sweet prince pic.twitter.com/e3DmXempix
— Sad Online (@NathanE11) May 9, 2019
this is the first thing i thought of when i started a mental list of all of baldwin's best plays https://t.co/19lcPPyFY8
— Danny Kelly (@DannyBKelly) May 9, 2019
If this is it for Doug Baldwin because of injuries, he had a hell of a career. But I can say with 100% certainty that whatever he does next with his life will be even more impressive. https://t.co/SiCf7pT0cZ
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) May 9, 2019
I knew Kam was done, but I still hoped Doug would be back. What a pair of absolute legends. https://t.co/FzC7O1rjNi
— Sean (@SeanFromSeabeck) May 9, 2019
Bearing, Soldier.
— John P. Gilbert (@JohnPGilbertNFL) May 9, 2019
They're retired, not dead.