Published: Sunday, September 6, 2009
Seahawks choose Mare as their kicker, Obomanu as the team’s 5th wide receiver
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Ted S. Warren / Associated Press
Wide receiver Ben Obomanu survived the final cuts and is one of 53 players on the Seahawks’ roster.
The Seahawks trimmed their roster to 53 players Saturday, and the day was not without its share of surprises.
Veteran safety Brain Russell, a starter the last two seasons, was one of the 23 players let go, as was linebacker D.D. Lewis, a versatile backup who has spent six seasons with the Seahawks.
The Seahawks also reportedly signed ex-Husky Lawyer Milloy, a four-time Pro-Bowl safety who spent the last three seasons with Atlanta, though the team did not confirm that Saturday.
Cornerback Marcus Trufant will start the season on the physically unable to perform list, meaning he isn’t eligible to return until after the sixth game of the season.
The biggest questions coming into Saturday involved who would make the team at receiver, kicker and on the defensive line.
Olindo Mare, the kicker last season, will keep the job, as second-year player Brandon Coutu was released. Coutu, who was on the roster last season but did not play, was accurate as a placekicker in the last two preseasons, but Mare won out in part because of his stronger leg on kickoffs.
It was assumed that T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Deion Branch, Nate Burleson and rookie Deon Butler would make the team at the receiver, but there was intrigue about what other receiver or receivers the team would keep. The Seahawks elected to go with five receivers, keeping Ben Obomanu, who might have separated himself from the likes of Courtney Taylor and Jordan Kent with a strong showing in Thursday’s exhibition game against the Oakland Raiders.
There had been some speculation that Branch, who has been injured for much of his three-year tenure with Seattle, could be cut, but he will still be a part of the Seattle offense.
Lewis, a somewhat surprising casualty of Saturday’s cuts, was likely a victim of the team’s desire to keep three rookie defensive linemen. Seattle kept just six linebackers, but kept 11 defensive linemen, including rookies Nick Reed, a seventh-round pick, and Michael Bennett and Derek Walker, both undrafted free agents. Defensive end Baraka Atkins, who played in 21 games in the last two seasons, was the only defensive lineman who didn’t survive the cuts.
Safety Courtney Greene, a seventh-round pick, was the only of Seattle’s 2009 draft picks not to make the team.
The other players released were: safety Jamar Adams, guard Brian De La Puente, cornerback Marquis Floyd, tackle Na’Shan Goddard, receiver Mike Hass, cornerback Kevin Hobbs, fullback David Kirtman, running back Devin Moore, safety Nate Ness, tight end Joe Newton, receiver Logan Payne, linebacker Dave Philistin, tackle Andre Ramsey, tackle William Robinson, quarterback Jeff Rowe, and guard Cory Withrow. Withrow, who was on injured reserve, and Kent, who suffered an ankle injury Saturday, both received injury settlements.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
Veteran safety Brain Russell, a starter the last two seasons, was one of the 23 players let go, as was linebacker D.D. Lewis, a versatile backup who has spent six seasons with the Seahawks.
The Seahawks also reportedly signed ex-Husky Lawyer Milloy, a four-time Pro-Bowl safety who spent the last three seasons with Atlanta, though the team did not confirm that Saturday.
Cornerback Marcus Trufant will start the season on the physically unable to perform list, meaning he isn’t eligible to return until after the sixth game of the season.
The biggest questions coming into Saturday involved who would make the team at receiver, kicker and on the defensive line.
Olindo Mare, the kicker last season, will keep the job, as second-year player Brandon Coutu was released. Coutu, who was on the roster last season but did not play, was accurate as a placekicker in the last two preseasons, but Mare won out in part because of his stronger leg on kickoffs.
It was assumed that T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Deion Branch, Nate Burleson and rookie Deon Butler would make the team at the receiver, but there was intrigue about what other receiver or receivers the team would keep. The Seahawks elected to go with five receivers, keeping Ben Obomanu, who might have separated himself from the likes of Courtney Taylor and Jordan Kent with a strong showing in Thursday’s exhibition game against the Oakland Raiders.
There had been some speculation that Branch, who has been injured for much of his three-year tenure with Seattle, could be cut, but he will still be a part of the Seattle offense.
Lewis, a somewhat surprising casualty of Saturday’s cuts, was likely a victim of the team’s desire to keep three rookie defensive linemen. Seattle kept just six linebackers, but kept 11 defensive linemen, including rookies Nick Reed, a seventh-round pick, and Michael Bennett and Derek Walker, both undrafted free agents. Defensive end Baraka Atkins, who played in 21 games in the last two seasons, was the only defensive lineman who didn’t survive the cuts.
Safety Courtney Greene, a seventh-round pick, was the only of Seattle’s 2009 draft picks not to make the team.
The other players released were: safety Jamar Adams, guard Brian De La Puente, cornerback Marquis Floyd, tackle Na’Shan Goddard, receiver Mike Hass, cornerback Kevin Hobbs, fullback David Kirtman, running back Devin Moore, safety Nate Ness, tight end Joe Newton, receiver Logan Payne, linebacker Dave Philistin, tackle Andre Ramsey, tackle William Robinson, quarterback Jeff Rowe, and guard Cory Withrow. Withrow, who was on injured reserve, and Kent, who suffered an ankle injury Saturday, both received injury settlements.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
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