Seahawks general manager John Schneider was on Sports Radio KJR with Mitch Levy this morning, and provided a bit of insight on the moves his team has made so far, and what might be in store between now and the start of the season.
One bit of more recent news that came up over the weekend is that newly signed defensive lineman Michael Bennett has a torn rotator cuff. Schneider said Bennett played with the injury all season, and Schneider suggested that the timing of that news leaking meant it could have come from the agent of another pass rusher still on the market (the report suggested Bennett only got a one-year deal because of the injury), and Schneider said they are comfortable with Bennett’s health.
“Our medical staff felt comfortable with it, especially on a one-year deal,” he said.
Asked if Bennett would need surgery, Schneider answered: “I would think at some point, but not in the near future.”
Schneider also added that Bennett’s role would be as an interior (3-technique) pass rusher.
And speaking of pass rushers, when asked about Chris Clemons, who tore his ACL in the playoffs, Schneider called the defensive end a fast healer, he said it was too soon to say whether Clemons would open the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
Schneider said the Seahawks are working to try to extend a couple players, and though he wouldn’t say who, it’s probably safe to assume Kam Chancellor, who will be a free agent after next season, is one of them. Schneider said there are some core players they want to extend, but he did caution that, “Not everybody can be the highest-paid player at there position, so at some point there are some tough decisions that have to be made.”
Finally, Schneider was asked about Matt Flynn, and he left the door open to a trade, saying, “I’m sure Matt would love the opportunity to go compete for a starting job somewhere… It’s hard for me to say whether or not he will or will not be traded, but as of right now, he’s right here with us.”
Schneider said Flynn has handled himself well, calling him “a pro” and he did say once again that the team’s “primary salary cap model includes him… That’s a heck of a No. 2 to have.” But Schneider’s answers certainly didn’t rule out a trade.
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