Seahawks prepare for ‘graduation’

Published 11:31 pm Saturday, December 29, 2007

SEATTLE — In 2004, Nate Burleson was happily ignorant to the business side of football. He vividly recalls the time he stood in a huddle with his Minnesota Vikings teammates, looked around at the faces, and thought about how great the future would be.

“I remember thinking: Wow, this is a powerful offense. Randy Moss, Daunte Culpepper, Matt Birk,” Burleson recalled last week. “And the next year, just like that, everything was falling apart. Randy’s gone. Daunte’s out the door. (Running back) Michael Bennett left. It was weird.

“Being a vet now, I understand that each year is like your senior graduation. It’s not going to be the same the next year.”

And so this year’s class of possible graduates includes several Seattle Seahawks who may be playing in their final regular-season game with the team. Cornerback Marcus Trufant, kicker Josh Brown and wide receiver D.J. Hackett lead a group of players eligible for free agency, while long-time veterans like running back Shaun Alexander and guard Chris Gray also have uncertain futures.

The 2008 Seahawks will look a little different than the 2007 group. That’s the way the business side of football works.

“I found that out my rookie year. I’ve seen a lot of change, a lot of people coming and going,” said defensive back Jordan Babineaux, who joined the team as an undrafted rookie three years ago and has since signed a long-term deal that could keep him in Seattle through 2011.

“You can’t take things personal around here. You just have to take care of your business.”

While the 2007 Seahawks still have plenty of business on the field — the team closes out its regular season with a game against the 3-12 Atlanta Falcons today, then will host Washington, Minnesota or New Orleans in a first-round playoff game next weekend — the offseason could be just as important.

Six players who have started games this season, and the kicker Brown, are among the 11 primary free agents.

“I would wish it was a smaller group,” team president Tim Ruskell said last week. “You’d like it to be two, three guys instead of five or six.”

Like he does every offseason, Ruskell is most likely to target his own players over those from the outside. His philosophy involves keeping a core of familiar players in tact, then adding complimentary pieces like past signees Patrick Kerney and Julian Peterson.

“You want to hold on to your guys, the guys that were drafted here and grown up in this system,” Ruskell said. “You want to hold on to your core of players. Sometimes you can’t because free agency ultimately becomes a game of musical chairs. When the music stops, somebody’s not going to get a chair.”

The most attractive Seahawks free agent is likely to be Trufant, who has an NFC-best seven interceptions this season and is headed to his first Pro Bowl.

Trufant could be looking for a big payday after his breakout season, but he’s not going to command anything like the seven-year, $63 million contract that Denver gave Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey in 2004 or the $80 million contract Nate Clements signed with San Francisco last spring. Trufant’s market value might be more in the neighborhood of former teammate Ken Lucas, whom the Carolina Panthers signed to a six-year, $36.5 million contract in 2005.

Asked last week about his impending free agency, Trufant was uncertain about his future.

“I guess I just have to wait and see exactly how it goes,” he said. “This is my first go-round, and you don’t know what to expect. I’m just trying to take care of myself until then.”

Babineaux named Trufant’s signing as the key to the offseason, saying that the defense needs to stay together.

“We have a lot of pieces that are going to be here for a few years,” Babineaux said. “We just have to add that last missing piece in Marcus Trufant. Once we lock him in, we’ll be set for a long time.”

Another possible free agent could be Alexander, who still has six years left on the eight-year, $61 million contract he signed in 2006. Alexander’s base salary is scheduled to jump from $1.4 million this season to $4.4 million next season. That, combined with his decline in production, might make Alexander a candidate for release or contract restructuring.

Alexander, 30, has struggled with wrist and knee injuries this season, and his yards-per-carry average of 3.4 is the lowest of his eight-year career. He’s scored just four touchdowns, which marks the fewest he has scored in a season since his rookie year.

Coach Mike Holmgren has continually defended Alexander, saying that the run blocking has struggled all year long. Holmgren answered “yes” when asked 11 days ago whether Alexander fits into the team’s future.

Backup Maurice Morris has not been much better this season, so if Alexander goes the Seahawks might have to bring in a rookie or high-priced free agent like San Diego’s Michael Turner to take over as starter.

Another player who is under contract but with an uncertain future is 37-year-old guard Chris Gray. A full-time starter since 1999, Gray has said that he will consider his future plans after the end of this season. He could follow the footsteps of former teammates Robbie Tobeck and Mack Strong by walking away from the game after the upcoming postseason.

As for the players who are already scheduled to become free agents in March, Brown and Hackett will probably join Trufant as the Seahawks who receive the most outside interest.

Brown was given the team’s “franchise” designation this season, when he made $2.078 million — that it the average of the top five kicker salaries in the NFL. Both sides would prefer a long-term contract, but Brown might test the open market. Working in the Seahawks favor is the fact that Brown’s numbers dropped this season.

Hackett’s value could also have taken a hit in 2007, due mostly to injuries. He suffered a high ankle sprain in the opener and has been active for just five games. There is a good chance Hackett will see limited playing time this afternoon.

Other top free agents include starting right tackle Sean Locklear, tight end Marcus Pollard and defensive tackles Chartric Darby and Craig Terrill.

It should be another interesting offseason for the Seahawks. And inevitably, change will happen.

“It’s not going to be the same the next year,” Burleson said. “That makes you want to take advantage of every situation.”