Seahawks sign guard Wahle to 5-year deal

Published 11:20 pm Thursday, February 14, 2008

SEATTLE — With two more weeks remaining before the official start of free agency, the Seattle Seahawks addressed one of their top priorities Thursday afternoon by signing veteran guard Mike Wahle to a five-year contract.

Wahle, who turns 31 next month, has been the Carolina Panthers’ starting left guard since 2005 but was released Monday in a salary-cap-related move. He struggled with shoulder problems in 2007 but started all 16 games.

Because he was released, Wahle did not have to wait until free agency begins at the end of the month to sign with another team.

Agent Neil Cornrich declined to specify the value of the deal, according to the Associated Press, but it is believed to be comparable to what other starting guards in the league earn. That would mean approximately $3 million in base salary, plus a signing bonus.

The 6-foot-6, 304-pound Wahle, a 10-year veteran who was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2005 and 2006 while with Carolina, earned $18 million in base salary and bonuses in his last three seasons with the Panthers.

The New England Patriots and “just about every team in the league who had openings on the offensive line” were interested in Wahle, Cornrich told the Associated Press.

But the Seahawks had inherent advantages.

Wahle’s father played at Bellevue High School and at Oregon State. Wahle’s parents have a second home in Bainbridge Island, across the bay from downtown Seattle. And the family has many relatives in the Northwest.

“The Seahawks definitely had a home-field advantage with Mike,” Cornrich said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press.

Wahle, a Naval Academy product who began his career with Green Bay and played six seasons with the Packers, adds a veteran to an offensive line that struggled in the run game last season. Left guard Rob Sims was splitting time with veteran Floyd Womack by season’s end, while 37-year-old right guard Chris Gray is not expected to start next season.

The Seahawks also officially announced the hiring of quarterbacks coach Bill Lazor on Thursday. Lazor has long been rumored to be the heir apparent to Jim Zorn, who took over as head coach of the Washington Redskins. Lazor was on Washington’s staff under Joe Gibbs last season.

Lazor is one of two new offensive assistants with the Seahawks. Seattle is also looking for a running backs coach to replace Stump Mitchell, who followed Zorn to Washington.