By Scott M. Johnson
Herald Writer
KIRKLAND — The questions should have all been answered. Steve Sidwell had been around the NFL for 19 years, he’d watched his share of game film, and he had certainly heard of John Randle, Levon Kirkland and Marcus Robertson.
Yet when the trio of defenders became available on the free agent market last spring, Sidwell wasn’t totally sold. So the Seattle Seahawks’ defensive coordinator got his hands on a few videotapes and took a closer look at the aging free agents. Sidwell knew what kind of players they were, but he wanted to know what they had left.
It was a legitimate question. By many accounts, all three defensive players took a step back last season. Randle finished with eight sacks, marking the first time since 1991 that he did not accumulate double digits in that category. Kirkland had 109 tackles, his lowest total since 1995. And Robertson finished without an interception for the first time since he became a full-time starter 10 years ago.
So Sidwell pored over hours of game tape from the 2000 season. Eventually, he gave his blessing. So during a six-week span last spring, Seattle signed off on contracts totaling more than $36 million to bring the three aging veterans aboard.
"As long as they can still play, that’s all I was concerned with," Sidwell said. "And if they were an upgrade for our football team. I think they are."
They had better be an improvement, or the Seahawks’ defense may be in trouble again. If this defense is going to make a significant improvement over last season, it will be due in large part to the play of Randle, Kirkland and Robertson.
How much Seattle’s new trio of defenders can give the team is still to be determined. Although they have a combined 30 years of playing experience and eight Pro Bowl appearances, the three free agents come to Seattle with questions about their age.
Randle is 33. Kirkland is 32. Robertson is 31. To put those ages in perspective, former Seahawk Cortez Kennedy, who retired from football earlier this week in part because of his age, turned 33 two weeks ago.
Lately the age of 30 has been an imaginary cliff, after which NFL players aren’t expected to produce.
"It’s a shame," Kirkland said. "People put you in a box when you’re 30, and I don’t agree with that.
"It’s your mindset. If people are constantly telling you you’ve lost a step or that you’re too old, a person that’s not strong will start believing that. But I feel like we’ve got some strong personalities here."
Kirkland, a middle linebacker, was let go by the Pittsburgh Steelers in January due to a combination of factors. One of those was age. Although he had been the team’s captain for the past six years, Kirkland was considered to have lost a step during the 2000 season.
"There were a lot of factors," Kirkland said of his 2000 statistics. "When you have an (ankle) injury like I had, it takes a little time to get back. But I still played on it, when I probably shouldn’t have played.
"For people to say I lost a step, I don’t really think that’s fair. I feel like (in Seattle) I’ve gained a few steps. My attitude’s a lot better. Hopefully I can go out and really help this team out."
Randle is taking a similar approach. He was dumped by the Minnesota Vikings after 11 seasons and six Pro Bowl appearances because he refused to restructure his contract. After a season in which he had just 31 tackles and eight sacks, Randle, too, was deemed to be on the downside of his career.
"Right now I feel like I’ve still got a lot of gas in the tank, like I’ve still got a lot of production," the defensive tackle said Thursday.
For anyone who believes Randle is too old, Seahawks center Robbie Tobeck has a suggestion.
"Line up on him," Tobeck said. "If you think he doesn’t have it anymore, be my guest.
"All that old stuff is kind of going away now because guys are staying in shape. They’re constantly working out; Randle’s got his vitamins. Guys take care of themselves. They’re living right, doing the right thing, and that’s how guys like Randle are still doing it after all these years."
Robertson, who spent his first 10 seasons in the Houston/Tennessee organization, will be relied upon to shore up a safety position that struggled throughout the Seahawks’ 2000 season.
Bringing in veteran players is always a gamble, so coach/general manager Mike Holmgren was careful in his evaluations. Sidwell’s recommendation only sealed the deal.
"I can get real excited about those guys," Holmgren said this week. "Why have they been released? There are a lot of reasons why players get released. I’m not sure any of us know why they were released. Because they were a little bit older? I don’t think so.
"I’m just happy that they are here. I expect them all to make great contributions this year. They already have. There is a feeling and enthusiasm out there that we never had last year, ever."
The addition of three experienced veterans on defense seems to have brought in rave reviews throughout the Seahawks’ locker room.
"They’re our best players," said running back Ricky Watters, who has also disproved the critics at the age of 32. "The age thing, people talk about that too much. They put too much emphasis on age. Some of the best athletes have been older athletes, just like Michael Jordan might come back and show everybody that he’s on top.
"I don’t look at (age) as a problem. I look at it like, that’s a guy who’s experienced, who understands the league and knows what it takes to win."
To watch Randle, Kirkland and Robertson on the practice field, you’d never know they were considered to be in the twilight of their careers. All three are energetic, passionate and eager.
"Even though their age says they’re old, they play like rookies," defensive end Lamar King said. "They’re always out there making plays."
Making plays in the preseason is one thing. The Seahawks need this trio to make plays during the regular season.
Or the questions about their age will continue to follow them.
"We don’t have to prove anybody wrong," Kirkland said. "We just want to prove ourselves right. We want to prove that we’re warriors of the game, and that we play the game for all the right reasons."
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