RENTON — A day after turning the quarterback position into a two-man battle between Charlie Whitehurst and Tarvaris Jackson, the Seahawks made sure life would be a little easier for whichever man wins the job.
On Wednesday, after parting ways with Matt Hasselbeck and reaching an agreement with Jackson, the Seahawks agreed to terms on a deal with receiver Sidney Rice according to a league source. Free agents can’t sign until Friday, which is when Rice is set to sign a five-year deal worth $41 million with $18.5 million in guaranteed money, according to ProFootballTalk.com.
Rice, who spent his first four season in Minnesota, ranks as one of the top receivers on the free agent market. At 24, his best years should be ahead of him, but Rice is far from a sure thing having missed most of last season with a hip injury and time earlier in his career with knee injuries. When healthy, the 6-foot-4 Rice has proven to be an elite talent. In 2009, the only season he has played 16 games, Rice caught 83 passes for 1,312 yards and eight touchdowns to earn a Pro Bowl selection.
A repeat of that season, or anything similar, would be a welcome change for a franchise that hasn’t produced a Pro Bowl receiver since Brian Blades in 1989. Seattle tried to upgrade at receiver two years ago when it signed T.J. Houshmandzadeh to a lucrative deal, but he failed to live up to expectations and was released prior to last season despite Seattle still owing him $7 million.
The Seahawks also made runs at Vincent Jackson and Brandon Marshall last year, but didn’t land either. Now, in Rice, they appear to have landed the elite receiver they coveted. And with the 6-foot-5 Mike Williams also in the fold having signed an extension in January, Seattle will have a talented — not to mention large — one-two punch at receiver.
And despite joining a new team, Rice should feel comfortable with in his new surroundings. He will be playing for the same offensive coordinator, Darrell Bevell, that he worked under for his entire career in Minnesota, and if Jackson wins the starting quarterback job, Rice will be catching passes from a teammate of four years.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog.
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