Pete Carroll calls re-signing Matt Hasselbeck a “top priority”

Among the many things the Seahawks will be trying to do this offseason is reaching a new contract with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.

“It’s the top priority in the program,” Pete Carroll said.

Asked if Carroll is looking at Hasselbeck as the starting QB next season, Carroll said, “I don’t think there’s any other way to look at it.”

Of course the looming lockout on March 4 means the Seahawks don’t know exactly when they’ll be able to sign free agents, so in the case of players like Hasselbeck, there is a sense of urgency to get a deal done before then.

Carroll said that after the final team meetings Monday, the first thing he and G.M. John Schneider did was sit down with Hasselbeck to discuss his future.