KIRKLAND – When the contract bearing cornerback Bobby Taylor’s signature arrived at the Seattle Seahawks’ complex Thursday morning, the team could finally turn the page on a long negotiation process while effectively closing the book on free agency.
Taylor officially signed a four-year, incentive-laden contract that will pay him $11.3 million and could be worth more than $15 million. It will most likely be the Seahawks’ final signing in March – many team officials will be out of town for a week to attend the owners’ meetings, beginning this weekend – and could well mark the last free agent the team adds this offseason.
The Seahawks added Taylor and defensive end Grant Wistrom and re-signed wide receiver Darrell Jackson, defensive tackle Cedric Woodard, punter Tom Rouen and linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski. The only priority Seattle failed to get done was a long-term deal with left tackle Walter Jones, who was given the franchise designation for the third year in a row.
“We’re feeling good about what we accomplished,” coach Mike Holmgren said Thursday. “The one disappointment has been Walter. But I think we’re OK coming into (next month’s) draft.”
The Seahawks could still use an experienced middle linebacker and a third safety, but it is unlikely that something would happen before June, when veterans annually get released to clear salary cap space.
There are not many veteran linebackers available in free agency, while the available safeties could be too expensive for the Seahawks’ cap situation.
“I never want to say never, but from a dollars and cents standpoint, we kind of did what we had to do with what we had,” Holmgren said. “But I’m not opposed to signing another free agent safety at all.”
The Seahawks hosted John Lynch and Brock Marion for visits, but both have since signed with other teams – Lynch with Denver and Marion with Detroit. Brent Alexander (Pittsburgh), Sam Garnes (New York Jets) and Rogers Beckett (Cincinnati) are among the available free agents who started last season, but the Seahawks are not going to overpay for any of them.
Veteran Damien Robinson and second-year player Ken Hamlin are slated to start at safety next season.
As for middle linebacker, the Seahawks could go into minicamps without any healthy veterans at the position. The 2003 starter, Randall Godfrey, was a free agent who signed with San Diego, while backup Orlando Huff recently underwent shoulder surgery and could be out until training camp. Second-year player Solomon Bates underwent hernia surgery, and his status for upcoming minicamps is unknown.
Seattle’s cornerback situation looks much more promising, especially now that Taylor has been added to the mix. The seven-year veteran will battle Marcus Trufant and Ken Lucas for a starting job, although Holmgren said the team used a three-cornerback formation on 65 percent of Seattle’s defensive sets last season.
“What Bobby brings is a physical, hands-on kind of cornerback,” Holmgren said. “He’s bigger (6-foot-3) than the other guys we’ve had here. The other thing he brings is a winning attitude.”
Taylor and Wistrom will be looked upon to provide leadership to a young defense.
“We bring experience; we’ve both played a lot of football,” said Taylor, who made his visit three weeks ago. “But we’re not trying to re-create the wheel. I just want to fit in and help the team win games.”
Taylor, 30, went to the Pro Bowl after the 2002 season but struggled with a foot injury last year. He said his physical problems are a thing of the past.
He’s also excited for a fresh start after seven years in Philadelphia.
“The decision for me to sign with (Seattle) wasn’t hard at all,” Taylor said.
Notes: Marcus Trufant and offensive lineman Matt Hill joined Orlando Huff as players who underwent offseason shoulder surgery. All three are expected to be out until training camp. … The Seahawks are still trying to re-negotiate the contract of defensive tackle Norman Hand, who is slated to make $3 million in base salary in 2004. … Holmgren said part of John Randle’s decision to retire had to do with the fact that he recently became a first-time father. Randle’s wife, Candace, had twins. Randle was waived by the team, clearing the way for a possible one-day contract with Minnesota in case he wants to be inducted to the Hall of Fame as a Viking.
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