Good morning, 12s. Here's a look at what's out there today — Friday, January 15 — about your Seattle Seahawks.
Seattle Times' Bob Condotta Looks At John Schneider's Best Moves Of The Year
After some speculation that he may take a job elsewhere, the Seahawks locked up one of the biggest architects of their recent success when they extended Executive VP/GM John Schneider earlier this week. Schneider, who just finished up his 11th season as general manager, will now be in Seattle through the 2027 draft. The extension comes just months after the Seahawks announced that head coach Pete Carroll had signed an extension to keep him in town through 2025.
Under Schneider and Carroll's leadership, the Seahawks have reached the playoffs nine times in 11 seasons, won five NFC West titles, and reached the Super Bowl twice, with the franchise's first ever Super Bowl victory coming in Super Bowl XLVIII.
And though it was a disappointing end to another promising season, the Hawks again won the NFC West and went 12-4, partly on the strength of some key roster moves made by Schneider over the past year. The trade for Jamal Adams before the season drew league-wide attention, but several other under-the-radar transactions made by Schneider and the front office helped turn the Seahawks into one of the league's best teams this season.
Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times looked back and ranked the top roster moves recently made by Schneider & Co. Topping his list was the trade for Carlos Dunlap II in late October. "The Seahawks had 46 sacks in the regular season, sixth in the NFL," Condotta said. "They had 12 in the seven games before Dunlap arrived and 28 in the eight games in which he played. And for that, all Seattle gave up was never-used offensive lineman B.J. Finney ... and a seventh-round draft pick. Schneider also got Dunlap to agree to a restructured contract, moving $3 million of his salary this season into a roster bonus he will receive if he is with the team five days after the new league year in March."
Another move Condotta praised was Schneider’s claim of D.J. Reed off waivers back in August. It was unclear if Reed would play at all due to a torn pectoral muscle, but he went on to play a crucial role in the improvement of the secondary over the second half of the season. "With nothing to lose but a roster spot, Schneider claimed Reed after he was put on waivers by the 49ers, who hoped to sneak him through to injured reserve," Condotta said. "Reed got healthy enough to play the last nine games of the season and fill in at nickel, right and left cornerback. He was rated the 20th-best cornerback overall by Pro Football Focus and the second-best of 117 against the run."
Happy 90th and Congrats to Mama Blue
Last Saturday wasn't just a big gameday in Seattle, it was also a very special day for one of the most iconic 12s in franchise history as Patti 'Mama Blue' Hammond turned 90. To celebrate, the Seahawks and several fans threw a parade outside her house, showering Mama Blue with birthday wishes as they drove by. It was quite the surprise for the longtime fan, and there was more to come. Earlier this season, Hammond had been selected as the 2020 Seahawks Fan of the Year, one of 32 NFL fans to receive the honor out of a field of over 35,000 submissions. On Saturday, Seahawks Legend Jim Zorn stopped by to join the celebration and deliver some more exciting news: Mama Blue has been named a top three finalist for the NFL Fan of the Year award. The Fan of the Year contest was developed to "shine a light on extraordinary fans who have been a rallying force of their family, friends and/or community and inspire others through their love of football," and Hammond certainly meets the criteria. We'll all be watching, and keeping our fingers crossed for her, on February 6th, when the 2020 NFL Fan of the Year is announced at the NFL Honors awards show.
Congrats, Mama Blue!
Social Post Of The Day
Russ responds after K.J. Wright congratulates him on being nominated for Walter Payton Man of the Year.
More From Around The Web
At Seahawks.com, reporter John Boyle with takeaways from Russell Wilson’s end-of-season press conference.
Also at Seahawks.com, Boyle on longtime Seahawks front office member Scott Fitterer becoming the new GM of the Carolina Panthers.
ESPN's Brady Henderson on Wilson’s desire to give input on the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator search.
Tyler Alsin of SB Nation/Field Gulls on the “big potential” of the Seahawks’ 2020 draft class.
