Eagles GM Tom Heckert is high on list for Seahawks, Browns

Last month, the Seahawks tried to make coach Mike Holmgren their president.

This month, the Seahawks might wind up competing with their former coach for their chief of football operations.

Holmgren plans to speak with Tom Heckert, the general manager of the Philadelphia Eagles, according to The Associated Press. Holmgren was introduced as Cleveland's president Tuesday.

Heckert is also identified as one of four finalists for the Seahawks' top football post in a report on NFL.com, the league's Web site. The report was posted Tuesday. Messages left by The Times for Heckert's agent have not been returned going back to last week.

That's not the only candidate the Seahawks and Holmgren might share. John Schneider is the Packers' director of football operations. NFL.com identified him as one of Seattle's finalists, and he is also thought to be someone Cleveland might consider.

When the Seahawks negotiated with Holmgren, the understanding was a general manager would be hired to handle day-to-day personnel for the Seahawks. Now, it is unclear whether the Seahawks are looking for a president and a general manager or one person to fill both roles.

NFL.com identified the other two finalists for the Seattle job as Eric DeCosta, a Baltimore executive, and Steve Keim of Arizona.

Is that the final four?

There has been no word from the team, so it's possible there are other candidates. Tod Leiweke, CEO of Vulcan Sports, has not been available for questions since Tim Ruskell's resignation, which was a month ago.

Coach Jim Mora will hold a news conference this afternoon to assess the 2009 season.

Seahawks close

to new six-year deal

with punter Jon Ryan

Punter Jon Ryan is close to signing a six-year contract to remain with the Seahawks, a deal first reported by The Regina Leader-Post. According to the paper, the agreement totals $9.1 million and includes a $1.6 million signing bonus.

The team has not announced the signing, and Ryan's agent did not confirm a deal had been finalized when reached by phone.

Ryan averaged 46.2 yards per punt this season, eighth-best in the NFL, and the highest season average in franchise history.

Ryan was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent, according to the current rules of the collective bargaining agreement. However, those rules could change by the time free agency begins in March, which would have left Ryan a restricted free agent.

Since Ruskell's resignation last month, Ruston Webster has been the interim general manager and would have had authority over the deal.

Note

• Seattle signed six members of its practice squad to futures contracts for the 2010 season: WR Patrick Carter, LB Anthony Heygood, WR Mike Jones, RB Xavier Omon, TE Jason Pociask and CB DeAngelo Willingham. Futures contracts can be used only for players who were not on any NFL team's regular roster when the season ended.

Danny O'Neil: 206-464-2364 or doneil@seattletimes.com