A quick reminder that the Seahawks will  begin OTAs (Organized Team Activities) on Monday.

Seahawks.com had a good breakdown earlier this week of where the team is in its off-season program.

Not all of  the workouts are open to the media, but we will cover those that are.

As the linked story notes, the Monday OTA is the first of 10 in which the offense and defense are allowed to practice against each other.

The OTAs are spread out through June 6. The team then holds a mandatory minicamp June 11-13 before the veteran break begins on June 14.

Bruce Irvin's four-game suspension was obviously the big news of Friday. Here's our story, as well as that from ESPN.com, the ESPN NFC West blog and USA Today.  And a 49ers' defender has no sympathy for Irvin.

In other news. ...

--- Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com lists the most pressing need for every NFL team, and cites the pass rush for the Seahawks --- the Irvin suspension won't help there;

--- The Cowboys are studying the Seahawks' defense;

--- Here's one vote for the Seahawks as the No. 5 seed in the NFC this year;

--- And here's a vote for Russell Wilson as the No. 11 QB in the NFL;

--- The ESPN NFC West blog examines key players coming back from injury on each team;

--- And which NFC West team has had the most starts by rookies the last three years;

--- FieldGulls assesses Golden Tate's contract year;

--- More on tryout signee Victor Marshall;

--- And The Sporting News has odds for every NFC West team.

Bruce Irvin, Seattle's first-round pick a year ago, has been suspended without pay for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL's policy on performance enhancing substances, the team announced Friday.

Irvin will not get paid for the first four games -- amounting to around $192,000 in lost salary -- but can still participate in all offseason activities, including preseason games. The Seahawks play at Carolina, San Francisco, Jacksonville and at Houston to start the season. He will be eligible to return when Seattle plays at Indianapolis on Oct. 6.

Irvin released a statement on Friday apologizing and saying he won't appeal the suspension.

“I want to apologize to my teammates, coaches and Seahawks fans for making a mistake when I took a substance that is prohibited in the NFL without a medical exemption,” Irvin said in the statement. “I am extremely disappointed in the poor judgment I showed and take full responsibility for my actions. I will not appeal the discipline and instead will focus my energy on preparing for the season so I can begin earning your trust and respect again. I look forward to contributing to the team the moment I return.”

Irvin played in all 16 games for the Seahawks as a rookie last year. He had eight sacks, playing mostly as a pass-rusher off the edge. He also had 10 tackles and one forced fumble.

The suspension leaves the Seahawks’ defensive line with limited options early in the season.

Chris Clemons, who tore his ACL in the playoff game at Washington last year, is still rehabbing and could miss time early in the 2013 season. Defensive end Greg Scruggs, who had two sacks in his rookie season last year, had surgery for a torn ACL last week. The Seahawks haven't ruled out a return this season, but it's likely he won't play.

That leaves Red Bryant, a returning starter, and free-agent additions Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett at defensive end. The Seahawks signed both players this offseason in moves that, at the time, looked like luxury additions. It doesn't look that way anymore.

In addition to Irvin, Winston Guy, Brandon Browner, John Moffitt, Allen Barbre and Richard Sherman were all been suspended for violating the league's policy on performance enhancing substances in the past two years, although Sherman won his appeal.

Updated: Irvin tweeted this image of a note he wrote on an iPad Friday afternoon. In it, Irvin indicated he knew about the pending suspension for weeks and also referenced his personal image. Irvin, who played at West Virginia, was arrested the month before the 2012 NFL draft and also spent time in jail when he was younger after being arrested for a burglary crime.

"It's crazy to see your name runs across the ticker for negative things,” Irvin’s message said. “I messed up and I feel so bad and have been depressed for weeks now. I've had sleepless nights because I know when this came out, I would let so many people down, including myself. I have worked so hard to rebuild my image and it takes another blow. I see the negative comments and I see the positive and both drives me to come back and have a incredible season.

“To my real fans, I see the comments and appreciate it during this tuff time. Just shows people only love you when your on top, but when adversity hits they show their true colors. Once again, I'm sorry and take full responsibility for my actions.

“I will take this on the chin and move forward to become the best person on and off the field. 12thman I'm sorry I let you down but I promise you when I come back -- all hell will break loose! West Virginia, I love u always and know you have my back and always will. Love on my fans and shout to my haters I know you loving it right now! #comebackkid #12thman #WVU”

I'll start off with the personal note that I will be in-studio on KJR-AM 950 this morning from 10 a.m.-Noon with Elise Woodward.

We will probably talk mostly about the Sonics situation. But we also plan to talk some Seahawks.

Now, a few links. ...

--- Earl Thomas is No. 66 on the NFL Network's countdown of the top 100 players.

--- The Chiefs have hired longtime Seahawk scout Will Lewis as Director of Pro Scouting.

--- In case you missed it the other day, Richard Sherman has hired the replacement ref who called the Golden Tate TD good against Green Bay to ump his charity softball game.

--- ESPN's Mike Sando and the ESPN710 guys compared the rosters of the Seahawks and 49ers.

--- FieldGulls looks at how to measure the type of athletes the Seahawks are looking for.

--- Pre-Snap Reads breaks down Sherman's 2012 season.

--- CBSSports.com ranks the top offensive linemen and mentions both Russell Okung and Max Unger.

The Seattle Seahawks have just announced they have signed sixth-round draft choice fullback Spencer Ware to a multi-year contract.

Ware was the 194^th overall selection in April's NFL Draft out of LSU and becomes the eighth Seahawks draft choice under contract.

Running back Christine Michael (second-round), cornerback Tharold Simon (fifth-round) and tackle Michael Bowie (seventh-round) remain unsigned.

Governor Jay Inslee will sign the Seahawks and Sounders license plate bill on Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the Seahawks training facility in Renton. The bill will allow Seahawks and Sounders fans to buy special license plates with the proceeds going to three non-profit organizations. Inslee will be joined by Seahawks/Sounders FC president Peter McLoughlin, Lt. Gov. Brad Owen and Senator Tracey Eide.

Read more about the bill here.

Not a lot out there this morning on the Seahawks, but here are a few things. ...

--- ESPN.com has an off-season glance at the Hawks;

--- Jason LaConfora of CBSSports.com ranks the Seahawks fifth among NFL front offices;

--- Grantland.com says the rest of the NFL should be worried now that Percy Harvin is a Seahawk;

--- Here's a little bit more on receiver Victor Marshall, who signed with the Seahawks after last week's tryout;

--- PennLive.com with more on the Jordan Hill-Jesse Williams connection;

--- Seahawks.com with more on DE Benson Mayowa, who also was signed out of the tryout camp;

--- Finally, an interesting chart here on players drafted by high school.

The Seahawks announced today they have claimed long snapper Adam Steiner from the Raiders. They waived/injured DB Chandler Fenner to make room on the 90-man roster.

Seattle has one long snapper on the roster in Clint Greshman, who is due to make $1.32 million this season.

Steiner had been cut by the Raiders on Monday.

Here's a story on Steiner from last month.