KIRKLAND — The flurry of free-agent activity involving the Seahawks continued today, even as a decision was being made on the future of left guard Steve Hutchinson as either a Seahawk or a Minnesota Viking.
Offensive tackle Tom Ashworth visited the Seahawks. The 6-foot-6, 305-pound Ashworth, a five-year pro who has two Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots, can play both left and right tackle.
Sean Locklear emerged as a solid starter at right tackle in 2005, and Walter Jones is a perennial Pro Bowler on the left side. So just where and how Ashworth fits is hard to say, even though he has started 30 of 37 regular-season games, mostly at right tackle.
Ashworth, who came into the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2001, has already made visits to the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He's considering visits to the New Orleans Saints and Houston Texans after Seattle.
Meanwhile, there were more players coming and going.
Seahawks running back Maurice Morris flew to Buffalo for a visit with the Bills, and could be going to Kansas City and Indianapolis after that. The Bills and Chiefs already have starters in Willis McGahee and Larry Johnson, so Morris is probably looking at being a backup no matter where he lands.
That would still be the case if the Seahawks retain him now that Shaun Alexander has been re-signed. Morris is going into his fifth NFL season after rushing for a career high 288 yards in 2005.
Free agent wide receiver Tim Dwight is scheduled to be at team headquarters tonight for a visit. He was to be preceded by Antonio Chatman, formerly of the Green Bay Packers, but Chatman never made it after agreeing to a two-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals over the weekend.
The Seahawks also lost out on cornerback Will Allen, who visited Seattle early in the free agency period but chose to sign with the Dolphins on Sunday.
Abraham wants Atlanta
Unidentified sources told the New York Post on Sunday that Jets defensive end John Abraham has his mind set on playing for the Atlanta Falcons.
That could change if the Seahawks pony up a contract to Abraham's liking. The Falcons already have a financial package in place, but at present are offering a second-round pick for the star player in trade to the Jets, and not the first-round pick the Seahawks have offered.
The Jets want to get the best value in a trade for Abraham, their franchise player, and seek to deal him to Seattle. But Abraham has said he'd like to play in Atlanta, which is closer to his South Carolina home.
Notes
Seahawks DT Rocky Bernard's contract has been filed with the NFLPA. The yearly breakdown of the three-year, $13 million deal includes a base salary of $600,000 in 2006, with a $2.4 million salary cap number that includes $1.8 million, the first part of his prorated $5.4 million signing bonus. Bernard has base salaries of $3 million and $4 million in 2007 and 2008.
Print
Print
Back to top