10-person list just Seahawks’ starting point
ERIC D. WILLIAMS; The News Tribune
Renton – Nearly three weeks after president and general manager Tim Ruskell stepped down, the Seattle Seahawks reportedly have a list of 10 potential candidates they will consider for the team’s vacant general manager position.
Seahawks CEO Tod Leiweke said on Dec. 3 when Ruskell resigned that the team would perform an in-house evaluation that would last for the duration of the regular season, with the franchise then beginning to review candidates.
However, Seattle veered from that plan last week in order to talk with Mike Holmgren about filling the vacancy. Those negotiations ended up in the former Seahawks head coach declining Seattle’s offer to rejoin the organization as president of football operations. Instead, Holmgren is headed to the Midwest as the head of football operations for the Cleveland Browns.
According to an online report from
ProFootballTalk.com, the 10 candidates reportedly provided to the team by the New York search firm Spencer Stuart include Arizona Cardinals director of player personnel Steve Keim, San Diego Chargers director of player personnel Jimmy Raye, Philadelphia Eagles GM Tom Heckert, Baltimore Ravens director of player personnel Eric DeCosta, Green Bay Packers director of football operations John Schneider, New England Patriots senior football adviser Floyd Reese, Patriots pro personnel director Jason Licht, San Francisco 49ers director of player personnel Trent Baalke, Seahawks interim GM Ruston Webster and Chargers senior executive Randy Mueller.
Of course, the Seahawks are not limited to the 10 names provided by the search firm, and likely have their own list of people they would like to pursue further as part of the search.
Seattle likely will wait until well into the playoffs before contacting candidates if their teams make a deep run in the postseason. The team has to receive permission from any organization that has a potential candidate under contract, and that likely would not happen until after the season.
Also, the Seahawks have to be mindful of the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate for the position.
With Holmgren out of the picture, Seattle is likely looking for a hands-on manager who would report directly to Leiweke, has a strong background in talent evaluation, and would be a good fit with current head coach Jim Mora.
Hawks sign LS Robinson
As Mora said Monday, the Seahawks reached out to veteran long snapper Jeff Robinson, signing him to the active roster Tuesday. To clear a roster spot, Seattle placed Kevin Houser on injured reserve, ending his season. Houser suffered a collapsed lung in Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay.
Special teams coach Bruce DeHaven said the team is lucky to have a talented snapper like Robinson, 39, available so close to home. Robinson, a 16-year veteran, still lives in the Seattle area.
“The thing that’s good about Jeff is I know him well and have coached him before,” DeHaven said. “You know what you’re going to get, unless he’s gone to pieces in a year, which he hasn’t. His conditioning looked very good today.”
Robinson had a tryout with Atlanta last week.
Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437
eric.williams@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks
SEAHAWKS’ OPPONENT THIS WEEK
GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-5, SECOND PLACE IN NFC NORTH)
10 a.m. Sunday, Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wis.
So far: The Packers sit second in the NFC North and are right in the middle of the NFC wild-card hunt.
Against the Seahawks: Green Bay has a 7-5 advantage in the series, winning three of the last four contests. This is the first time since 2005 that Seattle will play a regular-season game in Green Bay.
Stats and stuff: Despite being sacked a league-leading 49 times, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers has had a solid season, throwing for 3,962 yards, 28 touchdowns, just seven interceptions and a 102.4 passer rating. ... Green Bay’s switch to a 3-4 defensive front, led by new defensive coordinator Dom Capers, has been successful. The Packers are No. 2 in total defense and No. 2 overall against the run. ... Rookie linebacker Clay Matthews Jr., a USC product, leads the team with 10 sacks. ... 12-year veteran cornerback Charles Woodson is having one his best years in the league, totaling eight interceptions and four forced fumbles so far.
Quotable: “If you look at our 14 weeks’ work, it is an anomaly to give up that much production against our defense.” – Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy on his defense giving up 37 points in a one-point loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Eric D. Williams, The News Tribune
PACKERS’ SCHEDULE
Sept. 13Packers 21, Bears 15
Sept. 20Bengals 31, Packers 24
Sept. 27Packers 36, Rams 17
Oct. 5Vikings 30, Packers 23
Oct. 11Bye
Oct. 18Packers 26, Lions 0
Oct. 25Packers 31, Browns 3
Nov. 1Vikings 38, Packers 26
Nov. 8Buccaneers 38, Packers 28
Nov. 15Packers 17, Cowboys 7
Nov. 22Packers 30, Niners 24
Nov. 26Packers 34, Lions 12
Dec. 7Packers 27, Ravens 14
Dec. 13Packers 21, Bears 14
Dec. 20Steelers 37, Packers 36
SundaySeattle
Jan. 3at Arizona
