D.J. Fluker with classiest goodbye as Seahawks begin shedding veterans to clear cap space
The same reasons the Seahawks and their fans loved D.J. Fluker playing for them is why they love him on his way out.
The 29-year-old veteran and Seahawks starting right guard the last two seasons posted on Twitter Sunday the classiest goodbye after general manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll each called to inform him they were releasing him.
The move saves Seattle $3.69 million in salary-cap space in 2020. The Seahawks signed free-agent guard-center B.J. Finney to a two-year deal last month. The Seahawks drafted LSU right guard Damien Lewis in the third round of the NFL draft Friday and said he was ready to compete to play right away.
Seahawks had 19 offensive linemen entering Sunday. Fluker is the first of multiple guys who will eventually be released. This was to be the final year of his contract.
Center Justin Britt could be next. He is coming off Seahawks drafted LSU right guard Damien Lewis in the third round . The team could save more than $8 million against the cap by releasing him, with newly signed B.J. Finney and re-signed Joey Hunt available for his job.
Fluker missed a total of eight games because of injuries over the 2018 and ‘19 seasons with Seattle. He signed before the 2018 after one, injury-shortened season with the New York Giants and four years with the team that drafted him in 2013, the San Diego Chargers.
That’s just one example of what makes him popular with the Seahawks and their fans.
Two scenes the Seahawks’ narrow home loss to the eventual NFC-champion Rams in October 2018 are other examples.
He was also famous inside the locker room for comical dances following Seahawks victories.
Fluker, 6-feet-5 and 342 pounds, started 14 games last season. He was the 11th overall pick in the first round of the draft in 2013, going to San Diego from the University of Alabama.
This story was originally published April 26, 2020 at 4:45 PM.
