Seahawks release Rice and Bryant today

[seer-12thman]

By Brady Henderson
Earlier this month, Red Bryant was celebrating the Super Bowl victory that he helped deliver as the captain of the defense that led Seattle to its first championship.
He's now an ex-Seahawk, released Friday along with wide receiver Sidney Rice as the team announced moves that were reportedly coming.

Defensive end Red Bryant, who was released by the Seahawks Friday, has played only for Seattle since he was drafted by the team in 2008. (AP)
"We want to thank both Red and Sidney for their effort, commitment and contribution to the Seattle Seahawks over the last few years," general manager John Schneider said in a press release. "These are extremely tough decisions, but we wanted to give them a head start on free agency. We wish them well in the future."
Consider this the latest reminder of how harsh the business side of the NFL can be. While Rice's release was a predictable end to his Seahawks career given his high salary and durability issues, parting ways with Bryant – their vocal leader and a key member of their top-ranked defense – is the type of gut-wrenching move that is often necessary in a league with a salary cap.
"It's a replacement business," Bryant said before the Super Bowl when asked about teammate Clinton McDonald's financially-motivated release at the end of training camp, "and what he experienced is something that we're all going to experience."
Releasing Bryant and Rice clears up at least $12.8 million in salary cap space for 2014, possibly more depending on how they are designated. Because they were released, Bryant and Rice are free to negotiate and sign with other teams before free agency begins next month.
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Releasing Red Bryant shows the Seahawks are taking a different approach to the offseason than most Super Bowl champions, writes Danny O'Neil. Read more.
According to the NFL's transaction report, Rice was released with a failed-physical designation as he is coming off a season that was cut short by a torn ACL, the latest injury in a career that has been marred by them. At times during his three seasons with the Seahawks he showed the talent that enticed Seattle to give him a five-year, $41 million deal, but he had a hard time staying on the field as the injuries continued to pile up.
Rice, 27, was scheduled to count $9.7 million against Seattle's salary cap in 2014, a prohibitive amount for a player who had missed 15 of 48 regular-season games since 2011.
"Thanks for a wonderful experience!" read part of a post on Rice's Instagram account Friday.
Bryant, 29, was a Seahawk through and through. A fourth-round pick in 2008, he was one of four players who predated the 2010 arrivals of Schneider and coach Pete Carroll. He's the son-in-law of Jacob Green, a member of the Seahawks' Ring of Honor. And as a 325-defensive end, he embodied the unusual way in which Seattle had assembled the defense that led the league in scoring the past two seasons.
Bryant began his career as a defensive tackle, and his his transition to a run-stopping end was so successful that he became a defensive captain and earned a five-year, $35 million contract in 2012. But he was scheduled to count $8.5 million against the 2014 cap, which Seattle apparently deemed too high a figure for a player who was limited to early downs.

 

[RAMSWRATH]

The dismantling is well under way.

 

[#ONE]

Dismantling? lol cutting guys who are past their prime in order to resign players that are younger and better is a positive thing.

 

[#ONE]

Maybe if your team tried that for a change they could potentially get out of last place....

 

[RAMSWRATH]

Dismantling? lol cutting guys who are past their prime in order to resign players that are younger and better is a positive thing.

Cheaper not better. Big difference.

 

[seer-12thman]

Just making room for improvement and future all pro players in the draft. Maybe if the Rams did that they would improve. When the Ram's are last in the division there is allot of room for improvement.

 

[#ONE]

Cheaper not better. Big difference.

The numbers on ProFootballFocus.com can help put the Bryant move into perspective, both his quality of play, and some clues about why he will be more valuable to another team. Consider these facts:

• Bryant was the 7th-best player on the Seahawks defense last year with a +7.5 PFF rating
• He was the 4th-best run defender, with a +10.6 rating
• Both numbers were the best of his career
• Bryant finished 15th in the NFL among 4-3 DE for overall rating, and 11th in run rating
• His snap totals since 2010: 291...724...641...488

Of course, the other important number is 30. As in, the age he will be in April. The Bryant puzzle cannot be solved without looking at other players. Start with Michael Bennett.

• Bennett was the 2nd-best player on the Seahawks defense last year with a +24.2 PFF rating
• He was the 3rd-best run defender (+12.0), after Brandon Mebane and Tony McDaniel
• The overall rating was the best of his career, and the run defense rating was the 2nd-best
• Bennett has equaled, or beaten, Bryant's career-best +10.6 run defense rating every year as a starter (3 straight years)
• Bennett was the 5th-best 4-3 DE in the NFL overall, and 3rd-best run defender
• In a year when Bryant's snaps dropped precipitously, Bennett totaled 617

Some have suggested that Bennett is not big enough or well-equipped to take over for Bryant. They forget that it took Dan Quinn convincing Pete Carroll to switch a player as big as Bryant to the 5-technique defensive end in the first place. Bennett is the prototypical size for it, and is a far more versatile defender who is a threat as a run defender and a pass rusher.

 

[#ONE]

^ See above.

Once again talking out of your ass with no substance to back up your stupid comments. Back to the drawing board.[/quote]

 

[#ONE]

So in reality, when you look at the FACTs, Bennett is better and younger than Bryant.

He's also not going to be cheaper. The reason Bryant was released was to free up more $ to resign Bennett.

 

[RAMSWRATH]

^ See above.

Once again talking out of your ass with no substance to back up your stupid comments. Back to the drawing board.

[/quote]

Yeah you spew all that and it still boils down to he was cheaper.

 

[RAMSWRATH]

So in reality, when you look at the FACTs, Bennett is better and younger than Bryant.

He's also not going to be cheaper. The reason Bryant was released was to free up more $ to resign Bennett.

You have a weird way of agreeing with my post. Yes he was cheaper.

 

[RAMSWRATH]

Just making room for improvement and future all pro players in the draft. Maybe if the Rams did that they would improve. When the Ram's are last in the division there is allot of room for improvement.

Enjoy drafting last.

 

[seer-12thman]

Seahawks draft better players in the later rounds then allot of teams do in the first round. Allot of players drafted in the first round don't even make it in the NFL. Check it out. Not to worry what position they draft in the first round.

 

[szat]

Enjoy drafting last.

That's what happens when you W-I-N, so thank you, yes we will.

 

[#ONE]

Yeah you spew all that and it still boils down to he was cheaper.[/quote]
He was* cheaper. He won't be now.

And how is him being on cheaper deal in anyway reflect negatively on the team?

The more important point was he was and is better than Red Bryant. That's what matters.

We will enjoy drafting last. We seem to have found our franchise QB in the 3rd. Our All-SS and CB were a 5th and 6th round respectively. Our SB MVP was a 7th round pick who wasn't even a starter.

Meanwhile you've got your "franchise" QB with the first overall and he's been a real winner. He's going to go down in history like his ancestors #trailoftears

 

[sprhawk]

I won't be questioning PC or JS moves, they've been able to find the talent and nothing tells me that is going to change. Big Reds production fell, end of story. If anything it let's us know that we could be looking at a dynasty. PC is going to do what needs to be done to win, bottom line.

 

[RAMSWRATH]

He was* cheaper. He won't be now.

And how is him being on cheaper deal in anyway reflect negatively on the team?

The more important point was he was and is better than Red Bryant. That's what matters.

We will enjoy drafting last. We seem to have found our franchise QB in the 3rd. Our All-SS and CB were a 5th and 6th round respectively. Our SB MVP was a 7th round pick who wasn't even a starter.

Meanwhile you've got your "franchise" QB with the first overall and he's been a real winner. He's going to go down in history like his ancestors #trailoftears

Your string of good luck bottom feeding is over and you know it. Sammy has had little protection with almost no one to throw to and for a revolving door of OCs. Last season he was second in the NFL OVERALL when he was injured. You should remember that since his absence was the only reason the Seahawks won in St. Louis.

 

[#ONE]

[quote="RAMSWRATH, post: 55409, member: 48"]Your string of good luck bottom feeding is over and you know it. Sammy has had little protection with almost no one to throw to and for a revolving door of OCs. Last season he was second in the NFL OVERALL when he was injured. You should remember that since his absence was the only reason the Seahawks won in St. Louis.[/quote]

Do we know that? Based on what? You're such an idiot. You say shit and have NOTHING to back it up outside of your delusional opinion.

All joking aside man, have you been diagnosed with anything? Serious question. I'm assuming you're a grown man, probably have a family... But you act like a 12 year old attention craving girl who asks celebrities to follow her on Instagram.

You don't post anything with any substance. Just stupid one-liner jabs that hold no water or make any sense and you end it with a stupid little green or blue emoticon.

Piss off cunty.

 

[RAMSWRATH]

Do we know that? Based on what? You're such an idiot. You say shit and have NOTHING to back it up outside of your delusional opinion.

All joking aside man, have you been diagnosed with anything? Serious question. I'm assuming you're a grown man, probably have a family... But you act like a 12 year old attention craving girl who asks celebrities to follow her on Instagram.

You don't post anything with any substance. Just stupid one-liner jabs that hold no water or make any sense and you end it with a stupid little green or blue emoticon.

Piss off cunty.

No way Petey's draft success continues to the degree it has since he was hired. History proves that. Of course most of what EVERYONE posts here is OPINION but mine is your draft success has run out and with free agents leaving and an across the board pay increase demanded by every player with the new ring I see the talent gap closing fast in the NFC West. However Bradford being the 2nd overall rated QB at the time of his injury is FACT. That the Rams would have beaten the Seahawks in St Louis had he played is again, FACT.

"idiot", "delusional" then "all joking aside"? Why yes I have been diagnosed with success at getting your goat and I wasn't trying.

I don't even know what "Instagram" is but apparently you're in tune with your inner "12 year old attention craving girl"!

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Just for you the color is brown..
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I suggest you get your diaper changed because your constant anger act is pathetic..
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[#ONE]

How can you say his draft success won't continue? Based on what? What trend have you noticed about his draft that would tell you it won't continue?

That's my point. You make these matter of fact statements that have nothing to back them up.

And then you say shit like y'all would've won if Bradford had been QB, FACT!... Another example of how much of an idiot you are. You can't go back, insert one variable and say for a FACT that the outcome would've been different. Illogical. Now you could've said if Tate doesn't catch that 80 yard TD and wave off your DBs on his way to the Endzone, then the Seahawks may end up losing since their offense was nonexistent. Even then, not a fact.

Don't know Instagram? Not big in your neck of the woods? Y'all just stick to incest and moonshine for entertainment? Look it up though, it's worth a Google.

And yes, everyone has an option, but the question is "who is right and who is wrong?"