The lockout is over, Seahawks begin camp Wednesday

[travisduncan]

Pete Carroll watches the announcement that the lockout has ended, photo courtesy of the Seahawks.

By Travis Duncan

-----You thought this day would never come.

As you have probably heard, the players have agreed to the proposed CBA and all the paperwork is processing today-the lockout has ended.

The Seahawks will be one of the first 10 teams opening camp, doing so on Wednesday. The remainder of the league will camps on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The team announced that training camp will be open to the public on some days but not all.

The Seahawks will be on the field in just a little over two weeks believe it or not, to face the Chargers in San Diego on Thursday August 11 on National TV to open the preseason.

Teams must now go about the business of signing their rookie class-and then this weekend league wide free-agency will begin. Under terms of the new deal most players with at least four years tenure will become free-agents, according to the Associated Press.

What that leaves is a chance for teams to make decisions-ones which could impact their bottom line and success for the next several seasons.

According to ESPN and the Tacoma News Tribune Seattle will be working with $39 million under the new salary cap of $120.4 million.

As you probably know, the Seahawks have several question marks at several positions, most notably at QB, as Matt Hasselbeck is a officially a free-agent.

Tarvaris Jackson again is mentioned as a target for the Seahawks, though, based on his production in Minnesota it would be an easy argument against his arrival in Seattle. But Pete Carroll and new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell may see untapped potential in Jackson.

Former USC'er and Houston Texan Matt Leinart will also be looking for work, along with a handful of other QB's which could come into play if Hasselbeck indeed signs elsewhere.

There is at least one national writer, Adam Kaplan of FOX Sports, who reports that the Hawks are still going to do their best to go after Philly free-agent Kevin Kolb. Even though Kolb has gone on record saying he would like to play in Arizona, and allegedly was house shopping in Arizona last week.

The Seahawks will also have a decision to make about key free-agents 33-year old defensive end Raheem Brock, defensive tackle Brandon Mebane, and tackle Sean Locklear. Mebane's resigning is important but he will command high dollar on the open market.

Seattle will also be in the market for a tight end, and free-agent Bronco Daniel Graham has been mentioned among a possible signees at the position.

According to ESPN here is a list of Seahawks free-agents (based on the new CBA):

Milloy, Lawyer S 15
Mare, Olindo P/K 14
Hasselbeck, Matt QB 12
Stokley, Brandon WR 12
Brock, Raheem DE 9
Pitts, Chester OL 9
Babineaux, Jordan S 7
Locklear, Sean OL 7
Terrill, Craig DT 7
Hill, Leroy LB 6
Losman, J.P. QB 6
McCoy, Matt LB 6
Spencer, Chris OL 6
Willis, Ray OL 6
Gordon, Amon DT 5
Jennings, Kelly CB 5
Martin, Ruvell WR 5
Robinson, Michael RB 5
Herring, Will LB 4
Mebane, Brandon DT 4
Richardson, Jay DE 4
Siavii, Junior DT 4

-As it stands now the latest news is that HBO will not produce the training camp reality series "Hard Knocks" and the Seahawks were believed to be a candidate for the show. HBO has yet to make a final decision according to the LA Times on Monday though Sports Illustrated on Friday reported that the show was canceled for the season.

 

[robdog]

I believe the lockout is what screw the show up. Since they start when training camp starts and leads into the pre-season games, they just didn't have enough time to get someone locked down.

With that said, I think the Seahawks would of been a hell of watch this year. Maybe next year...