Looks like Red's gone

[c_hawkbob]

Alex Marvez ‏@alexmarvez 18m
Source tells @FOXSports1 @Seahawks expected 2 release DE Red Bryant & hope 2 use cap space toward new contract 4 pending UFA Michael Bennett

Red was a rock and will be missed against run dominant teams, but our NASCAR package has become our most effective rotation and Reds cap number has become hard to justify.

Again, maybe we see him back at a more manageable price (though at 29 I doubt it, someone's gonna pay him).

Either way; love ya Red!, best of luck with whatever comes next.

[briwas101]

I have nothing against Red as a person, and I appreciate that he was able to uniquely help the Hawks at a time when our talent level was low.

Unfortunately for him, he is now towards the bottom in terms of talent and up towards the top in terms of salary. This was a move that was a long time coming, and they realistically could have cut him last year.

Pete Carroll knew after our loss to the falcons in the playoffs last year that we were never going to have a good enough pass rush with Red on one side and Clemons on the other with Irvin coming in occasionally for Red, and it was much worse with Clemons out for that game. Thats why they went out and greatly improved our DL last year. The hawks needed to bring more pressure and that meant fewer snaps for Red.

It was nice for him to get a ring because he has been a valued part of the rebuilding of the Hawks, but using him as a DE now holds us back. We are better off with a traditional DE.

No matter how nice a person is or how long they have been here they must earn their salary to stay on the team, otherwise we will fall apart due to salary cap issues. Cuts need to be cold and calculated.

Thank you for your service Red, if no other team is willing to pay you much maybe you come back on a super cheap deal.

[Oly]

Red will be missed, and I'm also very glad that he got the ring his father-in-law never got. I'm not as sure as you, briwas, that we're better without him, because I think that the Hawks have benefitted greatly from his run stopping ability. Against power running teams like the 49ers, I think Red is better than a traditional DE. His leadership will also be missed. That said, Bennett is the more valuable and harder-to-replace player, and I agree with the FO's priorities here.

If the FieldGulls speculation (http://www.fieldgulls.com/2013-nfl-offseason/2014/2/23/5440976/red-bryant-released-seahawks-nfl-per-report) is correct, and I hope that it is, Red will find that his value to other teams isn't close to his value to the Hawks, and so it's unlikely he'll find other teams breaking the bank for a DE built like a DT. I could see him going to a blitz-heavy 3-4 team, but that's it. No team that relies on its DE for pass rush will be looking to spend much on him.

[NorthHawk]

Not sure if Gus is running the same D in Jacksonville, but if he is, Red might be a good fit both for leadership and as the anchor on the end like he was at the beginning of Pete's tenure here.

[Eaglehawk]

Not sure if Gus is running the same D in Jacksonville, but if he is, Red might be a good fit both for leadership and as the anchor on the end like he was at the beginning of Pete's tenure here.

Excellent point. They know each other. Why not?
Red is gone too bad. But we keep Bennett. That is very good.

[Zorn76]

Well said, c-bob. And I'm glad he came away with a SB ring before this decision had to be made.

Who knows, maybe he ends up coming back.

North - I would say being a champ makes possibly landing in Jax a whole lot easier, lol.

[HumanCockroach]

I could definitely see Red being wooed by teams like Pittsburgh, or Denver, Jacksonville, and I would bet NE still has interest as he was seriously tempted by them before Seattle resigned him. Who knows though? I think some of these guys are going to be surprised how little they are valued by other teams once out in the open market. Red will be signed somewhere ( please not SF) and I hope he makes as much money for himself as he can, and has quite a bit of success doing so, but paying a part time DE with no discernible pass rushing skill that much, simply does not make much sense from a dollar standpoint. It really boils down to a choice between Bennett and Red, which sucks and all, but it is part of the business.

[jshawaii22]

Bob,
Who is "Alex Marvez"? and who is the ' team source' -- I'd sure like to hear it from a 'real' source, but they sometimes come true.

PFT ran with this without any source. Used the term "dumped"... which I think is real nasty of them. Red did us all proud! Led our D this year.

Sidney... if we 'dumped' him, that would probably by OK. I earlier surmised that we would need 20+m in salary cap to sign Earl and Bennett with Houschka in the mix, too and well as one of the McD twins (or both, we can hope)

Although it would be nice to think they are related stories, The unfortunate truth is also there is no guarantee that we will re-sign Bennett. Maybe he wants to play with his brother. However, it sure would seem to me that other free agents... like Allen in Minny, wouldn't be a bad 2nd options. I see us being an option for a lot of FA's this year.

js

[RiverDog]

Unless I am mistaken, Red was one of only 3 holdovers (the others being Unger and Mebane) from the previous regime. Glad he got his ring. He may end up right back here, it's just that the economics of his contract didn't make sense. He's a one dimensional 5 tech DE, great against the run but a sloth against the pass.

Rice was the easiest of those subject to getting cut, then Big Red was the second easiest. Miller is going to be a little tougher decision. If he goes, it would be an indication that the FO is looking to resign both Earl and Sherman this season.

[Eaglehawk]

Thought Miller would be the next shoe to drop. It was Red instead.

[kalibane]

I was hoping Red would be restructured at a much lower number. I still think he's important against teams committed to the run and he's a leader in the locker room. More important than Rice, Miller or even Clemons (who I think could be replaced in the same way they got Bennett and Avril) at this point.

[monkey]

Alex Marvez ‏@alexmarvez 18m
Source tells @FOXSports1 @Seahawks expected 2 release DE Red Bryant & hope 2 use cap space toward new contract 4 pending UFA Michael Bennett

Red was a rock and will be missed against run dominant teams, but our NASCAR package has become our most effective rotation and Reds cap number has become hard to justify.

Again, maybe we see him back at a more manageable price (though at 29 I doubt it, someone's gonna pay him).

Either way; love ya Red!, best of luck with whatever comes next.

Couldn't agree more.
While the team can probably replace his numbers for a lot less cost, it's going to be VERY hard, maybe impossible, to replace his leadership.

[Eaglehawk]

I was hoping Red would be restructured at a much lower number. I still think he's important against teams committed to the run and he's a leader in the locker room. More important than Rice, Miller or even Clemons (who I think could be replaced in the same way they got Bennett and Avril) at this point.

Agreed Kalibane, this is what I will miss the most about him.

[wait_a_sec]

Dang man. Love his presence. Best of luck to him wherever he goes. Which is hopefully back here.

[Distant Relative]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap200000 ... red-bryant

[briwas101]

If it makes you guys feel better, the Seahawks got ran on more times per game this season and we gave up even less total yards on the ground than in 2012, and we did this while reducing Red's snaps.

This in no way indicates that we are actually better without him (especially because he still played over 40% of snaps) but it shows that we can add talent elsewhere and improve our pass rush without HURTING our run defense.

I think you guys are going to miss him a lot less than you think.

[SalmonBB]

I knew we were going to let some folks go, but this one is tough. Hoping Red might return at a lower cost, but I doubt it will happen.

Thanks, Red!

GO SEAHAWKS!!! WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!

[EntiatHawk]

I think many of us saw this coming. We will see more of this as the Hawks maneuver to lock up their key components. Also I expect an influx of younger cheaper talent as PC/JS mine the talent pool for the hidden gems.

[Hawk Sista]

I heard Alex Marvez say that. Sucks. (Marvez is an analyst on Sirius NFL - don't question Bob's sources w/ that tone, young man).

I understand that football is a business. But I love Red. His country interviews.... "Eeeet wuz a guuuud team weeen, a guuuuud gaayme" were epic. Plus, 40% of the snaps or 60, he is a mean run-stuffer. He sets the tone, IMHO, against the run w/ unique size and talent. I don't think he's as easy to replace as some think.

I do, however, trust in the process. If he is gone - THANK you, big fella. You've been a favorite.

[NorthHawk]

Its Official.
Red and Rice have been cut.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... dney-rice/

From the article:
“We want to thank both Red and Sidney for their effort, commitment and contribution to the Seattle Seahawks over the last few years,” executive vice president/General Manager John Schneider said in a release fromt he team. “These are extremely tough decisions, but we wanted to give them a head start on free agency. We wish them well in the future.”

[c_hawkbob]

Its Official.
Red and Rice have been cut.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... dney-rice/

From the article:
“We want to thank both Red and Sidney for their effort, commitment and contribution to the Seattle Seahawks over the last few years,” executive vice president/General Manager John Schneider said in a release fromt he team. “These are extremely tough decisions, but we wanted to give them a head start on free agency. We wish them well in the future.”

So bummed about Red, but I understand it.

[4XPIPS]

I certainly can agree letting Rice go and Red for cap reasons. However I was a bit miffed why there wasn't at least an offer to Red to stay and finish his career here in the Pacific NW at a reduced cost. A cut and sign deal.

Let's keep in mind he is a big part of a run D, he is a Defensive Team Captain. He does play less snaps, and probably will continue to play less snaps next few seasons. However why not throw a 3 year 14 mil contract at him and try and keep him. I just think he still is a big part of Defense.

[RiverDog]

I certainly can agree letting Rice go and Red for cap reasons. However I was a bit miffed why there wasn't at least an offer to Red to stay and finish his career here in the Pacific NW at a reduced cost. A cut and sign deal.

Let's keep in mind he is a big part of a run D, he is a Defensive Team Captain. He does play less snaps, and probably will continue to play less snaps next few seasons. However why not throw a 3 year 14 mil contract at him and try and keep him. I just think he still is a big part of Defense.

How do you know that we didn't make an offer?

Cutting him early like this permits Red the opportunity to see if he can catch on with another team if his priority in the waning years of his career is maximizing his income. I'm sure he'd be welcomed back with open arms for the right price.

[HumanCockroach]

I certainly can agree letting Rice go and Red for cap reasons. However I was a bit miffed why there wasn't at least an offer to Red to stay and finish his career here in the Pacific NW at a reduced cost. A cut and sign deal.

Let's keep in mind he is a big part of a run D, he is a Defensive Team Captain. He does play less snaps, and probably will continue to play less snaps next few seasons. However why not throw a 3 year 14 mil contract at him and try and keep him. I just think he still is a big part of Defense.

As much as I like/liked Red, ultimately it is about choices, IMO the choice was between Red and Bennett, and IMO they made the right choice. I don't feel like Red plus 1 million or less in cap relief minus Bennett is worth it at this juncture. Red will test the open market, and IMHO that "big" contract will not be there for him, a good one most certainly, but a big one I kind of doubt it. Nothing says Seattle can't resign the man should they choose to, but before a market is set for the guy, there is little way to know what the market is, for a "unique" system oriented 330 pound D end with no pass rushing ability.

[Seahawks4Ever]

There was no way players like Red, Clemons, and Miller were going to take less money just to stay here, no matter how much some of us wished it to be.

There will be teams that will be willing to pay all 3 of those players what they want so why should they take less to stay here for less? To get another ring? I don't think so. We will want younger hungrier players with more upside who cost the team less in salary cap space. I don't know why some fall in to wishful thing mode when they should be thinking practical and logical.

[NorthHawk]

There was no way players like Red, Clemons, and Miller were going to take less money just to stay here, no matter how much some of us wished it to be.

There will be teams that will be willing to pay all 3 of those players what they want so why should they take less to stay here for less? To get another ring? I don't think so. We will want younger hungrier players with more upside who cost the team less in salary cap space. I don't know why some fall in to wishful thing mode when they should be thinking practical and logical.

Because we aren't Vulcans like you, Mr Spock.
(you green blooded hob goblin!)

All seriousness aside, you are right about how they built this team and it will be interesting to see if they keep to the same program as the plan matures.