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Tuesday, March 18, 2003
Seahawks/NFL Beat: Hawks won't rush to spend on any DE
KIRKLAND -- Mike Reinfeldt is feeling a bit soiled.
That will happen when you've just been played, which is what happened to the Seahawks in their negotiations with the agent for Hugh Douglas.
But Reinfeldt, Seahawks senior vice president, resident capologist and chief contract negotiator, was playing the free-agent game -- where agents swear they would never shop an offer from one team in an attempt to get more from another, and then do just that.
The negotiations for Douglas, the most-coveted defensive end in free agency and the one player the Seahawks really wanted, were a prime example.
The five-year, $27.11 million contract Douglas signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday was a slightly tweaked version of the offer the Seahawks made late last week.
The Jaguars gave Douglas a $6 million signing bonus. The Seahawks had offered $5 million to sign, with another $1 million guaranteed next year.
The "real" deal likely will turn out to be either two years for $10.11 million or three years for $15.11 million because the base salaries jump to $5.5 million in 2006 and $6 million in 2007 -- when Douglas will be on the wrong side of 35 and the downhill side of his productive career.
The Seahawks also were offering all this, but Douglas wanted more -- items the Seahawks could not offer or match.
That's how the Jaguars made the leap from dark horse to derby winner in a matter of hours late Friday afternoon.
"Jacksonville was definitively an underdog, a Rocky-type. But hey, this is America," said Drew Rosenhaus, Douglas' agent. "Rocky beat Apollo Creed. That's how it went down."
The Seahawks went down, in part, because Rosenhaus prodded the Jaguars into matching Seattle's offer. But the bottom line remains obvious: Douglas was not going to sign with the Seahawks because he did not want to play in Seattle.
This became apparent when Rosenhaus was asked Douglas' reasons for selecting the Jaguars -- a list that started with the contract and also included playing home games on a grass field, location (or to be more precise, proximity to his off-season home in Atlanta), good weather and cost of living.
Despite breaking all but even in regards to the first factor, the Seahawks came up short in the other four.
Also left on the outside looking in by Douglas' sudden decision were the Kansas City Chiefs, who had offered an average of $3.3 million on a three-year deal; and Douglas' former team, the Philadelphia Eagles, which dropped out of the bidding Friday with a two-year, $8 million offer on the table that included a $5 million signing bonus.
The Seahawks and Eagles shrugged, offering the expected, "Well, we gave it our best shot."
But Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil revealed what was on everyone's mind when he said, "This is very disappointing. This was the guy we wanted. There's nobody else available in free agency or the draft that can rush the passer like this guy can."
Which is why the Seahawks were so willing to climb out on a salary-cap limb in an attempt to acquire Douglas. He is the one player who could have provided relentless pressure from the right side of the defensive line that the Seahawks have been seeking since Michael McCrary jumped to the Baltimore Ravens in free agency after the 1996 season.
Where does this leave the Seahawks in their pursuit of pressure?
Vonnie Holliday is the logical place to start. The free agent from the Green Bay Packers approached giddiness during his visit two weeks ago while discussing his desire to be reunited with defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes and head coach Mike Holmgren, whom he played under when both were coaching in Green Bay.
Holliday kept the Arizona Cardinals on hold while waiting for Douglas to find a new home.
But Holliday doesn't fit as well as Douglas. He is four years younger and a better player against the run, but he's also better suited to lining up at left end -- a position that already has been filled with the decision to move recently re-signed Antonio Cochran from the right side.
Also, The Seahawks aren't going to offer Holliday anything close to what they were willing to give Douglas, or even the $4 million a year the Cardinals are believed to be offering.
They haven't slammed the door on Holliday. The Seahawks would sign him, for the right price.
But if not Holliday, who?
Other options start with Anton Palepoi, a second-round draft choice last year. There is enough depth in this year's draft pool that the Seahawks could get a pass-rushing end in the second or even third round.
The Seahawks cannot -- and will not -- throw money at a player who might fit or could get the job done.
They did it with Hugh Douglas, but that was different -- because he is different.
P-I reporter Clare Farnsworth can be reached at 206-448-8016 or clarefarnsworth@seattlepi.com
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