Notebook: Seahawks deny interest in Shockey

KIRKLAND -- Could Jeremy Shockey be the answer to the Seahawks' need for a tight end?

No, the club said Wednesday, after the New York Daily News reported that the Seahawks are among the teams interesting in trading for the Giants' disgruntled tight end.

The Seahawks quickly dismissed the report, saying they have no serious interest in the four-time Pro Bowler, who sat out the Giants' run to the Super Bowl after breaking his leg in Week 15 of the regular season.

The Seahawks plan to address the tight end position in the NFL draft this weekend.

The Giants are not actively trying to trade Shockey, 27, the Daily News reported, but the paper also said some in the organization are convinced he will be traded before the first day of the draft has been completed.

The New Orleans Saints are interested in acquiring Shockey, who has been telling friends he wants to go to the Saints to be reunited with Sean Payton, the Giants' former offensive coordinator who is now New Orleans' head coach.

Shockey also is looking to rework his contract, the paper reported, even though there are four years remaining on the five-year, $26.38 million extension he signed in 2005.

HAWK TALK: The Seahawks decided against designating running back Shaun Alexander a post-June 1 release, so they will absorb the entire $6.9 million salary-cap hit this year from the proration of his $11.5 million signing bonus. A post-June 1 designation would have allowed the Seahawks to spread the hit over two years -- $2.3 million this year and $4.6 million in 2009. As club president Tim Ruskell said Tuesday, after Alexander was released, "Whether we keep the money here or push it downstream would have no effect on what we're trying to do."