Notebook | Seahawks connection will be all in the family for draft pick Red Bryant

KIRKLAND — Red Bryant will be joining Jacob Green's family in February when he marries the former Seahawk's daughter Janelle.

First, he became part of Green's first franchise.

Bryant was at his future father-in-law's home on Sunday when he got the call from Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren to say the Seahawks were selecting Bryant, a defensive tackle from Texas A&M, with their fourth-round pick (No. 121 overall).

"I'm so thrilled that Seattle evaluated me and felt like they could use me," Bryant said. "I'm going to make good on it."

Like Bryant, Green went to Texas A&M. The Seahawks chose Green in the first round of the 1979 draft with the 10th overall pick. He's Seattle's career leader in sacks and part of the franchise's Ring of Honor. That made Bryant's NFL destination more meaningful, for him and his future father-in-law.

Green said: "It's a very emotional day for me and for him and my family. I thought I got drafted today, I really did. This is just as good as a first-round pick today."

Bryant's given name is Joseph, but his mother has called him Red since he was a baby. He's a big-bodied tackle with an easygoing demeanor.

"He'll talk to you all day," said John Marshall, Seattle's defensive coordinator. "He's a breath of fresh air and I believe, with him, that defensive meeting room won't be the same."

Bryant doesn't come from a wealthy background, and he also copes with a learning disability. Bryant earned his degree from Texas A&M in December.

"He's really kind of a self-made guy," said Ruston Webster, Seattle's vice president of personnel. "From that standpoint, it did impress us. You just like the guy. He comes across really well."

Well, he's also 6-foot-4, 318 pounds, which helps, and if the Seahawks need someone to give an extra motivational push, they can just dial up the man whose family he's joining.

"I've already used that one on him," Marshall said. "I said, 'We've got Jacob's phone number.' "

Marshall's state of the defense

Defensive coordinator John Marshall discussed the situations of certain players heading into the team's first offseason minicamp Friday.

One was defensive end Baraka Atkins, a fourth-round pick last season who figures to fall in the depth chart with the drafting of Lawrence Jackson in the first round.

Seattle's backup linebacker situation, for now, is such that there is no true No. 2 middle linebacker behind Lofa Tatupu. The best candidate currently on the roster is veteran D.D. Lewis, who can play all three positions.

Marshall is looking for the Seahawks' veterans to take another step in their development, including third-year cornerback Kelly Jennings, a starter.

Brink goes to Houston

Former Washington State quarterback Alex Brink was the only state college player to be chosen in the draft. He went to the Houston Texans in the seventh round, the 223rd overall pick. The one local pick was the fewest since 1940, when Washington's Don Jones went to Philadelphia.

Note

• Seattle signed 12 undrafted college free agents, including Washington WR Anthony Russo and Washington State WR Michael Bumpus. The others are S Jamar Adams (Michigan), CB Donovan Alexander (North Dakota), WR Travis Brown (New Mexico), LB Matt Castelo (San Jose State), G Dustin Dickinson (Houston), CB DeMichael Dizer (Grambling), LB David Hawthorne (TCU), S Kelin Johnson (Georgia), OT William Robinson (San Diego State) and S Eric Wicks (West Virginia).

• Western Washington linebacker Shane Simmons (Kentlake) signed a free-agent contract with Oakland. UW RB Louis Rankin agreed with Oakland, according to NFLDraftbible.com. WSU DB Husain Abdullah agreed with Minnesota, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Boise State OT Dan Gore (Prosser) agreed to a free-agent deal with Miami.

The Yakima Herald-Republic and sports-information reports contributed to this report.