Seahawks Blog
Danny O'Neil covers the Seahawks for The Seattle Times.
Blog Home
|
E-mail Danny |
Subscribe |
Twitter feed|
Seahawks forum
July 2, 2009 at 11:55 AM
The bottom line
Posted by Danny O'Neil
No one can accuse Seahawks owner Paul Allen of having alligator arms when it comes to reaching for his wallet.
Only the Cowboys spent more money on player salaries in the five-season period from 2004-2008, according to totals the management council made available to a reporter for the league's official Web site:
| Rank | Team | Millions | Rank | Team | Millions | Rank | Team | Millions | Rank | Team | Millions | |||
| No. 1 | Dallas | $566.89 | No. 9 | Carolina | $516.09 | No. 17 | St. Louis | $502.08 | No. 25 | San Diego | $485.46 | |||
| No. 2 | Seattle | $552.42 | No. 10 | Pats | $513.31 | No. 18 | Miami | $500.56 | No. 26 | Denver | $485.40 | |||
| No. 3 | Washington | $547.37 | No. 11 | Oakland | $513.21 | No. 19 | Giants | $497.63 | No. 27 | Buffalo | $493.71 | |||
| No. 4 | Indianapolis | $532.77 | No. 12 | Ravens | $507.05 | No. 20 | Eagles | $495.75 | No. 28 | Jags | $480.06 | |||
| No. 5 | Minnesota | $526.87 | No. 13 | Browns | $506.43 | No. 21 | Chicago | $495.57 | No. 29 | Titans | $465.29 | |||
| No. 6 | Houston | $522.23 | No. 14 | Ariz. | $505.30 | No. 22 | Atlanta | $493.07 | No. 30 | Packers | $457.16 | |||
| No. 7 | Saints | $518.49 | No. 15 | Detroit | $505.04 | No. 23 | Cincinnati | $491.06 | No. 31 | Chiefs | $451.58 | |||
| No. 8 | Pittsburgh | $516.69 | No. 16 | N.Y. Jets | $502.53 | No. 24 | 49ers | $486.40 | No. 32 | Bucs | $449.00 | |||
| *Source: Jason La Canfora, NFL.com | ||||||||||||||
Now, this brings up some interesting questions. The NFL has a hard cap, called that because teams are not allowed to exceed it. That doesn't mean the teams spend that money, equally, though. That's certainly going to be a point of contention going forward for the players' union.
But what the totals allow us to do is also look at who gets the most for their money, too, asking how much a team paid per victory.
Over the past five seasons, the average cost of a victory in terms of money paid out was $12.57 million. The Seahawks spent $12.27 million for every game they won, which is as close as it gets to average in the NFL.
Now, we'll be doing more with these numbers going ahead, but for now, take a look at how much teams spent in player salaries and bonuses per victory from 2004-2008:
| Rank | Team | Millions spent | Wins | Millions per win | Rank | Team | Millions spent | Wins | Millions per win | |
| No. 1 | New England | $513.31 | 63 | $8.15 | No. 17 | Dallas | $566.89 | 46 | $12.32 | |
| No. 2 | Indianapolis | $532.77 | 63 | $8.46 | No. 18 | Minnesota | $526.87 | 41 | $12.85 | |
| No. 3 | San Diego | $485.46 | 54 | $8.99 | No. 19 | Cincinnati | $491.06 | 38 | $12.92 | |
| No. 4 | Pittsburgh | $516.69 | 56 | $9.23 | No. 20 | N.Y. Jets | $502.53 | 37 | $13.58 | |
| No. 5 | Denver | $485.4 | 47 | $10.33 | No. 21 | Buffalo | $493.71 | 35 | $14.11 | |
| No. 6 | N.Y. Giants | $497.63 | 47 | $10.59 | No. 22 | Kansas City | $451.58 | 41 | $14.11 | |
| No. 7 | Jacksonville | $480.06 | 45 | $10.67 | No. 23 | New Orleans | $518.49 | 36 | $14.40 | |
| No. 8 | Philadelphia | $495.75 | 46 | $10.78 | No. 24 | Washington | $547.37 | 38 | $14.40 | |
| No. 9 | Chicago | $495.57 | 45 | $11.01 | No. 25 | Arizona | $505.3 | 33 | $15.31 | |
| No. 10 | Green Bay | $457.16 | 41 | $11.15 | No. 26 | Miami | $500.56 | 31 | $16.15 | |
| No. 11 | Carolina | $516.09 | 45 | $11.47 | No. 27 | Houston | $522.23 | 31 | $16.85 | |
| No. 12 | Baltimore | $507.05 | 44 | $11.52 | No. 28 | Cleveland | $506.43 | 28 | $18.09 | |
| No. 13 | Tennessee | $465.29 | 40 | $11.63 | No. 29 | St. Louis | $502.08 | 27 | $18.60 | |
| No. 14 | Tampa Bay | $449 | 38 | $11.82 | No. 30 | San Francisco | $486.4 | 25 | $19.46 | |
| No. 15 | Atlanta | $493.07 | 41 | $12.03 | No. 31 | Detroit | $505.04 | 21 | $24.05 | No. 16 | Seattle | $552.42 | 45 | $12.28 | No. 32 | Oakland | $513.21 | 20 | $25.66 |
Comments (3)
E-mail article
Print view
Share
June 30, 2009 at 1:11 PM
Practice attendance protocol
Posted by Danny O'Neil
| To attend a Seahawks training-camp practice:
Step 1: Registration You must register to attend on the team's Web site, www.seahawks.com. Registration begins on July 16 at 10 a.m., and practice dates and times will be available then. Practice attendance is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Step 2: Parking and transportation There is no parking available at the team's headquarters. Parking and transportation are provided from The Landing in Renton. There will be a check-in for practice attendees in the south lot near Fry's and Target where practice passes and transportation vouchers will be received. The cost of transportation is $5 per person. |
The Seahawks will open their training camp to the public for 14 practices at the team's lakeside headquarters in Renton during August.
The open practices begin on Aug. 3 and conclude on Aug. 20.
The protocol for attending the practices begins with online registration on the team's Web site, which begins at 10 a.m. on July 16. Registration is first come. Practice times and busing schedules will be posted on the Web site.
Fans attending an open practice check in at The Landing, a shopping center in Renton. There is a $5 transportation fee per person.
In addition to the open practices at the team's Renton headquarters, the Seahawks will hold two open practices at University of Washington on Aug. 7 and Aug. 18. Parking is available on campus for those workouts.
Comments (9)
E-mail article
Print view
Share
June 29, 2009 at 12:37 PM
"Yes, I'll have two Houshmandzadehs and a side order of baked Hasselbeck"
Posted by Danny O'Neil
Need a Morning-afternoon laugh? This made me chuckle: Houshmandzadeh enjoys ordering the Houshmandzadeh just to see what the waiter brings.
Be forewarned. This is The Onion Sports Network, which means satirical and fictional. It made me laugh, though. Thanks to reader David Prothero for pointing it out.
Comments (2)
E-mail article
Print view
Share
June 26, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Raiders flying high?
Posted by Danny O'Neil
The Oakland Raiders have a new sponsor: AirAsia.
The sponsorship includes a Raiders-branded Airbus A340, which has been dubbed Xcellence. The deal was struck to promote AirAsia's brand in the United States, and it includes an online contest in which students will be chosen randomly to receive tickets to Raiders' game.
Here's a photo of the Raiders-branded plane. Feel free to submit your own caption:

Comments (23)
E-mail article
Print view
Share
June 26, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Talking loud, saying something?
Posted by Danny O'Neil
T.J. Houshmandzadeh cited some big numbers with some big words in an article in The Sporting News, according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com. Here's a link to the story.
"I just want to let everyone know that Matt Hasselbeck and I will be leading the Seahawks to the playoffs this season. And we'll be going to the Pro Bowl as a tandem. We're both going to have top five seasons: He'll have a top five quarterback season, and I'll have a top five receiving season. I'll put up stats I've never had before yardswise because they're allowing me to be a complete receiver."
T.J. Houshmandzadeh in The Sporting News
Comments (17)
E-mail article
Print view
Share
June 25, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Statement from Black Diamond Police Department
Posted by Danny O'Neil
Here is the text of the announcement made by the Black Diamond Police Department:
On 6/20/09, the Black Diamond Police Department arrested Owen Schmitt on suspicion of driving under the influence after an officer observed him weaving on the roadway and following too close. After initiating a traffic stop on the vehicle, the officer noticed several signs of intoxication including the smell of alcohol. After failing field sobriety tests, he was arrested and processed for driving under the influence. Schmitt's breath alcohol results were over the .08 legal limit.
Comments (7)
E-mail article
Print view
Share
June 25, 2009 at 11:31 AM
FB Owen Schmitt arrested Saturday on suspicion of DUI
Posted by Danny O'Neil
Fullback Owen Schmitt was arrested on Saturday in Black Diamond, Wa. There was no accident. His blood-alcohol content was measured at 0.151 and 0.161 according to Washington State Patrol records.
Here is a link to the news story.
The team is aware of the situation, and Schmit released a statement through the Seahawks.
"I sincerely apologize to the team, the NFL, the fans and my family and friends for my actions and my poor judgment. I fully understand the seriousness of this matter, and I am disappointed in myself. I am committed to earning back the trust of everyone affected."
-- Owen Schmitt, June 25
A postscript to those asking about the specifics of the reporting: The story was in the process of going through the layers of editors at the time the headline of Schmitt's arrest was posted. The specifics of when and where had been nailed down, but I didn't feel comfortable posting an unedited news story on the blog.
Comments (20)
E-mail article
Print view
Share
June 23, 2009 at 3:38 PM
The Seahawks power rankings
Posted by Danny O'Neil
The 15 most important Seahawks to the upcoming season:
| 1. | Matt Hasselbeck | Can't split hairs with baldy. He's the single most important person. |
| 2. | Patrick Kerney | Since he arrived in 2007, Seattle averaged 2.8 sacks when he plays, 1.8 when he doesn't. |
| 3. | Walter Jones | He has been the gold standard at left tackle for nearly a decade now. Will he be back to Pro Bowl form after microfracture surgery? |
| 4. | T.J. Houshmandzadeh | Tim Ruskell has been GM for four years, Houshmandzadeh is the third high-priced veteran receiver the Seahawks have signed. |
| 5. | Lofa Tatupu | Overlooked and underestimated coming out of high school and entering the NFL Draft, how does he bounce back from his first NFL season that could be characterized as a disappointment? |
| 6. | John Carlson | Led the team in receptions as a rookie, and if you're looking for a breakout Pro Bowler this season, he might be it. |
| 7. | Sean Locklear | The Seahawks re-signed him in 2008 with the hope he would be Walter Jones' successor at left tackle, but he sure didn't look like someone ready for that role last season. |
| 8. | Marcus Trufant | This corner is the most stable piece of the secondary. Can he return to the Pro Bowl form of 2007? |
| 9. | Brandon Mebane | With a shift to full-time three-technique, he's the potential breakout star on Seattle's defensive line. |
| 10. | Julius Jones | He was signed in 2008 with an eye toward the eventual transition to Greg Knapp's offense. After splitting time with Maurice Morris, can Jones show why the Seahawks thought he'd be a good fit? |
| 11. | Aaron Curry | Perhaps he should be higher, but he is the safest rookie in the league, someone who is expected to be good and who will be good. |
| 12. | Ken Lucas | The most significant addition to secondary that allowed more passing yards than any time last season. |
| 13. | Brian Russell | Some were surprised Seattle didn't upgrade at this spot on defense. Can Russell reward that faith? |
| 14. | Deon Butler | It's Butler -- not Branch -- who is most likely to be the X factor for the offense this year. |
| 15. | Lawrence Jackson | As a rookie, Jackson never provided the pass-rush presence the Seahawks wanted. Can he get his motor revving higher as a sophomore? |
| 16. | Max Unger | A flexible player who provides insurance at left guard as Mike Wahle comes back from shoulder surgery and who could press Chris Spencer for playing time at center. |
Note: The original version of this omitted No. 6 John Carlson due to formatting error in the HTML table. Thanks to the readers who pointed out his sizeable absence.
Comments (28)
E-mail article
Print view
Share
More from this blog

shopping

events for Saturday, Jul. 4th
- REI Summer Sale and Clearance
- Kuhlman Summer Sale
- Pacific Fabrics and Crafts One-Day Sale
- Click! Design That Fits July 4th Sale
editors' picks
More shopping guides
- Palin resignation leaves questions on 2012 run
- Yakima teacher reprimanded for sending 5-year-old student home with bag of feces in backpack
- Fire sends service providers scrambling
- 6 jurors swear a cop's wife swayed panel in Kent civil rights case
- Going to Gas Works Park? Good luck
- Bicyclist killed Wednesday night is identified
- Powerful sedative found in Michael Jackson's home
- Rob Johnson's double in 11th powers Mariners past Red Sox, 7-6
- Woman accuses Sounders FC player Nate Jaqua of sexual assault, seeks more than $10 million
- Mariners Blog | Mariners, Angels have serious trade deadline advantage over Texas Rangers
- Palin resigning as Alaska governor
631 - Seattle Mariners at Boston Red Sox: 07/04 game thread
343 - Yakima teacher reprimanded for backpack feces
91 - Recession wipes out 9 years of job gains
89 - 6 jurors swear a cop's wife swayed panel in Kent civil rights case
81 - Woman accuses Sounders FC player Nate Jaqua of sexual assault, seeks more than $10 million
71 - Global warming may impede eelgrass growth
67 - Anti-illegal immigration initiative falls short
55 - Rob Johnson ties a club record as Mariners win 7-6 in 11 innings
54 - Palin's Declaration of Independence
49
- Going to Gas Works Park? Good luck
- Liven up Fremont's attempt to break a world record for a 'zombie walk'
- Lynnwood's City Bank gets tighter scrutiny
- Plasma and LED beware; OLED screens ready to go mainstream
- Retail Report | Pet-supply shops grow while other retailers fade
- Yakima teacher reprimanded for sending 5-year-old student home with bag of feces in backpack
- Fire sends service providers scrambling
- Oregon woman obsessed with rabbits back in jail
- Palin resignation leaves questions on 2012 run
- Merchant Marine veterans fight for recognition



