Marquand Manuel's agent denies deal with Packers

A report that Seahawks free safety Marquand Manuel is expected to sign with the Green Bay Packers when the NFL free-agency period starts is false, Manuel's agent said Tuesday.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, citing sources close to the situation, reported Tuesday that Manuel was prepared to sign with the Packers soon after he becomes a free agent. The Journal Sentinel reported the agreement is for five years and $10 million, including a $2 million signing bonus.

"The report is not true," Manuel's agent, Neil Schwartz, said. "It's tampering. We'll go to free agency and keep open the lines of communication."

Free agency — delayed twice while the union and NFL negotiate a new collective-bargaining agreement — is set to begin at 9:01 p.m. Wednesday.

If the Packers and Manuel have discussed a contract, the league could charge Green Bay with tampering because teams can't talk to players from other teams until their contracts expire or they are released.

The Seahawks had not been notified of the Packers' reported deal for Manuel and wouldn't comment. Team president Tim Ruskell and CEO Tod Leiweke were in Dallas on Tuesday representing Seahawks owner Paul Allen at the league meeting to discuss the union's proposal for a new CBA.

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren has said he would like to re-sign Manuel, and Ruskell said Monday that he would like to keep the core of the team together.

Manuel would have to be considered part of that core. His on-field leadership was perhaps as important as his play in place of Ken Hamlin, the starting free safety who was lost to injury after the sixth game last season.

Manuel, who just completed his fourth NFL season, had 67 tackles in 2005. Claimed off waivers from the Cincinnati Bengals before the 2004 season, Manuel has started 10 of the 31 regular-season games he has played with the Seahawks, and he started all three postseason games last season.

"They've left open the door for Marquand Manuel to return," Schwartz said of Ruskell and lead contract negotiator Mike Reinfeldt. "They've been gracious."

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com