Kerney becomes Seahawk

Defensive end Patrick Kerney left Seahawks headquarters Monday afternoon to return to Atlanta.

He decided he was coming back to Seattle before the night ended, agreeing to a six-year contract with the Seahawks.

The total value of the contract is $39.5 million and $19.5 million is guaranteed. Richard Rosa, one of Kerney's agents, confirmed the deal.

Kerney was one of the NFL's most prominent unrestricted free agents, and he chose Seattle ahead of Denver, which also pursued him. The Seahawks did not confirm the agreement Monday night, but team policy is to await the final contract signing before an announcement is made. He will be Seattle's first free-agent addition from another team this season.

Addressing the defensive line was one of the Seahawks' priorities in free agency, and Kerney gives Seattle a proven pass-rusher off the edge of the line. None of Seattle's defensive linemen had more than four sacks last season.

Kerney had 13 sacks for Atlanta in 2004 when the Falcons reached the NFC Championship Game. He will be entering his ninth year in the NFL. He did not miss a game until last season when he suffered a torn pectoral muscle and sat out the last seven games.

Kerney, 30, had two years remaining on his contract in Atlanta, but he voided them to become an unrestricted free agent.

Kerney visited Denver before coming to Seattle on Saturday evening.

"I felt like I had a slightly better chance to win a Super Bowl with Seattle," Kerney told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution after agreeing to the deal.

His addition means the Seahawks won the first of two head-to-head battles against the Broncos in free agency.

The second involves tight end Daniel Graham, who was also visiting the Seahawks on Monday. Graham began his free-agent tour in Denver on Friday before going to Oakland and then coming to Seattle. He attended high school in Denver and went to college in Colorado.

Contract discussions with Graham's representatives were expected to begin this morning now that negotiations with Kerney are over.

Kerney's last three seasons in Atlanta were under Jim Mora, who is now the Seahawks assistant head coach and in charge of the secondary. Seahawks president Tim Ruskell is also familiar with Kerney. Ruskell served as the Falcons' assistant general manager in 2004.

Rosa, who represents Kerney along with Tony Agnone, said Kerney also had a great deal of respect for what coach Mike Holmgren has established since coming to Seattle.

"He really felt strongly that he would fit in well," Rosa said, "and that he could be part of winning a championship."

The Seahawks lost out on their first target after Kris Dielman instructed his agent to get him re-signed with San Diego on Saturday. On Monday, the Seahawks added a pass rusher who left town and very quickly decided that he would be coming back.

NOTES

• Seattle announced backup FB Josh Parry and reserve TE Will Heller each signed multi-year contracts.

• Cooper Carlisle, a guard from Denver, visited the Seahawks and is scheduled to leave today.

• Sean Mahan, a guard from Tampa Bay, was scheduled to arrive in Seattle on Monday night after finishing a visit in Cleveland.

• Deon Grant, safety from Jacksonville, was expected to arrive in Seattle on Monday night to begin a free-agent visit today.