SEAHAWKS: Jackson and Chiefs come to terms, Curry's deal could come soon

Curry's deal could be next.

John Clayton of ESPN reports that the Chiefs' no. 3 pick Tyson Jackson will ink a five-year $57 million deal.

The deal gives Seattle a clear mark for which to judge Aaron Curry's market value, since Jackson, who was selected one pick before Curry, is also a defensive player.

Curry has been in a contract holdout for more than a week now, but a deal between the two sides could occur any day now that Jackson's deal is in. Now he's in Seattle and hopefully getting ready to join his teammates in Renton.

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Curry's agent and Seattle's front office have reportedly been waiting on Jackson to ink a deal in order to better assess Curry's value in the market.

No. 5 pick QB Mark Sanchez had signed a bloated QB deal, which didn't necessarily help Seattle slot in the linebacker's contract.

Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS: Breaking news: Spencer carted off field with ankle injury

The medical
staff ruled out
a high ankle
sprain.

Starting center Chris Spencer was carted off the field with an apparent ankle injury during this morning's practice.

The severity of the injury in unknown, but head coach Jim Mora said it did not appear serious, ruling out a high ankle sprain.

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Oftentimes, players are carted off the field as a precaution. Also, what's the purpose of forcing the player to limp hundreds of yards off the practice field to get his injury checked out?

“It doesn’t appear to be anything serious,” Mora said about Spencer’s injury. “Fortunately it wasn’t his knee. Early indications are that it’s not a high ankle sprain. However, until you get the doctors in there examining them and give it some time to settle down you can’t really tell. But hopefully it’s nothing serious.”

Spencer will be a vital component to Seattle's success on the line this season, as he is the only center with full seasons of experience. His offseason workouts had also impressed GM Tim Ruskell, awarding Spencer a "gold star" for his offseason training.

Backup center Steve Vallos filled in when Spencer left the field.

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SEAHAWKS: Redding on his way to becoming Seattle's next Kerney

Will Redding continue following Kerney's career path
now that he's in Seattle?

Cory Redding was part of a surprising trade that sent perennial Pro Bowler Julian Peterson to the woeful Detroit Lions and Redding to the Seahawks. The loss of Peterson may have overshadowed Redding’s arrival, but Redding is sure making his presence felt during training camp.

Redding is coming off a season-ending knee injury, the first major one of his career. He also flashed incredible promise in 2006 with eight sacks at defensive end but floundered along with the rest of Detroit’s unit the following two seasons.

Sound familiar? It should, because Seattle acquired DE Patrick Kerney during an identical career arc.

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Remember how that one turned out? If you need a reminder, Kerney joined Seattle’s defensive unit in 2007 to lead the NFC in sacks with 14.5. Kerney was working at the left defensive end spot, a position that sees ample double teams, but still managed to hustle his way to his second Pro Bowl season.

Redding will be taking over for Kerney at left defensive end, where early reports claim he's been "unblockable."

That's not to say Redding is definitely going to repeat Kerney’s 2007 dominance, but the stars seem to be aligning for the 28-year-old lineman.

Consider these important factors.

Redding has been working alongside one of the worst defensive units in the league (in 2008, they ranked dead last in virtually every important statistic.) Not a lot was different in 2006 when the Lions finished with three wins. Redding had a team high eight sacks that season playing primarily at defensive tackle, which accounted for more than 1/3 of Detroit’s team total.

And consider that, like Kerney, Redding has only sustained one season ending injury in his career and has been healthy through his NFL years, starting every game from 2004-2007.

Also consider that Redding restructured his contract to a measly $2 million, one-year deal. That’s added incentive for Redding to earn a big deal since he’ll be entering free agency the next year.

So can Redding have a Kerney-like season? It doesn’t hurt that he’ll be playing alongside Kerney and Brandon Mebane, who led the Seahawks in sacks as a DT last season, and multiple pass rush threats are all over the defense.

Defensive end Patrick Kerney has been impressed with Redding’s efforts in camp thus far, calling his play “violent.”

“Keeping Cory on the field is what you want to do because he's a dominant player,” Kerney said. “You got a little preview today in pass rush just how violent a guy he is.”

That was Tuesday, but Redding didn’t stop there, continuing to wow onlookers with his relentless pass rush during drills.

And hopefully for Seahawks fans, Redding’s violent play extends into the regular season. If that happens, then Redding may continue to follow in Kerney’s path.

Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SOUNDERS FC: Fredy Montero heading to Colombian national team, but not as planned

Seattle denied Montero an opportunity to play
for the national squad Aug. 7, but Montero will
join the Colombian team Aug. 12. Brett Williams / NSS

The Sounders FC have finally confirmed that Fredy Montero will join his Colombian brethren to play in a friendly international match in New Jersey against Venezuela.

But wasn't Montero supposed to join the national squad today as reported earlier?

Turns out the Sounders FC front office denied Montero the opportunity as the club flies out to Real Salt Lake that day.

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Denying Montero, or any player, the opportunity to play with their national squad can turn into a sticky situation.

However, the problem may have been resolved since Colombia called up Montero for a different date in the U.S.

Montero talked about playing for the national team after scoring two goals against the Red Bulls during Seattle's inaugural match. Comparisons were made between Montero and famed Colombian striker Juan Pablo Angel.

“I certainly have aspirations to make the national team, but it is not a matter of replacing Angel, we know what he has done,” Montero said. “It is more a matter of creating my own history by playing well in the MLS and for the Colombian national team.”

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SEAHAWKS: Branch's size not ideal for a possession WR

Branch's gift at being a possession WR may
also be his curse. He's taken a battering that
his 5-9, 192 lb body hasn't been able to handle.

Seahawks WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh is a good example of a possession receiver. He’s 6-foot-1, 200 pounds and never drops the ball, so he’s often trusted by the offensive coordinator and quarterback to use his size and route-running skills to make tough catches for first downs. And like all possession receivers, Houshmandzadeh isn’t known for his speed.

Seattle has another possession receiver. He’s 5-9, 192, never drops the ball and is tough for his size.

“For his size,” is the key phrase there. Deion Branch, the other possession wide receiver, at 28 years old, has taken such a licking that he hasn’t started a full season in the NFL.

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A blockbuster trade landed him in Seattle in '06, when he missed a few games with a foot injury he sustained early on. That was the pinnacle of Branch’s success with the ‘Hawks – 53 receptions, 725 yards and four touchdowns.

Since then, he’s played 19 of 32 regular season games and his stats have declined.

However, hope is on the horizon for the former Super Bowl MVP, who started training camp healthy.

But the term “healthy” is all relative with Branch, who’s missed the last two practices to rest a sore knee, the same knee on which he tore his ACL two years ago and had arthroscopic surgery on last April.

While it’s understandable the coaching staff wants to rest Branch’s oft-operated knee, the preseason omen is probably a sign of what’s to come.

The fact is Branch is small for a possession wide out. Probably too small. As such he has been so battered and beaten it has become nearly impossible for the talented wide receiver to last a full season.

That’s unfortunate because Branch would level out an extremely talented Seahawks wide receiver corps. WR Nate Burleson is an injury risk too, and the Seahawks will be crossing their fingers for the duo to stay off the IR this season.

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SEAHAWKS: Update: Not so fast - Jackson not signed yet?

Jackson holds the key to Curry's contract.

Reports surfaced earlier today that no. 3 overall pick Tyson Jackson signed with the Chiefs. However, those reports may have been premature, according to ESPN's Bill Williamson.

"...a source close to the situation said that although good progress has been made, the deal is not done," wrote Williamson.

UPDATE: The Kansas City Star reports that Jackson and Kansas City are nearing a deal. However, the insider source told The Star that the two sides have not yet come to terms.

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Jackson's signing will expedite Aaron Curry's contract negotiations because both the no. 3 and no. 5 draft pick's prices will be locked in, making it simple for Seattle to fairly rank Curry's market value.

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MARINERS: Seattle fails sweep attempt in 8-2 loss to Royals

Jason Vargas experienced his worst start of the season, giving up eight runs, seven earned, in seven innings of work.

It was an up-and-down game for him. All eight of the runs came in just two innings, while Vargas was nigh perfect in the other five, surrendering no hits and walking two in them.

The Mariners' only scoring came in the fourth inning off a Mike Sweeney home run and a Jack Wilson sacrifice fly. This was despite 12 hits on the game, three more than the Royals managed.

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Vargas' troubles started early as he gave up five hits and five runs, each being more than half the Royals' totals for the game. The first two runs came off a two-run homer, followed by two doubles to score three more runs.

Royals starting pitcher Bruce Chen earned his first win since 2005, having endured 12-straight losses as a starter.

Adrien Beltre led the way offensively with his best hitting performance since returning from injury. He finished the game going 4-for-4 with one run scored.

The Mariners (56-52) return home now for a 10-game homestand against the Rays, the White Sox and the Yankees.

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SEAHAWKS: Breaking news: No. 3 pick Jackson signs, Curry's value slotted in

No. 3 pick Tyson Jackson signed
with the Chiefs, making it easier
for Seattle and Curry's agent to
come to terms.

The end to Aaron Curry's contract holdout could be in sight after the no. 3 overall pick, Tyson Jackson, signed with the Chiefs today.

Curry's agent and Seattle's front office have reportedly been waiting on Jackson to ink a deal in order to better assess Curry's value in the market.

No. 5 pick QB Mark Sanchez had signed a bloated QB deal, which didn't necessarily help Seattle slot in the linebacker's contract.

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But, as a defensive end, Jackson gives Seattle a more valid price to work with.

Curry has missed the first seven days of camp, which is bad for any rookie, especially one expected to play as prominent a role as Curry.

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SOUNDERS FC: Barcelona match an "emotional high" but team must find focus for Real Salt Lake

Is Lionel Messi the best player in the world? Most Sounders seemed to agree, especially after watching Messi put up two goals in one half.

“Yeah, I think he is," Freddie Ljungberg said. "He’s so quick and just a brilliant player.”

Luckily for Seattle, the loss was a friendly match and the lessons learned will be priceless throughout their careers.

“We can learn a lot of things," head coach Sigi Schmid said. "Young players and old players learned a lot. The game [was an example of] getting the ball to open players and having four options and finishing out the play."

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Barcelona controlled possession for the vast majority of the game with crisp, accurate passing and fast movement on the ball. To drill that point home, Barcelona had 25 shots to Seattle's four, with 11 on goal to Seattle's one.

The match was not only a pleasure for the Sounders but a treat for the fans packing the sold out Qwest Field.

"It shows a lot for our city, the city of Seattle," Schmid said. "I hope our fans are proud of the Sounders and realize what we’re doing here by bringing teams of that caliber here to play. That’s not something everybody gets to do."

While the friendly match against one of the best clubs in the world gave Seattle's players some added knowledge and important experience, the team still has to focus on this week's MLS match against Real Salt Lake on Saturday in Utah.

Seattle gave up four goals last Sunday to the worst team in the Western Conference and needs to rebound to stay in second place, especially with the surging L.A. Galaxy licking at Seattle's heals just a point behind.

Goal keeper Kasey Keller summed up Seattle's concern coming off the friendly.

"For the club, and the city and the players, you don’t pass up these games," Keller said. "The emotional high coming from this game and then going to Salt Lake is what I’m more worried about."

Seattle will look to get back on track coming off it's first loss in six games at 6 p.m. in Sandy Utah this Saturday against Real Salt Lake.

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MARINERS: Column: Don't give up on the M's just yet

Most will agree the Mariners playoff hopes have passed. With 55 games left on the season, they trail the AL West leading Angels by eight games and are currently fourth in the Wild Card race, 6.5 games behind the leader.

But winning in sports isn't a one-year quick fix. It's a multi-year process, and in year one of the Jack Zduriencik era, the 2009 Mariners have plenty to cheer and even more to look forward to in the very near future.

Here are a few reasons why the Mariners should continue to garner your support, both at home and at Safeco, no matter how far behind they fall in the playoff hunt.

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1. Ichiro Suzuki is a flat-out stud
There were plenty of cheers from the fans when "the kid," Ken Griffey Jr. made his triumphant return to Seattle this year. He'll eventually be the first Mariner to reach the Hall of Fame, but fans have another future Hall of Famer to watch, and this one is actually in his prime.

At age 35, he is currently on his way to winning his third batting title, but Ichiro's effect on the field comes in so many more ways. Whether it's with his glove or his legs, he is a pleasure to watch. Players like this don't come along often, if ever, for a franchise, and fans should continue to get their fill while it lasts.

2. Felix Hernandez continues his bid for the Cy Young Award
The Mariners haven't had a pitcher win the Cy Young Award since Randy Johnson did it in 1995. But King Felix is finally living up to the ridiculous expectations set upon him since he first arrived in Seattle five years ago.

In the AL, he currently ranks fourth in ERA, fourth in strikeouts, seventh in WHIP and second in wins. He's doing all this at just 23 years old.

He's only getting better as well. Like with Ichiro, fans should do all they can to witness the ascendancy of this great player, and no matter what the team's record is, people should be filling Safeco every time this guy is on the mound.

3. D-Fence, D-Fence, D-Fence
It's clear Zduriencik came into this season with one goal in mind, fix the Mariners defense. He started by bringing in outfield stalwarts Endy Chavez and Franklin Gutierrez in the offseason. Now, the addition of Jack Wilson at shortstop gives Seattle incredible defense throughout the field.

It's helped the Mariners team ERA, but even more important for the purposes of this article, it's really fun to watch. When Sportscenter shows it's top 10 plays of the week, you don't see home runs and RBI triples, you see diving catches and acrobatic throws to first.

Whether it's Gutierrez making his routine diving catches in outfield (even hurting himself to make a play at one point) or Adrien Beltre acting like a suction cup for balls at third, the Mariners consistently make highlight reel plays that keep them in the game and competitive every time they step on the field.

4. The developing youth
This team is a work in progress. Everyone knew that coming into the season, but somewhere in between that hot start and the AL West lead through the first month, expectations grew to unreasonable sizes.

The fact is the Rangers and Angels are the more talented teams and have been developing such talent for years. The Mariners are just now starting that process.

The big-spending and win-now era of Bill Bavasi stripped the Mariners of a strong farm system, which is vital to winning in the long-term. Zduriencik has helped restock this team with many young players with a few seasoned vets sprinkled in.

Here's the developing players to root for:
Franklin Gutierrez
Michael Saunders
David Aardsma
Luke French
Jason Vargas
Ryan Rowland-Smith
Garrett Olson
"Wolfman" Mark Lowe
OK... pretty much the entire pitching staff is young and talented.

5. They're still winning
Hey, at the end of the day, the M's are still racking up wins and playing competitive, entertaining baseball. If you go to a game, you still have a better than 50-50 chance they'll win, and that's more than you could say about most Mariners teams in the recent past.

Winning is a multi-year process. Don't think of this as one failed season, but hopefully the beginning of an era of successful and playoff bound Mariners baseball, featuring some of the biggest stars in the game today.

And you never know. There's plenty of baseball left to play, and the M's aren't out of it yet. Anything can happen. Just don't expect it.

Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS: Reading the field - Former 'Hawks finding homes elsewhere

Two former Seahawks found alternate homes this week and neither move is exactly ideal, which is normal for free agents in August.

Koren Robinson, who was picked up by Seattle as a free agent last Fall, joined the newly created United Football League.

D.J. Hackett, formerly with the Panthers for one year, signed with the Redskins to compete for a roster spot during training camp.

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Jim Zorn, head coach for the Redskins, was the quarterbacks coach for the Seahawks when Hackett played for the team from 2004-07. Hackett left the Seahawks after an above average season where he even produced in the playoffs and was known for his sure-handedness and joined the Panthers after Seattle refused to offer much money for Hackett. He was largely ineffective in 2008, suffering injury after injury.

"I know the way [Zorn] works and the way he wants things done," Hackett said. "There are a lot of things that came with experience that I can pass on to other players. There are certain routes that are better for bigger receivers. I'm used to the routes that we run."

Koren Robinson joined the Orlando Tuskers of the UFL and will be eligible to play in the NFL again in late November.

Robinson played 12 games with Seattle last season after playing with the Packers and Vikings for a combined three season. Robinson was Seattle's first round selection in 2001, but after numerous legal problems, Seattle let him go.

Shane Simmons
Seattle signed Shane Simmons to compete for a roster spot this year after cutting LB tony Taylor.

Here's a Q&A NSS conducted with Simmons earlier this year.

All the guys are great … a lot of fun.. Really easy to talk to. They’re helping out a whole bunch. I don’t know a heck of a lot yet and I have a lot of questions, so it’s been really good.

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SEAHAWKS: Crabtree threatens to sit out year and re-enter draft in 2010

UPDATE: Crabtree's agent issued a statement denying he made the threat to sit out. Apparently, the threat came from Crabtree's cousin/"advisor."

No matter how bad the Aaron Curry holdout has been, one thing's for sure, it's nowhere near as troublesome as Michael Crabtree's holdout in San Francisco.

After a missing 10 days of training camp, Crabtree's agent, Eugene Parker, has told the 49ers Crabtree is willing to sit out the entire year and re-enter the 2010 NFL Draft if he is not given what he wants.

Heading into the draft, Crabtree was the clear-cut favorite for many 'Hawks fans at the number-four pick. When he fell to the 49ers at 10, he seemed a Godsend but may end up being more trouble than he's worth.

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The problem, reportedly, is Crabtree believes he is better than Darrius Heyward-Bey, the wide receiver taken by the Raiders at seven and subsequently give a deal with $23.5 million guaranteed.

Now Crabtree wants more.

It's continuing the trend amongst NFL draft picks negotiating for money worthy of where they believe they should have been picked, not where they actually were taken. It's a process that threatens to blow up the unwritten rule of pay based on draft slotting.

Now, it's possible this crisis could have been averted had the Seahawks actually taken him at four like many wanted.

But let's not forget the reports before the draft that Crabtree had acted like a diva on a visit to the Cleveland Browns, prompting them to scratch him off their list as the fifth pick.

Crabtree's college coach defended him vehemently at the time, but this threat to sit out seems to support the earlier allegations.

Even if he eventually does get the offer he wants and signs, will the 49ers eventually be faced with another TO or Ochocinco situation?

Curry's holdout may be distressing to Seahawks fans, but he will eventually sign and suit up. The 49ers can no longer make the same guarantee.

PS. If you have Crabtree on your fantasy roster, now's a good time to drop him. He'll miss far too much time to make a real impact this year.

Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SOUNDERS FC: Barcelona puts on 4-0 clinic

La Liga champion Barcelona FC welcomed Seattle to the big leagues for 90 minutes today by scoring four goals while posting a shutout during the friendly match.

But the score probably doesn't fully convey the lopsidedness of the game. Barcelona had 21 more shots than Seattle and held the Sounders to only one shot on goal, which came in the third minute.

Forward Lionel Messi netted Barcelona's two goals in the first half, taking a one-timer from the circle in the 21st minute then nutmegging Kasey Keller in the 41st minute. Both scores were assisted by midfielder Xavi Hernandez.

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Seattle benched almost their entire starting lineup in the second half, with only defenders James Riley and Patrick Ianni repping Seattle's first group.

Barcelona did the same, and not much changed.

Barcelona's Pedro Rodriguez netted the first goal of the second half 30 minutes in after lobbing a shot from the right side of the box over Sounders GK Terry Boss' head. Rodriguez drove the dagger deeper in the 89th minute off a rebound near the far post.

Seattle resumes MLS action this Saturday against Real Salt Lake.

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MARINERS: More hot hitting leads Seattle to another win over the Royals

For the second-straight game, the Mariners could seemingly do no wrong on the offensive end. Their 16 hits and 11 runs gave pitcher Luke French a victory in his first start as a Mariner, an 11-6 win over the Royals today in Kansas City.

The run support was greatly needed as French struggled some in his first outing, giving up four runs in five innings of work. All four came off home runs.

Royals 3B Alex Gordan knocked out a two-run shot in the third to tie the game until the Mariners hounded the Royals with hit after hit, run after run in the fourth.

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The Mariners notched six runs off six hits in the inning. At one point, they scored on three straight at bats.

Every starter in the lineup logged a hit in the game, while Jose Lopez and Russell Branyan led the way with a game-high three RBIs apiece.

The 11 runs tied a season-high for the Mariners, who had only scored in the double digits one other time this season, an 11-3 victory over the Angels on April 15. This time, the M's accomplished the feat without a single home run.

They did achieve some help, however, as the Royals struggled greatly in the field. At one point they allowed a run off a successful bunt attempt by Jack Wilson, who reached first safely. He would later score in the inning.

The worst moment for the Royals though, came in the seventh inning. After reaching base on a double, Wilson made it to third off a single by Rob Johnson. Johnson kept hustling though after Royals CF Mitch Maier missed the cutoff man, almost overthrowing the catcher.

Johnson slid into second ahead of the tag, and the distraction gave Wilson time to take off for home, prompting Johnson to head for third. Wilson scored safely while the throw was too late for Johnson at third, marking the third unsuccessful tag out by the Royals on the play.

Garrett Olson earned the save, finishing off the final two innings, though he did give up a run off an RBI single after walking a batter and hitting another with a wild pitch.

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SEAHAWKS: Column: Emerging story lines for 2009

Same old song and dance for the offensive line. Seahawks.com

Last year it was injuries. The year before, it was no run game. In 2006 it was a weakened offensive line and a shaky secondary.

So what will be the weakness this year? The strengths? A few story lines are beginning to emerge from training camp, some good, some bad.

Here's a rundown of what we may be talking about by the end of the 2009 season.

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In no particular order:

1. The offensive line is still not right. Forget Hutchinson, that's years behind us. Mike Wahle was supposed to come in and provide a strong veteran presence at left guard. His aggressive, bullish play fit in perfectly next to Walter Jones, but, as we all know, the Wahle signing ended in 10 games and retirement. Not a lot of positives have come out of camp in regards to the offensive line. Ignore what every player is saying for the next month about how much better everything looks. Sure, Sims looks good, but don't forget he's coming off a lost year and was often the target of critics' ire before. Then there's Jones, who's likely in his last season. Let's also be honest, Sean Locklear will probably be starting at left tackle at some point this season. "Change" is the motto this season, and that doesn't necessarily equate to success in the NFL, especially when you're not dealing with a boat-load of experience. Sure there's the zone blocking scheme, but it's not a magical fix-all for a unit that's struggled to find consistency for three years. Expect the same song and dance in 2009.

2. If the offensive line isn't right then the running game is... also inconsistent. Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett are a capable tandem and have complementing attributes.

“I feel more at ease,” Jones said. “And I feel like the coaches have more confidence in me."

Hopefully that's true. They both run north and south, which is what you're looking for in a zone blocking scheme. However, neither should strike much fear in the hearts of defensive coordinators, especially since every good running game is the product of good lines. Duckett doesn't have that big play ability, he's just not fast or elusive enough to outrun a defense. The question is, does Jones possess that threat? I don't think you're going to find that in Jones, which is why we'll need to be looking for a game-breaker at the position sooner rather than later. Don't hold high hopes here, although it should be better than last season. There's even potential for greatness, paired with such a lethal passing threat, but for now, don't expect much.

3. The defense will rank in the top half of the league. Could that be a little optimistic? To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if they finished in the top 10. GM Tim Ruskell really needed to address the defensive line this offseason and that's exactly what happened. They gained about 70 pounds on the line, with proven run-stuffers in DE Cory Redding and big DT Colin Cole. They still somehow managed to improve their pass rush by switching Brandon Mebane to a more pass rush-heavy role. Cory Redding had success at defensive end earlier in his career when he signed a blockbuster contract with the Lions and early in camp, he's been impressing everyone, which is a good omen for this group. The whole secondary, which looked awful last year, will look even better than the 2007 unit with the addition of Ken Lucas at RCB.

Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS: BREAKING: It's April Fool's Day

-
Happy April Fool's!

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MARINERS: Seattle wins off rare bout of hot hitting

The Mariners got a little bit of help from just about everybody in a 7-6 victory over the Royals today in Kansas City.

As a team, Seattle (55-51) logged a total of 14 hits with all but one batter registering at least one hit and five different players driving in a run.

The game went back and forth with the Mariners gaining then losing the lead three times. But they went on top for good in the top of the seventh when Russell Branyan drove in Jack Wilson from third on a single.

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Seattle gained the early advantage in the first when Ichiro Suzuki knocked a rare dinger into the outfield bleachers to start the game. It was his seventh home run of the season.

But starter Ryan Rowland-Smith struggled toward one of his worst starts of the season. In just his third game back from injury, he got the hook in the fourth round having given up five runs, four earned, off six hits. The unearned run came off an incredibly rare Adrien Beltre error.

Shawn Kelley appeared in relief, and the rookie gave up the tying run in the seventh off a Yuniesky Betancourt RBI double. The former Mariner had perhaps his best day as a Royal, finishing 2-for-4 with two RBIs. His two hits were a double and a triple, both scoring runs.

David Aardsma endured some drama in the ninth when he gave up two singles to put runners on the corners with two outs.

An ensuing walk loaded the bases, but Suzuki saved the game with an astounding sliding catch in foul territory, holding onto the ball as he fell into the right field wall.

Despite the win, the Mariners left a staggering number of runners on base--26, continuing their inability to score in bunches.

The greatest offender was Beltre, whose 0-for-5 night left five runners stranded. He also struck out three times, while the Mariners as a team struck out 14 times.

On a positive note, rookie Michael Saunders had his first three-hit game as a major leaguer, going 3-for-5 on the night and scoring two runs.

Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS: Reading the field - Can Forsett be the answer at running back?

RB Justin Forsett easily made fans with his huge pre-season performances last year as a rookie. Despite his undersized 5-foot-8 194-pound frame, he showed incredible quickness and unnatural aggression for one his size.

Now, even without a single regular season carry to his name, the second-year back enters camp third on the depth chart. While most in his position would just be happy to have a job, Forsett is looking forward to playing more than just throwaway role in the running game.

"I know I can play with anybody, but other people have looked at it differently because of my size," he said. "I try to go out there and just work hard and get better each and every day, and I know with a lot of work I can be up there with the best ... It’s just opportunity. When I get an opportunity I have to seize it. I can’t mess up when they give me an opportunity."

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Forsett has been shining thus far in training camp and seems to be a good fit for the new zone-blocking scheme.

"He’s bigger, stronger and faster than when he came out of college, and then this scheme fits Justin," said Seahawks coach Jim Mora. "You watch him, and he’s got a real good initial burst. He’s able to put his foot in the ground and change directions quickly, and that’s what you want in the zone scheme."

Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp has a history of strong running games, and with no sure-fire stud on the roster, all four backs currently on the roster will have a chance for a breakout performance.

Or, of course, the running game could be just as inept as it has been the past couple seasons, perhaps worse.

'Housh' brings excitement to open camp
He hasn't been a Seahawk long, but T.J. Houshmandzadeh has already become a fan favorite amongst those attending the first open camps of the offseason.

With Nate Burleson going down with injury in what was supposed to be his breakout campaign last season and Deion Branch failing to live up to his Super Bowl MVP status, people haven't had much to be excited about at wide receiver in the past.

While he may not bring the flamboyancy of former teammate Chad Ochocinco, Houshmandzadeh still has plenty of confidence and moxy.

"I have big expectations for myself," Houshmandzadeh said. "I don't have set numbers or anything like that.

"I feel like this should be my best season as far as yards and touchdowns, give or take one or two."

Getting to Know Cory Redding a little better
At 6-foot-4 294 pounds, Cory Redding brings a great deal of size and run-stuffing ability to the defensive end position. He also brings the versatility to move inside and be a pass-rushing threat.

According to this Seattle Times article, he also brings Seattle a positive attitude and, oddly enough, wisdom.

"I'm a man's man,' Redding says while introducing himself.

At 6 feet 4 and 292 pounds, no one would ever doubt his assessment. But he's not talking about brawn.

"What I mean by that is your word is everything," Redding explains. "Whatever you tell somebody you're going to do, you do it. You man up to it. That's what I've been all about. What you see is what you get. I'm a man's man."

Having spent his entire six-year career in Detroit, Redding has yet to experience a winning season, so it's good to know he still has a winning attitude. He should fit in well with what looks to be a solid, possibly great, defensive line rotation.

He's still recovering from right knee surgery, which ended his 2008 season early. But with four-straight seasons having never missed a game before that, there's no reason to believe he won't be able to stay on the field healthy this year.

Seattle will need him. With his help, the Seahawks look to shore up a run defense that's struggled for years. Hopefully, he'll be a part of a new era in Seahawks football, featuring a dominant defense.

Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS: Duckett's role expected to expand in '09

There was a time when nothing but excitement surrounded T.J. Duckett. As the 18th overall pick in 2002, he joined the Falcons with an awe-inspiring blend of size and speed--a perceived man amongst boys even in the NFL.

After six seasons, however, and six failures to crack 1,000 yards and prove himself a featured back, Duckett joined the 'Hawks last season as just another first-round bust.

But the 250-pounder still has plenty of juice and talent, and in a less-than crowded backfield, he's expected to be far more than just a short-yardage rusher in 2009.

To continue...

Of his former player with Atlanta, head coach Jim Mora had this to say:

"T.J. can come in and hammer people,” Mora said. "Over the course of his career, he has really improved as a blocker, which allows you to leave him in there in more situations."

Mora couldn’t help but comment on Duckett’s imposing physique. "He looks fantastic; for a man that big, he’s cut up, and he’s in great shape."

Duckett's best season in Atlanta, it should be mentioned, came before the arrival of Jim Mora and Greg Knapp. In fact, in Mora's second season there and Duckett's last, the burly back rushed for just 380 yards, a career-low at that point. He did, however, finish his second-straight year with eight touchdowns.

He hasn't finished a season with more than 500 yards since 2004, but at 29 and limited "tread on the tires," he should have the ability to reach those numbers again.

He'll need to if Seattle's run game is to be effective in 2009.

Just to put all this in some perspective, Duckett's role was also supposed to be larger with the Lions in 2007, when he finished with just 335 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

The Lions were actually decent that season with a 7-9 record, though their rushing attack of Kevin Jones and Duckett finished 31st in the league.

Duckett did finish the season gaining 5.2 yards per rush, and most of his yards came in week 16 when he beat down the Chiefs for 102 yards on just 15 carries, including a 55-yard burst.

Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS: Reading the field - Training camp day 3

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Tatupu starts out strong with new coordinator while Jones sits out another day

The Times' Danny O'Neil named Lofa Tatupu his player of the day for day three of Seahawks training camp.

Here's what Gus Bradley had to say:

"You know what, Lofa had a great day today. He's really stepped up the last couple of days in training camp, and today he had quite a few plays he was making. I'll bet that he'll make a big jump now from here on out. Just because you see he has such a good understanding."

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Seahawks Insider had quite a bit on Seattle's newest cornerback Travis Fisher.

The rust was evident during one-on-one pass drills as he was late coming out of his break a couple times. But at 5-9, 180 pounds, Fisher can flip his hips, and he’s got decent recovery speed. But more than anything, he gives the Seahawks a much-needed body, as the cornerbacks have been getting run ragged in the heat the past three days with Marcus Trufant still on the PUP list with a sore back.

Once a highly regarded starter for St. Louis, Fisher's tenure there derailed due to injuries in the last couple seasons before he moved onto the Lions.

He has just four interceptions in the last four seasons. Given a healthy Marcus Trufant, Fisher may wind up just using his time in Seattle as audition for another team in need of cornerback depth. After all, injuries always happen this time of year.

O-line hope is same old news
Unlike most stories around this time that give reason to hope, The Times let's us know why we should be skeptical, especially of an offensive line that seems to be fixed every year, only to falter during the season.

The Seahawks have a new offensive coordinator who has installed a new zone-blocking system to a line equipped with mostly the same parts as last season and accompanied by a familiar chorus of optimism about players like center Chris Spencer and guard Rob Sims.

"I would hand out stars for Rob Sims and Spencer for the way their offseasons have gone and how bad they want it," president Tim Ruskell said. "I'd like to see those guys solidify themselves and have the years we think they can have."

It is true that we hear this every year, and while the names of the players seem to be the same, the coaching staff and system are different. Whether this makes a difference or not remains to be seen.

The trouble with young players is you never know if or when the light will turn on, and the Seahawks will be relying on nothing but youngsters to bolster the middle of the line.

Kerney back and healthy
Whether the injury of Patrick Kerney last season was the cause for Seattle's sudden pass-rush ineptitude or not, one thing is for sure, his presence was sorely missed.

Like many, he's attributing last season's injuries to the team's 4-12 record and is saying he's now healthy along with the rest of the team.

"We ran through just about every test we could think of in the weight room, in the training room, out on the field working with offensive linemen in the offseason," said Kerney, who had to sit out the last nine games of the 2008 season, seven of which were losses. "There’s no hesitation ... I’m fully confident in my arm again."

His new coach had this to say about Kerney in the new system:

"This defense revolves around being detailed, and that’s Patrick to a T," defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said. "His presence on the field, it picks up the tempo of all the drills, it picks up the tempo of each special category he’s in. And he’s not full-go completely right now, but he’s out there enough that everyone notices it."

The hopeful Kerney ended on this note:

"I feel reborn after having to watch the last nine games last year, watch all of spring ball," he said. "Every fiber in my body wanted to be out their running around chasing people, getting into it. It feels good to do it again."

Hasselbeck: Don't call it a comeback
From swimming the Columbia River to traveling with a personal trainer to working out with Steve Nash's trainer (Nash has also struggled with back problems) Matt Hasselbeck has done everything he can to make sure he stays healthy this season, despite last year's back injury.

He did so much he actually dropped eight pounds and two pants sizes.

"I was open minded to trying new, outside-the-box things. At the end of the day I just worked a little bit harder," he said. "I did different things and I made it a priority."

Coming off an injury-riddled season, Hasselbeck said this offseason was his most important since coming off 2002, when he first earned the full-time starting job.

Now, he said he is feeling good. WR Nate Burleson had this to add:

"He looks great," Burleson said. "The biggest indicator for me is how well he's doing with his accuracy throwing the ball. He's hitting every receiver in stride. That's impressive, especially this early in camp."

Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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Case of the Mondays

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This Miami Dolphins fan claims to be the biggest football fan, and it's hard to argue when you see the work he's put into his FinMobile, an SUV completely decked out in Dolphins memorabilia.

So the question is do Seattle fans have anything comparable? Let us know.



To continue...

Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SOUNDERS FC: Post-game quotes on the Sounders' 4-0 loss

The Sounders FC suffered their worst loss of the season on Sunday, and as expected in such a humiliating defeat, they didn't have much to say.

SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC HEAD COACH SIGI SCHMID
On game: “We didn’t play well today. We got down early and then we got the red card and it was too big a mountain to climb. I don’t want to take anything away from San Jose. They finished their chances well, but we kind of gave some of the goals to them.”

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On midfield play: “We didn’t hold the ball in midfield today and we were not strong enough up top with it. I don’t think that Brad (Evans) and Osvaldo (Alonso) played a ball to each other all day. San Jose outfought us early and controlled the midfield.”

On fatigue: “I don’t think that was a factor today. We had some good chances early in the second half that could have changed things. We just didn’t control the ball enough and kept giving it back to them. That forced us to chase the game.”

SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC GOALKEEPER KASEY KELLER
On the loss: “We just need to digest what happened today, and learn from it. Obviously from the first minute of the game, we weren’t ready to play today. I know that this was a game where Frank (Yallop) told his guys it was a must win. They (Earthquakes) showed up and competed from the first minute and finished the game better than we did.”

On being outplayed: “I can’t say it too often this season that we just got beat. The balls that we won in the air, we lost on the second challenge and got beat to the ball. The ones we didn’t win in the air, we were just beaten to. We were just second best on the whole field today.”

SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC MIDFIELDER BRAD EVANS
On the result: “We are definitely going to dissect it. It was a terrible game to be honest. I know for me, whether it was not playing a lot over the last month, or whatever, it wasn’t good enough. I didn’t do as well as I thought I was going to. We would like to think this was a fluke.”

On the tough start: “We came out and weren’t getting the calls I think we should have been getting, and then we take an own goal early, and it kind of deflates the sails. It takes a resilient team to come back from that alone. Then we take a red card, and another goal, and it’s tough to come back from that. I think everyone in this locker room would say they would like to say that we would like this game back. Everyone in here would like to go out and play this one again in 30 minutes or so. It was an embarrassment, we are absolutely embarrassed.”

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH FRANK YALLOP
On winning this afternoon: “This is obviously a much needed three points for us, being in our situation in the table. It was a good performance, and it was what we talked about this week in training. It was a good follow-up to our second half against D.C. United last week. This all came today from our fight, our endeavor and being scrappy, which is something that has been missing this year. Hopefully, we can have that same standard for every game.”

On Cornell Glen’s good run of play: “Cornell (Glen), we had been trying to get him for a while, and over the last three or four years he has really matured. I’ll tell you what, he is dangerous. He had a couple of very good opportunities today, and put one away. He has the pace to get past defenders and it certainly showed today.”

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER DARREN HUCKERBY
On the team performance: “It was a very good team performance. We got the goal early and we were creating chances and our shots on goal were on target. The guys in the back worked very hard and for the last few weeks we have been working very hard collectively, and I think we deserved it today.”

On moving forward: “It’s only one win, but it’s nice to beat a decent team, and we were the better team all the way through and deserved it. We created a lot chances and pushed on top of their defense most of the game. We look forward to another important game next week.”

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD CORNELL GLEN
On his goal: “With my goal, I was just trying to get a shot on target, and in the first half I was kind of rushing myself. So with the chance that I scored, I was just trying to pick a corner and I’m glad it went in.”

On the importance of the win: “We needed the win, and we did exactly that. (Chris) Wondolowski came on and had a big impact, Shea (Salinas) played very well today and everyone contributed to this important victory and we are looking forward to next week.”

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER ANDRE LUIZ
On his debut: “I am happy because the team won. I think that we have a good group here and we are going to get better every game. For me personally, I am glad that I was able to make it through 90 minutes, especially after hurting my elbow early in the game. I feel comfortable with the group, but with another week of practice I will be able to integrate into the team even more.”

Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SOUNDERS FC: Column: MLS losing supporters with frequent red cards

Why do people watch sports? For most, I would think it's for this reason--to watch the best athletes in the world compete in fair competition.

It seems a simple proposition. You have rules to ensure fair play, and MLS has certainly grown enough that it has a number of stars, both locally and internationally known.

Yet there is one rule that exists within FIFA that seems to derail this whole, simple concept. Red cards not only rob the fans of a fair game, played by two teams of equal numbers, but it also drops some of the league's greatest players for an entire game or more.

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I'm not going to argue the rules behind the red card. That's for FIFA to decide, and they're certainly not going to change age-old tradition for the sake of Americans.

But what I will say is MLS officials need to take a step back and re-think how they dole out such punishment. If they don't then they threaten to remove all momentum soccer is making as a bonafide major spectator sport in America.

The hard numbers
The Sounders FC have been issued seven red cards this season. That's seven games playing with a man down, and in not one of those games have they come away with a victory.

And how could they be expected to? While the soccer pitch is large enough that being a man down isn't an overwhelming disadvantage, it is enough to be an almost automatic tie or worse, a loss, for the disciplined team.

On the season, the league has handed out 47 red cards. That's 47 difficult to watch, unfair games.

On a somewhat related note, the season has also seen a total of 96 ties. That's nearly one-third of the total games played.

Compared to the competitiion
Most recently, Seattle has lost its best player and one of biggest stars in the MLS, Freddie Ljungberg, for two games for a questionable red card.

What was his crime? Arguing with the ref. That's all.

For comparison's sake, let's take a look at what would have likely happened in America's major sports, assuming what Ljungberg said was worth the most severe punishment.

NHL = The player is penalized, and the team must play short-handed for a two-minute power play. At worst, the player is thrown from the game, but the team can immediately substitute someone in his place. A one-game suspension is given when a player is tossed (game misconduct penalty) three times on the season.

NBA = The player is issued a technical foul, giving the opposing team one free throw shot. Upon a second technical foul in a game, the player is ejected. A one-game suspension is given when a player accumulates 15 technicals during the season and seven during the playoffs.

MLB = The player is ejected from the game.

NFL = At worst, the team is given a 15-yard penalty. The player is automatically ejected if he hits the ref in any way. Suspensions are given on a case-by-case basis.

Losing the fans
MLS is in a transition period now. Soccer is growing in popularity and could presumably join the ranks of the major sports in America--basketball, hockey, baseball and football.

But that won't happen if the league continues to frustrate fans with unnecessary red cards, which often render a game unwatchable and keep a team from playing with all starters a significant amount of time.

No other country in the world has as many high-class sporting leagues as America, and MLS officials need to understand that. They aren't going to attract fans simply based on history.

It's a beautiful game, but no one can see that when their favorite team is playing a man down, without their favorite player. At this rate, soccer may never be more than a second-rate sport and a side show to most in America, unless some changes can be made.

Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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MARINERS: Rangers spoil Snell's debut

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In his first start as a Mariner, Ian Snell pitched much better than advertised. In six innings the ex-Pirate struck out four, walked three and gave up just two runs and three hits in the 4-2 loss but didn't factor in the decision.

Heading into the bottom of the sixth, Seattle had the lead 2-1, but Snell couldn't hold it.

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The first batter Snell faced in the six, Micheal Young, homered to deep left but Snell settled down, finished the inning on three fly-outs to give Seattle a chance.

"He did a nice job," Mariners pitching coach Rick Adair said. "He competed and made good pitches when he had to. Overall, he handled himself well for pitching in Texas for the first time against this ballclub."

Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu agreed. Of the 84 pitches Snell threw only 49 were strikes, but he only issued three free passes.

"I was impressed," Wakamatsu said. "I thought he battled. I really liked his stuff and I thought he mixed his pitches well. His command was a little erratic, but that was probably jitters and nerves with this being his first outing. I think the heat and the emotion made him a little bit tired, so we took him out after six."

Sean White got the loss as he gave up a two-run homer to Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Russell "The Muscle" Branyan and Jose Lopez provided all of Seattle's runs on RBIs after the bases were loaded in the sixth. Branyan grounded out to score Rob Johnson and Lopez singled scoring Michael Saunders.

The loss put the Mariners 10 games back in the AL West.

Reach Josh Stilts at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SOUNDERS FC: Seattle smothered in 4-0 loss to Earthquakes

It took four and a half months into the season, but the Sounders FC finally looked like an expansion club today in a 4-0 loss to the last-place team in the Western Conference, the San Jose Earthquakes.

And it didn't take long for things to turn sour for Seattle. An Osvaldo Alonso attempt to clear an Earthquakes cross in front of the goal, instead resulted in an own goal to put the Earthquakes up 1-0 at the two-minute mark.

The early deficit seemed to deflate the Sounders, who struggled the entire half to maintain possession and failed to get even a single shot off versus five shots on goal at the half for San Jose.

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Any hopes the Sounders could turn things around ended in the 34th minute when defender James Riley was called for a red card.

The call came as Riley attempted to slide tackle Earthquakes midfielder Darren Huckerby. He came in high, and the referee immediately pulled the red card.

The only problem was that Riley appeared to make no contact on the play, as Huckerby dove out of the way, and in fact injured himself from the fall on his dive.

Huckerby seemed to argue in favor of Riley as the referee made the call but to no avail. Seattle would play the rest of the game a man down, and in the second half, the Earthquakes would begin to pour it on.

Cornell Glen iced the game in the 54th minute, while Huckerby and Chris Wondolowski added a pair of punctuation points with goals in the 78th and 84th minutes respectively.

Kasey Keller, despite giving up a season-high in goals, was still sharp on the game, saving seven shots, including a diving save to the corner to prevent a possible fifth goal.

Seattle managed just two shots on goal and four total for the game, all coming in the second half.

For the Earthquakes, it was their first win in five games, their last coming against Los Angeles on June 20. It's been even longer since the Sounders lost, a 0-1 defeat at the hands of Chivas USA on June 6.

Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS: Curry remains out of practice as 19 other first rounders sign

Linebacker Aaron Curry remains one of a minority of first round picks unsigned, as 19 others have all been inked and started training camp.

GM Tim Ruskell said he would like to get Curry in camp as soon as possible because he is going to be an immediate starter and play a large roll in the defense.

"It’s just that we’re asking so much of the guy, right?" Ruskell said. "We’re going to want him to do a rush package, he’s going to be asked to be in there for coverage."

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Details of the contract are complicated due to the players surrounding Curry in the draft. Normally teams slot in a player's price based on the prices of players near the draft pick such as the no. 5 pick QB Mark Sanchez.

However, QB's are paid more than any other position because of the prominent roll they play on the team, so Sanchez's huge 5-year $60 million deal would inflate Curry's contract, according to Ruskell, and the team is trying to work around it.

Here is a list of the signed draft picks from PFW:

In addition to Wells, the 31st pick in the first round, the following 2009 No. 1 draft choices were signed, sealed and delivered heading into Sunday morning: Lions QB Matthew Stafford (1), Rams OT Jason Smith (2), Jets QB Mark Sanchez (5), Raiders WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (7), Redskins DE Brian Orakpo (13), Texans OLB Brian Cushing (15), Chargers OLB Larry English (16), Buccaneers QB Josh Freeman (17), Lions TE Brandon Pettigrew (20), Browns C Alex Mack (21), Ravens OT Michael Oher (23), Falcons DT Peria Jerry (24), Dolphins CB Vontae Davis (25), Packers OLB Clay Matthews (26), Bills C Eric Wood (28), Giants WR Hakeem Nicks (29), Titans WR Kenny Britt (30) and Steelers DE Evander Hood (32).

Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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MARINERS: Back to school with Ben Brown - Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR)

For years the Baseball Writers Association of America has based their voting for Gold Glove awards by the naked eye, but now a few legitimate stats are coming into play. The writers association has in recent years used Ultimate Zone Ratings to see how a player covers his specified area on the field.

UZR is the amount of runs saved or loss that a player has compiled in his specified area. For example: Torii Hunter is on third base with two outs and Vladimir Guerrero at the plate. Guerrero hits a line drive to deep center field and Franklin Gutierrez catches the ball just over the wall. Gutierrez' UZR is now at 2.0 for the night.

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This may seem like it is “too much math,” but this is truly the most efficient way to rate one’s defensive ability. Inventor Mitchel Lichtman put in long hours a few years back to polish off his impressive statistic, and now it is available to the public at www.fangraphs.com.

It’s already well known that Mariners CF Franklin Gutierrez is one of the most premier defenders in the majors. What is little known is the fact that Gutierrez leads the American League in UZR at 14.3.

The Mariners as a team rank fourth in the MLB and second in the American League with a 33.8 UZR.

Reach Ben Brown at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS: Bryant a beast on day two

Bryant (79) stands with Mebane
(92) during mini-camp. Seahawks.com

No one shone like second year man Red Bryant during today's early morning practice. The stout defensive tackle pushed aside the touted second rounder Max Unger and made short work of new OL addition Cory Withrow. In fact, Withrow ended up beheading Bryant's helmet because it was the only way Withrow could stop him.

The move didn't sit too well with Bryant, but Bryant's intensity and playmaking skills early in training camp have got to be sitting well with the defensive minded head coach Jim Mora.

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Last season, Bryant was the sexy wild-card fourth round pick that impressed early in training camp. However, injuries practically ended his season before it began. Now Bryant is looking to get back into the fold in Seattle.

Because of his size and space-eating ability, Bryant was projected by most pundits to be a nose tackle in a 3-4 defense. He carried a second round grade with most.

Instead, the 'Hawks took him for their 4-3, desperate for some help in run defense in the wake of Marcus Tubbs' early retirement from injury.

Now, recently acquired Colin Cole has been brought in to fill that hole, leaving Bryant with an uphill battle for more playing time. However, that shouldn't be a problem with Seattle's heavy defensive line rotations and it doesn't hurt that Bryant has started so hot in camp.

Bryant has a nice story with his connection to Seahawks legend Jacob Green, but he's yet to prove anything on the football field for Seattle.

It wasn't until his senior year that Bryant had a breakout season for the Aggies, but the 'Hawks may need his breakout in the NFL sooner.

Bryant has plenty of talent and upside, and he should be a valuable player in the line rotation. But it may take some time before he can rightfully line up beside Brandon Mebane as the anchor he needs to be for Seattle's defense.

Reach Aaron Weinberg and Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SOUNDERS FC: Defender Gonzalez finally joins Seattle

It's been a few months coming, but defender Leonardo Gonzalez has finally joined the Sounders. Gonzalez, from Costa Rico, visited the team during their inaugural game in March and later signed in early July.

He's been awaiting his work permit and international approval, but now that's all been taken care of and Gonzalez can get to work. He's expected to challenge defender Mike Wahl for the starting job at left back.

Gonzalez has been capped 60 times by Costa Rico, including three World Cup starts.

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The 28-year-old probably won't be ready to play tomorrow against San Jose as he acclimates to Seattle's style of play. But the expectation is that Gonzalez will eventually take control of the left back starting position.

Head coach Sigi Schmid welcomes the competition and said Gonzalez could potentially also compete for the center back and wide left at midfield, according to Jose Romero.

"Competition is part of the game at the professional level," Schmid said. "Every day we can improve our team, we're going to try and improve our team, whether it's through depth or through acquiring people that eventually become starters."

Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS: Walter Jones misses practice, team being cautious

Walter Jones sat out of this morning's practice to rest his knee, along with D.D. Lewis. Both are coming off knee injuries.

Patrick Kerney, Chris Spencer and Ray Willis all sat out the second half of practice so they wouldn't get "worn out."

Kerney and Spencer are coming off season ending injuries.

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Sitting out of practice to avoid getting worn out was not common in the Holmgren era, especially during the second day of practice.

Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS: Training camp update

The team should just be finishing their first morning practice of their first two-a-day session of the year.

A lot has happened, so here's a quick rundown of everything, from injuries to who's playing first team.

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Absences
- CB Marcus Trufant is on the physically unable to perform list with a sore back. The team says it's a minor injury and he should be back in action shortly. Normally I would say, "Don't read into this," but isn't this how Hasselbeck's season started last year?

- LG Mike Wahle has retired after failing a physical Friday. He was slow to recover from arthroscopic shoulder surgery. The 32-year-old will never play another NFL snap.

- LB Aaron Curry is in hold-out mode as his agent attempts to secure a lofty deal for the no. 4 overall pick, rated by some as the best overall draftee in the 2009 draft. Negotiations are complicated by the fact that QB Mark Sanchez and QB Matthew Stafford are already inked with bloated deals, which is typical for QB's who are big roll players on any NFL team.

- LB Baratka Atkins was excused from practice to attend a close friend's funeral in Florida. Atkins should return Sunday.

Positions
- DE Patrick Kerney and LT Walter Jones only practiced in individual drills.

- Cory Redding played at left defensive end in Kerney's absence. GM Tim Ruskell and head coach Jim Mora Jr. said they are still figuring out how to use Redding.

- Darryl Tapp started at left defensive end, leaving Lawrence Jackson with the second team. Jackson twisted his ankle during practice but came back later.

- Ken Lucas started at right corner back while Josh Wilson started on the left in place of Marcus Trufant. Lucas gave up a couple of spectacular catches to Nate Burleson and Courtney Taylor but also deflected a few passes during team drills.

- The offensive line depth chart appears like this:
Walter Jones -- Rob Sims -- Chris Spencer -- Mansfield Wrotto - Sean Locklear
Expect that to be a very fluid situation

Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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