SEAHAWKS: Boldin traded to Baltimore, out of NFC West

Wide-receiver Anquan Boldin was traded this afternoon from Arizona to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for third, fourth, and fifth-round draft picks. In addition, the Ravens wasted no time in signing Boldin to a four-year extension worth approximately $28 million.

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This acquisition comes days after Baltimore picked up returning receiver Donte Stallworth after being suspended for the 2009 season, essentially making a case that the Ravens are upholstering their air-attack to compete with their division-rival AFC Champion Indianapolis Colts.

Most notably, the loss of Anquan Boldin has an immediate impact on the NFC West and the teams involved. Boldin has grown as a physical presence in the Cardinals pass-game, acknowledged as the no. 2 wide out behind Larry Fitzgerald.

Despite his physical ability, Boldin’s biggest setback in recent years has been facing injuries. He has had one injury-free season since 2003, and missed both Cardinal playoff games last season with ankle and knee problems. On top of this, Boldin suffered a dramatic concussion in 2008 where he was carted off the field and making him more vulnerable to future concussions.

Although Boldin was Arizona’s number-two receiver, this transition doesn’t setback the Cardinals too dramatically. Given his injury problems and age (he’ll turn 30 this upcoming season) Anquan hasn’t posed as a credible threat in years. Plus, Arizona can easily rely on their depth by promoting receivers Steve Breaston and Early Doucett, both of whom are certainly capable of making plays and making up for Boldin’s absence.

After Burleson signed with the Lions this morning, it was becoming a possibility that Boldin would be a potential replacement and fill the void. Thankfully, we won’t have to worry about his health and over-priced contract.

Reach Jacob Kehle at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SOUNDERS FC: Striker Kufo adds Euro-touch up top

The Sounders burst onto the MLS scene in 2009 and forged an impressive reputation on their way to a playoff berth in their inaugural season, and in the process set the standard for expansion teams. If there were any complaints of the debut season the most alarming was, at times, an inability to score goals.



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“We felt as though we didn’t finish as well as we could have, should have, last year,” said General Manager Adrian Hanauer. Adding insult to injury, Seattle’s season was ended after two scoreless playoff matches against budding rival Huston Dynamo in the first round.

In an effort to bolster the year-end goal tally, the Sounders on Thursday announced the signing of 34-year-old striker Blaise Kufo. The seven-year veteran from Holland’s FC Twente, who has scored 111 goals in 213 matches, is the all-time goal-leader for the Dutch team. He has played in 27 matches for the Swiss national team, scoring seven goals in the process. Kufo indicated that part of the reason he chose to sign with the Sounders was the support of the fans at Xbox Pitch and high standards set by last year’s performance.

“What I saw is that they’re great fans,” Kufo said on a conference call Thursday at Starfire Sports Complex. “They almost have 30,000 fans average. The expectations are very high and they really support the team. For me, also, it was a key. That’s why I decided to come.” Kufo also pointed to coach Sigi Schmid’s experience with other European players (read Ljungberg) as playing part to his decision to sign the 18-month contract, with option for another year.

While some worry Kufo’s age may be a detriment around so many young teammates, coach Schmid offered strong praise. "He's a proven goal-scorer who has had a good run with the Swiss national team in their qualifying for the World Cup. He's had a tremendous run at Twente and is a player that knows how to find space in the box at appropriate moments.”

"He's somebody that's going to play up top, he's going to be a target," Schmid said. "Whether we play with one [striker] and one [withdrawn forward] underneath, or whether we play with one [striker] and two wingers, or whether we play with two strikers, he's definitely got to be one of the guys up top."

"He's not going to be a forward like Jeff Cunningham or someone like that," the veteran manager clarified. "He's going to be more like Juan Pablo Angel, a guy who can hold up the ball for you, who can play with his back to goal, who's going to get on the end of crosses. The timing of his runs are good. [He] is somebody who just knows how to sniff out opportunities when they present themselves."

Part of the contract stipulates that Kufo will stay with Twente during the remainder of the Dutch Cup and the Eredivisie league season as well as playing World Cup matches for the Swiss national team. Hanauer estimated that Kufo could join the team as soon as the Sounders’ July 15 match at D.C. United.

In an April 2008 interview with Sportsweek.nl in Holland, Kufo said he does not know how the N and apostrophe were added to his name, but because he is from the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), someone probably added it at some point to make his name sound more African.

"My official name is Kufo without N. This is also in my passport," said Kufo in a rough, Google Translated version of the Dutch web site.


Reach Galen Helmgren at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS: BREAKING Marshall to visit Seattle Saturday

Will Seattle finally
get its true no. 1
wideout?

It appears the early rumors of Seattle's interest in Broncos WR Brandon Marshall were true. The 25-year-old restricted free agent is heading to Seattle Saturday to talk about a potential deal.

The Broncos gave Marshall a first-round tender, meaning that if Seattle signs him to a long-term deal then they would have to give up their no. 6 pick unless they agreed to other terms. Denver would also have an opportunity to match Seattle's offer to Marshall.

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With Burleson gone, the move makes sense since Seattle currently has no true starting WR who can stretch the field. Also, they really don't have an NFL caliber no. 1 wideout at all. Offensive Coordinator Jeremy Bates also worked with Marshall in Denver for the 2007 season and knows what he's capable of.

Marshall has accumulated three consecutive 1,000+ yard seasons while racking up 23 touchdowns those years.

Considering Marshall's youth and talent level, the acquisition of Marshall would seemingly be a no-brainer for Seattle. Some may argue that a no. 6 pick at this point is to important to Seattle to give up. However, keep in mind the bust-rate in the draft. Marshall is a sure thing. Would the no. 6 pick pan out to be better than Marshall? Unlikely.

However, there is an X-factor to all of this: Marshall's off field issues. He's been arrested numerous times, including for suspicion of DUI and domestic violence.

He was also suspended by his own team more than once last season for "detrimental conduct," as Broncos HC Josh McDaniels put it, which really amounted to Marshall's unhappiness with his current contract.

He's also been suspended by the league for those transgressions.

Marshall was drafted 119 overall in the 2006 draft and managed 308 yards and two touchdowns his rookie season. He exploded his sophomore year, with more than 1,300 yards and seven touchdowns.

Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS: Team loses free agent Burleson to Lions

The Lions now have an extremely potent
set of wide receivers.

WR Nate Burleson signed a five-year deal worth up to $25 million with the Lions Thursday night. The deal was done just about an hour into free agency.

Although Burleson was a crowd favorite and solid performer for the Seahawks, he never quite peaked the way ex-GM Tim Ruskell had hoped. Not only that, Burleson has been injury prone the last two seasons after missing nearly all of 2008 with a knee injury and missing the final three games of 2009.

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Burleson finished last season with an injury and totaled 812 yards and three touchdowns. If Seattle doesn't sign any new wide receivers this offseason and retains their current group, Deon Butler appears to be the new third wideout.

Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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MARINERS: M's fall 8-7 in extra innings to Giants

The Mariners lost their Cactus League opener to the San Francisco Giants Wednesday afternoon 8-7 in 10 innings. The M’s put staggering right-hander Doug Fister to start against the Giants’ ace and two-time Cy Young winner, Tim Lincecum.

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Each starter got off to rough starts, both allowing three runs in the first inning. Lincecum was scheduled to throw two innings, but was restricted to only one throwing 29 pitches, allowing one hit from Ichiro, two successive walks before giving up a sacrifice fly to Ken Griffey, Jr.

Fister bounced back on the mound in the second inning striking out the side, finishing with 2.0 innings pitched giving up 3 runs off of 3 hits including a home run, with 5 total strikeouts.

Shining Mariners at the plate included Jose Lopez and newcomer Casey Kotchman, both of whom hit for RBI singles in the first inning off of Lincecum. Potential roster players, OF Michael Saunders and 3B Matt Tuiasosopo both had notable doubles in their attempted comeback late in the game.

DH Ken Griffey Jr. had only two at-bats, the first was an aforementioned sacrifice fly in the first inning, which was reportedly a “very good-looking sac fly,” preceding a walk in his second AB. Junior is in great shape, lost about 7 pounds, and has yet to show any weakness in his injury-prone knees. Hopefully he can maintain himself and remain healthy moving forward to the regular season.

After a 2 run ninth-inning rally to send the game into extra innings, minor-league pitcher Kenn Kesparek earned the loss for the M’s, after giving up a bases-loaded walk in the tenth. The Mariners have their second game of the Cactus League, hosting a charity game against the San Diego Padres Thursday afternoon in Peoria.


Reach Jacob Kehle at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS COLUMN: Crystal-balling the Seahawks' Draft Picks

Maybe it’s the commencement of the NFL Combine this past weekend, or maybe I’m just that excited now that the NFL is following suit of the NBA and holding this year’s draft in primetime, but I thought I would weigh-in on the Seahawks options for 2010.

Professional football is not my forte, but I know enough to where I can argue with the rest of them. And since I’m much more compassionate toward college football, the NFL Draft is probably the sole facet of the game I’m most comfortable discussing. So here goes nothing.

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In any event, this year’s draft excites me a little for the Seahawks’ sake, for they receive two first-round picks in the top fifteen. So let’s break down their biggest needs and potential picks coming our way.

Despite all the injury problems this team has faced in the last 2-3 seasons, our biggest problem was the opposition running up the scoreboard. Seattle was 24th in the league in total defense, allowing just over 24 points per game. And remember the game down in Houston where Andre Johnson smoked Marcus Trufant on the first play from scrimmage? Yeah, we were third-to-last (ranked 30th) in pass defense in the league.

So, with the number 6 overall pick of the NFL Draft, your Seattle Seahawks (should) choose … Safety Eric Berry out of the University of Tennessee. Berry has been projected around the top-5 overall, but could easily fall in our laps at no. 6.

Eric Berry is a legit deep-back, coming from the strongest conference in the NCAA, and should have an immediate impact in the NFL. Scouts have been projecting him to have the impact on a team's secondary much like Troy Polamalu has with Pittsburgh (no, Eric Berry is not Polamalu and will most likely not develop to that extent, but still could be quite effective).

The Seahawks’ second first-round pick is a little more controversial, namely because of the direction fans want the team to go. Evidently, Matt Hasselback has shown signs of humility and, dare I say it, futility over the past couple years and many are ready to discover his apparent heir. Scouts and reporters are listing Sam Bradford as this draft’s premier quarterback, but is unlikely that he’ll pull a Brady Quinn and be drafted past the top 10.

Next in line is Jimmy Clausen out of Notre Dame (no it’s not Tim Tebow, and if you think it is: you’re wrong; save it for another argument). This irritates me initially because Clausen is one of the biggest tools I’ve ever seen on the field. Even reporters out of the Combine this weekend are getting frustrated with his arrogance, claiming that he is way too cocky for what little he’s achieved in his career. The kid has 16 overall wins at ND, spanning over three full seasons. One bowl win in his only appearance (The freaking Hawaii Bowl). And I’m just going to say it: he got head coach Charlie Weis fired at end of last season losing the final four games.

Clausen is the last kind of attitude you want on your team … but, I have to give him credit as to how much he improved himself as a Pro quarterback progressively in each of his years in college. He learned how to scramble, and throw on the run, which is a pretty damn good quality in the NFL (just look at Ben Roethlisberger and Brett Favre). And he learned how to throw a ball away instead of taking a sack or throwing a pick-6, which was often the case during his freshman year.

If Pete Carroll is satisfied with the current group of backs we currently have (and it sounds like he is), then don’t be surprised if we draft Clausen with the number 14 pick. Much to our chagrin, I think Clausen could be a decent NFL QB if he gets over himself and stops being such a d*ck.

Otherwise, RB C.J. Spiller out of Clemson is a promising back that shows signs of Chris Johnson. What Spiller lacks in size he gains in explosiveness and versatility, and could very easily become an impact position player like Reggie Bush was for the Saints this season. Most notably, Spiller has gotten nothing but high praises from the Clemson faithful in all of this four years at with the school. He’s a class act, and he would fit right in here in Seattle.

So it’s up in the air right now. Do we risk drafting Hasselback’s successor this year? Or do we put our chips on what may be the next fantasy king of the running game? With the 14th overall pick of the NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks (acquired from the Denver Broncos) select … Rick Mirer. Oh man, that would be awesome.

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MARINERS: Spring Training Report #2

In the opening week of Spring Training games, the Mariners have been making progress and maintaining a steady camp down in Peoria. The biggest focus manager Don Wakamatsu has pertained to is precautionary care and maintenance. If not a premier talented club, Wak makes his top priority a healthy squad moving into practice games and the beginning of the regular season.

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First and foremost, M’s ace Felix Hernandez was advised to slow down his training a bit and was restricted to long toss and minor throwing drills over the weekend. No injury or discomfort has been reported from either player or manager, as the decision appears to be more of a precautionary measure.

Shannon Drayer of MyNorthwest.com reports Wakamatsu stating, “We are trying to take him slow. We are trying to cut his innings down a bit, that’s the biggest thing … I thought his first bullpen was 100 mph. Rick (M’s trainer Griffin) and I talked about it and we said let’s go to a long toss program and slow it down a little bit.”

Felix threw a career high 238 innings in 2009, and hasn’t thrown since the final game of last season. Interestingly enough, Hernandez said that he was throwing nowhere near 100% in his first bullpen session in Peoria which is contradictory to Wak’s initial reaction. Since Felix is the heart and soul of this starting rotation, his health is of the utmost importance moving toward a contending season, and better to be safe than sorry.

M’s fans can appreciate a caring coach to prevent potential exhaustion, but also shouldn’t sacrifice crucial practice time to build our ace for the upcoming season. However, Felix is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Tuesday and Thursday this week, and we will report how each pan out.

In addition to Hernandez limited to secondary training, centerfielder Franklin Gutierrez has been experiencing a sore shoulder, which he claimed “nothing more than normal spring training soreness.” He is currently restricted to throwing drills and is expected to fully participate with the rest of the team later this week.

The Mariners are scheduled for their inaugural spring training game against the San Francisco Giants this Wednesday at 12:05 pm, given that the weather cooperates.

Reach Jacob Kehle at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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