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HOT TOPIC
The Seahawks weren't apologizing for being excited about collecting NFC championship rings this week. While they would have preferred to receive Super Bowl rings, the Seahawks also know they accomplished more than any team in franchise history.
"This is about what you guys accomplished," team president Tim Ruskell told players. "No other Seahawks team has ever gone to a Super Bowl. No other team has won 13 games. No other team has won 11 in a row, led the league in scoring, led the league in sacks."
Pro Bowl fullback Mack Strong waited more than a decade to win so much as a playoff game. He wasn't about to apologize earning the runner-up hardware.
"There are only two teams that make it to the Super Bowl, and you can't ever take that away," Strong said. "That's an accomplishment in and of itself. So we have nothing to hang our heads about. We are the best team in the NFC, and that's what we'll be until somebody replaces us -- hopefully years down the road."
Kicker Josh Brown was one of the few players who saw the rings as a reminder of what the team failed to accomplish.
"Now we just need to add a ring," he said. "The NFC championship ring is a great display of the things we accomplished, but it just reminds us what we could have had."
PLAYER NOTES
--Coach Mike Holmgren didn't mince words when asked about the prospects of No. 3 QB David Greene. "I don't think it's been an easy transition for David," Holmgren said. "He was such a successful college player. Then what you learn when you play that position and come into the NFL is that it is quite different. But he is a great young guy and he's working hard and he's trying real hard and I hope this training camp now he does make the progress we need to see to feel comfortable."
The team still might try to add a veteran quarterback.
--Championship rings are always massive creations. For the Seahawks and their NFC title rings, none came bigger than the size 18 1/2 whopper awarded to Pro Bowl LT Walter Jones. Jewelers had to bring custom-made sizing devices to accommodate the team's massive mitts.
Coach Mike Holmgren's size 17 was the biggest among the coaches. But according to the Tacoma News Tribune, Holmgren's late father wore at least a size 23 -- a ring bigger in diameter than a 50-cent piece.
"When I got my national championship ring from USC (after the 1967 season), I gave it to my dad," Holmgren told the paper. "He could not get it over the knuckle on his little finger. He looked like one of those dealers in Las Vegas."
--DE Grant Wistrom expects the Seahawks to show quite a bit of improvement on defense. The team will have to get healthy up front, however. Wistrom (shoulder) is out until training camp. DT Rocky Bernard (knee) and DT Marcus Tubbs (ankle) underwent surgeries last month and might not return until camp is in progress.
The Seahawks should challenge for a top-10 defensive ranking if those players are healthy.
"We expect to be much better," Wistrom said. "Last year the defense was a question mark going into the season just because of all the young guys we had and new players. We expect to be much better."
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: OG Steve Hutchinson (Seahawks did not match $49M/.7 yrs offer from Vikings).
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--S John Howell (not tendered June 1).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--RB Shaun Alexander: Potential UFA; $61.687M/8 yrs, $11.5M SB/$2M RB 2007-08; 2006 cap: $6.5M.
--CB Jordan Babineaux: ERFA; terms unknown.
--LB Kevin Bentley: UFA; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--DT Rocky Bernard: UFA; $13M/3 yrs, $5.4M SB; 2006 cap: $2.4M.
--PK Josh Brown: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--OT Wayne Hunter: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--RB Maurice Morris: UFA; $3.75M/3 yrs, $900,000 SB.
--P Tom Rouen: UFA; $810,000/1 yr; 2006 cap: $425,000.
--FB Mack Strong: UFA; $3.16M/3 yrs, $500,000 SB; 2006 cap: $1.027M.
--DE Joe Tafoya: UFA; terms unknown.
--QB Seneca Wallace: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--WR Peter Warrick: UFA; $1M/1 yr, SB unknown.
--CB Jimmy Williams: UFA; $585,000/1 yr.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--T/G Tom Ashworth; UFA Patriots; $13M/5 yrs, SB unknown.
--WR Nate Burleson: RFA Vikings; Vikings did not match offer of $49M/7 yrs, $4M SB; 2006 cap: $2.05M and receive 3rd-round pick as compensation.
--DE Chris Cooper: FA 49ers; terms unknown.
--DT Russell Davis: UFA Cardinals; 3 yrs, terms unknown.
--S Mike Green (trade Bears).
--S Shaunard Harts: FA; terms unknown.
--TE Will Heller: Not tendered as RFA by Buccaneers; terms unknown.
--LB Julian Peterson: UFA 49ers; $54M/6 yrs, $11.5M SB.
--DE Kemp Rasmussen: UFA Panthers; $625,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB: 2006 cap: $465.000.
PLAYERS LOST
--DE Rodney Bailey: UFA Steelers; $625,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB).
--WR Alex Bannister (released).
--CB Andre Dyson (released).
--TE Ryan Hannam: UFA Cowboys; $5M/4 yrs, $1.25M SB.
--OG Steve Hutchinson: TFA Vikings; $49M/7 yrs, $16M guaranteed.
--WR Joe Jurevicius: UFA Browns; $10M/4 yrs, SB unknown.
--WR Kevin Kasper (released).
--S Marquand Manuel: UFA Packers; $10M/5 yrs, $2M SB.
--LB Jamie Sharper (released; failed physical/knee).
--WR Jerheme Urban (released; failed physical/foot).
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
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