Seahawks Franchise Tag Marcus Trufant

Best news I’ve heard all day coming from the Seattle Seahawks. With the franchise tag deadline tomorrow, the Seattle Seahawks have had a lot of thinking to do on who they should use it on. Josh Brown has already been franchised once, Sean Locklear has been a good RT for Seattle, Marcus Trufant was 2nd in the NFC in interceptions. DJ Hackett is always injured, but he could still be tagged.

Marcus Trufant won the tag, meaning he is a Seahawk for sure in the 2008-09 NFL Season. Trufant led the team with 7 interceptions, including 3 against the Arizona Cardinals on December 9th (1 returned for his first career TD), and the game sealing interception for a touchdown in the playoffs against the Washington Redskins.

Now the question remains: What about the other free agents?

Well….let’s break it down.

1. Josh Brown, Kicker, Bald. Brown did not have a strong year, but he still made 28-34 FG’s. To sign him for 1 year, it’ll probably be about $2.5 million. By the looks of things, Seattle will have plenty of cap room to keep Brown. And you can’t let go of the guy who kicked 4 game winning field goals for you in 2006 can you?

2. DJ Hackett, WR, Injured. I’ve already touched on this in another post. He has the potential, but the injuries would be too much for Seattle to keep him in my opinion.

3. Sean Locklear, RT. Locklear is a very good right tackle. But he has been arrested once, and was suspended for violating the substance abuse policy. I don’t think Seattle would want that, time to go Sean.

Gone: Floyd Womack, Niko Koutivides.

Stay: Leroy Hill, Chuck Darby.

Sonics Do Something, Trade Kurt Thomas to Spurs

The Seattle Supersonics decided to do something in the trade market. They gave C Kurt Thomas to the San Antonio Spurs. That’s good, maybe they got Jacque Vaughn, Bruce Bowen (not really), Robert Horry? And your new Seattle Sonics are….

Brent Barry and Francisco Elson. An injured Brent Barry, and Francisco Elson mind you. Oh yeah, and a 2009 NBA Draft pick in the first round.

That can’t be the best they can do.

The Sonics have traded Kurt Thomas to the San Antonio Spurs for center Francisco Elson, injured guard Brent Barry and a 2009 first-round draft pick.

Elson and Barry, a former Sonic, have contracts that expire after the season.

“Kurt Thomas is a tough, physical player who can defend, score and rebound,” Spurs general manager RC Buford said in a statement. “We feel he will be a great addition to our roster and will add depth to our frontcourt.”

In 42 games with the Sonics this season, Thomas, a 6-foot-9 power forward, averaged 7.5 points and 8.8 rebounds.

In his final game with the team, a 108-101 victory against Memphis Tuesday at KeyArena, Thomas made all four shots and finished with eight points and five rebounds. He played just 14 minutes, his fewest since Nov. 14.

So let me get this straight. The 9-43 Miami Heat can get Shawn Marion, and the 14-38 Seattle Sonics get Francisco Elson and Brent Barry. And you wonder why this team is moving. Oh well, finish the last 30 games, and we’ll forget this ever happened okay?