Seattle Seahawks

Despite nearly a year of trade speculation, Russell Wilson clarified Friday on Mad Dog Radio that he wants to remain with the Seattle Seahawks:

"I've been fortunate to be able to play 10 amazing years in Seattle," Wilson said (h/t Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk). "My hope and goal is to be back there and keep winning there. That’s the vision; that’s the goal. That’s always been it, never been anything different."

Wilson has two more years on his contract with Seattle, but Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported in January that the quarterback "wants to explore his options" this offseason. ESPN's Adam Schefter also reported that many expect a split between Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and Wilson.

The two have spent 10 years together, winning one Super Bowl and reaching another, but the squad is coming off a disappointing 7-10 season. Though Wilson missed three games because of injury, other roster holes were apparent and could prevent the team from contending in 2022 (including a poor offensive line and a pass defense that ranked 31st).

Despite the question marks, Wilson has remained publicly loyal. The quarterback has said it's his "hope" to stay in Seattle and has not demanded a trade.

It's unclear where Adrian Peterson will play in 2022. But if one thing's for sure, it's that he's had a lasting impact on the game of football. 

The legendary running back spent the 2021 season split between the Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks. In four games (three with Tennessee, one with Seattle), Peterson rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns on 38 carries. He also caught four passes for eight yards. 

Despite an underwhelming 2021 season, Peterson has long been considered one of the best running backs in the NFL. He spent the 2020 season with the Detroit Lions, rushing for 604 yards and seven touchdowns. 

Before that, he spent two seasons with the then-Washington Football Team from 2018-19, rushing for 1,940 yards and 12 touchdowns in 31 games. He also spent time with the Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints, but he is mostly known for his career as a Minnesota Viking. 

In 10 seasons with the Vikings from 2007-16, Peterson rushed for 11,747 yards and 97 touchdowns across 123 games. During his time in Minnesota, he was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2007, MVP in 2012, was a four-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler. 

Peterson also ranks fifth in career rushing yards (14,918) behind Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton, Frank Gore and Barry Sanders. He also ranks second on the NFL's single-season rushing yards list behind Eric Dickerson (2,105 yards) with 2,097 yards. 

Speaking of Dickerson, Peterson sat down with B/R for an AMA session and talked about several topics, including nearly breaking Dickerson's single-season record, his career with the Vikings and more. 

The following is the full transcript from the AMA session.

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@ClevelandChad: When did religion become a big part of who you are? Was it always engraved? 

Yeah it was something that was always engraved in me from a child. Just understanding at a young age that I was able to understand that there’s nothing you can’t do without having Christ in your life. He’s the source of everything. Growing up and being in the church and having my family and that background, it’s amazing how having that face has changed my life and in football. Having that faith and believing that you can do all things through Christ. You gotta believe that, you gotta understand that it’s a higher power that’s in control and dependent on him that allows you to overcome those situations. To overcome the ACL injury and have the best season of your career, and perform at an outstanding level, God used me as a vessel to say hey, this is what you can do when you have faith. Faith is really important.

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@DodgViks15: What was your favorite part about being a Viking?

The history behind the Vikings. The great players, you know. Culpepper, Randy Moss, the defensive guys, the Purple People Eaters, John Randle, Fran Tarkenton. There’s so many people there, a great history. I’ve always loved those colors, you know purple and gold that's always been a god-like color to me, You know, royal purple.

The people I met throughout the process, I met some great people throughout the organization, people that support me throughout my career and those relationships. That’s the kind of thing that you carry with you.

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@FitchKarma66: What was the best offense you had the chance to be a part of? 2009 (brett favre, sidney rice, percy harvin))? 2015 (teddy, diggs rudolph)? Another year? 

It was definitely the 2009 season. We had some talent on that team. Bernard Berrian, Percy, Harvin, Sidney Rice, Chester Taylor, Brett Favre? Come on. We had a good team and we were stacked offensively as well. We were stacked offensively and defensively too. Antoine Winfield, one of the best corners I’ve probably ever played with. We had some dogs on defense and offense so I definitely gotta go with that year.

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@CVikings182: What was your mindset after the ACL tear? What do you think was the biggest factor that helped you get back to MVP status so fast?

How fast I had to reset my mind. I remember being in the locker room and thinking I have to come back better than before. 

You know, what can you do about it. It is what it is,. I immediately got my mind right. Ultimately, I can do all things through Christ. Let me get my plan together and execute it. I made it known, my point, this is what I had to accomplish.

It was hard, hard, hard. But when I look back on it, before I ran out that tunnel before that first game, all that hard work was worth it.

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@Salah11: How long did it take to get over being 8-9 yards short of Eric’s rushing record? 

I wasn’t even thinking about the record, We needed to win that game to get to the playoffs. Don’t get me wrong, I knew I needed at least 200 yards to get that record, which was a lot. 

I remember doing an interview after the game, and she was like ‘oh wow, you were like 7 yards short?’ And I said so what? And she said ‘for the record’ and I was like oh. I would’ve rather been 40 yards short. 7 yards short like a first down? I was like oooh

My mindset? I came off an ACL injury and ended up 7 yards short. That record was broke already. In my mind I already had it. The injury I sustained, in my mind I had it.

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@Rhettro: What was going through your head when you broke the record for most rushing yards in a game vs. SD Chargers? Was it just a ‘I need the ball. Get out of my way mentality’? 

I was just trying to win the game. That first half was terrible. We only had 40 yards on the ground, and 250 came in the second half. I just remembered telling the guys: ‘hey keep pressing, keep pressing. I think in the first half I pressed too much a couple times and it was a missed opportunity. So, I was just trying to make up for the first half. I didn’t know it was going to be 296 but I’ll take it.

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@CJShoe: Is there a single team over the course of your career that whenever you played them you just felt like you were going to dominate? 

Green Bay. Chicago. Arizona too. I don’t know what it is about Arizona, I feel like a lot of us had success against them. I feel like teams with good defenses I kind of thrived, I loved the challenge of facing against a good opponent

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@JTH44: If you could hire one lead blocker from your career as a bodyguard, who are we going with?

I’d probably say Jim Kleinsasser.

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@LotusRonin: The guy that gave you the hardest hit in your career was ___

Probably Shaun Rodgers. I had broke outside and I was trying to cut back. He hit me so hard. I got up quick, but I was taken back. Aside from that one, Troy Polamalu hit me in my thigh. I scored a TD, but I still remember that hit to this day. He hit me right on the pad in my thigh and I flipped over. That was one of the hardest hits I’ve had too. It gave me a little contusion.

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@Gtogo: Did it ever bother you that people called you AP instead of AD ‘All Day’? 

I definitely prefer AD. It doesn’t bother me. People that know me, they call me AD. People call me AP, they’re fine.

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@Estuko: Would you like to retire as a Viking? 

Oh yeah of course. Bleed purple. I spent a decade there. Have some lasting relationships. Definitely will be retiring in that Vikings uniform.

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@NotRudy_Gobert: Super Bowl pick? 

I got Cincinnati. 28-24. I think their defense will step up, their offensive line, I think their running game will be a big factor in keeping Burrow up. Ain’t too much you can do about Aaron Donald, I think they’ll limit his opportunities. Hammer in the mouth in the run game, I think that’ll help ‘em loosen up. Two backs from Oklahoma, they’re in the Super Bowl for a reason. I definitely see them pulling it off. 

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Hey Adrian so I understand you’re partnering with Rebalance which is some pretty cool stuff. Can you tell us more about the Rebalance System and what you’re doing with them? 

I’ve been working with this company for about three weeks, and I've been taking their supplement for about three weeks, and it’s been a hit for me.

If you want your mojo back, I’d suggest taking this supplement. Whether you’ve been working in the gym or in your daily life, for me it’s about mastering my mojo.

What’s attracted me to it the most is that it's all natural, and that’s always been important to me in my career, putting the right things into my body. And once I started researching it, it was a hit for me.

It helps balance your cortisol levels. That way your body can naturally enhance itself and produce hormones that allow your body to recover faster and become stronger. It’s been working tremendously for me and it’s been a hit, I encourage everyone to try it. You can do more research and preorder.

The majority of people have a high level of cortisol and that causes stress and diminishes your energy. To be able to balance that out and optimize your potential producing natural HGH and natural hormones to help your body receiver faster and build strength and endurance. Like I said it was a hit for me and it’s a no brainer.

Try it yourself and see if you believe in it and how it responds to you.

The Seattle Seahawks are expected to name Clint Hurtt as their new defensive coordinator, according to Adam Jude and Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times.

Hurtt, who has been the Seahawks' defensive line coach and assistant head coach since 2017, would replace Ken Norton Jr., who was fired last month after four seasons as Seattle's DC.

Jude and Condotta noted that the Seahawks are also looking to potentially add Ed Donatell and Sean Desai to their defensive coaching staff.

Hurtt has never been a defensive coordinator at any level, but he has extensive experience as a position coach in both college and the NFL.

The 43-year-old Bronx, New York, native was the defensive line coach at Florida International, Miami and Louisville from 2005-13. He then served as the Chicago Bears' assistant defensive line coach in 2014 and outside linebackers coach from 2015-16.

Hurtt worked under Vic Fangio in Chicago when Fangio was defensive coordinator. Donatell and Desai, who was the Bears' defensive coordinator last season, were also on that staff.

Desai interviewed to be the Las Vegas Raiders' defensive coordinator under new head coach Josh McDaniels, but no decision has been made on the front yet.

According to Jude and Condotta, the Seahawks are looking to create continuity on the defensive coaching staff and to institute aspects of Fangio's scheme into their own defense.

Head coach Pete Carroll reportedly wants to utilize principles of Fangio's defense with zone looks and a two-high safety setup.

Defense was once the Seahawks' calling card, as they ranked in the top 10 in both total defense and scoring defense in six straight seasons from 2011-16. Seattle hasn't been in the top 10 in either category since then, however.

While Seattle was 11th in scoring defense in 2021, it ranked 28th in total defense, which was the worst ranking during Carroll's 12-year run as head coach. Seattle has ranked 22nd or worse in that category in each of the past three seasons. 

If the Seahawks want to return to the playoffs in 2022 after missing in 2021 for the first time since 2017, they will need significant improvements on the defensive side of the ball from Hurtt and Co.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson will replace Tom Brady on the NFC roster for Sunday's Pro Bowl, the Seahawks announced Monday.

Amid reports that Brady plans to retire, he withdrew from the Pro Bowl because of a shoulder injury.

Wilson, 33, has been named a Pro Bowler nine times in his career, though his 2021 season wasn't among his signature campaigns. He missed three games because of a finger injury and was just 6-8 when he started as Seattle missed the postseason. 

Wilson threw for 3,113 yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions, completing 64.8 percent of his passes. It was the first time since 2016 that he failed to throw for at least 30 touchdowns. He reached 40 touchdowns for the first time last season. 

It says something about the quality of his career that those numbers represent a down year. The Seahawks went 4-2 down the stretch, however, as Wilson played well. 

"I thought that he was at his best at the end," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "I thought that he really played his best down the stretch. He was more resourceful."

Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner and safety Quandre Diggs also made the Pro Bowl.

As for the other NFC quarterbacks in the game, Wilson joins Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals and Kirk Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings (who is replacing Green Bay Packers superstar and MVP candidate Aaron Rodgers).

Other notable players on the NFC roster include running backs Dalvin Cook and Alvin Kamara, wide receivers Justin Jefferson, Deebo Samuel and Mike Evans, tight end George Kittle, linebacker Micah Parsons, defensive end Nick Bosa and cornerback Trevon Diggs. 

Pete Carroll appears set to return to the Seattle Seahawks in 2022, which means we're likely headed to another offseason full of Russell Wilson trade rumors.

"I don't think [the Seahawks] are as high on [Wilson] as they let on," an AFC executive told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. "You've got to remember, they've looked into trading him multiple times now. You don't do that with a top guy unless you're comfortable with it."

Wilson rumors were rampant last offseason amid reports of tension between the quarterback and Carroll. A report in The Athletic cited years of tension over offensive philosophy and personnel moves. Some of those tensions appeared to quell over the course of last offseason, but the rumors are again swirling after the Seahawks finished a 7-10 season.

Wilson acknowledged the possibility he could be headed elsewhere when speaking to reporters last month, though he's maintained a desire to stay in Seattle. 

"I know for me, personally, I hope it's not my last game (in Seattle), but at the same time, I know it won't be my last game in the NFL. So I'm just focused on today and getting better today. That's my focus, that's my goal; I love this city, and I love this moment. I love these guys, so we got to make sure we get better today. That's the only thing that matters," Wilson told reporters at the time.

Jordan Schultz reported Wilson would consider a trade to the New Orleans Saints, New York Giants or Denver Broncos. All three teams are likely to explore their options at quarterback this offseason and could leap into playoff contention by adding Wilson.

It's worth noting that while Carroll has final say on all roster decisions, Wilson has a no-trade clause in his contract. That could complicate matters if the Seahawks look to bargain with teams to up Wilson's price. 

The Seattle Seahawks were the only team from the NFC West that didn't make the playoffs this past season, and they are changing up the coaching staff as a result.

Seattle fired both defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. and defensive passing-game coordinator Andre Curtis on Tuesday.

Bob Condotta and Adam Jude of the Seattle Times reported Monday night that the team was expected to part ways with the two coaches.

Norton was the defensive coordinator for the last four seasons, and the report pointed to Seahawks assistant head coach/defensive line coach Clint Hurtt and veteran assistant Ed Donatell as potential replacement candidates.

Norton played linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys from 1988 through 2000 and was a three-time Super Bowl champion and three-time Pro Bowler.

His coaching career includes time as the linebackers coach for his alma mater USC, two different stints with the Seahawks and three seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders. He was the linebackers coach in Seattle from 2010 through 2014 when the team went to the playoffs four times and advanced to two Super Bowls, winning one.

While the Legion of Boom secondary made many of the headlines during that era, Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright were excellent linebackers who helped that defense establish itself as one of the best in the league.

Norton did not have as much success as the defensive coordinator for the Raiders from 2015 until he was fired in November of the 2017 campaign, but he came back to Seattle as the defensive coordinator for the 2018 season.

He was unable to replicate his success as a linebackers coach, as the Seahawks finished 16th in the NFL in yards allowed per game in 2018, 26th in 2019, 22nd in 2020 and 28th in 2021 during his second tenure with the team.

Condotta and Jude noted the 379.1 yards per game the Seahawks allowed in 2021 is the second-worst mark in team history.

It reached a point where it was clear the defense would need a change to be competitive in such a daunting division in 2022, and that change cost the defensive coordinator his job.               

Despite rumors and speculation of a massive overhaul for the Seattle Seahawks, it was business as usual during Thursday's year-end meeting between head coach Pete Carroll, general manager John Schneider and owner Jody Allen, per ESPN's Chris Mortensen.

Mortensen reported there was no talk about "job security" while saying "all systems are go" for Carroll, Schneider and quarterback Russell Wilson to return in 2022.

This comes after NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that Wilson "wants to explore his options to see what else might be out there for him."

Seattle finished 7-10 in 2021, the organization's first losing record since Wilson was drafted in 2012.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported earlier this month that the 2021 season could be the last of the Carroll-Wilson partnership in Seattle.

Carroll just finished his 12th year with the organization, accumulating a 119-73-1 regular-season record with two NFC championships and one Super Bowl title. The postseason success has been limited in recent years, however, totaling just one playoff win in the past five seasons.

With the team struggling in 2021, it could be time for a fresh start and an organizational rebuild.

Wilson would draw plenty of interest on the open market, while a trade would save $11 million against the 2022 cap, per Spotrac. A deal after June 1 would save $24 million.

The Seahawks seemingly still want to keep the status quo entering the offseason. Wilson has said multiple times that it's his "hope" he returns to Seattle next year, per Matt Calkins of the Seattle Times.

It means a trade is not certain despite plenty of speculation over the past few weeks.   

Former NFL defensive tackle Junior Siavii died on Thursday at the age of 43 in Leavenworth federal prison in Kansas. 

Anna Armijo, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, said in a statement (h/t Bill Lukitsch and Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star) that Siavii was found unresponsive and was treated by prison staff before being transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

According to Lukitsch and McDowell, Siavii has been held under federal detention orders since 2019. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in Nov. 2019 on nine charges, including conspiracy and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Siavii was originally arrested in August 2019 and charged with three counts of being an unlawful drug user in possession of firearms, but the grand-jury indictment superseded that indictment. 

No cause of death has been given at this point. 

After playing two seasons at the University of Oregon, Siavii was a second-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2004 NFL draft. He played two seasons with the team before injuries kept him out of the league for two years. 

Siavii returned to the NFL in 2009 with the Dallas Cowboys. He appeared in all 16 games that season, recording 11 combined tackles. He was cut and claimed on waivers by the Seattle Seahawks before the 2010 season. 

The American Samoa native started a career-high six games with the Seahawks in 2010. He recorded 56 combined tackles and one sack in 56 career NFL games with three teams.

Seattle Seahawks backup quarterback Geno Smith was arrested in King County, Washington, early Monday morning on suspicion of DUI, per TMZ Sports.

Gregg Bell of the News Tribune confirmed that Smith was released on $1,000 bail.

Smith addressed the arrest on social media:

Being arrested brings a taint onto the reputation that is impossible to undo, no matter what really happened.
I’m asking all of you to hold back on judging me the same as you would do for a friend or family member.
I’ll have more to say down the road
& ask that you bare with me.

— Geno (@GenoSmith3) January 11, 2022

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll told Bell that Smith was in attendance for Monday's team meeting. Smith is set to be a free agent this offseason.

Per Bell, Smith was pulled over at 2:10 a.m. and released from King County jail at 9:27 a.m. Hours before his arrest, the Seahawks had returned home after defeating the Arizona Cardinals 38-30 in their season finale to end the year with a record of 7-10.

"Geno is fully cooperative with the investigation. I hope that an open mind can be kept by all as the facts are ascertained,"  Smith's attorney Jon Fox said in a statement to the Associated Press.

Smith has served as the backup to Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson for the past three seasons. He was thrust into action this year when Wilson suffered a broken middle finger on his throwing hand that required surgery. He entered in the second half of the Week 5 game against the Los Angeles Rams and threw an interception that ended the team's comeback attempt.

Smith completed 65-of-95 passes for 702 yards, five touchdowns and an interception this year. The Seahawks went 1-2 in his three starts.

The 31-year-old has been in the NFL for nine years and has a career record of 13-21 as a starter. He's also played for the New York Jets, New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers during his career.

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll doesn't expect significant changes to the team's foundation even after it missed the playoffs this season at 7-10.

Per The Athletic, during his weekly radio appearance, Carroll said he expects quarterback Russell Wilson to be back in 2022.

"Yeah, he's our quarterback," the coach said.

Carroll also said he doesn't "anticipate anything right now" regarding changes to the coaching staff.

While Seattle finished in last place in a strong NFC West that featured three playoff teams in the Los Angeles Rams, Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers, it has some momentum heading into the offseason after two straight wins.

It was also competitive for much of the campaign but went 3-5 in one-score games.

"That's the whole season," Carroll said of the close losses. "That's it. You can look at all the millions of things, criticize this and that, but that's what it really went to. There's reasons why. But it's clear we just didn't finish our games the way we need to."

Considering Wilson was sidelined for some time with a finger injury and may not have been at 100 percent when he returned, it isn't particularly difficult to envision the Seahawks playing better in those close games and working their way back into the postseason during the 2022 campaign.

Much of that will start with Wilson, though, as the idea of him playing elsewhere is not a new one.

In fact, his agent, Mark Rodgers, told ESPN's Adam Schefter last offseason his client would consider playing for the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders and Chicago Bears.

Seattle kept Wilson, but he has a potential out in his contract and is scheduled for free agency following the 2023 campaign. Trading him could signal a reset, but it would also likely allow the Seahawks to land multiple assets in return that could facilitate a quick rebuild after a disappointing season.

Alas, it seems the team plans on keeping the seven-time Pro Bowler and battling for a division crown in 2022.