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Seahawks Add Quality Depth, Sign Safety Russell, TE M. Pollard</font>
AP Sports
03/14/2007
SEATTLE (AP) -The Seattle Seahawks tried to sell safety Brian Russell on the advantages of coming to the Pacific Northwest.
They didn't need to put forth the effort.
"I think they tried to sell it because that is kind of the way that recruiting trips and free-agent trips go, but I was trying to contain myself," said Russell, Seattle's newest defensive back. "I was really excited about getting up there."
After two years in Cleveland, Russell signed with the Seahawks - another step in the remodeling of Seattle's secondary. On Monday, the team introduced Deon Grant, who was signed from Jacksonville presumably to take the spot of free safety Ken Hamlin, an unrestricted free agent.
Russell's signing will provide extra depth for a group of safeties that includes Grant, Mike Green and Michael Boulware. The unit will be coached by Jim Mora.
"I know they have a good group of players up there and I know there are four good safeties now," Russell said.
Also on Tuesday, Seattle signed tight end Marcus Pollard to a one-year contract. Pollard spent the last two seasons in Detroit after spending most of his career in Indianapolis. With the Lions, Pollard's production dropped significantly this year with Mike Martz in charge of the offense. Pollard had 12 catches and no touchdowns. For his career, Pollard has 321 catches, more than 4,000 yards receiving and 38 TDs.
Terms of Pollard's deal were not released.
Russell started his career on the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad but in 2003, his second full season, he intercepted nine passes and recorded a career-high 95 tackles. Russell had 51 tackles and one interception in 12 games last season with Cleveland.
He was extremely durable, having never missed a game until last season, when a staph infection cost him the final four games. Russell had been dealing with staph - a bacteria that typically enters the body through scratches and scrapes - since the preseason.
Following an Aug. 26 exhibition game at Buffalo, Russell's elbow went from being tender to infected in a matter of hours. He had surgery to purge the infection and only missed the club's preseason finale.
Russell didn't miss any time during the regular season, until December. His long surgical incision was reopened during a game against the Steelers on Nov. 19 and he missed his first game on Dec. 7 when Cleveland played at Pittsburgh. Russell was hospitalized to treat the infection and was placed on injured reserve.
"It was frustrating on my end because I felt like I was playing good football and it wasn't like I hurt my knee or my shoulder," Russell said. "It was a random infection, something I never would have seen coming."
Russell has played mostly free safety in recent seasons, but is equally comfortable at strong safety. With Grant's signing, Russell is likely to compete with Boulware and Green for the starting spot at strong safety. But with the rash of injuries Seattle's secondary endured at the end of last season, Russell's versatility is welcome.
"I don't think it matters," Russell said about which position he'll play. "Hopefully, I will get a chance to do both up there."
From http://www.nflplayers.com/news/news_release.aspx?id=6474
AP Sports
03/14/2007
SEATTLE (AP) -The Seattle Seahawks tried to sell safety Brian Russell on the advantages of coming to the Pacific Northwest.
They didn't need to put forth the effort.
"I think they tried to sell it because that is kind of the way that recruiting trips and free-agent trips go, but I was trying to contain myself," said Russell, Seattle's newest defensive back. "I was really excited about getting up there."
After two years in Cleveland, Russell signed with the Seahawks - another step in the remodeling of Seattle's secondary. On Monday, the team introduced Deon Grant, who was signed from Jacksonville presumably to take the spot of free safety Ken Hamlin, an unrestricted free agent.
Russell's signing will provide extra depth for a group of safeties that includes Grant, Mike Green and Michael Boulware. The unit will be coached by Jim Mora.
"I know they have a good group of players up there and I know there are four good safeties now," Russell said.
Also on Tuesday, Seattle signed tight end Marcus Pollard to a one-year contract. Pollard spent the last two seasons in Detroit after spending most of his career in Indianapolis. With the Lions, Pollard's production dropped significantly this year with Mike Martz in charge of the offense. Pollard had 12 catches and no touchdowns. For his career, Pollard has 321 catches, more than 4,000 yards receiving and 38 TDs.
Terms of Pollard's deal were not released.
Russell started his career on the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad but in 2003, his second full season, he intercepted nine passes and recorded a career-high 95 tackles. Russell had 51 tackles and one interception in 12 games last season with Cleveland.
He was extremely durable, having never missed a game until last season, when a staph infection cost him the final four games. Russell had been dealing with staph - a bacteria that typically enters the body through scratches and scrapes - since the preseason.
Following an Aug. 26 exhibition game at Buffalo, Russell's elbow went from being tender to infected in a matter of hours. He had surgery to purge the infection and only missed the club's preseason finale.
Russell didn't miss any time during the regular season, until December. His long surgical incision was reopened during a game against the Steelers on Nov. 19 and he missed his first game on Dec. 7 when Cleveland played at Pittsburgh. Russell was hospitalized to treat the infection and was placed on injured reserve.
"It was frustrating on my end because I felt like I was playing good football and it wasn't like I hurt my knee or my shoulder," Russell said. "It was a random infection, something I never would have seen coming."
Russell has played mostly free safety in recent seasons, but is equally comfortable at strong safety. With Grant's signing, Russell is likely to compete with Boulware and Green for the starting spot at strong safety. But with the rash of injuries Seattle's secondary endured at the end of last season, Russell's versatility is welcome.
"I don't think it matters," Russell said about which position he'll play. "Hopefully, I will get a chance to do both up there."
From http://www.nflplayers.com/news/news_release.aspx?id=6474
