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Seahawks Team Report

Yahoo! Sports - May 24, 12:55 am EDT

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Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll understood selecting Bruce Irvin was a risk because of off-the-field issues when Seattle drafted the speedy pass rusher at No. 15 overall in the 2012 draft.

For that reason, Carroll says he's willing to continue to support the West Virginia product after the NFL announced that Irvin violated the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs, resulting in a four-game suspension.

"Unfortunately if you go wrong, you get popped," Carroll said. "And that's how this thing works. And I'm really disappointed that we have to deal with anything like this, but there's going to be other issues, too, and we have to deal with them.

"For Bruce, we're going to try and help him along as best as we possibly can. And he's made an enormous commitment to try and do the right thing, and to try and be right. He made a mistake, and he admitted to it. And he owned up to his teammates. ... He wants to do right and show that he can. And we're going to see that through."

For his part, Irvin said all of the right things through a statement released by the team. Irvin was not made available after Seattle's first organized team activity this week.

"I want to apologize to my teammates, coaches and Seahawks fans for making a mistake when I took a substance that is prohibited in the NFL without a medical exemption," Irvin said in the release. "I am extremely disappointed in the poor judgment I showed and take full responsibility for my actions."

Irvin is eligible to return to Seattle's active roster on Sept. 30 following the team's Sept. 29 game at Houston.

He will miss Seattle's season opener at Carolina, home contests against San Francisco and Jacksonville, along with the road contest against the Texans.

Irvin is eligible to participate in all offseason and preseason practices and games.

The suspension will cost Irvin $191,681 in base salary in 2013. He reportedly tested positive for an amphetamine-type substance similar to the drug Adderall.

In the statement, Irvin said he would not appeal the suspension.

Carroll also addressed growing concerns nationally that he's running a rogue program. Irvin gives the Seahawks a league-leading seventh player to test positive for a performance-enhancing substance during the Seattle head coach's tenure, which began in January 2010. Among that group, cornerback Richard Sherman had his penalty reversed because of a chain-of-custody issue during the collection of his urine sample.

According to NFL spokesperson Greg Aiello, the Seahawks could be fined for having multiple players suspended in a season for violating the drug, steroid or personal-conduct policies.

"There are financial consequences for a team that has multiple players suspended in a season under those policies," Aiello said.

The Seahawks could face such actions because multiple players have been suspended for violating the banned-substance rules in the past year. Seattle could be fined a portion of the salaries of the players that have been suspended based on an agreed-upon formula.

"We have to figure this out and try to help through education and through all of the ways we can," Carroll said. "And we'll always compete to find more creative ways to make the message clear."

Faced with his team's growing list of violations on performance-enhancing drugs, Seahawks general manager John Schneider went public with his disappointment on SiriusXM NFL Radio, insisting the club has "gone above and beyond what the league has done," to educate players.

Schneider told hosts Bruce Murray and Rich Gannon that the Seahawks were working hard on the problem.

"This is something we take very seriously here," Schneider said. "The league has done a great job of educating guys, and we've actually gone above and beyond what the league has done. We have a guy in place here that helps our player-development people. You do what you can. It's very disappointing.

"Pete and I sat down with Bruce. Pete addressed it with the team. Bruce addressed the team. And, you know, really good organizations are the organizations that can take body blows. We look at this as a learning opportunity and one that obviously needs to be addressed, but this is also an opportunity for others to step forward."

--Meanwhile, there might be another reason that Carroll and Schneider spoke out this week, expressing the team's disappointment about a growing list of suspensions for performance-enhancing drugs and explaining that actions have been taken.

The Seahawks probably have paid for these suspensions, perhaps more than $60,000. And more suspensions this year should hit the team financially.

Although he wouldn't say it was so exactly, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello all but confirmed the Seahawks have paid a price.

"There are financial consequences for a team that has multiple players suspended in a season under those policies," Aiello said earlier this week.

Based on a policy implemented by the NFL in 2008, Mike Florio of profootballtalk.com calculated that the 2012 suspensions alone would have cost at least $60,845.

Running back Marshawn Lynch is a no-show at the Seahawks offseason team activities.

Lynch set career highs with 1,590 rushing yards, 315 carries and a yards-per-carry average of 5.0 in 2012. He has 25 total touchdowns the past two seasons.

"This is voluntary," coach Pete Carroll said. "That's the rules and the guidelines. He came in 10 days ago and he's in very good shape. He's working an intense program in his area, and he is benefiting from it. We'd love to see everybody here."

Lynch's upcoming DUI trial on June 21 could be the next hurdle for the Pro Bowl back. That trial could be delayed or never occur. Lynch's legal team will appear in court, when a motion to dismiss the case is expected.

The Seahawks drafted running back Christine Michael in the second round, adding him to the backfield depth that includes Robert Turbin, a 2011 fourth-round pick. Lynch, 27, has missed five games the past three seasons.
The team's leading sacker the past three seasons, Chris Clemons, was not in attendance at Seattle's first OTA of the week Monday because he's back in Georgia rehabbing from ACL knee surgery.

Clemons' replacement, Bruce Irvin, will not be available because he has to sit out the first four games for violating the league's policy on performance enhancing drugs.

And Cliff Avril, one of the team's major free-agent additions, did not practice because of a plantar fascia issue with his foot, which, according to Seattle head coach Pete Carroll, was injured four weeks ago.

So is Avril's injury serious?

"Well, it hurts," joked Carroll. "You could ask him about it. The plantar fascia thing is a real uncomfortable thing. You just have to wait it out.

"It's something that you can come back from. It's not a problem. But you just have to wait it out. He's real anxious to go, and he's doing very well in his rehab. And he runs some this week for the first time. So it will take another couple weeks at least."

Defensive end Red Bryant and tight end Zach Miller had to deal with a torn plantar fascia in their feet during the second half of last season.
Seahawks backup quarterback Josh Portis is running out of football lives. The third-year pro was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol on May 5 and then waived by the Seahawks Tuesday (May 21).

Portis has an arraignment hearing scheduled at the Redmond, Wash., courthouse on May 28. According to the police report, a Washington State Patrol officer pulled Portis over at 9:26 p.m. on May 5 after observing him driving 80 miles per hour in a 60-mile-an-hour zone exiting the Mount Baker tunnel heading eastbound on Interstate 90 in a 2008 Range Rover.

Per the report, Portis initially refused to take a breath test on site. But the arresting officer smelled the odor of intoxicants coming from his car and noted his eyes were watery and bloodshot. Portis, who repeatedly denied he had been drinking, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.

He later submitted to two blood tests, registering a blood-alcohol concentration reading of .092 and .078. The legal limit in the state of Washington is .080. Portis has been charged with a gross misdemeanor.

Portis was expected to be in a competition for the backup quarterback job with Brady Quinn and Jerrod Johnson. The 25-year-old Portis was released from the practice squad last November, and then was re-signed to the 90-man roster in April.
The Seahawks announced that second-round draft choice running back Christine Michael agreed to a multi-year deal. Michael did not practice during the first day of OTAs because he's nursing a tight hamstring. Fifth-round draft choice cornerback Tharold Simon and seventh-round selection offensive tackle Michael Bowie are the only Seattle draft picks that remain unsigned.

Quote To Note:

"We've got to make the right decisions as players. It's up to us to make the right decision, at the end of the day. It doesn't matter what the coaches say positively, negatively - whatever - we have to make the decision as players."

—Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, commenting on teammate Bruce Irvin violating the league's policy on performance enhancing drugs.

A closer look at the Seahawks' picks:

Round 2/62 - Christine Michael, RB, 5-10, 220, Texas A&M

The Seahawks traded back six spots from No. 56 to 62 with the Ravens, and still got their top-rated prospect on the board. Replaces Leon Washington as team's change-of-pace back.

Round 3/87 - Jordan Hill, DT, 6-1, 303, Penn State

Considered a natural pass rusher from the interior of the defense who will compete for time as a rotational guy.

Round 4/123 - Chris Harper, WR, 6-1, 233, Kansas State

A big receiver with strong hands who has been compared with Anquan Boldin. Harper was a former quarterback turned receiver.

Round 5/137 - Jesse Williams, DT, 6-3, 325, Alabama

Projected to go in the first two rounds, Williams surprisingly fell to the fifth round. He will be used as a run stuffer inside on early downs.

Round 5/138 - Tharold Simon, CB, 6-2, 202, LSU

Simon is a perfect fit for Seattle's press corner coverage scheme, and adds depth behind Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner.

Round 5/158 - Luke Willson, TE, 6-5, 252, Rice

Ran a blistering 4.51-second 40-yard time at his pro day, and will be used to stretch the middle of the defense in the passing game.

Round 6/194 - Spencer Ware, FB, 5-10, 229, LSU

Seahawks plan on converting the hard-charging runner to fullback, where he will compete for time with Michael Robinson.

Round 7/220—Ryan Seymour, G, 6-4, 301, Vanderbilt

A versatile offensive lineman who will compete for time at guard for Seattle.

Round 7/231 - Ty Powell, OLB 6-3, 249, Harding University

A good athlete who can get to the quarterback. Finished with 8.5 sacks in 2012 at Division II Harding.

Round 7/241 - Jared Smith, G, 6-3, 302, New Hampshire

A defensive tackle in college, Smith will convert to offensive guard like J.R. Sweezy successfully did last season.

Round 7/242 - Michael Bowie, T, 6-5, 332, Northeastern State

Dismissed from Oklahoma State for violating team rules, Bowie will compete for time at right tackle.

Franchise Player:

None.

Transition Player:

None.

Unrestricted Free Agents

(4)

DE Patrick Chukwurah replaced injured defensive end Chris Clemons on the roster for the NFC divisional playoff game at Atlanta. Played five plays defensively.
LB Leroy Hill's fourth brush with the law in two years likely spells the end of Hill's time in Seattle.
K Ryan Longwell made all four extra points and had a touchback in his only game for Seattle as a late-season pickup against Atlanta in the NFC playoffs, with regular kicker Steven Hauschka out because of a strained calf.
G Frank Omiyale served ably as a swing tackle for the Seahawks, including a start against Dallas for a hobbled Russell Okung.

Restricted Free Agents:

None.

Exclusive Rights Free Agents:

None.

Draft Choices Signed

RB Christine Michael (2/62): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
DT Jordan Hill (3/87): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
WR Chris Harper (4/123): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
DT Jesse Williams (5/137): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
TE Luke Willson (5/158): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
FB Spencer Ware (6/194): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
G Ryan Seymour (7/220): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
LB Ty Powell (7/231): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
G Jared Smith (7/241): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

Players Re-signed

LS Clint Gresham: RFA tendered at $1.323M with no compensation; $1.323M/1 yr.
K Steven Hauschka: UFA; terms unknown.
S Chris Maragos: RFA tendered at $1.323M with no compensation; $1.323M/1 yr.
DE Clinton McDonald: RFA tendered at 1.323M with seventh-round pick as compensation); $1.323M/1 yr.