Tag: Pete Carroll

Jun 7, 2022; Renton, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks strong safety Jamal Adams (33) talks about past finger injuries during a press conference following a minicamp practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Seahawks coach: S Jamal Adams out for Week 1 vs. Rams

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Seahawks safety Jamal Adams has been ruled out for the team’s season opener against the visiting Los Angeles Rams, coach Pete Carroll announced Friday on 93.3 KJR in Seattle.

Adams, 27, is recovering from a quad injury sustained during Week 1 of last season. He will not be ready to join his teammates on the field for the game with the Rams on Sept. 10, Carroll said.

“It’s gonna be after the start of the season; we’re not gonna push him,” Carroll said of Adams, who was named a first-team All-Pro in 2019.

A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Adams has recorded 446 tackles, 21.5 sacks, four interceptions and seven forced fumbles in 71 career games with the New York Jets (2017-19) and Seahawks.

–Field Level Media

Aug 26, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll (right) congratulates quarterback Geno Smith (7) as he comes off the field in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

GM, coach laud Geno Smith’s self belief behind career year

Posted on | by Field Level Media

With a new three-year, $105 million contract in tow, Geno Smith was celebrated as the quarterback of the present for the Seattle Seahawks.

In a press conference at team headquarters Thursday, Smith was showered with appreciation from the Seahawks for his commitment to the franchise and belief in himself. Smith stepped into a starting role, which was never truly contested by Drew Lock, after the Seahawks traded Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos last March.

The 32-year-old Smith delivered while making $3.5 million last season, guiding the Seahawks to a wildcard playoff spot, earning a Pro Bowl nod and now cashing in with a contract that could pay him 30 times his 2022 rate.

“There were a lot of years when Geno just had to sit there, waiting,” head coach Pete Carroll said, seated to Smith’s right and opposite general manager John Schneider at a press conference Thursday afternoon. “The story that has been unveiled about believing in yourself and confidence and trust and never giving up is just a vivid illustration of Geno. He always knew. He always knew he could do this. When it happened, the opportunity was there, and you handled it so flawlessly.”

Carroll said Smith approached the Seahawks about a team-friendly deal that ties more than $30 million to incentives and performance bonuses. Carroll said he wasn’t surprised to hear Smith say his concern was leaving the team room to build a championship team around him.

“I believe in team first,” Smith said Thursday.

Smith was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2022. He was a backup for seven seasons with four different teams and all but discounted as a serious option to be Seattle’s starter for even one season. He set franchise single-season records for passing yards (4,282), completions (399), completion percentage (69.8) and pass attempts (572), breaking three previous Wilson records.

“I know you know this, but what an inspiration you’ve been to men, women, young, old, all around the country,” Schneider said. “Lessons about faith, perseverance, work ethic. Being a good person, man. Watching you last year was awesome, and I know you’re super-excited about the future. So thank you to you.”

Last week, Schneider said at the NFL Scouting Combine the Seahawks are digging deep into the quarterbacks in the 2023 draft, and Carroll called the No. 5 pick — part of the return from the trade return from the Broncos for Wilson — a “rare opportunity.”

Schneider, raised in the Green Bay scouting department where quarterback insurance was a top priority, nodded and smiled when asked if Seattle could keep Smith and spend a high pick on a quarterback in the 2023 draft.

“They don’t grow on trees,” he said.

–Field Level Media

Jan 14, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) makes a throw in the second quarter of a wild card game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Seahawks, QB Geno Smith agree to 3-year, $105M deal

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The Seattle Seahawks are bringing back quarterback Geno Smith on a three-year contract worth $105 million, several outlets reported Monday.

The 32-year-old was set to hit unrestricted free agency after the first Pro Bowl season of his nine-year NFL career. Instead, he will remain in Seattle and average $35 million per year. The deal will include $52 million in the first year, ESPN reported.

Smith was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year after taking charge of the Seahawks’ offense in the first year following the Russell Wilson era and guiding them to a wild-card playoff berth.

After serving as Wilson’s backup from 2019-21, Smith beat out Drew Lock for the job in the preseason and proceeded to start all 17 games, his first year as a full-time starter since his first two NFL campaigns with the New York Jets.

The veteran led the NFL in completion percentage at 69.8 percent and passed for career highs of 4,282 yards and 30 touchdowns along with 11 interceptions. He added 366 rushing yards and one score.

The Seahawks were clear about wanting to re-sign Smith, but Seattle coach Pete Carroll also said during the scouting combine in Indianapolis that the Seahawks are “totally connected” to the quarterbacks in the 2023 draft class. The team has the fifth pick in the draft and five selections in the top 83.

Carroll said keeping Smith and drafting a quarterback is a “definite” possibility.

In 10 NFL seasons with the Jets (2013-16), New York Giants (2017), Los Angeles Chargers (2018) and Seahawks, Smith has thrown for 11,199 yards, 64 touchdowns and 48 interceptions with a 62.8 completion percentage. He has added 1,067 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

Sep 12, 2022; Seattle, Washington, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) hugs Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll following a 17-16 Seattle victory at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Russell Wilson denies asking Seahawks to fire Pete Carroll, GM

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Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson denied a report that he asked Seattle Seahawks ownership to fire head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider before he was traded to Denver in March 2022.

Wilson said via Twitter on Friday morning that a report from The Athletic detailing an alleged plot of have Carroll and Schneider fired to bring in Sean Payton as head coach wasn’t accurate.

“I love Pete and he was a father figure to me and John believed in me and drafted me as well. I never wanted them fired. All any of us wanted was to win,” Wilson wrote. “l’ll always have respect for them and love for Seattle.”

Wilson and Carroll embraced on the field after Seattle’s 17-16 win on Sept. 12, when the Seahawks edged the Broncos in Wilson’s return.

A lawyer for Wilson sent a letter to The Athletic, saying the report published Friday that the quarterback wanted Carroll and Schneider fired was “entirely fabricated.”

Wilson now plays for Payton, who was hired this month as head coach of the Broncos. He spent last season working for FOX as an NFL studio analyst after stepping away from coaching the New Orleans Saints.

Carroll, 71, has been with the Seahawks since 2010 and was part of the braintrust that drafted Wilson 75th overall in the 2012 NFL Draft. Schneider also was hired in 2010 and signed a contract extension in 2021.

Wilson, 34, spent 10 seasons with the Seahawks and guided the team to a Super Bowl XLVIII win (February 2014) over the Broncos, 43-8. He also threw a goal-line interception in Super Bowl XLIX (February 2015) with 20 seconds remaining in a painful Seattle defeat, 28-24, at the hands of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Denver went 5-12 in Wilson’s first season with the Broncos in 2022, which included the firing of first-year coach Nathaniel Hackett in December.

–Field Level Media

Aug 13, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) throws a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

Seahawks QB Drew Lock (COVID) out after preseason starting nod

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, shortly after coach Pete Carroll told reporters that Lock would start the team’s next preseason game against the Chicago Bears.

Instead, Lock will miss Thursday’s game and Geno Smith will lead Seattle as the team’s quarterback competition heads into the home stretch.

Lock not only practiced Tuesday afternoon at Seahawks camp in Renton, Wash., but did so primarily with the first-string offense. Those reps were in part to prep Lock to start against the Bears.

“We had planned well back before the offseason even started to get to this game, the second game,” Carroll said after Tuesday’s practice. “Geno would be the starter in (the mock game) at Lumen and the opening (preseason) game, then we would go with Drew in the second game. We’re trying to follow that if we can.”

They won’t be able to follow that plan to completion now. The NFL stopped its COVID-19 protocol in March but still follows CDC guidelines that call for five days in isolation after a positive test.

The Seahawks received Lock as part of a massive package in the trade that sent Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos this offseason. Seattle did not draft a quarterback and stood pat with Geno Smith, last year’s No. 2, and Lock as the main candidates for the starting job.

Lock, Denver’s second-round pick in the 2019 draft, has completed 59.3 percent of his passes and thrown for 4,740 yards, 25 touchdowns and 20 interceptions in his career across 24 games (21 starts).

Despite Carroll’s original plan to give Lock first-team looks this week, he said he still viewed Smith as the No. 1 quarterback if the season began now.

“Geno’s still the No. 1 guy, he’s holding onto his spot at this point,” said Carroll, who also battled COVID-19 earlier in camp. “I really like what Drew has shown us. You look at his passer rating and some of the stuff he did (in the preseason opener), he did a great job. Both of our guys can play. That’s what we do know, they both can play.”

Lock completed 11 of 15 passes for 102 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 32-25 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday.

–Field Level Media

Jul 27, 2022; Renton, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll answers questions during a press conference following training camp practice at Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll tests positive for COVID-19

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Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll tested positive for COVID-19 and is participating in team meetings virtually from home.

The Seahawks said in a statement that Carroll, who is fully vaccinated, tested positive Sunday and is “experiencing mild symptoms.”

Carroll, 70, is entering his 13th season as coach of the Seahawks. The team is coming off a 7-10 campaign in 2021.

–Field Level Media

Oct 17, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) walks the field before playing the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Russell Wilson has pin removed from injured finger

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson had a pin removed from his injured right middle finger, a key step that could portend his return to the field later this month.

Wilson showed off a picture of the pin on social media Monday with the caption, “No more Pin. Time to Win.”

Wilson’s finger broke when he banged it against Aaron Donald’s arm during an Oct. 7 game against the Los Angeles Rams, and he had it surgically repaired the following day. The injury caused him to miss games for the first time in his NFL career, ending a 149-game iron man streak.

Geno Smith has served as Seattle’s quarterback since then. The Seahawks are 1-2 in Smith’s starts, including Sunday’s 31-7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars that brought the team to 3-5.

Week 9 is Seattle’s bye week, so the question becomes whether Wilson will be ready to return in time for the next game Nov. 14 at the Green Bay Packers. Wilson can be activated from injured reserve now that he has stayed on it for the required three-game minimum.

Ironically, Wilson posted the pin picture shortly after coach Pete Carroll told reporters he didn’t know when it was coming out.

“Really, we’re just kind of hoping for the best in terms of his return and that everything is handled really well as we get him in the mode where he starts to use his hand and his finger with the football and all that. So we’ve just got to do a good job and see what happens. There’s no updates as of now.”

Wilson, a seven-time Pro Bowler, led Seattle to two Super Bowl appearances, including a victory in Super Bowl XLVIII.

–Field Level Media

Oct 7, 2021; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) returns to the sideline following a series against the Los Angeles Rams the second quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Seahawks QB Russell Wilson headed to injured reserve

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Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said quarterback Russell Wilson would be placed on injured reserve with a finger injury.

During last week’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams Oct. 7, Wilson suffered a ruptured tendon and a fracture-dislocation of the middle finger on his throwing hand. He had surgery the following day, with a reported timetable of four to eight weeks to return.

“That’s what’s coming up, yeah,” Carroll said Friday when asked whether the team was planning to move Wilson to IR.

Players on IR must sit out a minimum of three weeks. Wilson will miss the Seahawks’ games against the Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars. Then Seattle has a bye week, meaning the earliest Wilson can return to the field would be a Week 10 matchup against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

Wilson, 32, has not missed a game since entering the league in 2012. His ironman streak of 149 consecutive games officially will end Sunday when Seattle faces Pittsburgh. Geno Smith has been tapped to start in Wilson’s absence.

Starting running back Chris Carson (neck) was ruled out for the second straight game after not practicing all week. Carroll said the Seahawks were still considering whether Carson would need to be moved to IR.

Alex Collins started in Carson’s place last week and is likely to get the majority of the work in Week 6.

–Field Level Media

Nov 1, 2020; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, left, greets San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan following a 37-27 Seattle victory at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Carroll gets lengthy extension from Seahawks

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Head coach Pete Carroll received a multi-year contract extension from the Seattle Seahawks, according to ESPN.

The new deal reportedly will run through the 2025 season, though the club has not confirmed.

Carroll, who turned 69 in September, is the league’s oldest coach and has gone 106-60-1 in 11 seasons with the Seahawks. He guided Seattle to the 2013 Super Bowl title and a runner-up finish the following season.

Carroll has said he hopes to coach well into his 70s.

He also coached the New York Jets (1994) and New England Patriots (1997-99) and had a combined 33-31 record with those teams.

The Seahawks are 6-1 this season and face the Bills (6-2) on Sunday in Buffalo.

–Field Level Media

Sep 15, 2019; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Antonio Brown (17) warms up prior to the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Carroll: Seahawks ‘tuned into’ status of WR Brown

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Could the undefeated Seattle Seahawks be getting even more offensive help for the NFL’s top-rated passer?

According to a Wednesday report by ESPN, Seattle is trying to add to Russell Wilson’s offensive arsenal, as it is among the teams that have expressed interest in suspended wide receiver Antonio Brown.

Brown was punished by the NFL and banned without pay for this season’s first eight games because of that the league termed “multiple violations of the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy.”

With the four-time All-Pro wideout eligible to be activated by any team that signs him following Week 8, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll was asked about the ESPN report and did not exactly douse rumors of interest.

“We have endeavored to be in on everything that’s going on and (general manager) John (Schneider) has done a marvelous job of always being tuned in to what’s happening,” Carroll said. “And this is no exception.

“So we’ll see what happens as we go forward, but we’re tuned into what’s happening there.”

Wilson, with his current stable of receivers, leads the NFL in both touchdown passes (19) and passer rating (129.8). He and backup quarterback Geno Smith worked out with Brown in the offseason and have remained positive about his possible addition to the club, according to ESPN.

The Seahawks (5-0), one of three remaining teams without a loss in 2020, lead the NFL in scoring at 33.8 points per game.

Brown, 32, has been a free agent since September 2019, when the New England Patriots released him after one game following allegations of sexual assault and intimidating text messages sent to an accuser. Those allegations led to an NFL’s investigation.

In June 2020, Brown was sentenced to two years’ probation and ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation and enroll in a 13-week anger management course by a Florida court after pleading no contest to an assault charge unrelated to the allegations of sexual assault.

As part of the discipline, the league directed Brown to continue his counseling and treatment program.

Brown, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, had 104 catches for 1,297 yards and a league-best 15 touchdown receptions for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2018, his last full season. For his career, he has 841 receptions for 11,263 yards and 75 TDs. He has recorded seven 1,000-yard receiving seasons and has surpassed 100 catches six times in his career.

–Field Level Media