On day Wilson gets engaged, Ryan continues marriage with Seahawks while Bailey divorces Seattle
Jon Ryan, the most unique punter in the league, re-signed instead of taking his fun elsewhere in free agency.
Russell Okung, the Seahawks’ now-pivotal left tackle, was on the East Coast representing himself in talks with the Giants. He came and went from New York without signing. Now Okung is set to visit the Detroit Lions on Saturday.
Okung’s backup, who’d tweeted in October he’d rather be in any of the other 31 NFL cities than in Seattle, is now in Cleveland. Alvin Bailey signed with the Browns.
The league awarded the Seahawks three more picks in next month’s draft.
And, oh, yeah, Russell Wilson got engaged to Grammy Award-winning singer Ciara.
“She said, ‘Yes!’” the obviously overjoyed Seattle quarterback said into his self-shot video he posted on social media Friday. His gal was beside him flashing a giddy smile – and a new diamond on her finger about the size of CenturyLink Field.
Just another free-agent day with the Seahawks.
Friday’s third day of the league’s open market for veterans with expiring contracts evened Seattle’s free-agent scorecard: four re-signed, four departed.
Ryan, the witty, 34-year-old native of Saskatchewan, got a deal worth $10 million with a $2.4 million signing bonus, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Last year Ryan made $1.5 million. So it’s annual average raise of $1 million for the punter that coach Pete Carroll values as an additional member of Seattle’s top-rated defense. His booming punts in key situations have flipped field position in the defense’s favor during his eight seasons with the Seahawks.
The ultra-popular Ryan joined wide receiver Jermaine Kearse, cornerback Jeremy Lane and defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin in returning to the Seahawks as unrestricted free agents
Upholding his persona as one of the more unique punters – and players – in his sport, Ryan disclosed he was staying with Seattle in an old/new-fashioned way.
The free agent announced it himself. By tweeting.
“Found out this morning that I will have the honor of playing in front of the greatest fans in the world for 4 more years. #12’s @Seahawks” Ryan posted on his @JonRyan9 Twitter account Friday morning.
He’s competed on television’s “American Ninja Warrior.” He’s thrown a touchdown pass, as the holder on a fake field goal to jump start Seattle’s late rally to win 2015 NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers. He broke his nose trying to run for a first down on a malfunctioning punt snap in his native-like, subzero cold during the wild-card playoff win at Minnesota in January. The bridge of his helmet that is usually across his forehead got smashed down onto his nose when he tried to hurdle a tackler. Ryan landed on his facemask into the frozen turf.
And he’s also engaged, to comedian Sarah Colonna in July.
“Man,” Ryan reacted after he broke his nose in January against the Vikings, leaving him with two black eyes, “I’m going to look like hell in the wedding pictures.”
Ryan averaged 45.5 yards per punt last season. His career average is 44.8 yards.
Also on Friday, the Browns signed Bailey two days after Seattle decided to not tender the backup offensive lineman a contract that would have kept him with the Seahawks as a restricted free agent. Bailey had numerous chances to seize prominent roles the last couple seasons but never did.
He tweeted last October during the season in the 32-team league “Thinkin about 31 other cities I’d rather be in then Seattle right now…”
Now he’s in Cleveland.
The NFL on Friday awarded the Seahawks three compensatory picks in next month’s draft. The choices are at the end of the third, fifth and seventh rounds and are awarded for net losses in free agency in 2015. That gives Seattle nine selection in this year’s draft, a place general manager John Schneider loves to be.
This week in 2016’s free agency, the Seahawks have lost three starters so far – guard J.R. Sweezy, linebacker Bruce Irvin and defensive tackle Brandon Mebane.
They are attempting to re-sign Okung, but the left tackle who is representing himself in contract negotiations is talking to the Giants and Lions. The San Francisco 49ers are also believed to be interested in Seattle’s two-time Pro Bowl tackle.
The Seahawks are reportedly also interested in Arizona free-agent offensive linemen Brady Sowell and Ted Larsen.
Amid this Friday of free-agent signings and visits and rumors, the Seahawks’ franchise quarterback truly captured his franchise woman.
“Ye-aaaahhhh! Makin’ this thing happen,” Wilson said in his online video, with Ciara squealing in joy.
The couple was shown seated on a blanket on what appeared to be a beach, in a place far warmer than Western Washington’s been this week.
“So excited! God is so good,” Ciara said in the clip.
“All the time,” the quarterback added.