Capping Off Business Veteran Edwards Released To Clear Spot For Saleaumua
In the name of career enhancement, Dan Saleaumua hired a personal trainer during his seven days as an unemployed defensive tackle.
Personal tormentor might be more accurate.
“He’d have me get up at 6 in the morning, that really ticked me off,” Saleaumua said following his first Seahawks practice Tuesday afternoon. “I said, ‘Wait a minute. I’m unemployed and you’re getting me up at 6?’ Then he’d have me doing an hour of treadmill… .
“I was yelling at my agent, ‘Find me a team.’ “
Saleaumua found the Seahawks, who now have a three-tackle rotation that should rate with the best in the NFL. Used in a similar rotation with Kansas City in 1995, Saleaumua was a Pro Bowler.
He arrived in Cheney about noon Tuesday, passed his physical, met with defensive line coach Tommy Brasher and was handed some practice equipment, including a No. 94 jersey. That was the same number defensive end Antonio Edwards was wearing at practice the day before.
Edwards was released Tuesday to clear room on the roster and create salary-cap space. Edwards was to make $550,000 this season. Saleaumua’s salary-cap figure is $500,000.
Just another NFL business day.
Edwards, a fifth-year pro, was battling Phillip Daniels for the starting end spot. Seahawks coaches are confident Daniels can handle the position. Chad Brown also plays end in obvious passing situations.
Still, Edwards’ release came as a shock to some, including left end Michael Sinclair.
“I understand the nature of the business,” Sinclair said. “But it caught a lot of people off guard. I talked to Antonio. He was somewhat shocked, too.”
Sinclair told his friend to continue on with his career. “What club wouldn’t give him a shot,” Sinclair said.
Saleaumua, meanwhile, believes the Seahawks have a shot at shocking the AFC West.
“I looked at all the teams that had a chance to make a run for that brass ring,” he said. “The Seahawks are going to surprise a lot of people.”
Adapting to a reserve role won’t be a problem, he said.
“Having a fresh body (in the fourth quarter) is what happened in 1995,” Saleaumua said. “We kept pushing up the middle and Derrick Thomas and Neal Smith ate up all the quarterbacks they could eat. Of course, I ate some myself.”
The Seahawks might play all three tackles together in short-yardage, goal-line type situations. Adams briefly played end earlier in his career.
Keeping up with Jones
The Seahawks finally worked out the contract language with rookie offensive tackle Walter Jones, who was scheduled to arrive late Tuesday night.
Jones is expected to sign a contract in the morning and practice at 3, vice president Randy Mueller said.
Jones’ imminent signing leaves Mueller with a bit more maneuvering to do. “We still have to come up with about $300,000,” Mueller said. “We have a couple things going on in regards to (contract) renegotiation.”
Ticket update
All 7,000 of the $10 Kingdome seats have been sold out for the season. Tickets for the regular-season opener against the New York Jets on Aug. 31 will be on sale via Ticketmaster (206 628-0888) on Friday at 10 a.m.
Camp sights
Cornerback Shawn Springs snagged his third interception in two days. He zipped in front of a receiver on a sideline pattern to make the pick.
Said Saleaumua: “Just watching him today, he’s pretty impressive. He reminds me a lot of (the Chiefs) Dale Carter, but a bigger, stronger Dale Carter.” … Running back Lamar Smith, who reportedly has agreed to pay ex-teammate Mike Frier $4 million to settle a civil lawsuit, declined interview requests. The lawsuit stemmed from a 1994 car accident that left Frier paralyzed from the waist down. … Eddie Goines made a nifty one-handed catch on a deep pass in the afternoon session.
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