Seahawks, ex-Packer Lacy agree to one-year contract
Raiders lure Patterson away from Minnesota
RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks are hoping Eddie Lacy can be motivated by a one-year contract to rediscover the form that made him the 2013 Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The Seahawks and Lacy agreed to terms on a one-year deal Tuesday, providing Seattle a big body for a run game that was once the best in football but lagged last season following the retirement of Marshawn Lynch.
“I like that we’re bringing in a big, tough guy that’s going to send a message the way he plays the game,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said in an interview with KIRO-AM, the Seahawks’ flagship station, on Tuesday.
Lacy was the top offensive rookie four years ago when he rushed for 1,178 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also ran for more than 1,100 yards in 2014, but has since been slowed by injuries and lost favor with Packers coach Mike McCarthy at times.
Last season, Lacy played in only five games, sidelined by ankle problems, and finished with only 360 yards rushing and no touchdowns. Weight has also been an issue for Lacy, but Carroll said he would expect the running back to play in the range of 240-250 pounds.
“He’s a big guy. There is nothing wrong with that,” Carroll said. “There will be a real concerted effort to make sure he’s at his very best. This is a hard time for him because he’s working some rehab right now, but he is well aware of our expectations and the standards that we are setting.”
Seattle’s running back situation was filled with instability from the start of last season. Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise were both limited by injuries. Christine Michael was cut midseason due to ineffectiveness, yet still led the Seahawks in rushing during the regular season.
Seattle brought in Adrian Peterson for a visit over the weekend before turning to Lacy as its primary target.
RAIDERS: Cordarrelle Patterson’s skills as a kick returner are unquestioned after four seasons in the NFL with two first-team All-Pro selections, the second highest-return average since World War II, and five momentum-changing touchdowns.
When the Oakland Raiders told him they wanted to get more out of him as a big-play WR, he jumped at the chance to sign a two-year deal as a free agent.
“That was one of the deciding factors,” Patterson said Tuesday. “We sat down and talked. They were just saying how they can work on getting me a better receiver.
“Things I’m good at, they’re going to keep continuing to do that. Those things I need to work on, they’re going to help me improve on that.”
CHIEFS: The Chiefs signed defensive tackle Bennie Logan to a one-year contract Tuesday, filling the void left by free agent Dontari Poe in the middle of the Kansas City defensive line.
FALCONS: Atlanta re-signed safety Kemal Ishmael and have signed wide receiver and return specialist Andre Roberts from Detroit.
VIKINGS: Minnesota signed defensive end Datone Jones, the former first-round pick of the rival Packers.
The Vikings closed the deal Tuesday with Jones, who was selected 26th overall out of UCLA in the 2013 draft.
PATRIOTS: The Patriots signed free agent running back Rex Burkhead.
Burkhead, 26, comes from Cincinnati, where he has spent all four years of his NFL career since being drafted in the sixth round out of Nebraska in 2013.
SAINTS: Patriots restricted free agent cornerback Malcolm Butler has scheduled a visit with the Saints at the team’s headquarters Thursday.
BEARS: Chicago agreed to terms with place-kicker Connor Barth on a one-year contract.
Barth made 18 of 23 field-goal attempts last season and missed only one of 32 extra-point tries in 16 games.