Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have painstakingly gone about the business of re-signing their core players in recent years, yet the main stories continue to be contract negotiations.
The franchise re-signed general manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll leading up to training camp. The only big question that remained involved DE Michael Bennett, who has two years on his current contract but wants to renegotiate. Unlike S
Kam Chancellor, who held out last year, Bennett was on hand when camp opened.
With most of their off-the-field negotiations now on the backburner, the Seahawks were able to focus on the on-field work. The team is still waiting for RB
Thomas Rawls and TE Jimmy Graham to return from seasonending injuries, and the offensive line has plenty of question marks.
Rookie watch: With Rawls sidelined by an ankle injury, rookies C.J. Prosise and Alex Col
lins could see a lot of reps. Prosise, a third-round pick, was not available when camp opened because of a sore hamstring. That left Collins, fellow rookie Zac Brooks and veteran Christine Michael seeing most of the reps when camp opened. QB Trevone
Boykin opened camp as the primary backup to Russell Wilson. Boykin, an undrafted rookie from TCU, is battling first-year player Jake Heaps for the job.
Noteworthy: Veteran DE Chris Clemons, the only experienced veteran behind starters Bennett and Cliff Avril, announced his retirement on the eve of camp. Losing 34-year-old Clemons leaves Seattle thin at the position, although converted LB
Frank Clark could see time lining up there when Bennett shifts inside in pass situations. ... LT Garry Gilliam was sidelined after a minor procedure on his knee, so veteran Bradley Sowell was working with the first team at left tackle. Gilliam is expected to be the frontrunner to replace former Pro Bowler Russell Okung, who signed with Denver during free agency.