Seahawks Add a Big Body
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Posted by: Shaun Dolence
The Seahawks have signed their first free agent: defensive tackle Colin Cole.
This is very big news (literally) for the Seahawks. Cole is 6’1”, 330 pounds, and is expected to start alongside Brandon Mebane in the middle of Seattle’s defense. Cole agreed to a five year deal, reportedly worth close to $21 million.
Cole, 28 years old, entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He bounced around a couple of teams before landing in Green Bay in 2004, where he finally made his mark in the NFL. Though he has yet to become an impact player, he has proven to be a big body capable of contributing on the defensive line. During five seasons with the Packers, Cole played in 57 games (including 8 starts), recording 126 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
According to Clare Farnsworth of the Seattle P-I,
"Re-signing Cole was an off-season priority for the Packers, who are switching to a 3-4 defense and wanted to use Cole’s 330 pound body in a rotation at nose tackle."
- The bigger, the better.
I’ll try to find out more information about Cole from a Green Bay perspective to see exactly what we’re getting – aside from the obvious: a big body that will fit nicely into our rotation at defensive tackle. Another predictable move by Ruskell to shore up off season needs prior to the draft, which will allow us to draft the best available (instead of reaching at number four for a defensive tackle …).
The signing of Cole was made even more significant, because free agent defensive tackle Rocky Bernard agreed to a four year, $16 million contract with the New York Giants. Bernard wasn’t expected back, and was likely shown his way out prior to free agency beginning. He isn’t the same player he was earlier in his career, and isn’t active enough in the middle of the defense for the Seahawks. Best of luck to him in New York.
In other news, the Seahawks have reportedly cancelled a scheduled visit with free agent defensive lineman Chris Canty. Canty would have been a nice addition to Seattle’s roster, but his price tag was probably too high for the Seahawks.
UPDATE: Ok, so maybe signing Colin Coles wasn’t the primary reason for Canty’s scheduled visit being cancelled. From several sources, Chris Canty has agreed to a six year deal with the New York Giants worth $42 million.