Don't know where I saw/heard it, but I understand the Buccaneers were wanting to trade for him and we turned it down to release him instead. That says we'd rather let him test the market and possibly get a better deal or sign back with us than snag a draft pick out of it. Pretty decent move, I'd say.

And yes, Pete's said he has no problem at all putting Harvin back for returns. While Leon was great at them, so's Harvin, and that puts Leon in a bad position, skills-wise. His one solid contribution to the team just got undermined.

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I blog, I tweet. When I'm not writing or goofing around on Seahawks.NET.

Leon was signed to a contract at a point in time where KR specialists had a bigger impact on football games. I think it wasn't even a month after we signed him to that contract, that the NFL neutered that advantage to a shadow of it's former self.

KRs are still important. But not to the degree they were in 2011. His value was severely lessened through no fault of his own. And it was apparent last year, that he wasn't really able to augment his value by being a viable change of pace back. His success was extremely modest as a RB.

To be factual, only $14.5M is fully guaranteed.

The other $11M is guaranteed only for injury.

Link to source

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"Wilson will come in there pissing lightning and crapping thunder! Watch out!" ... Tech Worlds, 5/9/2012

Endzorn, 3 min. later... "Football aside, I would pay money to see that. I'm serious."

Moved to Seattle in 1980. Hawks fan for 33 years and counting.

I think we will bring him back for less money when he sees there isnt much of a market for a 30 year old return man

you just supported my argument for not using harvin in kickoff returns.. one of the most dangerous plays in the game.. you don't put a guy that is going to be implemented in the offense in a ton of different ways and have so much value and importance in that sense on a kickoff return where its common knowledge many guys get injured. he is going to be more valuable to the team in the offense than on returns.. we didn't give up 3 picks and 25.5 million in guarantees to a guy because we like'd the added ability to return kicks which many different players can take care of.. this isn't to say they will never use harvin in any returns.. i can imagine scenarios where were down with little time left and it would give us a boost.. but i dont think we can necessarily asume that he's going to be returning all or even a majority of our kicks.

and i still think you are mistaken on leon.. you didn't say comparatively the same speed as harvin.. you said "he lacks breakaway speed" theres only one time comes to mind leon was caught in "open field" from BEHIND... and that was when he slowed up and started to show boat in the panthers game where he got tackled on the one yard line... any other time you are referring to he is being caught by a player coming at an angle... leon definately does not "lack breakaway speed" as evidenced by his returns this past season.

leon is a terrible running back.

i never saw him run more than 3 yards in the last 3 years.

every time we put him in it was during garbage time.

if we ever used him in the backfield when it mattered, it was a mistake.

I understand that. I'm only speaking from a worst-case scenario in regards to total potential cost as an argument to why he should be used to the fullest of his abilities.

Why are we still arguing this?

Bottom line Pete Carroll wants to use Harvin on Kickoffs, I think Pete's earned the trust of us all to do what he wants. So far he's done a damn good job with this team. You play the best guys at every position no matter what. That's how he's built this team (on competition). Why would he change that now?

Unless he goes to the Niners

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"it'd be a newborn deer" - pehawk

Seems every player has his fans.

Loved Washington. But a combination of age, salary, and being surpassed by other talented guys means he has to go elsewhere.

Thanks Leon, loved your efforts for our club. No hard feelings, I hope and best wishes going forward. And I love that Pete/John released him rather than trade him to a team he didn't want to play for.

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Talent can get you to the playoffs.
It takes character to win when you get there.

No. He's been in the league too long. He is UFA and can sign with any team.

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Give me some damn skittles...

If the front office thought Leon would do something like that don't you think they would have followed through with the trade they had lined up with Tampa?

We're talking one of the greatest returners of all time here. I don't see that the money he made was too much. Look up punt returners. Harvin's not on that list. Kickoff returners. Nope. Leon is. Lest we forget:




What did that little blurb just say at the end there? Oh yeah, 2nd ALL TIME in return TD's. Had three TD returns last year.

Why let him walk? Harving is great and I'm as jacked as the next guy, but he's a downgrade on special teams. He's not the greatest returner of all time. And Leon is #2.

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Richard Sherman doesn't just wanna get in your head, he wants to build a vacation home there.

This is the NFL....Big business. And being that it is a business these types of cuts/releases are more commonplace. Get used to it. You don't have to like it and I don't think there is one fan here that wanted this, but there it is.

The kickoffs were going out the back of the endzones way too much last year, and that isn't changing. Paying a guy to watch them does not make sense from a business standpoint.

Besides money his roster spot is extremely valuable. Harvin can return kicks very well AND he can do several other things. We've talked about just how hard it is going to be to make this roster at this point, so why clog up a spot for a guy who can just do one thing that we should be able to get out of players who are also capable receivers or perhaps a capable RB we can pick up?

What would be more valuable? Harvin + a dynamic, explosive change of pace back or Harvin + Leon who can return kicks? Harvin + a dynamic 6th WR with a ton of upside that may be able to turn into a starter or Harvin + a dedicated kick returner? Harvin + more depth on the d-line where we sorely need to take shots on potential pass rushers or Harvin + a return specialist?

I love Leon. He's a great guy, great player, great at what he does, but he became redundant when we acquired Harvin, and simply can make far better use of that roster spot, because there aren't many.

Great return there. What vision!

I have to disagree respectfully with you that Harvin is a downgrade on special teams.

Leon Washington has eight KO returns for TDs at age 30. Harvin already has five, and he is only 24. He is putting on an even more torrid pace in this area than Leon did!

I honestly don't think 2.5 mil is too much for one of the top returners in the league. He lead the NFC in return yardage last year, you don't do that when you're slow. He was 3rd in the league for average.

I wish he could've broken the record as a Seahawk, but signing Harvin to a big deal, you know you're going to start to see guys leave. I understand why it was done. I don't like it, but I understand it.

You have to cut somewhere. Might as well start where the guy who's being paid all the money can earn it as well.

I didn't know that. Thanks for the info. Point still stands though, if he doesn't get a better deal than we are willing to give he could still be back.

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Papaki douchebag love turtle long time

What...? it's not like anyone banged a turtle or anything. Just chill.....

Jerry Rice is the #1 WR off All Time. Maybe we should bring him out of retirement?

That is an old video, Leon only had 1 TD last year on returns (both punts and kickoffs). Players get old, Leon had clearly lost a step last year. There were 3 or 4 times that everyone at my house looked at each other and said "the old Leon would have scored on that". That's not saying he's garbage, Leon is still a very goo, experienced, and fast return man. But at this point in their careers Leon is on the downturn as Harvin is just getting started.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/9703/leon-washington

Downgrade on special teams?? Please.

I"m sure the fact that Leon has been in the league 6 or 7 years longer has NOTHING to do with the fact he has more kickoff TD's