I've heard Reinfeldt was, but interestingly enough I had never heard that story floated until this year. My understanding was always that Ruskell told him to go test the market and had assured Holmgren before he went on vacation that he'd be here.
Whether Reinfeldt floated it out there or not, the fact is that Ruskell signed off on it against Holmgren's wishes. I think Reinfeldt had a really good rapport with the players and was able to close deals where Whitsitt and Ferguson and others couldn't. He was a former player and I think guys respected that and saw that he was looking out for them and their futures and wouldn't try to scam them on a deal. Ruskell seems to be begging to get back in the good graces of everybody to get a job and as time passes the problems in Seattle are more the fault of Holmgren, Reinfeldt, Mora, Ruston Webster, Will Lewis, and everybody else in the front office. I don't buy it. Ruskell had final say in all football matters and said ok. It's on him, whether Reinfeldt felt it was a good idea or not would be immaterial with him negotiating contracts here Kearly, because Schneider and Pete are smart enough to not sign off on stupid ideas as the guys with the final say. Ruskell was, and blamed everybody else.
As far as dollars and cents go, Reinfeldt was able to sign every player that Ruskell wanted within the cap without going over. He kept Jones, Hass, and Alexander all at one time, which nobody thought would happen. Fact is, Reinfeldt makes numbers work. Blaming him for suggesting the transition tag isn't quite fair, because other people suggested it too and thought the Hawks could match. People on this very board suggested it as the thinking was a guard wouldn't get left tackle money on the open market, the Hawks could match, and Hutch claimed he'd come back and let the Hawks match any offer. So whose fault is it? Reinfeldt's? Seriously? Come on.