Seahawks, 1st Pick Look To Close A Deal

First-round draft choice Joey Galloway tentatively agreed to a five-year, $7.91 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday.

Final details are being worked out between the Seahawks and Galloway’s agent and are awaiting Galloway’s approval. They are expected to be concluded today, and Galloway is planning to fly to Seattle Thursday to report to training camp.

“We’re optimistic we’ll have him in camp by Friday,” Seahawks executive vice president Mickey Loomis said.

The contract Galloway will sign is unique. It features no signing bonus, a relatively modest salary cap number ($1.15 million) and a fifth season in which he is willing to stay with the Seahawks.

In exchange for those items, the Seahawks gave Galloway a contract average ($1.582 million a year) that is higher than Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Mike Mamula, who was selected ahead of Galloway in April’s draft. Perhaps the biggest enticement for Galloway was guaranteed salaries in 1997 and 1998, the third and fourth years.

Emtman on the move

Former Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Steve Emtman altered his traveling schedule for the week, but the move might be favorable for the Seahawks. Instead of visiting here Thursday, Emtman will come to Seattle Sunday, spend an extra day in the area visiting friends while he makes up his mind where he will play football this summer. p

Signed, but not delivered

Wide receiver Eddie Goines signed his two-year, $286,000 contract and was placed on the active-non-football injury list. He’ll count as part of the 80-man roster but he won’t be allowed to practice.

If Goines stays on that list, he’ll be able to practice six weeks into the season and could possibly help the team at mid-season. Goines underwent major knee reconstruction eight games into his senior year at North Carolina State.

Before the injury, he was considered a second-round choice.

“Hopefully, I can help and make this thing progress even better,” Goines said. “They (the team) is holding me back a little because they don’t want me to come back too early from the injury. I’m going to work to get my knee as strong as possible.”

Notes

The Seahawks released their second guard in two days when they cut second-year 300-pounder Mike Kegarise. On Monday, guard Bill Hitchcock was let go because of back problems. Only 13 offensive linemen remain on the Seahawks roster. The Seahawks would like to add a guard and a tackle if they could find the cap room.

Defensive end Matt Werner suffered a leg injury that sidelined him for one day.