Hawks Of A Feather Rookie Club Of 1990 Has Survived To Persevere
Unexpected faces are popping on covers of publications these days.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus made Sports Illustrated’s cover. Dilbert, the cartoon strip, is on the cover of Newsweek. And, after a seven-year wait, the Rookie Club finally blessed the cover of the Seahawks media guide. Well, almost.
“There’s one missing,” wide receiver Brian Blades said of the absence of strong safety Robert Blackmon from the Seahawks cover. “And they might have to call themselves the Veteran Club.”
What Blackmon, Cortez Kennedy, Chris Warren and Terry Wooden have become are Seahawks institutions, which reflects the fragile nature of this franchise. Owner Ken Behring failed in yanking the team from its 20-year roots in Seattle, and the city awaits the final saving move by billionaire Paul Allen. The four one-time rookies from the draft class of 1990 huddle together each day wondering whether this is their last season together.
Blackmon, unsigned until June, symbolized how close the Seahawks came to beginning the process of breaking apart the Rookie Club. Coach Dennis Erickson was left with the option of keeping the mobile Blackmon, a two-time Pro Bowl alternate, or two-time Pro Bowl free safety Eugene Robinson.
To the surprise of some, Robinson was traded to Green Bay. Blackmon stayed under a one-year contract with no promises of a long-term deal.
“The cover of the press guide told him that’s what the Seahawks thought about him, that he’s not going to be here,” a joking Warren said about Blackmon. “We’re going to paste his picture on it. The Rookie Club could have been gone a couple of years ago. It’s been tight. We’ve had opportunities to leave, but at the last minute, we’re still here.
“So I guess we’re still surviving.”
Thriving would be a better word. For as many negotiating scraps as this quartet had during its exposure to seven years of Behring ownership, Blackmon, Kennedy, Wooden and Warren remain the backbone of this team. The four have survived holdouts. Once each. Blackmon and Warren had to sign with other teams to find what they perceived to be market value.
Yet, on Sundays, they put aside their struggles and play with the vigor that allowed each to achieve all-rookie honors in 1990. Their efforts have netted them million-dollar contracts. They combine for 21 percent of the team’s $40.7 million salary cap at $8.475 million.
And their accomplishments far exceeded expectations. Kennedy has been to five Pro Bowls, Warren three. Blackmon, Kennedy and Wooden have combined for 1,349 career tackles. Warren has rushed for 5,004 yards and 35 TDs.
Their reign of 96 games together ranks them with one of the longest running shows in Seahawks history, challenging the decade that Joe Nash, Jacob Green and Jeff Bryant served on the D line.
“I wouldn’t want to break us up,” said Warren, who signed on for three more seasons in February. “We’ve been together seven years and we’d like to finish our careers out here.”
The Rookie Club was conceived out of friendship. Started during their rookie season, they’d meet at least once a week to compare notes.
They’ve been through two coaching changes, an aborted franchise relocation and plenty of disappointments. For their efforts? No playoff appearances, only one winning season and a 38-58 record.
“It’s been kinda weird, but I feel fortunate in a way,” Wooden said. “I sit back here and think about all the faces that have come and gone through the locker room since I’ve been here.”
Erickson feels fortunate to have them.
“Number one, they bring leadership,” he said. “You’re talking about one of the best running backs in pro football, one of the best linebackers, one of the best defensive tackles and Blackmon is one of the better safeties. The thing that hasn’t happened is that they haven’t been on a winning team. That’s what they want to accomplish.”
Wooden and Blackmon are free agents after the season. Though they want to remain Seahawks, their price tags might be too expensive under the Seahawks’ tight salary cap. As much as they would like to be optimistic, the Rookie Club holds some pessimism.
“One of them will be gone after this year,” a sad Kennedy said. “Black is a free agent. Terry is a free agent. The only guys stuck here are me and Chris unless they are going to trade us. This season means a lot for us.”
Blackmon is the most reflective of the four about his uncertain status.
“I’ve been here seven years, and I don’t think I can play too much longer,” he said. “I’m going to give it another two years, and that’s all I want to play - two years. I haven’t had too much time to spend with my kids.”
But for the Rookie Club, the next five months is the future.
Notes
Blades (back) and safety Tony Covington (groin) were added to the list of injured Seahawks who didn’t practice. Defensive end Matt LaBounty and wide receiver James McKnight returned to practice and are expected to play against the Oakland Raiders on Thursday. … Wide receiver Eddie Goines said Monday the blood clot problem in his left calf is subsiding, and he’ll learn in the next couple of days whether he needs arthroscopic knee surgery. … The Paul Allen Group is asking fans to study the team’s website at “www.footballnw.com.”