Seahawks Cut Loose Tofflemire Post Falls Native Asks Out After Refusing To Take Pay Slice

The Seattle Seahawks asked center Joe Tofflemire about taking a pay cut. After a night of thinking, the seven-year veteran from Post Falls took the cut instead of the pay.

Welcome to another day of “How The Offensive Line Turns Over.” Tofflemire preferred no job to accepting a salary trim from $300,000 to $190,000. After first accepting the reduction on Thursday, Tofflemire marched into the Seahawks front office Friday morning and told them to release him. They did.

Tofflemire’s abrupt departure leaves a thin offensive line that much thinner as it heads into its exhibition opener starting at tonight at 7 against the St. Louis Rams in the Kingdome. Guard Jeff Blackshear, who ended a 14-day holdout Thursday, won’t play. Neither will left tackle Ray Roberts, who will miss six to eight weeks following his fourth ankle operation in eight months.

Somehow, the offense has to get through four quarters of action with only 10 blockers, including two veterans who are nursing leg injuries, center Jim Sweeney and right tackle Howard Ballard.

Tonight is the NFL debut of Rick Mirer operating Dennis Erickson’s quick offense. Depending on who is blocking, Mirer might have to throw even quicker than the scheme dictates.

Most of the pressure falls on the new left side of the offensive line. When Mirer was a rookie two years ago left tackle James Atkins was a defensive linemen for the Houston Oilers and left guard Matt Joyce was a second-team All-Yankee Conference defensive linemen for Richmond.

Their jobs will be trying to keep Rams defensive linemen Kevin Carter and D’Marco Farr from catching Mirer during his three- and five-step retreats from center.

Only six of the 10 offensive linemen who will play for the Seahawks tonight have NFL experience. Joyce, for example, not only plays guard for the first time in his career, but he will play some at center, a position he started learning a week ago. Center Bryan Heath, tackle Mike Moody and guard Kris Pollack are also making their NFL debuts.

“Whatever they tell me play, I’ll play whether it’s one, two, three or four quarters,” said Sweeney, who has had shin splints this summer. “I remember once with the New York Jets, they told me the starters were going to play one quarter and we ended up going five quarters. Whatever they say, I’m able to go.”

Tofflemire’s situation was a little different. A sore right shoulder and a sore right wrist limited his practice this summer. During the off-season, the Seahawks gave Tofflemire a oneyear contract with a $300,000 base and a $25,000 signing bonus.

With only $33,000 under the salary cap available to squeeze in Blackshear’s $240,000 cap number, the Seahawks decided they needed a $110,000 reduction from Tofflemire. Management rushed him into a decision and his acceptance of those terms allowed him to practice Thursday. A night of reflection and the realization that he had taken two pay cuts in two years caused Tofflemire to revolt.

“After I sat back and thought about it, I decided not to do it,” Tofflemire said. “It wasn’t a bitter thing. I know it’s a business move on their part. It was not a business move on my part. My pride is getting in the way of my business. They say you’ve got to put pride aside, but that’s all you have left.”

A second-round choice in the 1989 draft, Tofflemire, 30, played 33 of 96 during his Seahawks career. Twice he played behind centers - Grant Feasel and Ray Donaldson - who didn’t miss downs during a season. Shoulder and back problems limited Tofflemire when playing opportunities were there.