Seahawks Cut Bates, Three More Receivers Can’t Catch A Break With Seattle

The Seattle Seahawks on Sunday released four players, including wide receiver Michael Bates, a bronze medalist in the 200-meter dash at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.

Also placed on waivers were wide receiver Terrence Warren, defensive tackle Matt Werner and cornerback Dexter Seigler.

At Barcelona, Bates finished third (20.38 seconds) behind fellow American Mike Marsh (20.01) and Namibia’s Frank Fredericks (20.13). His personal best at 200 meters was 20.01 at the June 1992 Olympic Trials.

Bates, 25, said he planned to try to find another NFL team to sign with and did not want to return to the sport that brought him an Olympic medal.

“Track and field is out of my mind,” Bates said. “I’m the type of person who doesn’t like to be told that they can’t do something.”

The Seahawks made two other cuts on Sunday, but didn’t release the players’ names because Dennis Erickson was unable to make contact with them to tell them they were out.

However, they were expected to be 13-year offensive tackle Rich Baldinger and nine-year linebacker David Brandon. Brandon suffered a stinger - a pinched nerve in his neck - in Seattle’s 17-7 loss in San Francisco on Saturday night in its exhibition finale.

The Seahawks open the regular-season schedule in the Kingdome against Kansas City next Sunday.

Bates, an outstanding special teams player who was with the Seahawks as a rookie in 1993, and Warren were two speed wideouts drafted during the Tom Flores coaching regime in Seattle.

But neither developed fast enough as receivers during training camp and in four exhibition games to suit Erickson, Seattle’s first-year head coach.

Bates, a sixth-round draft choice from University of Arizona in 1992, caught six passes for 118 yards and one touchdown in two seasons with the Seahawks. Warren, a fifth-round pick from Hampton University in ‘93, never caught a pass for Seattle.

“They’re good athletes who can run fast,” Erickson said. “I’m sure they’re both going to get other opportunities. Maybe it’s better for them to get away from here and go someplace else.”

The Seahawks kept six wide receivers, including starters Brian Blades and Ricky Proehl, and first-round draft pick Joey Galloway. The others were Robb Thomas, James McKnight and Ronnie Harris.

Harris, a third-year player from Oregon who was signed as a free agent last season, beat out Bates and Warren, Erickson said.

The departures of Bates and Warren means that the Seahawks’ kickoff return duties will be turned over to Corey Harris, a starting cornerback, and McKnight, who played two games with the Seahawks last season, according to Erickson.

Erickson also announced the Seahawks have restructured full-back Steve Smith’s contract for this season so the team could have some more flexibility under the NFL’s $37.1 million salary cap.