Ex-Vandal Friesz Visits Seahawks
Former University of Idaho and Coeur d’Alene High quarterback John Friesz headed to Seattle on Tuesday for interviews with Seahawks administrators.
“I’m going to see how I fit into their plans. It’s just a preliminary meeting, coupled with a physical,” said Friesz, a free agent who spent last season with the Washington Redskins. “I’m not going to throw for them; it’s not a workout, just a real casual meeting.”
Friesz completed 58 percent of his passes for 10 touchdowns with nine interceptions last year, getting four early season starts for the Redskins.
As the season progressed, he was replaced by rookies Heath Shuler and Gus Frerotte.
After four years with San Diego, Friesz was fifth on the Chargers’ all-time passing list. Once again, though, he’s testing the free-agent market.
“There’s a lot of different questions I have to ask myself,” Friesz said, conceding that most of the starting quarterback jobs in the NFL are locked up. “I have to decide, do I want to go to the team that has the best chance to go to the Super Bowl? Or do I want to go to a place where I’m most likely to play? Or is it a regional decision?
“I know my family certainly likes the sound of me going to Seattle.”
Friesz was recruited to Idaho in the mid-1980s by Dennis Erickson, the new Seahawks coach.
“Another important part of this is how excited some team is to have me,” Friesz said.
Another former Erickson quarterback, Timm Rosenbach, who played for Erickson at Washington State, was reportedly close to signing with the Seahawks last week as a No. 3 quarterback. Rosenbach was scheduled to visit the Indianapolis Colts this week.
After signing New Orleans Saints wide receiver Torrance Small to a four-year, $5.5 million offer sheet, the Seahawks’ free-agent efforts turned defensive Tuesday.
Negotiations for unrestricted linebackers Rod Stephens and Rufus Porter heated up to a point that the Seahawks might know today whether they can keep their starting linebacking corps together. The Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers dangled between $1.3 million and $1.5 million a year to lure Stephens, while the Saints continued to pursue Porter at $1 million a season.
Even though it might cost more than $2.3 million to keep Stephens and Porter, Erickson felt optimistic that his linebackers might not jump at other teams’ money.
To make cap room, the Seahawks are expected to release tight end Ferrell Edmunds today or Thursday.
The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Dave Boling Staff writer Tacoma News-Tribune contributed to this report