Current, Former Players Sad For Seattle For Some, It’s Just Business, But Others Hurt By Move To L.A.

Defensive end Tony Woods had just completed his second season with the Seattle Seahawks when Ken Behring bought the National Football League club.

Woods, one of a half-dozen or so former and present Hawks willing to speak to the subject, suspected a move might be afoot at first, but Woods, who played in Seattle from 1987-92, said he never foresaw what happened Friday when Behring said flatly he was leaving.

“When he first came, I thought Behring wanted to maybe move the team,” said the University of Pittsburgh alumnus, the Seahawks’ No. 1 draft choice in 1987. “But then I felt like maybe he wanted to keep it in Seattle. I don’t know what caused him to change his mind. But I never had any idea he was going to do this - and I saw some of the Seahawks at the Super Bowl.

“But I think this will hurt the whole city. It’s almost like Boeing closing down. A lot of those fans supported the team - win or lose - for 20 years.”

Mike Tice, the former Seahwaks tight end who just signed to coach that position with the Minnesota Vikings, was hardly pleased with the proposed move.

“It hurts,” Tice said. “It hurts very deeply. Everybody knows I still bleed silver, blue and green.”

Tice had two stays with the Hawks - 1981-88, and 1990-91. Apparently, the first stay was much happier than the second.

“Things really changed when Behring took over,” Tice said. “He got rid of (president) Mike McCormack (in 1989). He ran (coach) Chuck Knox out of town (in 1991). … It’s just the way they do business.”

Regarding Los Angeles as a site, Tice added, “(Raiders owner) Al Davis tried it, and it flopped. They down-sized the Coliseum for football and still it flopped. The Rams flopped. What makes Behring think he’ll make it?”

Davis’ Raiders, of course, are back in Oakland. The Rams moved from L.A. to Anaheim, and, before the 1995 season found themselves in St. Louis - just a few of the West Coast moves in the NFL.

Former defensive tackle standout Jeff Bryant (1982-93), who started 167 games for Seattle, called the proposed move tragic.

“Seattle is a great situation. This really shocked me. It’s really tragic. I feel for the players, and I’m glad it isn’t me. Seattle was a great place to play and a great place to be - at least under Coach Knox, not those other guys. Would you thank the fans in Seattle for me?”

Bryant said in a way he wasn’t surprised, though.

“I kind of figured it would happen before this - when L.A. moved back to Oakland (prior to last season). And I feel for the fans. What are they going to do during football season?”

Mike Utley, the now-paralyzed lineman who played for the Detroit Lions after tours at Washington State and Kennedy High School south of Seattle, figured it was business as usual.

“It’s just a case of the owner doing business,” Utley said. “He owns the team - he can do what he wants. Writers have never played, but as a player you do what you have to do.

“I do feel for the fans and the players who have made connections in Seattle. And coach (Dennis) Erickson - he came back expecting to coach in Seattle. But business is business.”

Erickson coached Utley during his senior season at WSU in 1988.

Reggie McKenzie, who retired as a player after the 1984 season and is now a Seahawks official, added, “We haven’t left. We’re still here. We just have to wait.”

A current player’s mother, who didn’t wish to be identified, asked, “What is going on out there? I wish I could find out. The newscasts here (on the East Coast) are saying Behring wants to play for two years at the Rose Bowl, get a new stadium in Seattle and then return there.

“That wouldn’t be fair to the players or the fans.”

Another wild rumor was a radio report that some Seahwaks might try to become free agents because they signed to be Seattle Seahawks and a move would violate their contracts.

Trey Junkin, the 13-year veteran who’s been a Seahawk since 1990, said of that notion: “Which players? Let’s not even bring it up. It’s not worth talking about.

“Football players are very mercenary. They are going to go where the money is.”