Seahawks Eye Bad Boy George
Lights in the Seattle Seahawks’ offices burned late Monday night as team executives apparently investigated the possibility of trading for suspended Atlanta quarterback Jeff George.
Earlier Monday, coach Dennis Erickson said he might change his starting quarterback - from mistake-plagued Rick Mirer to backup John Friesz - this week. The Seahawks (1-4) are at Miami (3-1) on Sunday.
“I’m not going to deny anything and I’m not going to confirm anything,” said Randy Mueller, vice president of football operations. Asked if the Seahawks could fit George under their salary cap, Mueller replied, “Not at the present time.”
Mueller came out of his office about 10 p.m. PDT to talk to reporters. He then left with Mickey Loomis, the Seahawks’ executive vice president and salary cap expert.
Mueller said it was important for the Seahawks to get improved - fast. Mirer had a career-worst four interceptions and a fumble Sunday, leading to 24 points in a 31-10 loss to Green Bay in the Kingdome.
“Right now, we’re 1 and 4,” Mueller said. “We’ve got to look at everything.”
Presumably that includes George, under suspension for a sideline confrontation with Falcons coach June Jones during a loss to Philadelphia.
“We owe it to the fans to try to do everything we can to put a winner on the field and that’s what we’re looking to do,” Mueller said.
Asked about George on Monday, Erickson referred questions to the Seahawks’ front office. Last week, he denied the Seahawks were interested in George.
The Tacoma News-Tribune reported the Seahawks were looking into a possible Rick Mirer for Jeff George trade.
After a contract dispute in training camp, George signed a one-year, $3.64 million deal that allows him to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Mirer is earning $2.18 million this season and will earn $2.49 million next season, the final year of his contract. He got a $3.34 million bonus in December from the Seahawks to secure the final two years of a five-year contract.
Earlier Monday, Erickson said that if he’s going to make a quarterback switch, he’ll announce it Wednesday after meeting with offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski and quarterbacks coach Rich Olson.
In the Seahawks’ first five games, Mirer has nine interceptions, three fumbles and only one touchdown pass.
At 44.5, Mirer has the lowest quarterback rating in the AFC and the Seahawks are averaging only 14.2 points.
Mirer has started 47 of the 49 games he’s played in his four seasons with the Seahawks.
Friesz, a starter with San Diego in 1991, made three starts for Seattle last season and replaced Mirer in the second half against Denver in Week 2.
Mirer, the second player chosen in the 1993 draft, was nursing a sore right shoulder and sore right elbow after a fourth-quarter hit delivered by Green Bay’s Reggie White.
It didn’t help when he had to watch the videotape of the Packers’ game.
Mirer, who led the AFC with 20 interceptions last season, helped Green Bay take a 17-0 lead in the second quarter with two interceptions and a fumble that gave the Packers the ball on the Seattle 46, 21 and 28-yard lines.
MEMO: Changed from the Idaho edition