Seahawks Feel Squeeze Of Nfl’s Free-Agent Belt Wooden, Blackmon Continue To Wait For Their Dream Deals

Terry Wooden had been waiting to become a free agent since the NFL implemented the system in 1993.

After playing seven seasons for less money than he felt he deserved on a Seahawks team that has not had a winning record since he was a rookie, this year Wooden would be free at last. Free to sign with a team that would pay him what a linebacker of his talents is worth.

Seven weeks into free agency ‘97, Wooden is still waiting.

So is Robert Blackmon, a strong safety coming off his best season for the Seahawks.

Each entered free agency with dreams of landing at least a $2 million-a-year deal. Each has been slapped back to reality.

The two most attractive names on a list of a dozen Seahawks who became unrestricted free agents in mid-February, Wooden and Blackmon have yet to receive proposals that come even close to matching their expectations.

“This is a terrible year to be a free agent,” said Michael George, the agent who represents former Seahawks defensive end Michael McCrary. “There just isn’t the market. This is just a modification of Plan B free agency.”

McCrary escaped this dubious group by signing a three-year, $6 million contract with Baltimore.

Running back Lamar Smith and center Kevin Mawae, the Seahawks’ restricted free agents, also have attracted little attention and it is unlikely either will sign an offer sheet with another team before next week’s deadline.

Wooden and Blackmon were eliminated from the Seahawks’ plans by the free-agent signings of linebacker Chad Brown and strong safety Bennie Blades.

The team’s spending spree to acquire Brown, Blades, cornerback Willie Williams and quarterback Warren Moon has left the Seahawks with limited funds to re-sign Smith and Mawae.

The Seahawks have tendered offers to Smith and Mawae, allowing the team to match any offer sheet the two players might sign or receive a draft choice as compensation. But the $361,000 offer to Smith is nowhere near what he figured to attract from another club.

Blackmon and Wooden, and to a certain extent Smith, are not alone in this free fall.

Kansas City defensive end Neil Smith, Dallas linebacker Darrin Smith, Pittsburgh cornerback Rod Woodson, Philadelphia defensive end William Fuller and Atlanta wide receiver Eric Metcalf are players with Pro Bowl credentials who have yet to land the multi-million dollar offers they were expecting.

Woodson, who averaged $3.5 million on his four-year deal that just expired, may be forced to re-sign with the Steelers and take a base salary of $385,000 this season. Neil Smith is facing a similar situation in Kansas City. He averaged $3 million a year the past few seasons but has not had one offer in free agency. He visited the Denver Broncos last week, but could end up back in Kansas City at the Chiefs’ price.

Blackmon and Wooden will sign with teams, but perhaps not until June and for a lot less money.

“Robert will land somewhere,” said Jim Sims, Blackmon’s agent. “Although the money might not be there, at least this year, he might end up playing for a contender. That’s a positive. That’s a plus.”