Older Guys Can’t Live On Laughs Linebacker’s Glad To Rejoin Seahawks, Despite Frustrations With Nfl Finances

The first unforgettable characteristic is his size.

No, not the 6-foot-1, 242-pound body, which appears to be a generous listing next to Joe Cain’s name on the Seattle Seahawks roster. It’s the monster sound of his voice.

Imagine James Earl Jones then take it down an octave. Next comes the laugh, big enough to make the Richter scale shimmy.

“Before camp started, I had mixed emotions about coming back to somewhere where I’ve once been,” Cain said from the Seahawks’ camp in Cheney.

Pause.

“You hate to return to the ex,” he added, followed by a laugh that may have had Bill Nye the Science Guy scrambling for the seismograph.

The “ex” Cain was referring to is Seattle, a team he served from 1989-1992 before returning this year as an unrestricted free agent. The other “ex” in Cain’s life is his former wife.

“The kids are in Seattle,” he said. “So, this is as good a place to come as any.”

Cain genuinely sounds content and sincere. But dig deeper under the hunkydory demeanor and it’s clear he’s seething over the state of the NFL. He’s especially sensitive about the over-30 bunch of which he’s a card-carrying member.

Apparently, he’s also the self-appointed shop steward. And when Cain talks, it’s not hard to hear.

After playing four years with the Chicago Bears (1993-1996), Cain, 32, became an unrestricted free agent.

“They said they’d sign me and they didn’t,” he said. “During the season, (Chicago) Coach (Dave) Wannstedt called me into the office in the training room and he said “You’re definitely one of the guys who we would like to bring back.”’

The offer was never made, nor did the Bears do anything to retain Cain’s linebacker buddy, Vinson Smith.

Cain, who started 15 of 16 games and accounted for 122 tackles and his first career sack last year, landed in Seattle and took a pay cut, signing a two-year deal worth a reported $1.6 million. In Chicago, he earned a reported $1 million to go with a $325,000 signing bonus.

Smith, also 32, returned to Dallas, where he played earlier in his career.

Cain claims he and Smith are still able.

One of Cain’s biggest endorsers is Mike Murphy, Seattle’s linebackers coach.

“Guys who have been there and done that, you like to have around. I think we’re very lucky to have a guy like him who could start and has started on another team,” Murphy said.

Cain is behind free agent Chad Brown on the depth chart. In the past, he’s played inside linebacker and could play in Winston Moss’ spot if Moss or Moss’ backup, Michael Barber, get injured.

“He’s a valuable commodity,” Murphy added. “He’s an older guy and the clock’s running for him.”

Veteran player. Not much time in the NFL. Cain knows all the phrases.

“The NFL right now is ugly, especially for guys who are over 30 years of age,” he said. “There are guys out there who still have plenty of ability who are still not signed with teams because of their age.”

And let’s not forget the big bucks soaked up by the marquee players. That, Cain believes, was a major factor in his exit from Chicago.

“I knew it when the Bears signed (middle linebacker) Bryan Cox in February 1996 (four years, $13.2 million plus $5 million bonus) … what the hell would be left for me?” Cain asked.

Add to Chicago’s payroll defensive end Alonzo Spellman (four years, $12 million) and most recently, the trade for former Seahawks quarterback Rick Mirer.

“He’s a quarterback who is rated lower than some backups,” Cain said. Mirer was 32nd among the QBs last year. He’s set to earn $15 million over four years.

“Like I said, it’s not on production,” Cain added.

This time, he wasn’t laughing.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo