Seattle casts away wide receiver Robinson
SEATTLE – Having run out of second chances, Koren Robinson was finally run out of town by the Seattle Seahawks.
Robinson was one of two veterans released by the Seahawks on Thursday. While cornerback Bobby Taylor’s departure was related to injuries and the salary cap, Robinson’s adieu was about deeper issues.
The 25-year-old receiver was released in the wake of recent charges of DUI and reckless driving, which fell into an already overflowing file of mistakes Robinson has made in his four years of professional football.
The Seahawks, and particularly coach Mike Holmgren, bent over backwards to give Robinson plenty of chances. After using the ninth overall selection in the 2001 draft on Robinson, Seattle continued to stick by him through bouts of tardiness, missed meetings, traffic violations and brushes with the law. Robinson’s May 6 incident, during which, according to a police report, he registered a blood-alcohol level of .15 percent or above, was all the Seahawks could take.
While no official statement was made following the release, the Seahawks released one Wednesday that said the team was “extremely disappointed and concerned” and added that Robinson “should be held accountable for his actions.”
The circumstances surrounding Robinson’s release made the move involving Taylor a footnote. Both moves were expected, but the release of Taylor had been a long time coming. The team had to wait until after June 1 to make the move so that part of the financial strains would be deferred to the 2006 salary cap.
Taylor was scheduled to make $2 million in base salary in 2005, to which the Seahawks are no longer obligated. But the team will still take cap hits of about $667,000 over each of the next three seasons to account for Taylor’s prorated signing bonus of $3 million over four years.
Robinson, who is free to sign with any team, was due $1.35 million in base salary for the upcoming season.
The Seahawks probably didn’t waste much time finding a possible suitor for the freed-up cash. They hosted former Baltimore linebacker/defensive end Peter Boulware last night and were expected to continue visiting with the free agent today.
Boulware has also visited the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans but is believed to be leaning toward the Seahawks. His younger brother, Michael, is a safety with Seattle.