Seahawks examine future

SEATTLE – In 2004, Nate Burleson was happily ignorant to the business side of football. He vividly recalls the time he stood in a huddle with his Minnesota Vikings teammates, looked around at the faces, and thought about how great the future would be.

“I remember thinking: Wow, this is a powerful offense. Randy Moss, Daunte Culpepper, Matt Birk,” Burleson recalled last week. “And the next year, just like that, everything was falling apart. Randy’s gone. Daunte’s out the door. (Running back) Michael Bennett left. It was weird.

“Being a vet now, I understand that each year is like your senior graduation. It’s not going to be the same the next year.”

So this year’s class of possible graduates includes several Seattle Seahawks who may be playing in their final regular-season game with the team. Cornerback Marcus Trufant, kicker Josh Brown and wide receiver D.J. Hackett lead a group of players eligible for free agency, while long-time veterans like running back Shaun Alexander and guard Chris Gray also have uncertain futures.

The 2008 Seahawks will look a little different than the 2007 group. That’s the way the business side of football works.

“I found that out my rookie year. I’ve seen a lot of change, a lot of people coming and going,” said defensive back Jordan Babineaux, who joined the team as an undrafted rookie three years ago and has since signed a long-term deal that could keep him in Seattle through 2011.

“You can’t take things personal around here. You just have to take care of your business.”

While the 2007 Seahawks still have plenty of business on the field – the team closes out its regular season with a game against the 3-12 Atlanta Falcons today, then will host Washington, Minnesota or New Orleans in a first-round playoff game next weekend – the off-season could be just as important.

Six players who have started games this season, and the kicker Brown, are among the 11 primary free agents.

“I would wish it was a smaller group,” team president Tim Ruskell said last week. “You’d like it to be two, three guys instead of five or six.”

Like he does every off-season, Ruskell is most likely to target his own players over those from the outside. His strategy involves keeping a core of familiar players intact, then adding complimentary pieces like past signees Patrick Kerney and Julian Peterson.

The most attractive Seahawks free agent is likely to be Trufant, who has an NFC-best seven interceptions this season and is headed to his first Pro Bowl.

Trufant could be looking for a big payday after his breakout season.

Asked last week about his impending free agency, Trufant was uncertain about his future.

Another possible free agent could be Alexander, who still has six years left on the eight-year, $61 million contract he signed in 2006. Alexander’s base salary is scheduled to jump from $1.4 million this season to $4.4 million next season. That, combined with his decline in production, might make Alexander a candidate for release or contract restructuring.

It should be another interesting off-season for the Seahawks. And inevitably, change will happen.