Sold on Seahawks

KIRKLAND, Wash. – When Patrick Kerney decided to void the final two years of his contract and become a free agent, he was told the courting process would be similar to being a college recruit.

That didn’t help Kerney. He was a walk-on at Virginia.

But he understood a good sale when it was presented to him by Seattle, as Kerney signed a six-year, $39.5 million deal Wednesday with the Seahawks, filling what general manager Tim Ruskell called the team’s No. 1 priority in free agency.

“I feel like I have a full tank, and coming to a new team with a lot of guys who have a passion for football, that’s going to re-energize me even more,” Kerney said. “I’m boiling over just thinking about that first game next year. I couldn’t be more thrilled.”

Kerney’s signing helped take the sting out of a pair of misses by the NFC West champs. Seattle aggressively pursued offensive lineman Kris Dielman and tight end Daniel Graham, but were rebuffed in both attempts. Dielman re-signed with San Diego, while Graham agreed to a five-year, $30 million deal with Denver.

“Rhyme and reason go right out the window this first week of free agency, replaced by lack of reason sometimes,” Ruskell said. “But you have to stay the course, stay focused.”

Kerney visited Denver before coming to Seattle last Sunday and meeting with team officials and players for two days. Both quarterback Matt Hasselback and linebacker Lofa Tatupu played the roles of salesmen, but it was Kerney’s flight back to Atlanta that solidified his decision.

Traveling on owner Paul Allen’s private plane, Kerney was joined on his return trip by Seahawks defensive coordinator John Marshall. The pair spoke at length about Seattle’s defensive scheme and how Kerney would fit into a defensive end rotation that already included veterans Bryce Fisher, Grant Wistrom and youngster Darryl Tapp.

When the plane landed back in Atlanta, Kerney was sold. It also helped that $19.5 million of his deal is guaranteed.

“By the time we got back to Atlanta, I knew this is where I wanted to be,” Kerney said.

Kerney spent his entire career with the Falcons, but was limited by injury to just nine games last season. He voided the final two years of his contract late last month, a move Kerney said he was planning from the time he signed the contract with Atlanta.

In doing so, Kerney became one of the hottest commodities in free agency.

The 30-year-old Kerney ranks third on the Falcons’ career list with 58 sacks. He made 105 consecutive starts before he tore his right pectoral muscle in the ninth game of 2006. He was leading the team with 4 1/2 sacks at the time of the injury.

Kerney said on Wednesday he has been doing bench presses at lighter weights for the last three weeks – two months ahead of schedule.

Kerney is expected to stay at left end and be used in a rotation with Fisher.

“Clearly we didn’t do this to have Patrick standing next to me on the sidelines,” Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said.