Seahawks waive J’Marcus Webb
SEATTLE – The obvious evidence that the Seahawks had dropped J’Marcus Webb from their plans is now official in the plainest way: They dropped him from their team.
Tuesday’s official NFL transactions showed Seattle waived its highest-paid offensive lineman. The move came two days after the Seahawks left the 28-year-old veteran of seven seasons inactive despite him being healthy to at least back up at the battered tackle position for the win over Philadelphia.
The team eats the remainder of the $2.45 million, two-year contract to which it signed Webb in March.
Webb had started all 16 games last season for Oakland, mostly at guard and some at tackle.
The Chicago Bears’ starting left tackle in the 2011 and ’12 seasons seemed destined to be the Seahawks’ starting right tackle to begin this season. That’s where Seattle had him into training camp. Then he injured his knee in August. Garry Gilliam, who spent the offseason readying to replace departed free agent Russell Okung, moved back to right tackle to replace Webb for the final preseason games. Bradley Sowell became the left tackle to begin this season.
Webb did start three games in September at right guard, after top rookie draft choice Germain Ifedi got a high-ankle sprain just before the opener. With Webb in there the offense went the first 59 minutes of the opener without a touchdown, scored just three points in the Sept. 18 loss at Los Angeles for Seattle’s fewest points in five years and routed woeful San Franchise.
Gilliam is still starting at right tackle through 10 games. Sowell got hurt at Arizona on Oct. 23. The Seahawks chose undrafted college basketball player George Fant over Webb to replace Sowell for the rest of that overtime tie against the Cardinals. Fant has started the four games since, with Webb mothballed. When Fant injured his shoulder and missed part of last weekend’s win over the Eagles, rookie draft choice Rees Odhiambo replaced Fant at left tackle. Webb stayed in sweat clothes on the sideline, inactive.
All that adds to the belief of Seahawks veteran line coach Tom Cable, coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider not to spend much on blockers in today’s NFL, which offensive linemen enter unprepared after years playing standing up in college spread offenses. Seattle has the lowest-paid offensive line in the league.
Tuesday, it got lower – though Webb will still be cashing checks from the Seahawks.