Ken Hamlin Info to form your own opinion

[Hot_Toddy]

Question is, why then did the Seahawks let him go if they could have had him for 2.5M/yr

I'm guessing because they signed Deon Grant to $30 million (3rd largest to a saftey-Exceeding even Roy Williams signing bonus). I don't know why they just didn't pony up more cash to Hamlin (Grants and Hamlins stats are almost identical). I really don't understand their logic.

Grant, Russell, Michael Boulware and Mike Green under contract at safety. The Seahawks also tendered Jordan Babineaux a qualifying offer. Babineaux is a restricted free agent, and the Seahawks will have him back. He has played cornerback in addition to safety.

Those are assumptions, I really can't understand why they didn't just re-sign Hamlin. Maybe someone in the organization just had a man-crush on Grant.

BTW thanks everyone for the props. I love the grim reapers post..one vocal, one silent but both deadly. That's the truth, I'll post one more quick article on that while I have it.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Hamlin very may not be anything more than mediocre, but when you have one of the the worst FS situations in football for 3-4 years running, mediocre is a huge upgrade.

 

[Hot_Toddy]

I give you one more Hamlin article from last year. The "Reaper Post" as promised, you gotta love this one.

http://ken-hamlin-news.newslib.com/story/5832-2927564/

Monday, October 23, 2006

The Forgotten Play: Ken Hamlin's hit parade

By CLARE FARNSWORTH
P-I REPORTER

When the game was still a game, the Seahawks turned in the type of play that foreshadowed them winning yet another game at Qwest Field.

On second-and-6, from the Minnesota 48-yard line, Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson went to Troy Williamson with what he was hoping would be a first-down completion -- and then some.

Instead, Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant had Williamson covered, and safety help from Ken Hamlin. The Seahawks free safety arrived at Williamson about the same time as the ball and rocked the Vikings wide receiver.

"The play before that I tried to make a play on the ball and I didn't," Hamlin said. "Then they tried to go deep the next play, and I'm the guy who's going to play center field. I'm going to try to make plays. Our corner was in good position and I tried to come in and make a hit."

Williamson was down, and motionless, for several minutes. He finally got to his feet, but never returned because of a concussion.

With one well-placed hit, Hamlin had knocked out the player who returned the opening kickoff 49 yards and then caught an 18-yard pass on the Vikings' first offensive play to set up a field goal.

"He does know what time zone we're in right now, and he can read a clock, so he's going to be OK," Vikings coach Brad Childress said.

That's more than can be said of the Seahawks offense and defense.:laugh2:

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I'm tickled to death we have Hamlin, but let's not be naive.

There have to be good reasons the Seahawks passed on him and let him walk and the Cowboys were able to sign him to a lowball one year deal.

We all know the story of the nightclub incident but there may be more to his situation than has been made public. I know his play was criticized last year as not matching his pre-injury form, but you would think there would have been more interest in him by other clubs.

I'm anxious to see what he brings us. It sounds like Jerry would like to see him have a good year and then sign him to a longer term deal.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I'm guessing because they signed Deon Grant to $30 million (3rd largest to a saftey-Exceeding even Roy Williams signing bonus). I don't know why they just didn't pony up more cash to Hamlin (Grants and Hamlins stats are almost identical). I really don't understand their logic.

Grant is better than Hamlin. I don't think there is any *real* question about that. I don't think Grant is a dominating safety though. Is he worth twice what Hamlin is worth? Well, I don't think he is worth $5M a year now, but then again he is signed for six years and is still around (28?) In six years, $5M will be cheap for a good safety providing he is still is a good safety in five years. Roy got $6.3M a year in his extention and is I believe a year younger than Grant.

 

[03EBZ06]

I'm guessing because they signed Deon Grant to $30 million (3rd largest to a saftey-Exceeding even Roy Williams signing bonus). I don't know why they just didn't pony up more cash to Hamlin (Grants and Hamlins stats are almost identical). I really don't understand their logic.

I think it's probably due to uncertainty of head injury recovery. I'm thinking that Seahawks and other teams believed Hamlin would have lingering effect from the head injury (possibly affecting his decision making) and would never be the same so Seahawks wasn't really interested in re-signing him and other teams most likely doubted that he'll be same as his pre-injury as well. Just a guess though.

 

[AbeBeta]

I'm tickled to death we have Hamlin, but let's not be naive.

There have to be good reasons the Seahawks passed on him and let him walk and the Cowboys were able to sign him to a lowball one year deal.

We all know the story of the nightclub incident but there may be more to his situation than has been made public. I know his play was criticized last year as not matching his pre-injury form, but you would think there would have been more interest in him by other clubs.

I'm anxious to see what he brings us. It sounds like Jerry would like to see him have a good year and then sign him to a longer term deal.

His first month back he was the NFC defensive player of the month. His play dropped off but so did the entire Seattle secondary. Their CBs were just awful . It is reasonable to attribute some of that to Hamlin later in the season -- of course, he's a year off a major head injury so it wouldn't be a shock to see him start to lose steam late in the year.

Despite all that, statistically, he had a good year. He tied a career high for tackles, had two sacks, and three picks.

Of course, given the head injury, there likely wasn't a team in the league that was going to give him a long-term deal. Seattle's option are a) give him a 1-year deal or b) jump on a free agent and let Hamlin go. Seattle chose to go with Deon Grant who was less of a question mark.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Grant is better than Hamlin. I don't think there is any *real* question about that. I don't think Grant is a dominating safety though. Is he worth twice what Hamlin is worth? Well, I don't think he is worth $5M a year now, but then again he is signed for six years and is still around (28?) In six years, $5M will be cheap for a good safety providing he is still is a good safety in five years. Roy got $6.3M a year in his extention and is I believe a year younger than Grant.

I remember wanting us to draft Deon Grant when we picked Goodrich with the 49th pick in the 2000 draft. Yes, I know Grant was a safety and Goodrich a corner, but Grant was a stud at Tennessee and clearly the better football player. Goodrich was coming off a bad season and had character questions.

Thanks Lacewell.

 

[Stash]

I'm guessing because they signed Deon Grant to $30 million (3rd largest to a saftey-Exceeding even Roy Williams signing bonus). I don't know why they just didn't pony up more cash to Hamlin (Grants and Hamlins stats are almost identical). I really don't understand their logic.

Grant, Russell, Michael Boulware and Mike Green under contract at safety. The Seahawks also tendered Jordan Babineaux a qualifying offer. Babineaux is a restricted free agent, and the Seahawks will have him back. He has played cornerback in addition to safety.

Those are assumptions, I really can't understand why they didn't just re-sign Hamlin. Maybe someone in the organization just had a man-crush on Grant.

BTW thanks everyone for the props. I love the grim reapers post..one vocal, one silent but both deadly. That's the truth, I'll post one more quick article on that while I have it.

Personally, the fact that Seattle didn't resign him is a good sign in my opinion.

Looking at Seattle's abysmal track record in free agency, anyone they sign stinks and anyone they don't is usually pretty good.

 

[AbeBeta]

I remember wanting us to draft Deon Grant when we picked Goodrich with the 49th pick in the 2000 draft. Yes, I know Grant was a safety and Goodrich a corner, but Grant was a stud at Tennessee and clearly the better football player. Goodrich was coming off a bad season and had character questions.

Thanks Lacewell.

You sure it was Goodrich who had character questions? Or are you confusing him with Larrimore?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

You sure it was Goodrich who had character questions? Or are you confusing him with Larrimore?

Maybe "character questions" was a little strong of a term to use since that implies bad deeds. I include laziness in that concept, and there was talk in college that he wasn't a hard worker.

I guess however you define it, he certainly ended up having "character" issues.

 

[AbeBeta]

Maybe "character questions" was a little strong of a term to use since that implies bad deeds. I include laziness in that concept, and there was talk in college that he wasn't a hard worker.

I guess however you define it, he certainly ended up having "character" issues.

He ended up having a horrible accident - that's less a "character" issue than terrible luck combined with bad judgment.

 

[burmafrd]

I think Seatle was worried about his head injury. Grant is certainly not worth that much more money. He might be better then Hamlin, but not by much.
As regards letting him go, show me one team that does not make mistakes on who they keep and who they let go.

 

[tunahelper]

Great info and I am excited we added him as well!

 

[gimmesix]

Question is, why then did the Seahawks let him go if they could have had him for 2.5M/yr

Who says Seattle could have had him for 2.5 million a year?

 

[cowboyz]

maybe he was looking for a big contract, no one bit, FA money dried up, then had to go with the 1 yr offer with a good team.

 

[dallasfan]

I absoluetely loved the Hamlin signing. He isn't you prototypical deep saftey, in the mold of an Ed Reed, but he's still decent in coverege, and can hopefully be a leader on defense, something we are seriously missing (I still think of Ellis is a leader, but he isn't enough). Too many players aren't vocal, and we really need some guys with nasty attitudes on D.

 

[Seven]

He ended up having a horrible accident - that's less a "character" issue than terrible luck combined with bad judgment.

Accident? Goodrich? Mowing down innocent folks on the SIDE of a freeway, in excess speed, doesn't stop and drives home to sleep it off hardly constitutes an accident, luck one way or the other, or bad judgement.

Pacman's gig must of been an "oopsie" , huh?

Great homework job HT. Much appreciated.

 

[STSINAZ]

bottom line is this...is he the same player as 2004? we will see...i dont know that he is and that's why has was available

 

[LandryFan]

the Hammer and the Sickle, the Grim Reapers delivering lethal hits to all comers.

The Hammer and the Sickle...I love it!