The Blue Bird Herd

Jay Glazer was the first to report that the Seahawks and free agent wide receiver Sidney Rice agreed in principle to a 5 year, $41 Million deal that includes $18.5 million in guarantees and another $3 million in pro bowl escalators ($44 million potential).

The addition of Rice to the roster gives Seattle a potential true No. 1 receiver, and means that there are now two key players on offense who will come in having significant familiarity with the new playbook (both Rice and Tarvaris Jackson have played under O.C. Darrell Bevell).

With the possibility of Arizona, San Francisco and St. Louis all featuring QBs learning new offenses (assuming Arizona lands Kolb or another new starter), this could give Seattle a leg up in the division to start the year.

As exciting as it is to land a Sidney Rice, let’s not forget that he’s really only had one noteworthy season in four, and has fallen light years short of that one season in each of the other three.

The guy clearly has the speed, hands and pretty much every other natural tool to return to his 2009 All-Pro form, but one key question is whether or not he can flourish without Brett Favre (the 2009 version) throwing him the passes.  Rice has played with Jackson, and the results were nothing to shout about.

In fairness, a hip injury and subsequent surgery rendered him inactive for all but 6 games in 2010, and word on the street is that he’s fully recovered from said injury.

A bold move by Seattle’s front office after landing Robert Gallery earlier in the day, but it’s one that completes a solid corps of young, big receivers that fit the Pete Carroll mold.

Things are beginning to take shape on offense for Seattle….just not sure about the QB situation.

This 2 day free agency thing is kind of fun!  I would say we should have lockouts more often, but….ehhh…no thanks.