Hawk Talk highlights: No need to worry about Pete Carroll’s extension

Danny O’Neil hosted a live Seahawks chat Tuesday as “Hawk Talk” continues into the offseason. The full transcript can be found here. Highlights are below.

Martin asked about a potential contract extension for coach Pete Carroll – who has one season left on his deal – and whether general manager John Schneider may want to have final say over personnel decisions at some point in his career.

O’Neil: I am now considering Carroll’s contract in the same vein as “the schedule will come out in the spring.” We all know it’s going to come out. The schedule will come out. In fact, we can narrow down the date we “think” it’s coming out, but it’s really pointless because we’re debating the specifics of what we all know is going to happen. That’s how I consider Carroll’s extension. As for Schneider, the question isn’t just one of “final say.” I don’t think he would leave to go to another job while Carroll is here so he could sit atop the pecking order. Is it a bit of a blow to the pride that Carroll is the top guy while he’s here? I think anyone who’s accomplished as much as Schneider has would feel that way a little bit, but I don’t think that’s enough to motivate him to move to another job. If we’re talking long-term, though, if the Packers job came open, well, that’s something that might have the emotional pull to get Schneider’s attention and interest.

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AKborn86 asked if owner Paul Allen could pay whatever price it might take to keep Schneider in Seattle.

O’Neil: Sure, but the one thing Allen will never be able to do is pay Schneider to run the organization from his home state that he grew up rooting for.

BlatantChipmunk asked how Russell Okung’s market might be impacted by the Bills using the franchise tag on their left tackle, Cordy Glenn.

O’Neil: Short version: It doesn’t. The question always was – and will be – whether he’s going to get a deal that averages more than $7 million annually. Glenn getting tagged isn’t going to affect that all that much.

Belfasthawk asked if the Seahawks might move Garry Gilliam to left tackle and sign a free agent like Mitchell Schwartz from Cleveland if Okung signs elsewhere.

O’Neil: I might be wrong here, but I really don’t see Seattle spending big in free agency. In fact, I am going to go so far as to predict the Seahawks don’t sign an unrestricted free agent during the free-agency window. I think Seattle’s game plan is to use the 2015 and 2016 free-agent periods as the time to recoup as many compensatory draft picks as possible and look to rebuild through the draft.

76SEahawk asked if the Seahawks could use a late-round pick on Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.

O’Neil: I haven’t heard what the Seahawks think of him. I truly didn’t expect him to get mentioned as a potential draft pick. The comparison to Russell Wilson seems really misguided from my eyes. Adams is not built the same, doesn’t have the same four-year history of big-college competition and Adams’ one season in the Pac-12 makes you wonder about his durability.

Tom contended that beyond sentimentality, there isn’t much reason to bring back Matt Hasselbeck as a backup.

O’Neil: I would agree with you. While I understand the sentimental pull for fans who (rightfully) loved Hasselbeck, I can’t imagine him thinking that he wants to ride out his career on the bench for the coach and front office that decided to move on with Tarvaris Jackson instead of re-signing him.

RemoteHawk asked if the Seahawks might be interested in pass-rusher Mario Williams, who was released by Buffalo.

O’Neil: At the veteran minimum? Absolutely. They’d love to have him in that spot. At $2 million per year for a couple of years, they’re probably in on that, too. The question of whether they would pay $8 million over two years? Well, that’s probably something that would require a fair amount of debating. But really, veterans like Williams are going to be desirable targets, but here’s how I would evaluate their viability as specific Seahawks: If that player is looking for the most money possible, the Seahawks aren’t going to be the team that gives that to them.

Martin asked about Carroll saying recently that the Seahawks want to bring in some running backs to compete with presumed starter Thomas Rawls.

O’Neil: Carroll’s habit at USC was never to have one back who always gets the majority of the carries. Even when Reggie Bush was a Heisman winner, LenDale White was setting conference touchdown records. Having Marshawn Lynch as the stud hoss running back worked out well, but with him retired, that might not be the template they go with in the future.