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The Seattle Seahawks signed quarterback Matt Hasselbeck to a six-year deal and named running back Shaun Alexander their franchise player Tuesday, ensuring that their three top offensive players are under their control.
In addition, general manager Bob Ferguson resigned as part of an executive house-cleaning.
The contract was set Sunday night, and Hasselbeck signed the $49.4 million deal - including a $16 million signing bonus and incentives - at team headquarters Tuesday.
Hasselbeck will make $28.25 in the first three years of the contract.
"We weren't going to let Matt go," said Seahawks CEO Tod Leiweke. "This guy had to come back for us to be effective."
The franchise designation for Alexander - who came within one yard of the NFL rushing title last season - prevents him from becoming a free agent, grants him a one-year contract worth about $6.3 million and gives the team until March 16 to try to reach a long-term deal.
Last week, the Seahawks signed all-pro offensive tackle Walter Jones to a seven-year, $52.5 million deal.
"We have a lot of quality people in this organization," Hasselbeck said. "It's exciting to be back with those people."
A Pro Bowl selection in 2003, Hasselbeck battled injuries in 2004 and his numbers suffered. He threw for 3,382 yards and 22 touchdowns, down from 3,841 yards and 26 TDs in 2003.
Hasselbeck was traded to Seattle from Green Bay for draft picks before the 2001 season. He was Brett Favre's backup for two years with the Packers.
Hasselbeck said leaving the Seahawks only crossed his mind briefly.
"Imagining what it would be like, it was really a disappointing thing to think about, just because of how much work we've put into this here in Seattle," Hasselbeck said.
Alexander rushed for a team record 1,696 yards and 20 TDs. Seattle could also trade the Pro Bowl running back, who publicly expressed his interest in testing the free agent market.
Leiweke said he had not yet talked with Alexander about the franchise designation.
After a 3-0 start that seemed to validate preseason forecasts of a Super Bowl run, the Seahawks lost several tough games and finished 9-7 last season, good enough to win the weak NFC West. They lost to St. Louis in the first round of the playoffs.
Owner Paul Allen fired Bob Whitsitt, the team's president of football operations, last month, saying he wanted to bring in someone with a deep football background. Seahawks vice president Ted Thompson was hired to be Green Bay's general manager that same day.
Ferguson said Tuesday he was leaving, too.
"As the Seahawks transition to new football leadership I have decided it is also the right time for me to leave the organization," Ferguson said in a written statement, adding that he would stay on the job through the April draft.
The Seahawks hired Ferguson in February 2003, after he was fired as general manager of the Arizona Cardinals. Previously, coach Mike Holmgren had taken on the dual role of general manager.
Ferguson played linebacker at the University of Washington and worked with the Seahawks as director of sales and special events in the 1970s.
He has spent three decades in the NFL, including seven with the Cardinals, where he was hired as general manager in 1999. He was fired by Arizona in January 2003, after the Cardinals finished with a 5-11 record, losing nine of their last 10 games.
Ferguson's greatest success came in Buffalo, where he was director of player personnel during the 1990s, when the team went to four Super Bowls.
Players With Franchise Tag:
· John Abraham, DE, Jets
· Shaun Alexander, RB, Seahawks
· Drew Brees, QB, Chargers
· Donovin Darius, SS, Jaguars
· Darren Howard, DE, Saints
· Edgerrin James, RB, Colts
· Rudi Johnson, RB, Bengals
· Orlando Pace, OT, Rams
· Julian Peterson, LB, 49ers
· Corey Simon, DT, Eagles
· Adam Vinatieri, K, Patriots
· Charles Woodson, CB, Raiders
Source: AP
In addition, general manager Bob Ferguson resigned as part of an executive house-cleaning.
The contract was set Sunday night, and Hasselbeck signed the $49.4 million deal - including a $16 million signing bonus and incentives - at team headquarters Tuesday.
Hasselbeck will make $28.25 in the first three years of the contract.
"We weren't going to let Matt go," said Seahawks CEO Tod Leiweke. "This guy had to come back for us to be effective."
The franchise designation for Alexander - who came within one yard of the NFL rushing title last season - prevents him from becoming a free agent, grants him a one-year contract worth about $6.3 million and gives the team until March 16 to try to reach a long-term deal.
Last week, the Seahawks signed all-pro offensive tackle Walter Jones to a seven-year, $52.5 million deal.
"We have a lot of quality people in this organization," Hasselbeck said. "It's exciting to be back with those people."
A Pro Bowl selection in 2003, Hasselbeck battled injuries in 2004 and his numbers suffered. He threw for 3,382 yards and 22 touchdowns, down from 3,841 yards and 26 TDs in 2003.
Hasselbeck was traded to Seattle from Green Bay for draft picks before the 2001 season. He was Brett Favre's backup for two years with the Packers.
Hasselbeck said leaving the Seahawks only crossed his mind briefly.
"Imagining what it would be like, it was really a disappointing thing to think about, just because of how much work we've put into this here in Seattle," Hasselbeck said.
Alexander rushed for a team record 1,696 yards and 20 TDs. Seattle could also trade the Pro Bowl running back, who publicly expressed his interest in testing the free agent market.
Leiweke said he had not yet talked with Alexander about the franchise designation.
After a 3-0 start that seemed to validate preseason forecasts of a Super Bowl run, the Seahawks lost several tough games and finished 9-7 last season, good enough to win the weak NFC West. They lost to St. Louis in the first round of the playoffs.
Owner Paul Allen fired Bob Whitsitt, the team's president of football operations, last month, saying he wanted to bring in someone with a deep football background. Seahawks vice president Ted Thompson was hired to be Green Bay's general manager that same day.
Ferguson said Tuesday he was leaving, too.
"As the Seahawks transition to new football leadership I have decided it is also the right time for me to leave the organization," Ferguson said in a written statement, adding that he would stay on the job through the April draft.
The Seahawks hired Ferguson in February 2003, after he was fired as general manager of the Arizona Cardinals. Previously, coach Mike Holmgren had taken on the dual role of general manager.
Ferguson played linebacker at the University of Washington and worked with the Seahawks as director of sales and special events in the 1970s.
He has spent three decades in the NFL, including seven with the Cardinals, where he was hired as general manager in 1999. He was fired by Arizona in January 2003, after the Cardinals finished with a 5-11 record, losing nine of their last 10 games.
Ferguson's greatest success came in Buffalo, where he was director of player personnel during the 1990s, when the team went to four Super Bowls.
Players With Franchise Tag:
· John Abraham, DE, Jets
· Shaun Alexander, RB, Seahawks
· Drew Brees, QB, Chargers
· Donovin Darius, SS, Jaguars
· Darren Howard, DE, Saints
· Edgerrin James, RB, Colts
· Rudi Johnson, RB, Bengals
· Orlando Pace, OT, Rams
· Julian Peterson, LB, 49ers
· Corey Simon, DT, Eagles
· Adam Vinatieri, K, Patriots
· Charles Woodson, CB, Raiders
Source: AP