The Seahawks are a franchise that has "rapidly become known for its fearless, unconventional thinking on personnel matters," and the trade yesterday for Vikings WR Percy Harvin is "another bold step," according to Don Banks of SI.com. It is one that "again reinforces the perception that Seattle is comfortable operating outside the box and rapidly gaining confidence in its methods." The Seahawks started this offseason "with plenty of salary cap room and 10 draft choices, second most" in the NFL, so they "didn't wipe out their 2013 draft class" with yesterday's move. The Seahawks are "building something, and they've earned the benefit of the doubt" (SI.com, 3/11). ESPN.com's Ashley Fox wrote Seahawks GM John Schneider "sent a message to the conference and the entire league that the Seahawks are going to be major players in 2013, no matter what else transpires once free agency starts" this afternoon. Seattle has "quietly become a safe landing spot for players and a favorite destination." The stadium and "game-day atmosphere help" (ESPN.com, 3/11). In Seattle, Danny O'Neil writes this trade was "a bombshell, and the single biggest bet the Seahawks have made under" Schneider. It is a move that was "typical for this team only because it was so atypical." Most expected a "largely silent offseason for these Seahawks" (SEATTLE TIMES, 3/12). CBSSPORTS.com's Jason La Canfora on Twitter wrote, "For my money, Seattle GM Schneider has been best in the biz the past 3 yrs -- bold and aggressive and had reaped great value in deals" (TWITTER.com, 3/11).
WILD, WILD WEST: CBSSPORTS.com's Clark Judge wrote what once was a "not-so-friendly rivalry" between the Seahawks and 49ers has "turned into something more like an arms race, with the Seahawks making the first bold move" by adding Harvin. 49ers co-Owner John York said, "I guess we won't be hearing about the 'crummy NFC West' anymore" (CBSSPORTS.com, 3/11). FOXSPORTS.com's Jen Floyd Engel wrote yesterday's trade "feels like a tipping point, a moment we will look back to in a couple of years as when Super Bowls were determined in Pacific Standard Time in ugly, nasty games between" the 49ers and Seahawks. What seems to be taking place between these two teams is "the NFL's version of Moneyball, the realization that rivals also can be engaged in March with free agency and April with the draft." The surest way to "get in cap and long-term trouble in this league is trying to keep the band together -- after Super Bowls and certainly after 8-8 seasons." The best teams are "always churning their roster," and Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome "certainly has shown himself to be the best in the league at assembling a Super Bowl roster" (FOXSPORTS.com, 3/11).
