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Seattle GM John Schneider has confirmed reports that the Seahawks will re-sign priority free agent DT Brandon Mebane. Mebane really began to emerge as a versatile interior force in 2010 and was a hot free agency commodity due to his relative youth (26 years old), consistency and durability (53 starts in four seasons in Seattle), so keeping him in the Great Northwest has to be considered a major WIN for the ‘Hawks. With Mebane (6-1/311), Red Bryant (6-4/325), Colin Cole (6-2/330) and newly-acquired DT Alan Branch (6-6/338) clogging the interior in Seattle, expect more than a few opposing running backs opt to bounce their runs to the outside in 2011.    

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The Seahawks have made another head-scratching personnel move. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Seattle has agreed to a 2-year, $8 million deal with gargantuan DT Alan Branch. It seems that the ‘Hawks may be out of the running for Brandon Mebane, so there’s a need for some interior bulk. At 6-6/ 338,  Branch has the requisite size, but his production has yet to match his talent during his NFL career. The former 2nd-round pick made some small strides in 2010 (contract year), but we’re talking about a career backup who’s amassed a combined 35 tackles and 2 sacks in four NFL seasons. Like the Redskins/Stephen Bowen signing, this is another prime example of the classic “upside” free agency investment.

Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com broke the report that Sidney Rice would be joining the Seattle Seahawks.

The signing of Sidney Rice came down to Minnesota and Seattle (Minnesota West).  Seattle appears to be handpicking Vikings to join Pete Carroll’s squad at the behest of former Viking OC Darrell Bevell.  This move reunites Rice with Tavaris Jackson and Darrell Bevell.

The financials on the deal are 5-years at $41 million with $18.5 guaranteed.  The deal also includes $3 million in escalators that are tied into Pro Bowl appearances.  The deal appears to be the going rate for a receiver of Rice’s caliber.

Rice has amassed 2,129 yards receiving and 18 TD’s over a four year span which includes 48 games played in.  Rice’s breakout season came in 2009 when he caught 83 balls for 1,312 and 8 TD’s in a season that saw the Vikings make it to the NFC Championship Game.

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Minnesota and Seattle are engaged in a bidding war for marquee free agent WR Sidney Rice. Given that the Seahawks have more cash to throw at Rice, not to mention a few familiar faces in offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and QB Tarvaris Jackson to welcome him to the Great Northwest, my money says that Seattlegets their man, assuming another team doesn’t step into the arena at the last minute. The addition of Rice to a talented group of targets including Mike Williams, Deon Butler, Golden Tate and TE John Carlson could mean offensive fireworks with savvy vet Matt Hasselbeck at the controls…oops. Scratch that. The ancient, fabled “Tarvleinhurst monster” has reportedly been unleashed upon an unsuspecting Qwest Field, and Rice will need every inch (and more) of his lengthy, 6-4 frame to save all of the wounded ducks in the vicinity. For a guy coming off of a serious hip injury, one has to admire Rice’s bravery in the face of such horrors.

The over/under on Rice’s first injury inSeattle currently sits at Week Five.

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If you have a lot of quarterbacks, you probably don’t have a quarterback.

ESPN.com reports that QB Matt Leinart has agreed to a deal with the Seattle Seahawks. Terms of the deal are not yet available. This comes on the heels of the Seahawks’ signing of QB Tarvaris Jackson, who will compete with Charlie Whitehurst and Leinart for the starting gig this season. We haven’t seen a three-headed monster QB the likes of this since last season’s Anderson/Skelton/Hall abomination in Arizona. I’m not sure what the Seahawks are thinking, but for all of you draftniks out there, make sure and adjust your 2012 NFL Mock Drafts accordingly.Seattleis now firmly in contention for the right to draft Andrew Luck at #1 come next April.

Reports have been confirmed that free agent Tavaris Jackson will be joining the Seattle Seahawks come 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday.  The move reunites former Viking offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and Jackson.

Judging by the early reaction from Seahawks fans they were expecting something better than Tavaris Jackson.  The Alabama State product has amassed a whopping 3,984 yards, 24 TD’s and 22 INT’s in his 5 year career (20 starts) with the Vikings.  Those stats are those of a really poor Matt Schaub season.  Understandably, Seahawk-nation is not thrilled with opening training camp with Charlie Whitehurst and Tavaris Jackson battling for the starting quarterback gig.  If given the choice of Tavaris Jackson or Charlie Whitehurst; I’d pick Matt Hasselbeck.

Look on the bright side, it could be worse…you could be Washington.