Seahawks add veteran Eric Winston to their right-tackle mix
Jul 29, 2014, 9:13 AM | Updated: 10:53 am
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For the second straight day, the Seahawks have added a veteran at a position at which they experienced some attrition in free agency.
On Monday it was cornerback Terrell Thomas. Now it’s Eric Winston, a 30-year-old right tackle who spent last season with the Cardinals. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Winston’s deal is for one year.
“Season finally starts for me today! Looking forward to chasing a ring with the Seahawks!! Time go to work!,” Winston tweeted Tuesday morning before the Seahawks held their fourth training-camp practice.
Winston’s addition gives the Seahawks another option at right tackle, where rookie second-round pick Justin Britt and second-year pro Michael Bowie have been competing to replace former starter Breno Giacomini, who left in free agency. Bowie has been sidelined with a shoulder injury, leaving Britt to take most of the reps.
Winston, a third-round pick out of Miami in 2006, spent his first six seasons with Houston then the last two with Kansas City and Arizona. He hasn’t missed a start since his rookie season.
Winston is also the president of the NFL Players Association, elected to that position earlier this year.
A notable moment in Winston’s career came in 2012 when he ripped Chiefs fans for cheering when embattled quarterback Matt Cassel was knocked out of a game with a head injury.
As good a career as Winston has had, some Seahawks fans may know him for what wasn’t exactly one of his finer moments of last season. It came during the Seahawks’ Week-7 win over Arizona when Seattle’s Kam Chancellor met a pulling Winston in the backfield, knocked him on his back and made a tackle for a 1-yard loss.