O’Brien Schofield’s return caps eventful three months
May 2, 2014, 3:32 PM | Updated: 7:15 pm
By Brady Henderson
Seattle’s newest linebacker isn’t really all that new.
 Schofield |
O’Brien Schofield spent last season primarily as a backup for Seattle, and on Friday he announced via Twitter that he’s back with the Seahawks on a one-year deal thanks in part to some strange and unfortunate circumstances. The team has since confirmed it has agreed to terms with Schofield as well as former Cardinals cornerback A.J. Jefferson.
What an up-and-down three months it’s been for Schofield. To review:
On Feb. 2, he celebrated a Super Bowl victory that for him capped a season that began with his unceremonious release from the Cardinals.
On March 11, the first day of free agency, he reached a two-year deal with the Giants worth $8 million, starter money for someone coming off a season in which he had only played sparingly. That deal, though, was nixed days later, reportedly over concerns about Schofield’s knee even though he hadn’t once appeared on the injury report in 2013.
He languished on the free-agent market until re-signing with the Seahawks on Friday, exactly three months after Super Bowl XLVIII.
Schofield, 27, gives the Seahawks depth and versatility as both an outside linebacker and edge rusher.
He was a starter in Arizona until he fell out of favor with the team’s new coaching staff and was released last summer. Three years after nearly selecting Schofield in the 2010 draft, the Seahawks claimed him off waivers, adding a player they saw as ideally suited to fill in for Bruce Irvin while he served a suspension at the beginning of the season. Schofield started two of the first three games, recording his only sack in Seattle’s season-opening win over Carolina.
Now he’s back, even though he never really left.
Follow Brady Henderson on Twitter @BradyHenderson.
