JR Sweezy reportedly leaving Seahawks for Cards: ‘This one stings’
Mar 12, 2019, 4:00 PM
J.R. Sweezy flourished for the Seahawks in 2018 after a move to left guard. (Getty)
(Getty)
J.R. Sweezy appears to be leaving the Seahawks for the second time, reportedly taking a two-year deal with NFC West rival Arizona.
Seahawks 2019 free-agency tracker
Sweezy was an important piece of Seattle’s playoff team in 2018, taking on a new position (left guard) and helping get the Seahawks’ run game back on track. But instead of protecting Russell Wilson and leading the way for Chris Carson in 2019, it sounds like Sweezy will try to help the Cardinals in their rebuilding effort under first-year head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
Danny, Dave and Moore hit the airwaves on 710 ESPN Seattle right as the news about Sweezy’s reported deal broke, and they shared their thoughts at the top of the show. Here’s what they each had to say.
Danny O’Neil
“This one stings, and honestly it’s a bit surprising. … I probably should have thought of this more (Monday) when I saw the prices that different free agents were pulling down that J.R. Sweezy was going to be a desired player. I still thought that he was going to end up back here and he wouldn’t even be all that expensive, that the money (in free agency) would be going to the safeties. … (Sweezy leaving) stinks for a lot of reasons, and one of the biggest is that this is the second time Seattle will have watched him walk out the door for a more lucrative offer.”
Dave Wyman
“I’m really bummed about it. This was a guy I thought was part of the chemistry (in) what was one of the most amazing comebacks as far as the running game goes, because they were bad (at running the ball) for two years. … They made a huge turnaround largely because of J.R. Sweezy. When he was signed last year at the beginning of camp, I didn’t think he was going to make that big of a difference, and he made a huge difference.”
Jim Moore
“He was kinda banged up, came back from Tampa Bay, and he switched over to left guard, and we talked to (former NFL offensive lineman Mark) Schlereth about how difficult that is to do. (Sweezy) hadn’t played left guard and he was over there and it was like he’d been playing it his whole life. It’s a tough one because you’re talking about Ethan Pocic (taking over at left guard) right now, unless the Seahawks do something in free agency or get a guy in the draft that will take over. Or maybe Jordan Simmons could come back – we saw him at right guard, maybe he’ll be like Sweezy over there at left guard, so you do have some options. But the options aren’t as good as what you have behind (nickel cornerback) Justin Coleman, so this is a big blow.”
O’Neil: Justin Coleman himself is proof Seahawks will be fine without him
