Breaking: Walter Jones retiring (Updated)

If retirement is the case, I say - Thank you, Walt.

I can understand his feeling - He obviously wants to play - But really, what is the point of risking further injury simply to play one final year, when this next season is going to be a drastic rebuilding season anyway. Results are speculative at best. Seems Walt believes it is a good time to bow at a time of his own choosing.. What better way to go.

We love ya, Walt -

I just got back from walking my dog and I was actually thinking about walter on the walk. His last game was on Thanksgiving against Demarcus Ware and the Cowboys. Walter was playing on a bad knee that day and looked really bad. He might have been able to come back and be a solid LT. He only wanted to play if he could be the best LT.

Counting on him last year hurt us, so its good in a way that this didnt come during training camp. Hopefully we can get a solid LT with one of our first three picks. I like Bulaga and Brown.

Damn and blast!

Well, at least we can begin to move on. I wonder if McIntosh/Frye can hold thier own or if we fall apart or draft Okung/Brown...

Thanks for the memories and stellar play, Walt! You were hands down the greatest NFL offensive lineman of all time. I wish we could have won a Super Bowl with you, but you are first ballot HOF bound no matter what!

And you never did get into trouble. Thank you again. May your retirement be peaceful and happy and long.

Like my other all time Seahawk hero Cortez Kennedy, Walt retires a Seahawk for his entire career. You just don't find too many of those out there any more.

Walt, they broke the mold when they made you and there will never be another. You were the greatest Seahawk of them all. Good luck in all that you endeavor.

I felt this one coming. I'm happy for him and his decision, and this makes our priorities for the draft much clearer. We *need* to find an elite LT to fill Walt's shoes now. It just needs to happen and can't be put off any longer. I think Schneider is already on top of that, though. At least, I hope.

Also, Walt should hire me to be his Twitter proofreader. "Concussion to retire?" Ye gods, man.

I am suprised that no one has talked about the amount of Cap space this is going to save us. Seriously I believe that this is going to save us about 10 million this coming year. Which means we have more than enough now to give extensions to Burly, and to Tapp. I am not sure how Schnieder is going to play free agency but he has that option now.

I wish he got a ring but too bad.
We love you!

We will miss you Walt!
Best tackle i ever watched play.

Now it is absolutely time to draft his replacement. Brian Bulaga would be ideal. He is a stud. Hell, we could even draft a replacement for hutch too, if we took lupati in the first round too!

i think its a good thing that walter jones is retiring because of pete carrols new coaching scheme would be better with somebody who still alot of playing time left in them



but i think it would be good if he stayed around and helped the younger guys

Thanks for all the great years, Walt! You stand shoulder to shoulder with Largent and Kennedy as my all time favorites. Thank you for doing what is best for the team and retiring, thereby saving the coaching staff from making possibly difficult decisions and saving the organization huge money. You are a Seahawk thru and thru.

heres what Mike Sando had to say.
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/14074/sorry-big-walt-not-falling-for-it

He just corrected himself and is using "conclusion".

End of an era.

Damn, I knew this was coming but it still is shocking. This is the greatest Seahawk ever, and probably the greatest lineman ever. We will never be able to replace him, thats how good he has been for us.

Also, for those who say Rick Mirer never did anything for us, just look at Walter Jones. We traded Mirer and a 5th to Chicago for the 8th pick in the 1997 draft. That pick became Walter Jones.

I hope we keep Walt on as a coach if he truly retires. He would be insanely valuable since he was famous for his technique and footwork, I'm sure any lineman on this team, not just the new LT would benefit for his teachings.

Chris, I'm sorry but you reported this wrong. The tweet from Jones: "What was you thinking. Everything is going good. Come on be serious you think I put that on Twitter." is from September 11, 2009. He DID NOT tweet that today and say he was kidding so AS OF NOW, it looks as though he's retiring.

I would REALLY hope Walt isn't just playing mind-games with the Hawks and their fans. He needs to retire because Seattle is going to cut him anyway.

Radem

Walter Jones, Brett Favre. Brett Favre, Walter Jones. You guys should talk, you have a lot in common.....

Thanks Big Walt. We would not have gone to Super Bowl 40 without. Now I hope this convinces our team to finally spend some draft picks on quality offensive lineman. Bulaga, Okung, Campbell, Brown Mike Iupati I hope we get at least one of them.

We thank you for a great career! In addition thank you for showing the class to retire before Free Agency begins so we can plan to replace you. You are a class act!

Now really, did all these rumors and innuendos, tweets and twitters, and downright prevarications deserve so much attention as to be reported here as well as KING tv news among others. I know things are slow right now, but come on!

if it really is true that big walt is done then we as hawk fans at the first preseason game or regular at home need to let him and the team know how much he has meant that guy could flat out play i don't think i have ever seen walt beat'in baddly with the exeption of 08 cause he was in bad shape but big walt if you read this dude thank you for being a seahawk and thank you for the memories dude

Sort of on line with this potential story about Walter, but today is the first day teams can start cutting players correct? I saw this on Pro Football Talk: http://profootballtalk.nbcspor...gin-today/ but just wanted to make sure. If so, has anybody heard substantial grumblings of who the Hawks may release this week?

Come on Walt, you are the best all time. Call a freaking press conference and give this decision the pomp and circumstance it deserves.

A stupid, poorly-spelled twitter post is so ridiculously unworthy as a way to end your fantastic career.

Thanks Walt for a great career. You will be missed?

Does anyone else think it would be worth a sixth to swap picks with the Redskins. This would only work if they are looking quarterback, an Russell Okung is still available. But if that scenario were to occur, the redskins would know that the chiefs aren't taking a quarterback. They could get an extra pick and pay less for the quarterback, and we could grab Okung for a relatively cheap move up. Just a thought.

To answer your question Recordblender, this draft is thick with offensive linemen. From what I've read about Okung, some say he's overrated, others say he's not the best fit for zone blocking, I'd just say that it's probably not wise to blow off resources to move up to get him when our pick will already provide a great alternative without the added cost. Just my opinion, of course.

I dont think the Hawks release anyone yet, the only caveat to that being if Big Walt emphatically retires and sends in his paperwork.

That said, there are several overpaid aging players and some underachiever that could get the boot by the Monday following the draft. (Patrick Kerney anyone?)

I think Caroll and his staff hold on to everyone, and only dump players if they a)Retire or b) we sign a better player and they arent needed for depth. I think they go into training camp with just about everyone on the roster currently, plus whatever free agent signee's and rookies we land. THEN, during training camp the players ALL compete to see who gets a roster spot.

After that, like everyone else, we dump who we dont want and cant trade, and look for replacement depth in whatever other teams discard.

Makes sense to me. Despite Kerney and others imbalance in pay/performance, you dont cut anyone unless you are certain you can do without them due to having better players at the position.

SAY IT ISNT SO! You have some left in that big Ol' Tank! "YOU CAN DO IT!"

I dont know if Carroll will just let anyone go without seeing them for himself.I am sure there are alot of Seahawks out there that are working there butts of to impress Carol.Here are a list of players that have a chance to be traded,released or have there pay cut.The first is Patrick Kerney.Now Kerney has been lights out for the Hawks but injuries caught up to the patrick.His best days are behind him and had a great career.Being the 30th pick in the 1999 draft there are not to many players from that 1st round that have had a more productive years except maybe McNabb,Champ Bailey and Edgrin James and they were all top 10 picks.That fact is if we can get anything for him in the later rounds we should di it especially if we draft Morgan in the first.Seneca Wallace is also on the block.Has had trouble with his hamstrings and has lost his speed.His most important asset.Matt Hasselbeck.Now I dont want to see Matt go just yet.He could surprise us all next year if something was injured last year that he wasnt telling us.What if Carroll drafts a qb. I dont think that will happen but you never know.Marcus Trufant.He could be traded if we draft Haden.He still has value and could probably net us third rounder.The rest of the chumpy bunch are Kelly Jennings,Julius Jones and Deon Grant.Guys that really need to show something.Locklear,Branch,Redding and Jackson.Tatupu and Hill must get healthy so we can ship them off to.

Wow Hawksmack, is you spacebar broken or something?

There is no way we get rid of Lawrence Jackson or Tatupu. I'm not just saying that because they are both USC players either. Tatupu is the leader of our defense, and is the most important player on that unit. We don't have a replacment for him. If anything, we should trade Hawthorne but Tatupu is here to stay.

Jackson is still young so I doubt hes going anywhere. He has been a disappointment but he is far from being a bust. He gets at least one more year.