The Seahawks released defensive end Red Bryant and wide receiver Sidney Rice last week to clear some $13 million in salary obligations off the books before the start of free agency.
The move leaves both players free to sign with any team immediately, although neither player appears to be on the verge of landing a contract. Should they continue to remain unemployed, coach Pete Carroll suggested that a return to Seattle at a reduced salary could be in the cards for both players.
“We’ve had some difficult choices to make,” Carroll said, via the Tacoma News Tribune. “Every season teams are faced with these kinds of decisions. Again, we’ve taken it under great advisement, we’ve done what we’ve had to do at this point. There are other tough decisions that will come up I’m sure, but the magnitude of these were really impacting for our football team and guys we’re going to miss. Maybe we have a chance to get them back, maybe we don’t. We’ll have to wait and see.”
Both players are almost certain to wind up signing for less than they were set to make in 2014 wherever they wind up and that could help lead back to Seattle if the money is going to be similar without the familiarity. Any return would probably come well into free agency, though, and could turn into a longer shot based on other moves the Seahawks make in the coming weeks.