Nov 25, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield (26) reacts to being called for a penalty against the Chicago Bears during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN’s Josina Anderson has reported that the Seattle Seahawks and 15 year veteran Antoine Winfield have agree’d to a 1 year contract.

Winfield will join his teammate from the Minnesota Vikings, Percy Harvin once again. The veteran started all 16 games last season and had a 2nd career high of 101 total tackles with the Minnesota Vikings.

Up there in experience, this is a good pick up for the Seattle Seahawks as they add to an already dangerous secondary, having guys like Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas to help carry the work load.

“I’m definitely excited about the opportunity to play in Seattle. They’re a great football team. Those guys did an excellent job last season. They’re young, athletic and energetic.” – Via ESPN’s Josina Anderson interview with Winfield

In his 15 years at the corner-back position, Winfield has 3 pro bowl appearances, over 1,000 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 27 interceptions and 14 forced fumbles. He spent 5 seasons with the Buffalo Bills who drafted him in the ’99 draft 23rd overall and spent majority of his career (9 seasons) with the Minnesota Vikings.

“I’m excited to play with Richard Sherman, Brandon Browner, Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas because they’re some of the most talented players on defense in the NFL right now.” – Via continued interview with ESPN’s Josina Anderson

 

CB Antoine Winfield just told me he’s agreed in principal to a 1-year deal with the Seattle #Seahawks.

— Josina Anderson (@JosinaAnderson) April 12, 2013

Jan 13, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) runs against the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth quarter of the NFC divisional playoff game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Seahawks have been one of the most active teams in free agency. That has many thinking they’re the big winners and that an already explosive offense got more explosive, through the air especially, by acquiring wide receiver Percy Harvin.

But despite having a talented young quarterback, and giving him weapons to play with, head coach Pete Carroll maintains that the Seahawks will remain a run first team and put the ball in the hands of veteran Marshawn Lynch.

“No, it doesn’t at all. We’re gonna do exactly what we wanna do with continuing to send the message about how physical we are, how we attack with the running game and fit off that,” Carroll said on ESPN 710 in Seattle. “What I hope happens when we throw it and catch it we just make more yards, we have more spacing. I’m expecting Golden [Tate] to have a huge year, Doug [Baldwin] to have a huge year and Sidney [Rice] to fit in together.”

“This is not a change at all.”

Why should they change? Marshawn Lynch was the their leading rusher in the NFL last season with 1,590 yards. And with someone that reliable pounding the ball it’s not surprise that they threw the ball the least in the NFL (405 attempts).

But that physical style that embodies Lynch is also what attracted Carroll to Harvin.

“He doesn’t only catch the football, but he runs with the ball with such ferocity,” Carroll said. “He’s a very physical, aggressive football player and I can’t wait to bring his competitive spirit and attitude to the group.”

If you need further proof that Lynch should remain the focal point of their offense, there is always this:

Jan 13, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) throws a pass in the fourth quarter of the NFC divisional playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons won 30-28. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

There, I said it. It’s about as bold a prediction as one could make, but it’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it – for now, at least.

In case you missed the news, the Seahawks just completed a traded with the Minnesota Vikings to acquire the services of wide receiver, Percy Harvin. The move looks set to cost the Seahawks their 2013 first round draft pick, but I’d be happy with that, no matter what people think of Harvin as a player. Yes, he’s had his problems in terms of injuries, but when he’s healthy, he has shown that he can be one of the better receivers in the league.

But it’s not just the signing of Harvin that has led me to believe that Seattle will be the next world champions. I felt good about them last year, especially when rookie quarterback, Russell Wilson began to let everyone know there was another freshman QB to take notice of, apart from Andrew Luck and RG3.

Russell Wilson is the real deal. He took care of business right from the start last season, beating out Matt Flynn (who the Seahawks paid a lot money) to win the starting job. And once he got over a shaky start, he showed poise beyond his years, and proved he had the ability to make plays with his feet as well as his arm; something that will continue to be the trend for a few more years at least. Teams are hungry for a versatile and athletic dual-threat quarterback, and Seattle have their man in Wilson.

In running back Marshawn Lynch, the Seahawks have one of the best in the business. He runs hard and gains a lot of yards after initial contact, finishing last season third overall in rushing yards, behind Alfred Morris and Adrian Peterson. Expect more of the same from Lynch this time round.

We can’t pretend that Seattle have elite wide receivers, but Sidney Rice and Golden Tate have enough skills to keep opposing defense honest, at least. Now with the addition of Percy Harvin, they could have one of the most solid receiving corps in the NFL. Zach Miller at tight end is again not one of the best at his position, but there is room for improvement and he has enough speed to get down field.

It’s on the defensive side of the ball where Seattle truly excel. Last season, their defense finished fourth in total yards allowed, and were also fourth in yards allowed per game, giving up just over 300 yards each game. They are slightly stronger when defending the pass as opposed to the run, but gaining yards on Seattle is no mean feat. Neither is scoring points – the Seahawks ranked first amongst NFL teams, allowing just 15.3 points per game. Now, that’s impressive.

For me, it looks like the NFC West will again be a two horse race between the Seahawks and this year’s Super Bowl runners up, the San Francisco 49ers, but Seattle have every chance of clinching the division. Wilson will be entering his second year, and it would be fair to assume we will see some improvement, given that he now has one full year of pro football under his belt. I think he will throw the ball more this year, so we shall see if that leads to more mistakes, but there’s no real reason to think it will. Wilson is an intelligent player who threw only 10 interceptions last year.

It’s not going to be easy for Seattle. The NFC have several teams who you could make a case for when it comes to winning the Super Bowl. But barring any disasters, they should find themselves in the mix. Nothing less than a playoff berth will be expected once the season begins. Last year, they narrowly missed out on getting to the NFC conference championship game, but they have every opportunity to make it this time round.

So, am I wrong? Any reason why you think the Seahawks can’t win the Super Bowl? Let us know your thoughts.

Oct 25, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin (12) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Metrodome. The Buccaneers defeated the Vikings 36-17. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Seahawks have bulked up even more by adding wide receiver depth by trading for Minnesota Vikings Percy Harvin. They already have former Vikings receiver Sidney Rice on their roster.

Jay Glazer tweeted the news:

“The Seahawks and Vikings have agreed to a trade that send Harvin to Seattle for draft picks, pending Harvin passing a physical”

As Adam Schefter was discussing it on ESPN, the host told him at the end of the segment that their NFL Senior Writer John Clayton had confirmed the report. Adam Schefter though quickly got aboard with the news tweeting details of the trade:

“Any trade between MINN and SEA for Percy Harvin, which still is being finalized, is expected to include Seahawks’ 2013 first-round pick.”

That’s a big investment in Percy Harvin from the Seattle Seahawks, giving up their first round pick. A player who is often injured and hampered by migraine issues. When he does play he can be effective though. In 8 games last season he caught 62 passes for 677 yards. That would’ve been a Wes Welker like 124 passes and 1,352 yards over a full season.

All of that with Christian Ponder throwing you the ball!

Think about it, if he can stay healthy he could put up serious numbers for the Seahawks. But he’s never started a full season for the Vikings. The 2011 campaign was the closest he had to a full season. He played in 16 games, started 14, caught 87 passes for 967 yards and 6 touchdowns.

UPDATE:

Seattle sends this years first round pick and a 7th rounder as well as a mid-round pick next year for Harvin. Win-win for both teams

— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) March 11, 2013

Nov 20, 2011; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings receiver Michael Jenkins (84) is tackled by Oakland Raiders players Trevor Scott (91) , Matt Giordano (27) , Michael Huff (24) and Lito Sheppard (21) at the Metrodome. The Raiders defeated the Vikings 27-21. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

After shutting down rumors of possibly trading Percy Harvin, the Minnesota Vikings have decided to release a different wide receiver, Michael Jenkins.

Jenkins who was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons 29th overall in the 2004 draft, spent 7 years with the Atlanta Falcons from 2004-2010 before moving onto the Minnesota Vikings for 2 seasons.

He was scheduled to make $2.425 million for this season before the Vikings decided to cut ties.

Last season, Jenkins only started 8 out of 16 games, pulling in 40 receptions for 449 yards and 2 touchdowns. While in his career he has a total of 354 receptions, 4,427 receiving yards and 25 receiving touchdowns.

Although he is 30 years old, Michael Jenkins should be picked up by another team sometime during free agency. He can still some what be a threat, could definitely give some balance to a team looking to spread the ball around the field.

Thanks for all the support from skol nation. God has a plan and something bigger is on the way

— Michael Jenkins (@MikeJenk84) March 5, 2013

Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

According to a tweet from Adam Schefter , a source told fellow ESPN NFL Insider Chris Mortensen that the San Francisco 49ers “are not inclined” to go after Darrelle Revis at this time. It might just be talk, it might be because of the fact that Revis is coming off of a significant injury, or it might be because the 49ers don’t actually want Revis.

The 49ers have arguably the league’s most talented trio of cornerbacks in Carlos Rogers, Tarell Brown, and the unheralded Chris Culliver. Rogers and Brown are the starters with two corners of the field, but Rogers kicks inside to the slot in the nickel and Culliver moves outside. All three of them played very well last season, and all three of them have a high level of talent.

While Revis would take this team to another level, cornerback is far from a position of need for the 49ers. Revis has just one-year on his deal as is, and there is no guarantee of getting a long-term deal. Even if a long-term deal is reached, then that’s a long-term deal for the 49ers that will be given to a guy coming off of an ACL tear.

I believe Revis will be able to come back from his ACL tear and still play at a high level, but it probably isn’t worth the investment or the risk for the 49ers given the talent they already have at the cornerback position. Contrary to what some people think, the New York Jets simply aren’t going to give away Revis and still see his value. John Idzik and Rex Ryan have reiterated these points as well.

To me, Percy Harvin actually makes more sense for the Niners than Darrelle Revis. While Harvin will also command a high price tag and more value heading to the Minnesota Vikings in a trade, the 49ers have a bigger need for a playmaking wide receiver like Harvin than for a shutdown corner like Revis. Although Revis is the better value in a vacuum, he isn’t a better value for the San Francisco 49ers when looking at the talent on their roster.

The 49ers and Jets could still swing a deal and send Revis to the west coast, but it sounds like it is time to table that conversation for at least the short-term. I know I am in the minority, but I don’t see Revis as a great fit for the 49ers.

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter for more NFL updates @SorianoJoe.

Oct 25, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin (12) celebrates his touchdown with Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder (7) in the game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Metrodome. The Buccaneers win 36-17. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

No surprise here, but Christian Ponder wants the Minnesota Vikings to hold onto Percy Harvin. Of course he does! He is a mediocre quarterback at best who barely racked up more passing yards than his running back ran for.

Ok the difference was almost 900 yards but still, you get the point. When you’re struggling to hold onto an NFL quarterback starting spot, on a winning team than somehow found themselves in the playoffs you want to keep your biggest weapon if you have any hope at holding onto your NFL career.

Christian Ponder went on KFAN in Minneapolis with Paul Allen and discussed his situation with Percy Harvin, as transcribed by Sports Radio Interviews.

“Obviously we want Percy back. He’s a tremendous player and he’s a Viking,” Ponder told Allen. “And those are tough shoes to fill and we don’t want to fill them. He’s a heck of a player and a heck of a part of this offense and this team in general. Of course we want him back.”

The problem isn’t a lack of chemistry between the two either.

“During the offseason last year [we] spent some extra time together and we had conversations, and he was great for me,” Ponder said. “He was like, ‘If you’re ever watching film, shoot me a text or call me and tell me I need to be watching this.’  Yeah, we had a good relationship.”

Ponder is going to need all the help he can get if he looks to improve his stats and help the Vikings keep winning.

Oct 25, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin (12) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Metrodome. The Buccaneers defeated the Vikings 36-17. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin has officially been ruled out by the team for the third-straight week.

Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com is reporting that Harvin did not make the trip with the team for their upcoming game against the Green Bay Packers.

Harvin has been out of action since he sprained his ankle against the Seattle Seahawks on November 4th.

Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIRE

Harvin did not practice today, with Frazier saying “Percy gave it a try”. The Vikes will sorely miss their top wideout against a very good Bears secondary, and Christian Ponder will have try and get a good connection going with rookie Jairus Wright in the slot.

Wright will replace Harvin’s big-play ability in the slot, and the former Arkansas standout certainly impressed in their last game (Week 10, bye week in Week 11) with three catches for 65 yards and a TD in his NFL regular season debut. Wright is the closest thing to replicating Harvin, so the Vikings are certainly lucky to have him.

I think he’s played himself into a starting role regardless, because he has to be better than veteran wideout Michael Jenkins at this point. Jenkins is nicked up and isn’t effective to begin with, but he will have to start due to Harvin’s injury.

The Indianapolis Colts cornerback situation is still dire, and Vontae Davis is still listed doubtful on the team’s injury report. He missed last week’s game against the New England Patriots, and the Colts ended up giving up 59 points to the Pats. Davis has struggled this season when healthy, but he has been the only corner on the Colts who has made plays. The Colts already have to deal with the loss of Jerraud Powers for the season and are currently starting the underwhelming duo of Darius Butler and Cassius Vaughn.

Davis did not practice today and continues to be hindered by knee issues. Indy will be starting former St. Louis Rams corner Josh Gordy in the nickel against the Buffalo Bills, and things are just getting worse for the Colts defense.

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter @SorianoJoe.

Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

Matthews has had 17 quarterback hits in total, and the Packers lost production will greatly benefit Eli Manning, who has been dealing with “tired arm” this season. The Packers could still be able to get some pressure on him with the combination of Frank Zombo and Dezman Moses on the outside, largely because Moses had a big game last week with two QB hits against the Detroit Lions. Zombo has far less potential than Moses, so it will be interesting to see if the Pack can still generate pressure even without Matthews. They will to a certain degree, but the downgrade is obvious.

He is out for the second straight week with hamstring issues and has not practiced thus far, and it’s no surprise that Matthews will be missing another game. He has been dealing with hamstring injuries throughout his career, and the Packers can’t afford to rush the 26-year-old star back. He was extremely doubtful for last week’s game, and that same classification should be used in Week 12 against the New York Giants.

Greg Jennings is practicing today, however, but he will still most likely miss the game against New York.

In other news regarding star receivers in the division, there is still a small chance that the Minnesota Vikings will have Percy Harvin against the rival Chicago Bears this weekend. That chance, however, is as slim as it gets and is mainly the last stretches of hope from the organization. It could get rough for the Minnesota passing offense.

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter @SorianoJoe.