The Seattle Seahawks will be releasing wide receiver Sidney Rice, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Schefter cites a league source for the news and references the large five-year, $41 million contract Rice signed in July 2011. Rice had been with the Seahawks since 2011, but missed eight games this past season. He has battled injuries throughout his career and his inability to stay on the field may have sealed his fate in Seattle.
Sidney Rice will be released by Seahawks, per report
The Seattle Seahawks will be making Sidney Rice a cap casualty, according to a report from ESPN.
Ronald Martinez
Career
Rice was selected with the 44th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. The 6'4 wide receiver played in a reserve role for the better part of his first two seasons with the Vikings. In 26 games (seven starts), Rice had just 46 catches for 537 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. When Brett Favre was acquired in 2009, Rice had a breakout season with 83 catches for 1,312 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 16 games (14 starts).
His final year in Minnesota was marred by the aftermath of a hip injury that he suffered in the 2010 NFC Championship. Rice had surgery on his hip and was put on the physically unable to perform list. He was later activated and played the final six games of the season. Rice had 17 catches for 280 yards and two touchdowns in those games.
Rice signed a long-term deal with the Seahawks in 2011. He played in nine games during his first season with Seattle and collected 32 receptions for 484 yards and two touchdowns. He suffered two concussions that season, which landed him on injured reserve. In 2012, Rice had his first full season of 16 games as a starter, but produced just 50 receptions for 748 yards and seven touchdowns.
This past year, Rice only played in eight games (six starts) and had just 15 receptions for 231 yards and three touchdowns. Rice tore his ACL in late October and was placed on injured reserve.
Contract, Salary Cap and Cap Savings
Rice signed a five-year, $41 million contract with Seattle in 2011. He had $18 million in guaranteed money in the deal. With the Seahawks right up against the cap, they only had a projected $843,803 to spend. Rice’s departure allows the Seahawks to regain $7.3 million. They now have over $8 million in cap space, according to OverTheCap.com.
Roster Depth
Wide receivers Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin are both set to become free agents. However, Jermaine Kearse and Percy Harvin remain on the roster. The Seahawks will likely have to target a receiver in the draft and hope to re-sign either Tate or Baldwin to keep a solid unit intact. Rice is unlikely to re-sign for a shorter deal.
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