One down, one to go: Seahawks give Thomas deal

Published on July 31, 2010 by     

Not everything was perfect on coach Pete Carroll’s first day of Seattle Seahawks training camp. His two first-round draft picks remained unsigned.

That changed Saturday night, when rookie safety Earl Thomas agreed to a five-year, $21.1 million contract with the Seahawks. Thomas, the 14th overall pick in the April draft, received $12.31 million in guarantees.

A Seahawks spokesman later confirmed the agreement to The Associated Press but wouldn’t reveal terms.

That left offensive tackle Russell Okung, the sixth overall pick out of Oklahoma State, as the only unsigned Seahawk.

Okung has a salary slot seemingly set for him. Eric Berry received $34 million guaranteed from the Kansas City Chiefs as the fifth overall pick, and seventh overall choice Joe Haden was given $26 million guaranteed by the Cleveland Browns.

The Seahawks practiced without their 2009 top pick, linebacker Aaron Curry, for the first eight days of camp last year because of an impasse in contract negotiations. Curry, the fourth overall selection, eventually signed for $34 million guaranteed.

Curry said Saturday that he doesn’t begrudge the two rookies.

“I would just tell them to be patient,” Curry said. “What they are asking is their right as players, and they deserve every dollar that they can get. This is the business of the game. The business is all about numbers. When it comes to numbers, you’ve got to protect yourself, because you never know when this can end for you.”

Seven of Seattle’s last nine first-round picks have been late for camp.

Tags: 31 Million, Cleveland Browns, coach pete carroll, Contract Negotiations, curry, Draft Picks, Earl Thomas, Eight Days, Eric Berry, Guarantees, Impasse, Joe Haden, Kansas City Chiefs, Oklahoma State, Rookies, Saturday Night, Seahawk, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, Thomas Deal, training camp