QB Matt Hasselbeck rejects latest offer from Seahawks

Published on March 3, 2011 by Tacoma News Tribune (Feed)     

Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck could be poised to test the NFL’s free-agent waters (whenever the league opens the pool).

“Matt Hasselbeck just turned down Seattle’s last offer. They’re concerned about getting him re-signed. They’re not close on a contract yet,” said NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi on Wednesday’s edition of NFL Total Access.

QB Matt Hasselbeck, a three-time Pro Bowler, led the Seahawks to Super Bowl XL.

If Hasselbeck, who led the 7-9 NFC West champs to a wild-card upset of the Super Bowl XLIV champion Saints, opts to leave Seattle after 10 years, he could become one of the more highly sought signal callers on the open market, perhaps even to division rivals in San Francisco and Arizona, who both need quarterbacks.

Seattle GM John Schneider said of contract talks with Hasselbeck at the combine: “It’s going good. We’re having great dialogue. Matt is Mr. Seattle, and he has done a ton of great things for the city, on and off the field. We’ve had good dialogue. I think you’ve heard me say it before, the head coach and the quarterback are the most important people in the building.”

If the Seahawks lose the only QB to ever lead them to a Super Bowl, they would have to consider current backup Charlie Whitehurst, who has just one year left on his deal, as well as their options in free agency and the draft, where they own the 25th pick.

The trade market is also a possibility, especially if Seattle coach Pete Carroll fancies a reunion with disgruntled Bengals QB Carson Palmer, who played for Carroll at USC.

Tags: Bengals Qb, Carson Palmer, Champs, Charlie Whitehurst, coach pete carroll, Contract Talks, Free Agent Waters, head coach, John Schneider, Matt Hasselbeck, Michael Lombardi, nfl network, Pro Bowler, Rivals, saints, Seahawks Qb, Signal Callers, super bowl, Super Bowl Xl, Wild Card