Michael Boulware traded for Jason Babin

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TONY206

TONY206

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Jun 13, 2002
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Texans look to replace loss of Earl with acquisition of Boulware


The Texans filled a need for a safety by acquiring Michael Boulware on Saturday from the Seahawks in exchange for former first-round pick Jason Babin.

Texans coach Gary Kubiak needed help at the position because of the season-ending foot injury of veteran Glenn Earl. Boulware, a former second-round choice, lost his starting job and was destined to be moved. The Seahawks brought in Brian Russell and Deon Grant to start at safety. In fact, the Seahawks were five deep at safety and had the depth to be able to make a deal.

"I heard that I'm going to Seattle," said Babin, a defensive end. "We knew it was a possibility. It's the way football goes, just do what you can while you're here."

Babin, the 27th pick in the 2004 draft, appeared in 15 games last season with three starts and had 26 tackles and five sacks.

He said the Seahawks told him they liked his pass-rushing ability.

"Seattle, they said, 'We're going to give you some chances to do some damage,'" he said. "So hey, time to go up there and rush the passer."

Boulware started eight games last season for the Seahawks and had 39 tackles and two interceptions. He had 73 tackles and four interceptions in 2005 and 63 tackles and five interceptions as a rookie.
 
TONY206

TONY206

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Jun 13, 2002
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Seahawks Cut Roster to 53, Acquire Jason Babin From Texans

Just like the rest of the NFL teams, the Seattle Seahawks cut their roster to 53 on Saturday, but with a little twist to start off the day.

The Seahawks dealt fourth year safety Michael Boulware to the Houston Texans in exchange for fourth-year defensive end Jason Babin. In addition to the deal, as expected the Seahawks placed defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs – also in his fourth season – on injured reserve as a consequence of tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Thursday night’s preseason finale against Oakland.

In the wake of Boulware’s departure, free agent rookie safety from the University of Washington, C.J. Wallace, earned a spot among the final 53. Along with Wallace, six other rookies made the cut: second round cornerback Josh Wilson, third round defensive tackle Brandon Mebane, fourth round defensive end Baraka Atkins, fourth round guard Mansfield Wrotto, fifth round linebacker Will Herring and sixth round wide receiver Courtney Taylor.

Sixth round pick Jordan Kent and seventh round choice Steve Vallos were among the 21 released, as was running back Marquis Weeks, fullback Josh Parry, and 2006 fifth round draft choice David Kirtman.

Also waived were defensive back Omowale Dada, quarterback Derek Devine, wide receiver Joe Fernandez, defensive end Brandon Green, defensive tackle Marcus Green, cornerback DeJuan Groce, cornerback Kevin Hobbs, cornerback Pete Hunter, linebacker Cameron Jensen, tight end Joe Newton, wide receiver Logan Payne, center Pat Ross, tight end Leonard Stephens, defensive end Nu’u Tafisi, defensive tackle Eric Taylor, and offensive tackle Kyle Williams.

The Seahawks will be able to sign a practice squad of eight players after 9 a.m. Sunday, which may include any of the above players or any other waived players in the league.

But the news of the day had to be the dealing of Boulware to Houston for Babin, the 6-2, 260-pound Western Michigan product who represented just one of four consecutive years the Texans drafted defensive linemen in the first round. He responded by recording 14 sacks in his three years there. The 27th overall pick of the 2004 draft, he ironically went just four spots after Tubbs.

“I really like the move,” said Rob Rang, senior analyst for NFL Draft Scout.com. “Babin is a classic third-down rusher, very quick and aggressive. He didn’t fit into what Houston wanted to do and he’s exactly the kind of energy guy/pass-rusher who fits into the rotation in Seattle.”

Boulware started 28 of 48 games in his career with the Seahawks, including half of the games last season. A wonderfully gifted athlete and a third team All-American his senior year at Florida State, the 6-3, 220-pound second round draft choice never did appear particularly comfortable making the transition from his natural linebacker position to the secondary.

He started every game in 2005 at strong safety, but lost the job from Weeks 8-14 last season as a result of the secondary having problems getting beaten deep. He returned to the starting lineup Week 15 and the Seahawks lost to San Diego in the final seconds of the game when Boulware got beat over the top for a touchdown. He did start there in the final regular season game at Tampa and in the two playoff games.

But coming off knee surgery, he didn’t participate in the offseason mini-camps, the Seahawks signed veteran safeties Deon Grant and Brian Russell to start, with veteran Mike Green returning from foot surgery as well. Add in the versatile Jordan Babineaux and the aggressive play of Wallace (he led the team with two interceptions in the preseason games), and it made Boulware the odd-man out.

“With the depth the Seahawks have at safety and the kind of pass-rusher Babin is, this was a no-brainer,” Rang said. “At worst, it gives them quality depth at defensive end, but with their defensive scheme and rotation, this could be a coup.”
 
F

Fucky McFuckerson

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May 9, 2002
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Seahawks add Wyms to defensive line

The Seattle Seahawks have added experienced defensive line depth, and perhaps a little inside information on their opening day opponent, reaching a contract agreement with versatile six-year veteran Ellis Wyms, who was released Saturday by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Seattle hosts the Bucs on Sunday afternoon, but the addition of Wyms was probably more a factor of adding a key reinforcement rather than doing a bit of reconnaissance on an opponent.

The contract agreement, details of which were not immediately available, reunites Wyms and Seahawks team president Tim Ruskell, who was the director of college scouting for Tampa Bay when the Bucs chose the defensive lineman in the sixth round of the 2001 draft.

It marked the second move made by the Seahawks over the weekend to bolster their defensive front. On Saturday, the Seahawks traded onetime starting strong safety Michael Boulware to Houston for former first-round end Jason Babin. Seattle was forced to place run-stuffing defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs on injured reserve after he suffered a severe knee injury in Thursday's preseason finale, and adding Wyms might help to compensate for that loss.

The release of Wyms, 28, was a mild surprise in the moves made by the Bucs to reduce their roster to the regular-season, 53-player limit. But he was made expendable by the offseason additions of veteran linemen, and fell victim to the numbers game.

Wyms should provide Seattle a productive swingman on the line, a defender who can play tackle or end, and who has always been productive as part of the front four rotation. He is more of a one-gap player than the Seahawks have preferred in the past, but is a resourceful lineman who will find a way to fit in with the Seattle defensive scheme.

The former Mississippi State standout started a career-high eight games in 2006, and notched career bests in tackles (31) and sacks (five).

In six seasons with the Bucs, he had 134 tackles, 14½ sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and four pass deflections. He has appeared in 66 games, with nine starts.
 
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