First TC Surprise: Hawks release Marcus Smith

[RiverDog]

...for personal reasons.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/2440 ... e-seahawks

[NorthHawk]

I read that earlier, but something is odd.
Maybe he's just not into playing for Pete or maybe something is coming down on him and he notified the team so as to not be a distraction.
In any event, he showed some flashes of ability and I hope he does well wherever he goes.

We also released Marcus Martin, earlier, too.
I wonder if they tried him at DE or LB as a rush end.
He's only the NCAA sack leader last year and we need pass rushers, so it seems odd he wasn't given much of a chance at DE instead of trying to convert him to a FB.
The Rams picked him up and he's being tried as a DE. A real poke in the eye if he contributes there and our Pass rush is anemic.

Edit:
Just read this:

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll says a personal issue with Marcus Smith was a factor in his release. (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson). Carroll added that Smith understood the decision, which suggests that the defensive end did not ask for his release.

https://www.profootballrumors.com/seatt ... ews-rumors

[idhawkman]

drafted in the first round in 2014 by Philly. Another first round bust.

[c_hawkbob]

Replacing him with Walden may be an upgrade anyway. The four sacks Walden had last year is better than Smith's best season (2.5 sacks) and he had 11 sacks in 2016. He may not qualify as part of the youth movement Pete's got goin' on this year, but for this year at least he's likely a better option.