Kerney to Hawks

[mardigan]

Updated: March 5, 2007, 11:00 PM ET
Seahawks reach 6-year agreement with DE KerneyBy John Clayton
ESPN.com


After two days of negotiations, the Seattle Seahawks reached an agreement with Atlanta Falcons defensive end Patrick Kerney, considered the best remaining free agent on the market.

Top free agents

GreenDefensive end Patrick Kerney is No. 6 on ESPN.com's list of the top NFL free agents on the market. Story
•Scouting report

Kerney, 29, got a six-year, $39.5 million contract that included $19.5 million in guarantees. He was involved in a two-way negotiating battle with the Seahawks and Denver Broncos. The decision was going to be a tough one, but it required a deadline. Kerney and his agents used the length of a flight to make his decision.

Kerney and his agents, Tony Agnone and Rich Rosen, got on a Paul Allen private plane that was taking them to Seattle. They spent the time in the plane deciding the best options. When he left Seattle, Kerney informed the Broncos and Seahawks he would have an answer by the time the plane touched down in Atlanta.

The winner was Seattle, but now another battle brews. The Seahawks and Broncos enter into negotiations Tuesday with New England Patriots tight end Daniel Graham.

Kerney is expected to give the Seahawks a much-needed pass rush. The 6-5, 273-pound defensive end has had three double-digit sack seasons and a trip to the Pro Bowl in 2004. Though hurt by injuries last season, Kerney is still expected to play at a Pro Bowl level.

It probably helped that Kerney got to know Seahawks general Tim Ruskell when Ruskell worked in Atlanta.

John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.

[Pugglekicker_21]

Man if Denver signed him.... but still, this assures me that they will select a pass rusher in the draft. if they dont they're re ed.

[Horry For 3!]

Seahawks DEF got a solid playmaker.