The Seattle Seahawks came to terms with their top draft pick, linebacker Aaron Curry over the weekend. Curry was the #4 overall pick in the NFL Draft and is considered a key player for the Seahawks this season. Seattle is a 50-1 longshot to win Super Bowl XLIV in NFL betting but many people believe they are a team to watch in 2009.
The deal Curry signed is worth a reported $34 million dollars. It is the richest rookie contract ever for a non-quarterback and it could be worth as much as $60 million if incentives are reached. Curry was at practice on Saturday and should get up to speed quickly. “I am just as excited to be out here and just to see the emotion from the fans and get back with my team is just an amazing feeling,” he said.
Head coach Jim Mora has said that Curry is going to start at strong-side linebacker even though he has missed some training camp time. “He wasn’t in there with the first group just because he’s got so much catching up to do,” Mora said. “I don’t know at what point we’ll make the switch and he’ll start running out there with the first defense, but I think it will be pretty soon.”
The Seahawks have a veteran linebacker in Lofa Tatupu who should be able to help Curry but there is no question Curry is behind schedule. “He’s got a lot of work to do,” Mora said. The Seahawks were 4-12 last season but many NFL betting experts believe they are a team that could be vastly improved this season. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is healthy and the team made some very nice off-season moves that could impact football betting signing T. J. Houshmandzadeh in addition to the drafting of Curry.
Seattle general manager Tim Ruskell said this contract deal with Curry was a long one to work out. “This is probably the longest contract we’ll ever do, in terms of pages and volume and little nuances to the deal,” Ruskell said. The addition of Curry should help Seattle on defense this season and it also helps that head coach Jim Mora is a defensive expert. The Seahawks are the second choice in NFL betting behind the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC West this year
Seattle is a 3.5 point NFL betting underdog in their preseason opener on Saturday at San Diego.