The Seattle Seahawks have released center Nick Jones, an undrafted rookie free agent (Georgia) signed on May 2.

The Hawks still have Chris Spencer, Pat Ross and Austin King at that position, as well as veteran guard Chris Gray, who can also play center.

Another topic lobbed in from the constituents. A reader suggests that Tim Ruskell is one of the great general managers in the NFL, and he wanted to know if I shared his opinion.

Ruskell’s been here 2 1/2 years, so the evidence has not been proven over time, but let’s go back to when he was brought in (Feb. ’05) and examine what the goals were at the time. He wanted to create a culture of winning with high-character players. And, of course, the goal of any new GM is to get his team to the Super Bowl. Done and done.

These were enormous challenges that were met through the contributions of a lot more people than just Tim Ruskell, to be sure. Randy Mueller brought on Walter Jones. Mike Holmgren landed Shaun Alexander and Matt Hasselbeck. Mike Reinfeldt worked the cap and contracts.

But things obviously changed under Ruskell. In an area of great need, the Hawks managed to pick up two rookie linebackers who would end up starting (Tatupu and Hill), with Tatupu landing in the Pro Bowl. I think a larger indicator of Ruskell’s insight was the acquisition of a pair of veterans who helped define the team’s attitude toward energy and effort. Defensive tackle Chuck Darby and receiver Joe Jurevicius were critical in the Hawks’ run to Super Bowl XL. They weren’t the highest-profile, necessarily, but no-nonsense guys who played with real passion and tree-bark toughness.

The Steve Hutchinson situation, though, was botched. Pure and simple. I will confess that when Hutchinson was given the “transition” designation rather than “franchise,” I didn’t jump up and pound the table and write: “This is crazy, now teams can steal him away with poison-pill provisions in a contract that the Hawks will be helpless to match.” But it’s the job of Ruskell and his lieutenants to anticipate such things. They misjudged the situation, they misjudged the market for a high-end guard and, most importantly, they misjudged Hutch’s feelings. I hear that he was hacked off at management long before the franchise/transition fiasco because he hadn’t been offered a longterm extension already. Somehow, the communication failed … as it did between the front office and Holmgren. In the end, the Vikings paid a lot of money for a guard and finished 6-10. It was obvious that the Seahawks struggled with health and continuity on the offensive line all season. With the freed-up money, though, the Hawks landed on their feet to some extent by signing impact linebacker Julian Peterson. Still … consider that one a net loss.

Last year’s moves need time to season before judging, I think. They spent a lot of resources picking up Deion Branch and Nate Burleson who under-performed. If one or both have terrific seasons this time around, the evaluation on the deals changes.

Other draft picks? Let’s see them play some more.

Has Ruskell managed to change the culture? Obviously. Troublemakers are unwelcome. Newcomers understand the high expectations for personal conduct. Smart players of good character are expected to be better in high-pressure situations, but also better representatives of the franchise in the community. Ruskell and Leiweke stress this and I applaud the concept. I’d say that the bond between the fans and franchise is stronger than anytime since the days of the Nordstrom ownership.

I don’t know much about Ruskell personally. He keeps pretty close counsel and not much seeps out of the front office. I don’t sense that he’s inordinately power-hungry, falsely inflated or heavily ego-driven.

Not every deal works in pro sports. Not every prospect pans out. But here’s what I appreciate, Ruskell has been extremely consistent. He had a plan, he implemented the plan, the plan works. That seems to be the most compelling assessment of any general manager.

--Here’s a copy of the column I did on the day Ruskell was hired:

Ruskell seems ready to take one for team
Dave Boling
Feb 24, 2005
Copyright The McClatchy Company Feb 24, 2005

Ask around for a scouting report on new Seattle Seahawks president Tim Ruskell, and a quick consensus is reached: "Good guy ... knows what he's doing."

Let us offer right up front that those were not always the terms used to describe his predecessor, Bob Whitsitt.

Those involved in Ruskell's hiring didn't bother to veil the appeal of a guy whose pitch for the position featured his eagerness at "unifying" the front office, at tearing down internal obstructions.

And to owner Paul Allen, the software magnate who recently executed the control-alt-delete trick on the team's administration, the issue of compatibility needed to be foremost in the new operating system.

Ruskell, then, is a team-first guy who is unlikely to leave bruises because his ego is banging around headquarters.

Here's an example: Allen cited Ruskell as a shrewd and experienced evaluator of talent. When given a chance to identify some of his draft nuggets with either Tampa Bay or Atlanta, Ruskell hedged.

"I hate to say those were my picks," he said. "We did it as a team; it's more fun to do it as a team, to give everybody credit. Our team picked John Lynch, our team picked Derrick Brooks."

It's a small distinction, but an important one. And when the habit of promoting the collective whole starts at the top, it can establish a tone for the entire franchise.

As an eager proponent of the collaborative effort, then, Ruskell had no problem acknowledging the paradigm established by the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.

Yes, he said, the Patriots have changed the way management looks at the construction of a roster.

"There's so much emphasis on team and so much emphasis on character," Ruskell said. "If you don't pay attention to that, you're foolish. It's another way to win; you don't have to get a Pro Bowler at every position. If you get guys who can work together, and they're smart and they don't make mistakes, then you don't have to have a superstar. You have to have a collection of men who work together for one common goal."

Hallelujah, brethren.

The retrospective scuttlebutt on Whitsitt's tenure was that, for too long, Allen heard only one voice emanating from Seahawks headquarters - Whitsitt's.

A common supposition is that Whitsitt and coach Mike Holmgren were, at times, at cross-purposes. If Whitsitt provided the lone conduit to Allen, then ownership might not have been able to make decisions based on adequate and balanced information.

At the news conference Wednesday at Qwest Field, Allen spoke of Ruskell's style, with the implication that it differs from Whitsitt's.

"I think every person's management style is different," Allen said. "I feel really great about Tim's style."

Allen said he consulted with CEO Tod Leiweke and Holmgren after the season to elicit broader input, which allowed him to "come to the decision that I had to make a change."

When Ruskell arrived bearing a message of brotherhood and unity, it resonated clearly with Allen.

"We have to have better communication," Ruskell said. "The coaching, the personnel, the front office ... we're all in this together. You can't do that if there's walls up and people have agendas. I know how it can go south when it's dysfunctional."

Ruskell looked very much the mild-mannered businessman, except for the Super Bowl ring earned for his help in building a title winner in Tampa Bay.

His wife, Linda, wore a sparkly bracelet that spelled out "Seahawks." And his daughter, Samantha, at one point was tossed a football. She dropped it, showing that she, too, fits in here.

Ruskell won't make any tackles or rush the passer. But he's a committed part of the team. And here's a story to show just how much - one that had to score points with Allen.

It comes from practices before the 2004 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. As it is told, Ruskell was on the sideline with Falcons owner Arthur Blank.

A running back headed around end and was driven out of bounds, right in the direction of Blank.

Ruskell supposedly threw his body in front of Blank to protect him, taking the bullet (or at least the running back) for his owner.

Ruskell ended up with a broken leg. But he proved to be a handy guy to have on the sideline.

And, apparently, in the front office, too.

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