Seahawks Blog

Danny O'Neil covers the Seahawks for The Seattle Times.

E-mail Danny| Seahawks forum| Subscribe | Blog Home

March 11, 2009 5:29 PM

Joe Jurevicius released by Cleveland

Three years ago, Joe Jurevicius left the Seahawks for a Cleveland homecoming on the first day of free agency.

Could a return trip be a possibility?

Too soon to say, but the Seahawks have to at least consider the question after Jurevicius was released by the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday.

Jurevicius did not play last season after contracting a staph infection following knee surgery in January 2008. A number of Browns players have contracted staph infections in the past five years, a list that includes current Seahawks safety Brian Russell.

Jurevicius began the season on Cleveland's physically-unable-to-perform list and was placed on injured reserve in October. He was scheduled to make $2.4 million in base salary in 2009. After being released, Jurevicius becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Jurevicius will turn 35 in December. He came to Seattle in 2005, signing a one-year contract. He caught 55 passes that season and scored a career-high 10 touchdowns, stabilizing Seattle's offense when injuries to starting receivers Darrell Jackson (knee) and Bobby Engram (ribs) threatened to derail the Seahawks' season.

Jurevicius played in Tampa Bay before Seattle, signing with the Bucs when Tim Ruskell was with Tampa's front office. Ruskell is now the Seahawks president. When the Seahawks signed Jurevicius in 2005, he had played only 15 games in the previous two seasons combined and some felt his body was breaking down. He was not only a consistent contributor in Seattle, but he became a favorite red-zone target for quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.

Meagan, Jurevicius' wife, is from Mercer Island.

Digg | Newsvine