Seahawks

Seattle It’s Been Awesome A Ride, Got Nothing Bad 2 Say About The Gr8 NW #12thMan StandUp!!! Like always… #LetsGetIt

— Leon Washington (@Leon_Washington) March 12, 2013

The Seahawks have informed Leon Washington — their kick returner the past three years — that he will be released.

This comes as the Seahawks are preparing to add Percy Harvin, a wide receiver who has scored on five kickoff returns his first four seasons in the league.

Washington was acquired from the Jets on a draft-day trade in April 2010 and returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in his third game as a Seahawk. He was one of the team’s best players in 2010 and made the Pro Bowl last season when he ranked second in the league in kickoff returns among players who had enough attempts to qualify for the league leaders.

He was scheduled to make $1.5 million in base salary with an additional $1 million bonus.

Ray Edwards could sign with Seattle Wednesday
By Mike Florio | ProFootballTalk.com

Hebron Fanguopo took Jason Jones’ spot on Seattle’s 53-man roster last week after Jones suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Fanguopo did not take Jones’ role, though. Jones was signed in free agency to boost Seattle’s pass rush, specifically out of its nickel package. Fanguopo, on the other hand, is a run-stuffing nosetackle, who was active for last week’s game to help buttress the run defense in anticipation of the 49ers’ ground-bound attack.

That’s a long way of saying that it makes sense for Seattle to be inquiring — possibly even adding — someone to help the pass rush. Could that someone be Ray Edwards, who was released by Atlanta a month ago? Edwards worked out for the Seahawks this week, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.

The Seahawks were expected to pursue Edwards in free agency last year after he hit the open market having totaled 8 sacks for Minnesota in 2010 and 8.5 sacks in 2009. Edwards signed with Atlanta, where he had 3.5 sacks in 20 games before he was released last month. His departure was surprising, and it came after Edwards initially declining to join a team gathering in the locker room after a game against New Orleans, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports.

The player Seattle’s interest in Edwards might reflect most upon, however, is Jaye Howard, the rookie defensive lineman from Florida. A fourth-round pick, Howard was chosen in large part because of his pass-rush abilities. He has been active for one game this season while fellow rookie Greg Scruggs earned a role in Seattle’s defensive-line rotation.

RENTON — The Seahawks activated safety Winston Guy on Monday, adding him to the 53-man roster. Guy returned from a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs last week, but the team was granted a roster exemption. He practiced last week, but was not eligible to play in the game nor did he count against the 53-man roster limit.

Receiver Deon Butler was waived. Butler — a former third-round pick who played the past three seasons in Seattle — was on the roster for the past two weeks.

Also, linebacker Leroy Hill suffered a hamstring injury in Sunday’s game while Malcolm Smith has an issue with his groin. Those two had split time at weakside linebacker the past few games. Neither has been ruled out. If neither is available, Mike Morgan would get a look at that position.