By Danny O’Neil, The Seattle Times –
SEATTLE — Three weeks was enough time for Seattle to decide that Terrell Owens wasn’t going to fit into its future, and now it’s only a matter of time before quarterback Tarvaris Jackson moves on, too, as the Seahawks agreed to a trade with Buffalo.
Owens was released Sunday, one of 12 players the team let go as it prepared to trim its roster to the 75-player limit by the NFL deadline of noon Monday. Jackson is expected to join the Bills, though that move won’t be finalized until Buffalo reaches an agreement with Jackson on modifying his contract.
“He deserves a chance to be playing, so Buffalo came after him,” Carroll said of Jackson. “I hope it’s a good thing for him. He did a great job for us, and he proved everything you’d ever want to see out of a competitor.”
Seattle is expected to receive a late-round draft pick in the deal for Jackson, who went 7-7 as a starter last year. Jackson was part of the quarterback competition when training camp began, though his practice time was dialed back significantly the past two weeks.
The other departures were more of a clean break as Seattle released Owens as well as veteran offensive linemen Deuce Lutui and Alex Barron. Owens signed with the team three weeks ago, and played in two games. Carroll said he was in excellent shape and could still get open, but the team had decided not to add him to its core of young receivers.
“We really like the group that we’ve assembled,” Carroll said. “Terrell came in and busted his tail as we said. As we took a look at our guys, we thought it would be best for us to stay with those guys.”
The departure of Lutui came after the emergence of J.R. Sweezy, a rookie Seattle chose in the seventh round.
