Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Seahawks sign former basketball player

Seattle Seahawks head coach, Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider have never been afraid to take a gamble. Carroll did it when he named Russell Wilson his starting quarterback over Matt Flynn whom they gave a hefty contract to and Schneider cosigns some unconventional moves by the team.

With former basketball players turned tight ends, Jimmy Graham, Antonio Gates, and Tony Gonzalez having success in the NFL, Carroll and the Seahawks jumped on the hoops to gridiron bandwagon. The Seahawks have signed international basketball player Darren Fells to a three year deal. Fells is the brother of NFL tigh end Daniel Fells.

Darren, who is 6-7 and 280 pounds, went to visit the Seahawks on Tuesday and left with a contract. He planned to hold a pro day in hopes of impressing a NFL team. Apparently the Seahawks were impressed enough to make an offer.

Fells spent his last year playing for the Libertad Sunchales basketball team in Argentina. He's also played on the hard court in Finland, Belgium, Mexico, and France. He was an all-state tight end in high school at Fullerton High in Fullerton, Ca., but chose to stick to basketball at UC Irvine.

Fells will turn 27 in April so you don't know where his ceiling is as a player. But if he catches on it'll be another bold move that will payoff for the Seahawks.

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