PFT
POSTED 9:09 a.m. EST, March 6, 2008
D.J. IS THIS YEAR'S DONTE'
In 2007, Eagles receiver Donte' Stallworth was one of the top wideouts available in free agency. Inexplicably, he didn't sign an early deal with any team. Instead, he eventually inked a below-market contract with the Pats.
This year, D.J. Hackett is the receiver whom no one wants, at least not yet.
As a result, Hackett's agent is now talking about a possible return to the Seahawks.
"D.J. has some interest from some teams," agent Kevin Robinson said, "but the Seahawks are definitely one option."
Injury issues from 2007 apparently are limiting Hackett's perceived value. He played in only six games, with six starts in 2007. But in 2006 he played in 14 games, and the year before that he appeared in 15 games.
Moreover, the injury was a sprained ankle, not an ACL tear or something else that creates lingering questions after it supposedly heals.
We're not saying that anyone should give Hackett Bernard Berrian money. (Then again, we don't think anyone should have given Bernard Berrian Bernard Berrian money.) But Hackett has a role to play, and we're kind of surprised that the Eagles or the Bucs haven't added him to the roster, given that they run a similar offense.
And why haven't the Seahawks stepped up and paid this guy? Nate Burleson has been a disappointment to date, and Deion Branch has yet to play like the guy they thought they were getting when they gave up a first-round pick for him in 2006.