Seahawks' Greatest Player Isn't Retiring Yet

I doubt many Seahawks fans doubted that nine-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Walter Jones is the greatest player in team history, but if we needed confirmation we got it these past two seasons. Jones played hurt in 2008, and not at all in 2009. Without an effective Jones, the Seahawks went from one of the NFL's best teams to one of its worst.

So good news yesterday when Jones told reporters at Seahawks HQ that he's going to try to get back into playing shape:

"That's the goal... I'm going to do everything possible to get back... Hopefully I can push myself to the point that I feel better about things. [...] I still got a long way to go with the knee, but I feel good about the direction I'm going."

Jones said that he'll probably know in the next couple of months whether he's going to be back--and he thinks that the Seahawks will make that determination, with Jones set to earn $7 million next year: "I think it's going to be their decision," Jones said. "And if it's over, I can accept that."

The fan in me wants the Seahawks to give every opportunity to make it back to the team. But, realistically, the money they'll owe Jones might be put to better use somewhere else. Let's all hope for a New Year's miracle: That Jones' knee heals just enough for the Seahawks to give him a chance to return, and that he can hold down left tackle again next season.

Regardless, this is probably the year the Hawks look for Jones' replacement. With the #6 and #14 overall picks in the April 22nd draft, they'll be in position to draft (or trade up to draft) one of the top offensive tackles available. They won't find another Walter Jones, but hopefully they get close.