Pretty cool move by the Hawks

[papasmurfbell]

Classy Seahawks sign draft pick before having to cut him due to heart condition

 

Friday's move by the Seahawks was a little peculiar because it involved them cutting a sixth-round pick just a few weeks after the draft, but ultimately it'll be a line in the transactions page most people will read and instantly forget.

 

Seattle Seahawks waived offensive tackle Garrett Scott with the non-football illness designation.

Scott, during a physical with the team, was found to have a rare heart condition that will keep him from playing, the Seahawks said. Scott played in college at Marshall.

"After undergoing an extensive physical with our medical staff last week, Garrett's examination revealed a rare heart condition that will prevent him from any on-field participation in the near future," Seahawks general manager John Schneider said in a statement. "We think highly of Garrett as a person and as a football player. The team is committed to supporting Garrett in the months to come and will continue to help him determine his next steps."

 

No NFL team wants to cut a pick before he ever gets on the practice field, but the Seahawks have one of the deepest rosters in the league. The team will be fine; they'll find a way to replace Scott. But imagine what Scott is going through.

Scott went from the life highlight of being drafted into the NFL to the low of having it taken away in less than a month. He played 41 games at Marshall. Presumably his heart condition wasn't noticed during any physical tests during the pre-draft process either. Then he was told that the team that selected him didn't think his heart would let him play football again.

There's a silver lining. The Seahawks found out about Scott's condition before signing him but the team signed him to his contract anyway, then waived him. That means Scott receives his signing bonus and first-year salary totaling about $555,000, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times.

So to clarify, they signed him to contract knowing he had NOT passed his physical so he could still get some money.

— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) May 23, 2014

Like losing a late draft pick, the Seahawks won't really miss that money. But it's a great gesture from a championship organization.