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Seahawks can erase an error from last year

| March 6, 2019 12:00 AM

Just in case you’re waiting with sweaty palms…

Good news.

NFL free agency begins on Monday, and you can start putting together your very own Seahawks roster.

As for cap space, you have a mere $188 million to toss around, although you’ve got Russell Wilson and now Frank Clark getting big checks.

By the way, in case anyone is wondering about the health of the league, that cap number — which is computed by NFL revenue — has jumped nearly 50 percent in six years.

Not a bad return for league owners, especially when we heard all the supposedly grim news over national anthem protests and various other problems — like a tiny temporary home for the Los Angeles Chargers, the lame-duck Raiders, etc.

Money is pouring into the NFL at staggering rates.

At any rate, the Seahawks solved one of their biggest issues when they hung the franchise tag on pass rusher Clark, their monster pass rusher — one guy without a long-term contract who would be snapped up in minutes if he hit the free-agent market.

SO WHAT next, all you amateur general managers?

John Schneider, who does that job for real, is no doubt waiting on your advice.

Be wary, though.

The Seahawks have not been a historically good team when it comes to free agency.

Schneider is far better at building through the draft — and yet it’s almost mandatory that he hit free-agent market this year if there’s much hope of improving a team that went 10-6 and lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Evidence that free agency has not been spectacular in Seattle?

Last year, Schneider gave receiver Jaron Brown a two-year, $5.5 million deal and got 14 receptions for his money.

Tight end Ed Dickson was another terrible signing, and rolling the dice with veteran receiver Brandon Marshall only lasted seven games.

But when you have a team sitting on the cusp of the playoffs, a general manager almost has to take some shots in free agency.

Fans are expecting a step up, not a rebuilding year — which is what waiting on draft picks to develop almost certainly means.

So, John?

What about it?

LET’S SAY I start this party.

Before I do anything else, I’m making sure we never lose another playoff game because my kicker, who is closing in on 42 years old, pulls up lame with everything on the line.

I can’t watch the overweight Sebastian Janikowski cost me another game — let alone in a one-and-done scenario.

He’s been good for years, fair play to him, but Janikowski has hit the wall and I’ve GOT to get another kicker.

So about reversing a decision from a year ago.

Let’s focus on Jason Myers, who is coming off a one-year, $700,000 deal with the Jets.

This one would require eating a small dish of crow, since the Seahawks cut Myers in favor of Janikowski last season — but like all good GMs, I can’t worry about the past.

That’s dead and gone.

Myers will command considerably more money in 2019 — he made 33 of 36 field goal attempts (six of seven from 50+ yards) and 30 of 33 extra points.

But kickers are never going to break the bank because — unless they’re Hall of Famer Jan Stenerud or someone like 46-year-old legend Adam Vinatieri — they tend to run hot and cold.

Still, I think the Seahawks could land Myers, who is still just 27, for something in the range of $6 million for two years, and…

Let’s face it.

Kickers really can change games — and sometimes entire seasons, as Vinatieri has proven more than once.

Right, now the rest of you GMs can wade in and help out here.

I’ve landed the kicker who can rescue drives, so you can start by addressing the always problematic wideout situation.

Great buys are appreciated.

And I’m sure Schneider will take your calls.

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns for The Press appear on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He also contributes the “Zags Tracker” package on Gonzaga basketball each Tuesday.

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