THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Seahawks, Clowney should both be in a rush

For heaven’s sake, Clowney…

Just sign the deal with the Seahawks and be done with it.

At this point in free agency, the “strategy” to wait for the market to go up into some new NFL stratosphere for a guy who had 3 1/2 sacks and finished last season needing surgery for a serious core muscle injury is just plain silly.

Yes, Seattle wants to plug Jadeveon Clowney back into its defensive structure for the 2020 season, and likely for three years beyond.

The Hawks are probably willing to offer him $19 million annually on a four-year deal — which seems awfully generous when considering his production has not actually matched his talent.

Fair enough, part of last year’s contribution was hindered by learning a new system in his first few games with the Seahawks, and he’s not to blame for the injury.

Still, asking for the same money ($21 million) as proven producers like the Cowboys’ DeMarcus Lawrence, the Bears’ Khalil Mack and former 49er DeForest Buckner was never going to fly.

YEAH, MAYBE I sound cranky about this needless impasse.

Blame it on the pandemic, or blame it on the fact most Americans don’t grasp why athletes — who are already millionaires many times over — are squabbling over an extra million or two, even as demand for their services appears to be going down rather than bursting into a bidding war.

Local Seahawk fans, plenty of whom have been emailing to ask why this marriage cannot be consummated (so to speak), simply don’t understand the holdup.

Jadeveon, listen up, my man…

Virtually all of the elite free-agent pass rushers have been snapped up already.

The flip side of that equation is simple: Teams seeking a high-level edge rusher, and who were willing to get into the range of $16 million-plus, now have already spent that handsome amount of money to get one.

Unless a miracle team appears from the sky, decides it has more money than sense and makes the show-stopping offer, you’re going to wind up back in Seattle — in a situation you claimed to love.

Here’s something else that your agent, Bus Cook, should know and be telling you: When the Seahawks set a value on a player, GM John Schneider will only budge for an amount that he’s already built in for a final offer.

I’VE HEARD from fans who seem baffled by the Seahawks’ stance.

Why not just cut a couple of guys who don’t really matter, they suggest, and toss the money into a deal for Clowney?

To that notion, I’ll just say…

Check the record.

Schneider and Pete Carroll have done awfully well by sticking to their principles.

Despite registering only 28 sacks a year ago, the Hawks came within a half-yard of snatching the NFC West from the 49ers — so this isn’t some fleabag organization that’s stumbling around in the dark.

By the way, Seattle has re-acquired a pretty salty pass rusher in Bruce Irvin.

Irvin may be 32, but he had 8 1/2 sacks and 16 quarterback hits for Carolina last year (both would have been team highs for the Seahawks), and he was no part-timer.

He missed the first three games with a hamstring injury, then played the last 13 and was on the field for 608 snaps.

We can assume that Irvin — who played in two Super Bowls for the Seahawks — remains a heck of a football player, and various sources suggest he’s getting a one-year deal for around $4 million.

Seattle CAN find another rusher.

Clay Matthews is still out there, and he played for Carroll at USC.

This all should be like a flashing red light.

Another option is Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen. He’s one stud who hasn’t signed, perhaps because he plans to stay with the Vikes — but he’s a free agent and a helluva player.

Jadeveon, my good friend…

Sign the deal and save us all this hassle.

Email: [email protected]

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.

Steve’s various tales from several decades in sports — “Moments, Memories and Madness” — run on Sundays.