THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Pete told us a whopper, and the tales keep coming

Pete Carroll has been lying.

You probably guessed that, but now, he’s reversed field and cut back in other directions so often that, well …

Feel free to bet Aunt Sheila’s chickens that Pete is scamming us.

But why not?

One of the best sports podcasts available these days involves a 45-minute monologue by David Samson, former president of the Miami Marlins.

Samson lets listeners know what’s really happening inside the industry, and admits that he and others have told you whatever was necessary to keep things ticking along.

The pod is called, “Nothing Personal.”

At the end of each episode, Samson signs off by saying, “Remember, it’s nothing personal. It’s just business.”

That’s how we should have been looking at the Seahawks — and specifically, their quarterback dance — right from the beginning.

I’m as guilty as anyone.

More so, when you think about it.

I’ve been covering the business of sports, oh, roughly since dinosaurs roamed the Earth, and still …

Carroll completely hooked me with his smiles and assurances that the Hawks would be silly to trade Russell Wilson.

RIGHT.

On March 2, during the NFL combine, Pete was asked about rumors of moving Wilson — who clearly had become a pain in the butt within the organization — and the coach replied …

“We have no intention of trading Russ.”

Now, fast forward to this week and the league meetings in Florida, and naturally Pete was asked again about Wilson, and those negotiations with Denver — which were going full-steam during the combine.

You know, while Carroll was in full denial.

“Well, yeah, things changed,” he said, with his nose growing every minute.

Remember, it’s nothing personal. It’s just business.

Here’s a little further explanation from Coach Pinocchio …

“There were financial issues, there were roster issues, the ability to be really active moving forward in the draft.

“It was all of those elements that came together.”

Blah, blah, blah.

Meanwhile, Pete is telling so many fibs about the quarterback situation going forward, his nose may not fit into the locker room.

For instance …

He and GM John Schneider are in love with serial failure Drew Lock to the point that Hollywood should make a rom-com about the relationship.

Pete has explained Lock’s lack of any useful production with the Broncos as, partly, the change of coaches just after Drew’s rookie season.

They’re thrilled to have Lock, a guy they had hoped to draft back in 2018 — when Wilson couldn’t have been dynamited out of the starting job, but who’s counting?

OH, WAIT…

Even though they’re giggling with excitement over landing Lock, he probably wouldn’t be the starter right now.

Nah, that would be free agent Geno Smith (if they could just get him to sign), because Smith played so well during Wilson’s injury absence last year.

And …

“Because he’s been with us for so many years, he really knows what’s going on.”

You know, Pete LOOKS so honest, and you tend to think that a guy who’s still coaching at 71 has every reason to tell the truth.

Yeah, I’ve admitted it.

That’s why I believed him about not trading Wilson.

No more, though.

Remember, it’s nothing personal. It’s just business.

I do believe one thing that came up at the NFL meetings this week.

Still just rambling on, Carroll mentioning that the Seahawks might consider adding a fourth quarterback to the roster (he’s counting former UW thrower Jacob Eason).

Matter of fact, I think Seattle WILL add another quarterback, and not only that, this No. 4 guy is going to wind up as the starter.

YEP, IT’S pretty close to a cinch.

The Seahawks are going to land Baker Mayfield.

Think about the big picture for a minute, and consider where Seattle (and Carroll) sit in the NFL universe as everyone prepares for the draft on April 28.

Pete is not going to do a rebuild, not at his age.

That’s crazy.

They’ve re-signed some key pieces (Quandre Diggs, Rashaad Penny, Al Woods, Will Dissly, etc.) and picked up two very good players in the Wilson trade — TE Noah Fant, DT Shelby Harris.

Bottom line …

This is not a rebuilding football team, despite the brutal schedule in the NFC West (with a crossover against the AFC West … including Denver).

Cleveland is done with Mayfield, who despite some fits of immaturity remains a legit pro QB.

The Browns have, for better or worse, taken on Deshaun Watson, and added a backup in Jacoby Brissett.

They want to unload Mayfield and his guaranteed $19 million salary for this season — but it’s not likely to work out that way.

Cleveland is in such a bind that Mayfield almost certainly will have to be released, which means the Seahawks could cut their own deal with him.

Various media members who cover the Browns describe Mayfield as a hell of a player, although Zac Jackson of The Athletic called him “exhausting.”

But remember …

Carroll has dealt with carloads of loud, annoying, difficult players in the past, and won a Super Bowl with them.

As long as they have talent, Pete’s fine, and …

Baker Mayfield has it.

Email: [email protected]

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He also writes Zags Tracker, a commentary on Gonzaga basketball which is published weekly during the season.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”