Packers Send Mayes To Hawks
The Seattle Seahawks acquired wide receiver Derrick Mayes on Monday from the Green Bay Packers in exchange for an undisclosed draft choice.
The Seahawks have been unable to convince their top receiver, Joey Galloway, to report to the team. Galloway is trying to renegotiate his contract with Seattle.
The trade reunites Mayes, a fourth-year pro from Notre Dame, with Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, who was Mayes' coach in Green Bay. Mayes, who was in the final year of his contract, was thought to be the leading candidate to start for the Packers opposite Antonio Freeman, the league's highest-paid receiver.
But the Packers had too many receivers vying for too few roster spots. In addition to Freeman, Green Bay has veterans Bill Schroeder, Desmond Howard and Corey Bradford, while former Pittsburgh wideout Jahine Arnold and rookie Donald Driver have been impressive during the preseason.
Mayes is known as an outstanding possession receiver with excellent hands, who lacks the speed to be a game-breaker. He also has been injury-prone, missing 19 games during his three years with the Packers.
Mayes had a career-best 30 catches for 394 yards and five touchdowns last season. He was a protege of Packers receiver Robert Brooks, who retired last month.
Galloway missed training camp as he sought to renegotiate and extend a contract he signed in 1995. He led the Seahawks last season with 65 receptions for 1,047 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Seahawks offered Galloway a seven-year, $35 million deal, with a $7 million signing bonus. Galloway wants a five-year, $24 million contract, with a $9 million signing bonus.
In addition, starting Seahawks receiver Michael Pritchard is out 2-3 weeks while recovering from knee surgery.
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