After the Seattle Seahawks lost middle linebacker and leading tackler David Hawthorne to the New Orleans Saints earlier this month, they signed veteran middle linebacker Barrett Ruud and re-signed linebackers Leroy Hill and Matt McCoy within a span of a few days. Ruud has been penciled in as the starting middle linebacker, but he'll have to fully heal from groin, knee and shoulder injuries, head coach Pete Carroll said on Monday. "We've got him healthy first," Carroll said according to Danny O'Neil of The Seattle Times. "He's not healthy yet." Ruud, 28, was a 2005 second round pick out of Nebraska by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he played for Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. In nine games last season with the Tennessee Titans, the 6-foot-2, 241-pound Ruud had 57 tackles and an interception before he was placed on injured reserve with a groin injury. Ruud signed a one-year, $890,000 contract with the Seahawks that included $65,000 in guaranteed money and an injury waiver. Source: Mac's Football Blog
