A big addition to the Seahawks defense will be their other first round pick

In nine seasons with Seattle, Hasselbeck has only started all 16 games of the regular season three times. He is reported to be 100 percent heading into this season, but you have to question how long that will last once the hitting starts.

Carroll used his first draft with the team to help protect Hasselbeck by selecting OT Russell Okung to fill the void at left tackle after Walter Jones decided to retire. He also addressed some skill position needs by drafting WR Golden Tate in the second round and TE Anthony McCoy in the sixth. Tate will join T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Deion Branch as an additional target in the passing game.

The running game will be led by a pair of capable backs in Julius Jones and Justin Forsett. Last season these two combined for close to 1300 yards on the ground. Overall, the Seahawks will need to do a better job up front to try and improve a rushing offense that was ranked 26th in the league last season.

A big addition to the Seahawks defense will be their other first round pick; S Earl Thomas. Last season, Seattle's pass defense was ranked 30th in the league, so Thomas along with fourth round pick CB Walter Thurmond will be a welcomed addition to the secondary. The strength of this defense will still be up front with Brandon Mebane and Colin Cole anchoring a line that helped the Seahawks rank 15th against the run last year.

One thing Seattle is going to have to figure out is how to win on the road. Last season Aaron Curry the Seahawks were 4-4 at home but was just 1-7 away from Qwest Field. Overall, they were 6-10 against the spread; 5-3 at home and 1-7 on the road.

Sometimes, though, they become part of training camp, preseason, and even the regular season.

Oftentimes, the situation gets better before it gets to that point.

Such is not the case with Logan Mankins, who wants to be traded after feeling snubbed by the Patriots front office.

Mankins was told after the '08 season that his Matt Hasselbeck contract would be addressed after the '09 season.

He played out what he calls an "undervalued contract," and is telling the Patriots exactly how he feels by sitting out until he is heard.

The Boston Globe recently interviewed Mankins' agent, Frank Bauer, who told the Globe that the Patriots have "totally lost this player mentally" as the saga continues.

It seems that re-signing Mankins is all but ruled out of the equation.