INDIANAPOLIS – A Super Bowl parade is one thing, but there’s also some type of victory lap to be had at the NFL scouting combine for guys like John Schneider.
A little more than two weeks since winning Super Bowl 60, the Seattle Seahawks general manager can bask in the glory showered by colleagues across the league who can truly appreciate the achievement that they are all hell-bent on grasping. But barely bask.
“People come up and say ‘congrats’ and that type of stuff. That’s cool,” Schneider told USA TODAY Sports on Feb. 24.
Then there’s his next thought, knowing exactly what the purpose of the combine is in the grand scheme of ramping up for another season.
“Instant reset,” Schneider added. “It’s like a reset. Like every year. Like how do we get ready for what’s coming? That’s the way I view it.”
Since the convincing beatdown of the New England Patriots, Schneider said he had all of one day off – on Feb. 22, when he spent the day with his wife, Traci, before traveling to the site of the NFL’s annual hub of activity to break down another crop of draft prospects and ramp up for the start of free agency, which officially opens on March 11.
“The week after the Super Bowl, we were in draft meetings,” Schneider said. “And I wanted to take a picture and send it to my family, like, ‘What a difference a week makes. Last week we were in beautiful, sunny California, and now here we are in the draft room.’ ”
In one sense, catching up is a good problem for Schneider to have about now – and one that 31 other NFL GMs wouldn’t mind because they’ve won the ultimate prize. Sure, the offseason is “shorter,” but Schneider is quick to point to the work from his supporting staff that, Super Bowl or not, has set the table for what’s ahead in the coming weeks. He ripped off some of the names – Nolan Teasley (assistant GM), Matt Berry (VP of player acquisition), Trent Kirchner (VP of player personnel) and Aaron Hineline (college scouting director) – and hailed the work of the scouting staff.
“Everybody’s been just killing it,” Schneider said. “Those guys have crushed the meetings. They’ve been doing a great job. Now it’s about me catching up.”
He paused, then added, “Catching up with the private study time.”
Schneider clears air on Seahawks-Kenneth Walker II negotiations
Of course, you could make the case that Schneider, who also built the team that won the franchise’s first Super Bowl crown in 2014, did have another “off-day” when he celebrated during the victory parade in Seattle the Wednesday after the Super Bowl.
That’s when Schneider made headlines as he addressed the status of Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, the running back poised to hit the free agent market after playing out his rookie contract.
“He tried negotiating with me five minutes ago,” Schneider told the cheering crowd at the celebration. “It was really weird.
“Anyway, hey, M-V-P! M-V-P!”
Turns out, Schneider was joking about the “negotiation” and the joke fell flat.
Walker and his new agent, David Canter, quickly dispelled the narrative. Walker went to Instagram and posted: “Must’ve been da liquor he drinking cuz I never said dat s—.”
The MVP added emphasis by completing his IG post with laughing emojis.
Asked about it during his Feb. 24 podium session with the media, Schneider also walked back his joke and denied that they talked contract on the day of the parade.
“You know, I kind of lost it,” Schneider said from the podium. “I got nervous talking in front of those people that day.”
In any event, Schneider doesn’t hesitate to set the record straight. He’s hopeful that the Seahawks can strike a deal that keeps Walker in the fold.
“We’d love to keep him,” Schneider told USA TODAY Sports. “That’s what this week is about. Trying to figure out the landscape. I was just so happy for him.”
Schneider recalled his exchange with Walker during the final minutes of the 29-13 victory, to which Walker contributed 135 rushing yards and 26 receiving yards.
“I came down right toward the end of the game and he was looking up at the scoreboard,” Schneider remembered. “I went up to him; I was like, ‘You’re going to be the Super Bowl MVP, man.’
“He’s like, ‘Do you really think so?’
“Like, ‘Yeah. I think that’s happening, dude.’ ”
Walker is the first running back named Super Bowl MVP since Terrell Davis in 1998.
Now Schneider is pressed to keep Walker, who teamed with Zach Charbonnet for a 1-2 punch throughout the season, then carried the load in the playoffs after Charbonnet went down with a season-ending injury.
It could get sticky, given a market that is typically tight for running backs. Walker, 25, could be looking at the best negotiating position of his career.
I asked Schneider to summarize his pitch to Walker.
“Obviously, we want to run it back,” he said. “We want as many people back as we possibly can.”
Schneider hopes to make up some ground on that front this week.
“So, no, we’re not far along with him yet,” Schneider said, alluding to looming talks with Canter. “That’s literally this week.”
And that’s only one of the challenges. Rashid Shaheed, the star receiver/returner, is also set to hit the market. Ditto for edge rusher Boye Mafe, and cornerbacks Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe.
These are the problems of champions. Raises are due.
Which is another way of saying that next year is almost here for Schneider and the Seahawks.
Contact Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on X: @JarrettBell
