Gus Bradley

Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley was hired Thursday to be the next head coach of the Jaguars.

Bradley has been with the Seahawks for the past four seasons, with the defense improving each of the past three years.

The Seahawks ranked in the top 10 in both points and yards allowed in the last two seasons. This year, though, was by far the best for Bradley’s squad. The Seahawks defense ranked first points allowed (15.3), fourth in yards (306.2), and tied for fourth in takeaways (31). The Jaguars who ranked 30th in the league in total defense this past season.

Bradley started his NFL coaching career with the Buccaneers as a defensive quality control coach in 2006 and was promoted to linebackers coach the following year. He joined the Seahawks in 2009.

“He’s got a brilliant football mind,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said this week. “He’s got a way of reaching people and touching people and getting the best out of them, coaches and players alike. He’s got everything that you’re looking for.”

Bradley replaces Mike Mularkey, who went 2-14 in his only season in Jacksonville.

The Seahawks violated the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement during Terrell Owens’ on-field first practice when they allowed him to practice with shoulder pads.

According to the CBA, a newly signed player must have a three-day acclimation period during the preseason after signing: “Day 1 is for the physical and meetings. Day 2 and 3 the player may participate, but only in helmet and shells or a padded shirt. Day 4 and for the rest of camp is in full pads.”

The Seahawks said the violation was unintentional and that Owens should have just been in a shell on Wednesday instead of his shoulder pads.

The 38-year-old had signed on Monday, which was his first day, before participating in meetings and a walkthrough on Tuesday.

League spokesman Greg Aiello said that the league is currently gathering facts about the situation. It is currently unclear if the team will face any discipline.

The Seahawks have released former USC standout receiver Mike Williams, the team announced in a press release.

The 28-year-old Williams played under Seahawks coach Pete Carroll in college before becoming the 10th overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft by the Lions. In the NFL, however, he’s never come close to living up to his lofty draft status.

After two poor seasons in Detroit, the 6-foot-5 receiver made brief stops in Oakland and Tennessee before falling out of the league for two years, as his weight reportedly ballooned to nearly 300 pounds.

When Carroll took over in Seattle in 2010, he gave a slimmed-down Williams another chance. Williams responded with an impressive comeback, hauling in 65 receptions for 751 yards and two touchdowns and was rewarded with a three-year extension that paid him $1.75 million in base salary in 2011 and was scheduled to pay him $3 million in 2012. But with the departure of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, Williams struggled in 2011, catching just 18 receptions for 236 yards and one touchdown in 12 games before going on injured reserve with an ankle injury.

“We would like to thank Mike for his contributions over the past two seasons, and we wish him well in the future,” Seattle general manager John Schneider said in a statement.

According to ESPN.com, former Broncos head coach and Patriots assistant coach Josh McDaniels‘ talks with the Rams have hit a “significant snag.” The report suggested that McDaniels had been viewed as the front-runner to take over as offensive coordinator in St. Louis, and that the impasse in contract talks between the coach and team represented “a surprising development,” with one source suggested that negotiations “may have been derailed by the team’s conservative fiscal approach.”

The same report suggests that Seattle is now talking with McDaniels about the possibility of becoming offensive coordinator under Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.

“With the firing of Jeremy Bates as Seahawks offensive coordinator, Seattle is giving strong consideration to hiring McDaniels for the vacancy, according to a source with knowledge of the situation,” the report stated.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he hopes  Seattle veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck returns to the team for another season in 2011. Carroll said that the team will do everything possible to get Hasselbeck back in a Seahawks uniform for the 11th time in his career.

“We don’t know the timelines or how that’s going to work out, and all that kind of stuff, but that’s a big issue for us that we’re looking forward to,” Carroll said. “He’s had a terrific run for us, and we want to see what we can do to keep that going.”

Hasselbeck passed for 272 yards and four touchdowns in a stunning win over the defending champion Saints on Saturday in the Wild Card round of the NFC playoffs. The Seahawks will play the Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago in the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs.

As was first reported on KCPQ and then later confirmed by the Seattle Times, Seahawks defensive end Raheem Brock was arrested for a DUI Saturday morning. According to Washington State Patrol trooper Julie Startup, Brock was pulled over around 3 a.m. Saturday morning on NE 45th Street over Interstate 5. He was arrested but not booked by the arresting officer, meaning he was released pending charges.

Brock, 32, was signed by Seattle the week before the regular season started and has appeared in every Seahawks game this season. He was active Sunday against Arizona and has recorded 13 tackles and three sacks on the year. Brock is a nine-year veteran, and this is believed to be his first arrest as a pro.

The Seahawks announced on Wednesday that they re-signed quarterback J.P. Losman, who was cut by the team at the end of training camp, The Associated Press reported.

Losman replaces released rookie quarterback Zac Robinson, who was drafted and released by the Patriots. Robinson signed with Detroit after being released. Detroit’s starter, Matthew Stafford, may be sitting out the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

Seattle coach Pete Carroll said that the team was hoping to bring Losman back after the team released him earlier this year. Carroll said that the team feels more comfortable having three QBs on the depth chart. Losman was a first-round pick and a starter in Buffalo for several years.

Seattle will have a tough time against a tough Giants defense this week, especially with the loss of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Hasselbeck suffered a concussion in last week’s 33-3 loss to Oakland where he was sacked eight times. Charlie Whitehurst will make his first NFL start in his place, with questionable value for Seattle’s receivers this week including resurgent wide out Mike Williams. The Giants rank 2^nd in passing defense, allowing only 177.9 yards per game, while they also host a ferocious pass rush that has knocked five opposing quarterbacks out of games this season, including 24 sacks.

Seattle offensive guard Ben Hamilton was also placed on injured reserve after suffering a serious concussion against Oakland. Hamilton has had a history of concussion issues, causing doctors to advise the season-ending decision.

The Seahawks are not interested in adding wide receiver Randy Moss, a league source told profootballtalk.com. The Seahawks are thought by some insiders to be a possible destination for Moss, who was officially released by the Vikings on Tuesday.

Rookie offensive tackle Russell Okung has agreed to a six-year contract worth a maximum of $58 million, according to a report by ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. Okung, who was selected sixth overall by Seattle out of Oklahoma State, gets $30 million guaranteed in the deal. He was the only remaining first-round draft pick without a contract and is expected to report to training camp Saturday.