JUST DO IT! SEAHAWKS SIGN CB WINFIELD!

Antoine Winfield joins Seahawks "Legion of Boom!"

The Seattle Seahawks aren't testing the free-agent waters simply with a toe… They're doing a "Full-On Cannonball" into the deep blue ocean of available UFA's.

The latest "Fresh Catch of the Day" for Pete Carroll and John Schneider and the Hawks; Pro bowl corner Antoine Winfield.

Winfield recently made visits with the Patriots, Redskins, 49ers, and Seahawks, and was also mulling over the possibility of returning to the Minnesota Vikings, his employer for the last nine seasons.  After taking nearly five days to choose his next team for 2013, he finally decided that the offer from the Seattle Seahawks was best for he and his family, but it was a difficult decision for him, for sure;

"It was a very tough decision for me because of the relationships that I have in Minnesota," Winfield told reporters. "I've been there nine years. I've had some really great coaches, teammates and fans there. I'm very grateful to the Vikings organization for my experience.

"I'm definitely excited about the opportunity to play in Seattle. They're a great football team. Those guys did an excellent job last season. They're young, athletic and energetic. I'm excited to play with Richard (Sherman), Brandon (Browner), Kam (Chancellor) and Earl (Thomas) because they're some of the most talented players on defense in the NFL right now." - Antoine Winfield.

The Seahawks already had the best defensive secondary in football, before signing the free-agent corner.  Now, with the addition of Winfield-- planning to throw the football against the Seahawks' set of five DB's is bordering on foolishness or perhaps complete insanity.  All-Pro corner, Richard Sherman, leads this group of punishing defenders including starters; C Brandon Browner, SS Kam Chancellor, FS Earl Thomas and newcomers, Jeremy Lane, Walter Thurmond III, Byron Maxwell, Jeron Johnson, Winston Guy and; a very promising and hard-hitting safety, DeShawn Shead.  The Seahawks defensive backfield is so stacked right now, that it's very possible Antoine Winfield might not even make Seattle's roster. The Seahawks may draft a safety or a corner if they find a player they can't live without, but because they no longer have a first-round pick this year, it's more likely they will address the weak side linebacker, the one and only real hole on this team's roster.  Another stud outside linebacker to replace Leroy Hill is the only position of real need on Carroll and Schneider's radar, presently.  Hill has been a great WLB for the Seahawks over his eight seasons with the team, but he has burned too many bridges in Seattle (multiple scrapes with the law) and after eight years, he no longer fits into Pete Carroll's ideal type of player at the outside linebacker position. Therefore, the Seahawks will almost certainly pick an athletic, strong and speedy linebacker with the versatility to cover the run and drop into coverage with equal ease.  Rutgers LB Khaseem Greene and Georgia OLB Cornelius Washington are two linebackers that fit into the style and body type  that Carroll and Schneider are constantly in search of. Fortunately for the Seahawks, this 2013 draft class is loaded with quality defensive players.  The Seahawks will also be looking at super fast wideouts and blocking/pass catching tight ends that are big targets with soft hands. Depth at those positions is always something to consider in Carroll's offense.

Now that the Seahawks nickel back position has been seemingly filled, by Winfield and a host of new up-and-coming defensive backs, in addition to any players they draft for the position, Marcus Trufant is likely on his way out of Seattle.  The veteran corner has been suffering from chronic back pain for years and kept him out nearly the entire 2010 season.  Antoine Winfield is 35 years old, but his playing performance hasn't slowed much in the last several years.  In 2012 he still collected 100 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 12 passes defended. He has a very reliable tackler especially in space and, though only 5'9" tall, Winfield is considered the best slot corner in the game today by many defensive coordinators in the NFL.  The Seahawks will use him almost exclusively as a nickel back/slot corner and approximately 45%-50% of the snaps on defense.  This will keep him fresh and, hopefully, healthy throughout the year and into the playoffs where Winfield hopes the team will be at the end of the season. After weighing all of his options, he decided that it was Seattle gave him the best chance of being on a Super Bowl winning team.

The Legion of Boom seems to be gaining strength by the day and now that Antoine Winfield is part of the Legion-- Which receivers will be courageous (or foolish) enough to take a slant route across the middle of the field against the Seahawks with the Fab Five patrolling the green real estate of CenturyLink field… I wouldn't… Even if I was Megatron, Fitzgerald, Dez, Wallace, Julio or Roddy all wrapped up in one receiver.

Go Hawks!