Curry no longer part of recipe for success

Another pick bites the dust. You can now add Aaron Curry to the list of Seattle athletes that were paid big money and failed.

This morning the Seahawks traded the former fourth-overall pick from 2009 to the Oakland Raiders for a couple meaningless future draft picks. Sad story really.

Curry was a highly touted linebacker out of Wake Forest University that was widely considered the best defensive collegiate player that year. Back then he was added to a linebacker corp including Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill. Those three were supposed to be a dynamic trio that would dominate for years. Instead, those guys have all failed one way or another.

The speed of the pro game consistently proved too much for the very athletic Curry. He rarely sacked quarterbacks or forced turnovers. In the last two weeks he had been supplanted in the starting lineup by a rookie linebacker named K.J. Wright.

Tatupu made a couple Pro Bowls in the beginning of his career but quickly declined after a few concussions and minor injuries. To his and Seahawk fans surprise, his services were not retained this season. Since his release in August Tatupu has not been signed by another team. It's a very curious situation for a former stud that still is 28 years old.

Hill started strong with the Hawks too but started getting in trouble off the field. He was involved in domestic disputes with his girlfriend and then was cut from the team. Seattle brought him back this year for very little money then his initial contract and he has performed well enough to start.

The reality is that Curry was between a rock and hard place. He was a young man trying to live up to his draft status and the expectations that come with it. Unfortunately, the talent surrounding his was weak, thus, Curry had to play extra well to make up for everyone else. That was not a recipe for success.

Curry probably will improve in Oakland where expectations are diminished and he can just run around the field free of expectations. Many athletes have left Seattle to have better career numbers.

The bright side of this trade is the multiple millions of dollars saved by cutting that contract as well as the cheap contract the rookie replacement Wright is making in Curry's place. Maybe that extra money can be used for a big signing next season when the Hawks will be closer to a consistently good team.