Dream Weaver

Happy Birthday to my man Leonard Weaver (born 1982), a Seahawk from 2005-2008. A Division II All-American tight end at Carson Newman, Weaver went undrafted, but Seattle signed him and converted him to fullback to groom him to succeed Mack Strong.



When injury truncated Strong's 15-year career in the middle of the 2008 season, the elder fullback said, "I have the utmost confidence in Leonard Weaver. I think he's going to make people forget about Mack Strong."

While Weaver never quite equalled Strong as a lead blocker, he greatly exceeded his mentor as a runner and receiver.

Weaver knew this, and he wanted to get paid accordingly. In 2009, he bet on himself by signing a one-year $1.75 million deal with Philadelphia. He then won that bet by making the Pro Bowl and winning first-team All-Pro honors that year. The Eagles rewarded him with a three-year contract for $11 million, including $6.5 million in guaranteed money. Which was fortunate, because on his first carry of the 2010 season, a freak accident shredded his ACL and caused irrevocable nerve damage, ending his career.

I'm sorry he couldn't continue his career as a Seahawk, but I'm glad he got paid.