"A week into this frenetic combination of free agency and the beginning of training camp, and Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is back in his old element.

"We've been recruiting," the former University of Southern California coach said. "This is kind of like the old days, and our guys have really stepped up and helped out."

After reeling in a promising group of free agents during the opening days of free agency, the Seahawks added the top tight end in the market, announcing Tuesday that the team had come to terms with former Oakland Raiders tight end Zach Miller.

Terms were not disclosed, but Miller reportedly received a five-year deal worth $34 million, with $17 million of that guaranteed.

Just as Seattle offensive line coach Tom Cable, the Raiders' former head coach, helped woo ex-Raiders guard Robert Gallery to Seattle last week, Cable showed just as much sway in courting Miller.

"Coach Cable gave me a call Saturday morning and saw I wasn't signed yet, kind of feeling the Raiders would have done it by then," Miller told the Oakland Tribune. "He said, 'We want you here, and I'm going to make a push to get you here.'

"I took a visit, and my wife and I just loved it. I'm still kind of blown away about what an amazing place it is, and we feel it's the best fit."

Said Cable: "We had a deal going in Oakland. We were all close and cared about it and went through a lot together. And we turned that thing around, and then it all changed. That's life. But I'm as fond as him as he is of (me), and I'm fond of a lot of those guys. But I'm here now, and we've got to get Seattle back to something bigger and better."

Miller has been Oakland's most targeted offensive player over the past four years, finishing with 226 receptions for 2,712 yards and 12 touchdowns during that stretch. Only five tight ends have more catches during that time."