"In professional football – as well as in many other callings – nothing says love quite like a bundle of money.

And now is the best time to show it, in a private and personal setting, before others can flash their bankrolls.

NFL teams have until early March to make bids on their own free agents before they are allowed to enter what amounts to a public auction in the marketplace.

After a pair of 7-9 seasons rife with roster rebuilding, general manager John Schneider appears to have positioned the Seahawks for the next step by creating enough salary cap room to meet the most pressing needs.

Consider what's at stake. Seahawks fans might trigger a seismic event from outrage if running back Marshawn Lynch takes his beastly style elsewhere.

And Red Bryant has likewise become an exemplar of spirited toughness for the Seahawks on defense.

These two are at the top of the list of 18 unrestricted free agents with whom the Seahawks may exclusively negotiate.

Coach Pete Carroll stressed a keep-our-own philosophy in his latest press conference."