Former Seahawks fan-favorite, Poona Ford, reveals the real reason he left the team
And it turns out it had nothing to do with money.
There was one point in the Seattle Seahawks offseason where it was believed that Poona Ford, a fan favorite, would return after the team moved on from him to massage salary cap issues.
But as the offseason progressed, a reconciliation between the two sides didn't seem to be in the cards as Ford signed a deal with the Buffalo Bills in May.
Since the deal, Ford has kept quiet. But on Wednesday, during the Bills' offseason workouts, the 310-pound tackle finally opened up about what transpired with Seattle. Apparently, his decision to leave had nothing to do with money.
“The scheme on defense is really what made me come here,” he said, per The Buffalo News.
Seattle's subtle shift from a 3-4 defensive scheme influenced the change of scenery for Ford. The end result was Ford's participation dropped roughly to 642 snaps, during which he earned an overall grade of 56.2 from Pro Football Focus.
Ford only collected 35 total tackles. Headed to Buffalo, Ford is back to playing in a 3-4, and if history indicates what to expect, he may have a productive campaign.
Following the season, Carroll admitted to mis-utilizing Ford: "I think we wore him down."
So it wasn't surprising that Ford admitted that he actually left money on the table to join the Bills because the defensive scheme better fits his talent.
“It really wasn’t hard, to be honest,” Ford told WUFO‘s Muki Hawkins. “Money is good but money isn’t everything.”
It turns out that the Seahawks had really no shot at retaining Ford. He left because of the defensive fit in Buffalo. That is why he signed a one-year $2.25 million deal with the Bills. Playing in a defensive scheme that better suits his talents could earn him more money in the 2024 NFL offseason.
“When I first walked in, everybody just be kicking it,” he added. “They hang out together, go eat together. They do everything (together). As far as the vibes, you can feel it in the locker room. We’ve got a chance to be something special.”
So there you have it. Ford was on the way out anyway. Seattle's change in defense scheme was the final nail in the coffin.
Feature image via Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports.
