SEATTLE -- To understand Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider's core philosophies on roster building, go back to 1996.
Schneider was a young scout with the Green Bay Packers when they claimed wide receiver Andre Rison and his sizable-for-the-time contract off waivers that November. Rison scored three touchdowns over the Packers' final four games, including a 54-yarder in their Super Bowl XXXI victory over the New England Patriots.
That experience helped shape one of the principles that has guided Schneider in 11 seasons in Seattle: player acquisition is a yearround process that goes beyond the start of free agency in March, the draft in April and even September cut-downs.