Seattle Seahawks

Seahawks GM defends his pick of Frank Clark

Published May. 4, 2015 4:47 p.m. ET

foxsports

When the Seattle Seahawks selected Michigan defensive end Frank Clark with their first pick in the draft of the second round there were a lot of skeptics.

It is not because of Clarks abilities as he is likely a first round talent, but because of his off the field problems in the past. He was kicked off the Michigan football team last season after a domestic violence charge. Clark was arrested for allegedly punching his girlfriend and throwing her to the ground. Clark eventually pleaded guilty to fourth-degree persistent disorderly conduct.

GM John Schneider appeared on 710 ESPN Seattle’s ‘Brock and Salk’ show Monday morning to defend his selection of Clark. He said Clark “would not have been on our board” had Clark “actually (done) a lot of the things that were written.”

Schneider went on to say that Clark did make some mistakes in his past.

“The mistake was that he put himself in an awful situation,” Schneider said. “There was a lot of arguing going on and yelling and screaming, and that’s why it was a disturbance of the peace, and the police were called.”

Schneider felt very comfortable with the selection of Clark after having done his research.

“It was really a situation where we were so comfortable with all the investigating we had done,” Schneider said. “Like I said, talking to the other teams, and making sure that everybody’s had the same research from all the attorneys and the counselors and the DA and everybody involved. We knew there weren’t going to be any pass-rushers left, and we needed to grab one as soon as we could.”

The culture that is already in Seattle will help Clark thrive according to Schneider.

“He fits that mold of guys that we like that have that grit level, have overcome a ton of things in their life,” Schneider said. “He’s made his mistakes, and we feel like, our culture here, that we can help this guy continue to do what they were doing with him at the University of Michigan.”

(h/t Seattle Pi)