Hawks to sign former Bucs tackle Jerry Wunsch

KIRKLAND — Jerry Wunsch, a 6-foot-6, 339-pound right tackle released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, reportedly has reached an agreement with the Seahawks and could sign a contract as early as today.

Wunsch, 28, would move into Chris McIntosh's right-tackle spot, where rookie Matt Hill has been running with the No. 1 offense. During training camp, McIntosh aggravated a pinched nerve in his neck and shoulder, an injury that caused him to miss five games and plenty of time in the 11 other contests last season.

With McIntosh's season in jeopardy, Hill, a fifth-round draft pick from Boise State, was moved into the starting lineup, with second-year lineman Floyd Womack playing left tackle in place of Walter Jones, who has not reported to the team while in contract negotiations.

The Seahawks would not confirm yesterday that they had agreed to terms with Wunsch, and Wunsch's agent, Ralph Cindrich, did not return phone calls. But the five-year veteran is expected to sign a one-year contract worth $750,000 — a $550,000 base salary and $200,000 signing bonus.

Wunsch was the Bucs' second-round draft choice in 1997 and has started 46 of 80 games.

Just last year, Tampa signed Wunsch to a five-year contract worth $13 million. But he became expendable when the Buccaneers, under first-year coach Jon Gruden, moved 2001 first-round pick Kenyatta Walker from left to right tackle and signed veteran free agents Roman Oben and Lomas Brown to play left tackle.

The St. Louis Rams and Miami Dolphins were among a handful of teams also interested in Wunsch.