The Facts: Dave Canales has departed Seattle for Tampa Bay as the new Buccaneers offensive coordinator. Having played a key role in the renaissance of Smith's career this past season, might Canales persuade the veteran QB to follow him to Florida? Seahawks general manager John Schneider believes he's got a head start that bodes well for his squad bringing Smith -- and potentially backup Drew Lock -- back to Seattle.

Diehards Line: "Obviously, Dave has a great relationship with Drew and Geno," Schneider said this week, via Seattle Sports 710AM. "Shoot, he did a great job working with Geno (and) staying after practice with Drew. Those guys would work their tails off for a good hour, hour and a half after practice. They'd be out there in the dark throwing the ball, working on footwork and ball carriage and everything. ... (But) free agency doesn't start until the middle of March so there's a huge period here where we have time to work through things." Indeed, free agency does not begin until the new league year kicks off on March 15. Thusly, Schneider has time to work out a new deal with Smith (and/or Lock) before the QB technically hits the free-agency waters. Schneider is confident in how contract discussions are progressing thus far. "Good talks so far," Schneider said. "We're in it. We're just trying to figure out what's best, and we'll do what's right."