OBW’s already had one major set-back after attempting to come back. In the long run, maybe it’s best for him to just take it slow this year and aim for 2013. He’d get paid in full, he’d still get to rehab with the team, and the Sounders would have more roster certainty.

My guess is they wait until the last possible minute beofre excercissing this option to see if he makes any substantial progress before first kick. The good news is this would give them 100K in cap space to use during the summer transfer period which given a prorated contract is a 200k player. Basically it provides insurance if we lose a startedrlike Johanson or Gspurning where there is a steep drop off to the second string.