In all the excitement with the start of free agency in the National Football League on Tuesday, it's important to remember the difference between fantasy and reality for your favorite team.

Especially in the case of the Seattle Seahawks.

While it might be nice to see them land all of the top names - Andre Johnson, Julius Thomas and Ndamukong Suh - but don't expect it to happen.

TO BE honest, the Seahawks might have already done all their free agent shopping, locking up K.J. Wright, Cliff Avril, Richard Sherman and Doug Baldwin to contract extensions long before the season ended.

Granted, Suh said he'd like to come to Seattle and play, and of course Seattle is interested. Who wouldn't be?

Fantasy: Suh, trying to change that bad image of himself, opts to sign for less money than the other 31 teams are willing to pay him, and signs with Seattle to chase a Super Bowl title.

Reality: Suh, trying to get paid like he should, signs with the Miami Dolphins and fails to win a playoff game for another five years.

Johnson, who was told he'd either be cut or released by the Houston Texans earlier this week, could be that elusive receiver that Russell Wilson so desperately needed in the final seconds of Super Bowl XLIX.

Fantasy: Johnson, who is also chasing his first ring and looking for a chance to play for a contending team, decides that Seattle is his best fit and signs a lower contract.

Reality: Johnson think he's a No. 1 receiver, and he could be if he remains injury-free.

WHAT SURPRISED me was that the Seahawks, who released Zach Miller after a failed physical on Friday, could be in the running for tight end Julius Thomas, formerly of the Denver Broncos.

Fantasy: Thomas, who might be one of the top players at his position by the time his career is over, actually does sign with the team and when called up, catches a slant pass on the 1-yard line to win a Super Bowl sometime soon.

Reality: Thomas, like both Suh and Johnson, will get paid more money than the Seahawks can offer, whether that be to return to Denver, or to another team.

Chances are that by Tuesday, the Seahawks will lose a key piece of the "Legion of Boom" with Byron Maxwell hitting the free agent market.

Love it or hate it, Seattle likely won't be able to bring him back.

Fantasy: Maxwell stays in Seattle.

Reality: Maxwell deserves his money, wherever he can get it from. Whether that's Atlanta - where Dan Quinn, the Seahawks defensive coordinator went to become the head coach - or somewhere else, he's done more than his job in the last two years as a starter.

Regardless of who the team winds up letting go, or bringing in through free agency, they'll keep it interesting.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter at JEPressSports.