Mike Holmgren once again was not at Tuesday's practice, though the Seahawks said on Monday he is expected back today following a minor medical procedure. The Seahawks refuse to say what it is that is ailing Holmgren, and are not giving a reason for his absence today. They say that Holmgren wants his privacy on the matter. No word on if he will be back tomorrow. Gil Haskell once again ran practice.

Just as an observation, I would say practice was not very crisp. There seemed to be a lot of dropped passes, though I'm sure that had something to do with the slick grass from -- yup, you guessed it -- more rain. I asked John Marshall if the rain limited the team in anything it was trying to accomplish, and he said they are trying to maintain the mindframe that regardless of what is going on, they need to prepare the same way and practice the same way.

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Marshall said they have been trying to get different schemes down and see how the new guys fit into those schemes. They have been working a lot on the nickel defense, with Julian Peterson as the left end and Lawrence Jackson as the left tackle. Marshall said he thinks the new guys are fitting in well so far, but everybody had to study their play books more to familiarize themselves with what they want come training camp.

Rocky Bernard was taking part in team drills, starting along a defensive front that included Baraka Atkins at left end, Brandon Mebane at right tackle and Darryl Tapp at right end. As a rookie, Mebane was asked to bark like a dog/seal to form up the huddle. Despite no longer being a rookie, Mebane was back to the barking, which I personally like and laugh at every time he does it. On one other play, I'm not sure if it was Mebane or not, but somebody barked right before the offense started its count, forcing the offense to jump offsides. Mass celebration by the defense ensued. Children.

Sean Locklear was back at left tackle again, while Mansfield Wrotto got some time at right guard and Ray Willis was at right tackle. Wrotto and Sims were splitting time at the right guard.

No word yet on Ryan Plackemeier's surgery. Chris Cooper missed practice because his wife had a baby. Lance Laury still was not back from his absence to attend to a personal matter. Everybody else who had been out remained out. Marcus Tubbs was not doing the drills that he started the other day.

By the way, a bit of investigating has determined that the Hyundai Accent that Lofa Tatupu was driving when he got arrested for his DUI was a rental car. Can't believe that Aero Rent A Car was very pleased to learn that its car had been towed.