Here is my story on Warren Moon that will appear in tomorrow's News Tribune:

KIRKLAND – Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon, who also serves as the Seattle Seahawks’ color announcer on radio, apologized on Thursday for his latest scrape with the law.
Moon, who pled guilty to negligent driving on Tuesday after being arrested for DUI for the second time in eight months, confirmed that he will back this season with partner Steve Raible, but also understands that he is getting no other chances.
“The writing is on the wall that that is pretty much the way it is going to be,” Moon said after meeting with reporters following the morning practice. “It’s kind of like three strikes and you’re out. But I’m not going to just base it all on just my job. It’s something that I don’t want to go through again personally.
“I really look at myself as being a person that has high integrity and high character and I've worked a lot of years to get to that. To have these type of errors in judgment is something that's not part of my character. It's something I’m deeply sorry about. I'm sorry that I've put myself, my family and also the Seahawks organization in this type of position.”

=> Read more!

This was a short, hour-long practice in shells and helmets, where the players essentially ran through all their different plays. There was no hitting and really very little to observe.

Josh Wilson was back returning kickoffs alongside Nate Burleson and Ben Obomanu. It was the first time Burleson has really returned kicks in a while. After limited participation in the morning, Lofa Tatupu was back at practice this afternoon.

The kickers each got a few kicks in in front of the team and both nailed their kicks, easy as pie.

Still no word on Red Bryant's knee injury.

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A lot has changed for Marcus Trufant since he was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks with the 11 pick overall in the first round of the 2003 draft.

He’s financially secure, signing a six-year, $50.2 million contract in March

And he’s a married man now, exchanging vows with wife Jessica in March. The couple expects a child, a daughter, in November. Trufant already has a 2 ½ -year-old daughter, Karmyn.

“I feel like I’m turning into my dad in front of my own eyes,” joked Trufant after practice on Wednesday. “I’ve got a family, and I’ve got kids and all that kind of stuff.

“Right now it’s not all about self. I’ve got to think about my family and I’ve got to think about taking care of things. ... So it’s a change of priorities, but it’s a good feeling.”

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All along, we thought that center Chris Spencer was sidelined this entire preseason because of offseason shoulder surgery. It turns that, Mike Holmgren informed us today, that Spencer's injury is actually a sore back. Despite surgery on both shoulders and his thumb, Spencer apparently wrenched his back before camp even began and has been unable to go. Holmgren said he hopes to have him back by next week, but he was being cautious because the timeline keeps getting pushed back.

Sorry for the delay in posting folks, long practice followed by a lot of wait time for interviews followed by KJR followed by Warren Moon meeting with us. I will give details of Moon's meeting later, but suffice it to say that he was very chagrined and contrite about his latest legal problems and apologized to the organization and his family for what he put them through. He is coming back at the Seahawks' color announcer, but he said he has been told that one more strike against him and he is gone. He said he voluntarily entered a drug/alcohol assessment program to determine if he had a problem, and while he said he doesn't think he does he said it is necessary to go through just to make sure. That played a part in his DUI charge being reduced to negligent driving.

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I apologize for the late start. A guided tour around the NFC West this morning.

Seattle Seahawks

Dave Boling catches up with rookie running back Justin Forsett. Although the rookie, seventh-round pick is the smallest back at camp at 5-8, 200 pounds, he still packs a punch. Forsett bench pressed 225 pounds 26 times and maxed at 385 pounds.

“People don’t believe how much I weigh,” Forsett said. “I’m not the prototypical scatback; I like contact, and that’s why I like blocking, too. I love being in the weight room.”

Frank Hughes talks with Seahawks coordinator Gil Haskell, who says the offense has some catching up to do. Seattle’s defense returns all 11 starters and has played well so far in camp, while the team’s offense has put some new pieces in place and still needs to build some cohesiveness.

Scott Johnson of the Everett Herald weighs in with linebacker D.D. Lewis, who is happy to be back in Seattle after playing two years for the Denver Broncos.

Gregg Bell of the Associated Press has a story on offensive lineman Samuel Gutekunst. A native of Karlsruhe, Germany, Gutekunst is the Seahawks’ representative as part of the league’s 5-year-old international development practice squad program.

Who is the better cornerback, Marcus Trufant or Kelly Jennings? ESPN’s Mike Sando debates that topic with a reader here.

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Run to daylight.

With an offensive line that blocked inconsistently on running plays, finding room to run was a hard thing for Seattle Seahawks running backs to do last season. As a team Seattle averaged 3.8 yards a carry, tied for 22nd in the league. Seattle also finished tied for 22nd in the league in rushing touchdowns with nine.

But with the addition of offensive line coach Mike Solari and guard Mike Wahle, the Seahawks are looking to change their fortunes on the ground, and through six days of training camp the team appears to be experiencing the fruits of their labor.

=> Read more!

This afternoon's practice was run exclusively by special teams coach Bruce DeHaven, who used the entire hour to work on kickoff coverage and kickoff returns.

Ben Obomanu, Jordan Kent, Josh Wilson and Justin Forsett were back returning kickoffs. No Nate Burleson. He has been pretty absent for most of these sessions. At one point on a return, DeHaven wanted the returners to keep the ball outside, telling them, "Don't be running the ball back inside or you are going to get yourself a headache."

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Here is the team's release:

KIRKLAND, WASH. - Single game tickets for the Seattle Seahawks 2008 season will go on sale Monday, August 4 at 10 a.m. Fans will be able to purchase a maximum six (6) tickets per game.

Tickets will only be available at www.seahawks.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 206-628-0888. Tickets will not be available at the Qwest Field Box Office or Ticketmaster outlets. Ticket availability is limited and is expected to sell out within minutes.

The team has maintained a franchise-record 61,000 season-ticket holders since the 2004 season.

The club’s season ticket waiting list, Blue Pride, has more than 13,000 deposits to date. To learn more about Blue Pride, the Seahawks season ticket waiting list, please visit www.seahawks.com.

The Seahawks have sold out 44 consecutive home games, and are 34-7 at home since week 16 of the 2002 season, second-best regular-season home record during that span.

We have been waiting for official word on his injury, but tight end Jeb Putzier missed this morning's practice because of a sore hip.

Here is FSN's release announcing the former fullback Mack Strong is taking over the spot of Josh Brown:

FSN today announced former Seahawks fullback Mack Strong as the newest addition to the network’s talent team. The 15-year NFL veteran will bring his in-depth football knowledge to viewers across the Northwest using his experience in the league to give fans a unique perspective into the game starting this fall. The two-time NFL Pro Bowler will bolster FSN’s Seahawks talent team and will host a new 30-minute show titled Mack Strong: Seahawks Insider which utilizes his familiarity with the organization and relationships with former teammates to provide viewers with a unique perspective of the upcoming Seahawks season.

Strong will play a large role in getting fans ready for the season by providing insight during FSN’s Inside Seahawks Camp, a 30-minute show dedicated to bringing fans a daily update straight from Seahawks training camp. His experience as an undrafted free agent when he entered his first training camp to becoming a seasoned veteran who knew his role in his later years, will help Strong give fans an exclusive perspective as to what goes through the minds and hearts of the players during an NFL training camp. Fans will also get a chance to know those same players off the field, as Strong introduces them to some of his former teammates and provides an inside perspective throughout the season on Seahawks All Access.

Another practice under cool, gray skies, though the rain held off for the most part, a few sprinkles here and there. But the practice was not affected by the weather, which hopefully will turn by the time Saturday's scrimmage at Qwest Field rolls around.

The play of the day was turned in by Howard Green, who essentially lumbered into the backfield unblocked to blow up Justin Forsett. It looked like he swallowed him on the play. Fullback Owen Schmitt also had a very nice block on linebacker Matt Castelo on a kickout run, and afterward Gil Haskell was very complimentary of Schmitt and his willingness to put his head in there and block.

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JoHawk51, The players lounge at VMAC is pretty sizable, though when we were there it did not have anything in it. Supposedly they were bringing in a lot of televisions so that on Saturday afternoons the players can go in there and watch their respective college teams play. Not sure what else is going in there, probably a pool table or something similar.

Moeflo, There has not really been a shortage of Logan Payne stuff. He is making nice catches every day, rarely drops a pass (except when Josh Wilson popped him yesterday) and is I would say the No. 4 receiver behind Courtney Taylor right now. It seems as if he has stepped ahead of Ben Obomanu, though it also appears as if they like Obomanu for return duties. Mike Wahle has not really stood out, though I have not intentionally watched him yet. I'll try to take some time today to zero in on him.

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Here's some suggested reading to get you started this morning.

Seattle Seahawks

Frank Hughes delves into wide receiver coach Keith Gilbertson’s frustrations during his head coaching days at the University of Washington in today’s offering from Kirkland.

Even though Gilbertson finished 7-17 during his stint leading with the Huskies and endured the fall out from the Rick Neuheisel era, Gilbertson said because of his loyalty to the school he would do the same thing all over again. But his zest for football has been rejuvenated by coaching for the Seahawks.

The Everett Herald’s Scott Johnson discusses the turnover in special teams with coach responsible for that area, Bruce DeHaven.

Jim Trotter of Sports Illustrated provides a big-picture perspective on Seattle as he checks in on the Seahawks here.

San Francisco 49ers

This offering by The San Francisco Chronicle's Kevin Lynch discusses the competition at outside linebacker between Jeb Ulbrich, Dontarrious Thomas, holdover Brandon Moore and rookie Larry Grant.

Ulbrich leads the chase right now. The strong side outside linebacker position is an important one in the team’s 3-4 scheme because he usually plays head up on the tight end side, where most teams run, and is responsible for slowing down the run.

University of Washington product Dashon Goldson is getting an opportunity to compete for a starting job at safety.

Arizona Cardinals

Safety Adrian Wilson has returned from a heal injury that forced him to miss the last seven games of the season, and is out to prove he’s the best at his position this year.

Arizona second-year coach Ken Whisenhunt said he is more comfortable and is looking for continued improvement this year after finishing 8-8 in his first season with the Cardinals.

The Cardinals signed rookie tight end Brent Miller and waived injured tight end Troy Bienemann.

St. Louis Rams

Left tackle Orlando Pace’s surgically repaired right shoulder appears to be holding up so far in camp.

Second-round draft choice wide receiver Donnie Avery cracked a bone in his pelvic area on Monday, but the injury is not serious and he should be back practicing in a week.

And radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh is reportedly interested in buying the St. Louis Rams.

Just in time for the story I wrote today on Josh Wilson, the second-year player make the play of the day in Tuesday's wet afternoon practice. During 7-on-7 drills, Seneca Wallace takes a one-step drop looking to his right, fires back to his left to Bryan Gilmore. Wilson guessed perfectly on the play, broke on the ball, picked it off and returned it for a touchdown. He showed good anticipation, good closing speed and turned it on after making the pick, the reason Jim Mora said they want to use him more this year in the secondary if they get the chance.

=> Read more!

This morning's practice was held under cool, gray skies with occasional drizzle, but it didn't seem to have too much of an affect, though I wil say the offense was not very impressive, particularly in the latter stages. The practice ended with the offense -- both first and second teams -- making about seven consecutive bad plays, including Matt Hasselbeck eating one pass attempt and throwing to an empty spot on the field on another, and Seneca Wallace being tripped in the backfield by one of his linemen. It wasn't enough to make Mike Holmgren blow his stack, but it was pretty apparent that he was not pleased. It is certainly too early to draw any conclusions, and the defense is usually ahead of the offense at this point, but the receivers could be an issue, as everybody knows. One problem is that Courtney Taylor once again was not available for the end of practice, getting stretched out at one point because of a sore hamstring and then wearing an ice pack under his uniform for the duration of practice. Taylor has all the talent in the world but continues to get dinged up, the biggest concern about him.

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Some links to start your day.

Seattle Seahawks

Frank has an interesting story today on cornerback Josh Wilson and how his role for the Seahawks this season. Hughes also goes into detail on the hazing Wilson endured as a rookie, including carrying a briefcase around he called “the ugliest briefcase I’ve ever seen.”
The briefcase was upholstered with hotel carpet.

Dave provides a more detailed look at Logan Payne, one of more impressive performers in camp so far. The second-year player out of the University of Minnesota has made several spectacular catches over the last couple days.

Scott Johnson of the Everett Herald talks about the issues at center with Chris Spencer and Chris Gray both injured.

Another perspective story on running back Julius Jones, this one by USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt.

And Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren talks about the disappointment of losing kicker Josh Brown to the Rams in this story by Associated Press reporter Gregg Bell.

San Francisco 49ers

Offensive coordinator Mike Martz said he will call plays from the box this season, according to this report.

Here’s an excerpt:

Offensive coordinator Mike Martz settled one question. He’ll call the plays from the press box. “It’s the most effective spot for me,” he said. “With Ted (Tollner) coaching the quarterbacks, we’ve got plenty of guys on the sideline.”

The San Francisco Chronicle’s Kevin Lynch also has an extended interview with Martz.

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat says 49ers quarterback Alex Smith is soaking up information from Martz.

Arizona Cardinals

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic discusses Cardinal running back Edgerrin James’ psyche as he nears his 30th birthday.

Mike Tulumello of the East Valley Tribune writes about young Cardinal defensive ends Kenny Iwebema and Calais Campbell, who are both vying for playing time this season.

St. Louis Rams

This article from the St. Louis Dispatch discusses what Rams running back holdout Steven Jackson is looking for in contract terms.

A roundup of camp notes from training camp for the rams can be found here.

We took a tour of the new practice facility this afternoon and it is P-L-U-S-H.

It is not quite done, they are still doing the finishing touches, but the fields are painted and look good and the indoor field is huge and incredible. No more smelly bubble that seems like at any moment it will blow over, this is more like an airplane hangar. The outdoor fields have a large berm close to I-405 that can allow fans to sit and watch practice, or block out anybody trying to get a peek.

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Buffalo running back Marshawn Lynch will not be suspended by the league for his hit-and-run accident, meaning he will be playing in the season opener against the Seahawks. Here is the link to the story.

This afternoon's practice was an hour-long special teams practice run by Bruce DeHaven, who looked smashing in a fishing hat.

I can tell you who you won't see returning punts: Michael Bumpus. He and Ben Obomanu were back fielding punts and he dropped not one, not two, not three but four balls. After the third, Big Show half-heartedly yells, "Catch the ball." After the fourth, Holmgren just laughed. Obomanu did OK, though he fielded one over his head like he was trying to catch a pass and appeared to hurt his fingers.

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After two weeks scrambling around in the Sierra Nevadas, it's good to be back to work watching some football. This morning started out under cloudy skies but gave way to sunny and cool, which the players certainly prefer.

Today's practice was much more positive and business-like than yesterday's, when Mike Holmgren blew his lid because of inconsistencies from the offense. Holmgren said he had a long talk with himself before camp and wanted to stay in control, but when the players are messing up the basics rather than intricacies he can't take it any longer -- hence the venting.

Before we get into details from practice, I will point out that Holmgren said that Patrick Kerney is going to shut it down for a while. Kerney strained his calf in practice yesterday and was wearing an ice pack on it today, but the doctors decided that rather than risk it they are going to allow him to rest and get better rather than risk further injury.

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Man, I wish you could have been here this morning. The second morning in pads featured some great contact. Traditionally one of the best ... and often most lopisded ... drills of training camp is when the running backs are asked to go one-on-one blocking against the linebackers.

In the past, only Mack Strong had much luck. The drill this year was a real eye-opener. Leonard Weaver stonewalled Lofa Tatupu, and then absolutely flat-backed Leroy Hill. I know, I know ... you don't believe it. Brothers and sisters, I saw it with my own eyes.

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It wouldn't be training camp without Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren letting off some steam, right?

A fuming Holmgren let loose on the team this morning, using some colorful language we can't repeat here. Holmgren was upset with the pace of practice during 7-on-7 and team drills, which included some dropped passes and missed assignments, and felt the offense was playing tentatively.

Not a big deal, really. This happens during training camp when guys get dead legs from all of the running, particularly in a morning practice on a chilly day when it's hard to get going. And the guys seemed to finish things on a strong note.

However, there was some gasps from the sidelines when Matt Hasselbeck limped off the field on the second-to-last play during team drills.

Hasselbeck's plant leg seemed to buckle on a three-step drop and he dropped the ball and yelped in pain. I'm not sure if Hasselbeck got his foot stepped on or just rolled his ankle, but he seemed OK after practice.

Some other observations from the first day of full contact.

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Some things I’ll be looking at heading into the first day of full contact practice this morning.

Who runs well – It’s hard to get a real gage of how the running back are faring when they’re not getting tackled and the defense is not bringing them down. I suspect the first day in pads will still be thud only and guys will not be allowed to bring the offense down to the ground, but I’m hopeful we’ll get a better of understanding of how Maurice Morris, Julius Jones, Leonard Weaver and T.J. Duckett move through the hole this morning. Both new additions Jones and Duckett have looked solid so far in camp.

Offensive line issues – Center Chris Gray tweaked his back during afternoon stretches before practice got started on Saturday, leaving the Hawks once again scrambling to put together five healthy lineman. Walter Jones has been sitting out one practice a day to rest his shoulder. Ray Willis is doing the same thing to for his knee, and starting center Chris Spencer hasn’t practiced since Friday.

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He wasn’t supposed to be there.

But there newly signed Seattle Seahawk John Carlson sat in his Renton apartment on Friday when Seattle opened training camp with his wife of two weeks Danielle and his mother-in-law, Denise Herndon, who had flown in to help the couple get set up in their new digs.

“She wasn’t real happy to see me,” Carlson said about mother-in-law finding him at the apartment. “She wanted me working. But I spent most of the day with my wife and my mother-in-law.”

So how much input did Carlson have with the interior design with his new place? Not much.

“I let them do that,” he said. “I just handed over the credit card and hoped that this was getting done so I could pay the bill.”

Carlson’s wife, formerly Danielle Herndon, was the captain of the volleyball team at Nortre Dame, where the two met, and graduated in 2007, the same year Carlson graduated from Nortre Dame.

The two got married in Danielle’s hometown of Tampa, Fla.

Carlson said terms of the deal came together late Friday evening. The deal is reportedly a four-year deal with $4.52 million, with a $2.5 million signing bonus.

In his first practice Carlson jumped right in and looked comfortable. Carlson made a nice catch on seam route down the middle of the field during team drills toward the end of practice. He also showed a quick burst running routes during one-on-one drills against linebackers, although at one point Carlson dropped an easy pass right in his hands.

Fellow Notre Dame product Julius Jones offered some advice on route running during practice, telling Carlson not to use a head fake and to just beat the defense to the spot.

Carlson is a cerebral player and benefits from playing in a program in Notre Dame that ran a pro-style offense. He seems like a nice fit in a Seattle offense looking for more production from the tight end position with his ability to run block, catch the ball down field and read defenses.

Carlson is expected to compete for a starting job along with fellow tight ends Will Heller and Jeb Putzier, but he said right now he’s not concerned with where he falls on the depth chart.

“I’m not even thinking about what I need to do to start right now,” Carlson said. “My mindset is to do whatever I need to do to help this team, do whatever I have to do to become a better football player.

“What my role will be, I don’t know that. But at this point in time I’m going to do whatever I can to improve. To learn the offense more thoroughly and to be the best player I can be.”

The Seahawks need to release a player to make room for Carlson, but have not announced who that player is, although tight end Zac Alcorn was not in attendance at Saturday morning's practice.

Seattle's second round draft pick John Carlson is out on the field practicing this morning, so I'm assuming a deal has been struck between Carlson and the team.

But no official word has been handed down yet. I'll have more details later.

No confirmation yet, but with the two sides reportedly close to a deal late Friday night it appears likely second-round draft choice John Carlson will be signed and in camp for this morning’s practice.

Having Carlson in camp would be a big deal for the Seahawks, as he is supposed to compete for the starting tight end spot.

When the signing becomes official I’ll update the blog, including details of the accord.

Here are some links to chew on this morning to get things started.

Here’s my main story from Friday,
TNT columnist Dave Boling weighs in on the beginning of Holmgren’s final season as head coach of the Seahawks.

And those looking for photos from the first day of practice can find them here.

ESPN’s Mike Sando takes a tour around the NFC West this morning.

The question concerned the rookie long snapper Tyler Schmitt. He should put aside most of the worries you developed last season as the team dealt with a string of substandard snappers before resurrecting Jeff Robinson. Notice the word "most." Through minicamps and the little bit of training camp, Schmitt looks to have very good velocity and nice placement (most of the time). Every once in a while he tosses in a stinker. Not a bouncer or a deep fly ball, but one below the knees. If the other team is bringing 10 guys, those will get blocked.

What he has to learn about the NFL, is that there's zero tolerance. Going eight for 10 or nine for 10 is failing in his job. This is a matter of concentration and learning the game. He's just getting his feet under him, so he's actually off to a good start. I haven't seen much of him as a short-snapper yet, but those should be almost automatic. He's a little undersized and may create a blocking liability, and we have no evidence of his coverage skills. Those factors are entirely secondary, though. If he can get it back quickly and on target, the staff will be delighted and not overly concerned about other issues.

Here's the Mike Holmgren transcript from this morning.

(On remembering his first training camp nine years ago…) “Sure. Yeah, I really do. You know how excited you are and how excited I was to start a new adventure, you know. It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years. It has been honestly the same for me every year, the start of training camp. I was telling the coaches yesterday in our meeting that it’s this time of the year and getting all the players in here and getting going again and anticipating a great season, that’s always very exciting. And it has been for me and that’s why I’ve been able to do it for a long time, you know, so it’s good.”

(On topics covered in his brief meetings with the players and staff…) “Well I think, I had it yesterday with the players, and the day before with my staff, and, you know, you have the normal administrative stuff that you go through every year, that they kind of nod through. But then when it comes to talking about them and our expectation level and what I expect from every facet of our football team, reminded them of a few things that happened last year that maybe hurt us and things that I think are very correctable. The hope that every team probably listens to in every building in the country prior to the season. Those types of things. And in a very realistic approach, we’ve been close the last couple years and haven’t been able to finish the deal, so I believe we have a good football team. And now, it’s up to all of us to really work very, very hard and do the best job we can do as coaches and players. And that’s really the speech. And without getting into other things I can’t really talk about, they’re a very responsive group. I like how they started practice today and they’ll work hard. They want to do well.”

=> Read more!

Here’s some observations on some of the main story lines heading into training camp.

Young receiver corps still muddled – Ben Obamanu, Courtney Taylor, Logan Payne, Joel Filani and Jordan Kent all looked good catching the ball, and no one distinguished themselves during the first practice. Most got some run with the first team during 7-on-7 passing drills.

Kent, who hasn’t played receiver for very long, now looks a lot smoother at the position, and not like an athlete trying to play receiver. With Seattle’s inexperience at tight end and John Carlson currently holding out, whoever emerges as the third and fourth receiver could have an impact on the Seattle offense early in the season.

“We have a talented group of guys,” Veteran receiver Bobby Engram said. “It’s true they don’t have a lot of game experience, but I do feel somebody is going to step up and make plays. Obviously me and Nate, being more veteran guys, we have to take the lead. But we can’t go out there and put everything on our shoulders.”

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The Lawrence Jackson era began this morning, and by all accounts the 6-foot-4, 271-pound defensive end looked like he can contribute immediately to a team looking to add depth at defensive end.

“He’s a really good player and we’re counting on him,” Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren said. “He’s one of the young guys we have a role for and we expect to play right way. So had he missed (practices), and had it been a prolonged thing, that would have hurt him.”

Added Jackson on his first day of practice: “It went pretty well. I was surprised I was able to jump in and get going like I did. But there’s always more work to be done. Maybe if you ask me after the second practice I’ll give you more work that I need to do.”

Jackson said he's been in town since Tuesday, ready to report when the deal was completed. Jackson bought a home five minutes from the team’s new practice facility in Renton, and also purchased his dream car, a Cadillac Escalade, to replace a 1996 clunker he described as on its last legs.

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The column out of me today will be about this being Holmgren's last round-up. He joked about it a little after practice, saying he had to have a little talk with himself about not getting too emotional or too nostalgic. He conceded he'd probably have some issues with that toward the end of the season.

Now, on to the team. Seeing first-round pick Lawrence Jackson on the field was a positive. When asked about tight end John Carlson not being at practice, he gave his usual response. Rookies can't afford to miss time. That's especially true of a kid who's expected to be the opening-day starter.

The usual suspects were on the sideline: Tubbs, Branch, Herring and Plackemeier.

=> Read more!

According to the Associated Press, Lawrence Jackson signed a five-year, 11.25 million deal with a 6.1 million signing bonus.

Seattle also signed free agent wide receiver Bryan Gilmore, formerly of the San Francisco 49ers.

The Seattle Seahawks announced this morning that first round pick defensive end Lawrence Jackson signed a multi-year deal, and is on the practice field this morning. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Defensive tackle and fullback Owen Schmitt also have signed multi-year deals, giving the Seahawks six of its seven draft picks signed heading into camp.

Second round draft pick John Carlson remains unsigned. To make room for the moves, the Seahawks released defensive tackle Kevin Brown, fullback Dan Curran and safety Mike Green.

I'll post an updated roster after the first practice.

Here's a link to the Seahawks roster heading into camp. I'll have more around noon.

It’s here.

The much-anticipated day has finally arrived, as the Seattle Seahawks begin training camp today in Mike Holmgren’s final year at the helm.

And since I don’t have a team to cover anymore with the Sonics now headed to Oklahoma City, I’ll be holding down the fort for the next couple days until Frank Hughes arrives from a much-needed vacation on Monday.

Of course, I’ll have plenty of help, with TNT veteran columnist Dave Boling around to show me the ropes.

Here are the some of the issues I’ll be keeping track of and reporting on throughout the day. And if there are other things you would like to know or are interested in, post them in the comments section and I’ll make sure to get to them in the next couple days.

The Bobby Engram update – The veteran receiver who is unhappy with his contract status is expected to grudgingly show up for camp today. We’ll have a report on how he looks and what his expectations are heading into camp.

Green receivers – With D.J. Hackett gone and Deion Branch on the PUP list, the Seahawks will be looking for a receiver or two to emerge out of a group of young receivers that includes Logan Payne, Ben Obomanu, Courtney Taylor and Jordan Kent to fill the void.

Offensive line woes – The addition of free agent Mike Wahle should help shore up some of the issues here, with Rob Sims now moving to the right side of the line. But there’s no doubt the Seahawks need to be a better rushing team to add balance to Seattle’s offensive attack, and Shaun Alexander is not around to blame anymore.

Those squirrelly kickers – Usually the most eccentric players on the field, the Seahawks will look for the most consistent kicker to emerge from a competition between free agent signing Olindo Mare and rookie Brandon Coutu to replace the departed Josh Brown. We’ll keep daily tabs on how the competition is going.

Run stuffers needed – With Marcus Tubbs beginning camp on the PUP list, the Seahawks will count on a rotation of high-energy defensive tackles who lack the size Tubbs brings to the table. Do the Hawks have enough depth here? And will Tubbs be healthy enough to make a contribution this season?

Boling highlights the Seahawks’ main issues heading into the first day of training camp.

While the Seahawks are still working to reach agreements with first round pick Lawrence Jackson and second rounder John Carlson, the San Francisco 49ers have signed their top pick, defensive lineman Kentwan Balmer.

Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin said he will play out the remaining three years of his contract but is done negotiating a new deal and plans on leaving the organization once he fulfills his contract.

St. Louis Rams anchor at left tackle Orlando Pace has been cleared to practice after having off-season shoulder surgery.

But running back Stephen Jackson may be holding out of training camp.

Looking for a Sando fix? Click here to check out his new NFC West blog.

When camp kicks off on Friday in Kirkland the Seahawks will begin addressing their issues going into the 2008 season.

Other factors beyond their control – namely, their competition in the NFC West – will have an impact on the success of their season.

The Seahawks have ruled the NFC West division, winning the last four division titles. Although former success does not guarantee future success, the Seahawks have been fortunate to get to play San Francisco, Arizona and St. Louis twice each season.

So here are the questions: Will the Seahawks continue to dominate their division? Which team will be the top competition in 2008?

Training camp opens this week as the Seahawks, the four-time defending NFC West champions, begin preparation for the 2008 season. The News Tribune wants to know what issue worries you most about this Seahawks team. Keep your answers brief because we might want to use some excerpts for the paper. A few topics to consider:

1. The offensive line. Will the addition of guard Mike Mark Wahle help push this unit back to where it was just a few years ago? Or are there more struggles ahead for the line?

2. Running backs. Shaun Alexander won’t be doing his thing for Seattle anymore but will Julius Jones be able to resurrect the running game?

3. Receivers. Deion Branch is rehabbing a torn left ACL, D.J. Hackett’s in Carolina and Bobby Engram missed minicamps this spring because he was unhappy with his contract. Is this group deep enough – or good enough?

4. Kicker. How much will the consistency of Josh Brown, who left the team to sign a free-agent contract with St. Louis, be missed this season?

5. Defensive line. The lasting image of the Seahawks’ playoff loss to Green Bay is of Ryan Grant carving up the defense for 201 yards. Has this unit been upgraded?

6. Coaching issues. The offensive coaching staff has been revamped with new position coaches at quarterback, running back, receiver and offensive line. Factor in that this is Mike Holmgren’s final season, and does this staff have what it takes to make another Super Bowl run?

The Seahawks begin their training camp on Friday and here's a little something to help hold you over:

The new Reebok ad campaign is called "Join the Migration." Check out the Seattle Seahawk prominently displayed in this commercial.

From a press release:

The Seattle Seahawks will hold their annual team scrimmage on Saturday, August 2, at Qwest Field beginning at 11 a.m. Tickets will be available at all Ticketmaster outlets in the Puget Sound region and ticketmaster.com beginning Thursday, July 17, at 10 a.m.

Ticket prices are $12 for adults, $5 for youth (ages 6-17) and children under the age of five are free. Qwest Field gates open for the 90-minute scrimmage at 9 a.m.

All proceeds from the scrimmage will benefit “Play It Smart” programs in King & Pierce Counties. The Seahawks, in partnership with the National Football Foundation, fund “Play It Smart” programs at Clover Park and Rainier Beach High Schools during the 2008-09 school year.

“Play It Smart” is an educational program designed to transform student-athletes’ passion for sport and intense dedication to their team into a force for greater good in their lives is remarkably successful. “Play It Smart” participants graduate and go on to college at rates well above those of their peers, all at a cost of less than a dollar per day per student-athlete.

Prior to the scrimmage, the team will host a two-hour Gatorade Jr. Training Camp (ages 8-14) at 8 a.m. Participants will have the chance to work with local high school coaches to learn football fundamentals, techniques and skills. Participants must register through seahawks.com. Campers will be admitted into the scrimmage for free. Parents/guardians of the campers must have a ticket to attend the scrimmage.

The team begins its 2008 NWCN Seahawks Training Camp on Friday, July 25, with practice times announced next week. Practices at the Kirkland Headquarters are closed to the public due to space constraints and limited parking around Northwest University.

From the Associated Press:

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu has pleaded guilty to a charge of driving under the influence.

After his plea Monday, Tatupu was sentenced by Kirkland Municipal Court Judge Michael Lambo to serve one day in jail and pay fines totaling $1,255.

Tatupu was arrested May 10 in Kirkland after he was pulled over for speeding and driving erratically.

At the police station two hours later, Tatupu registered 0.155 and 0.158 in breath test readings, nearly twice the state intoxication threshold of 0.08.

On March 25, the Seahawks had signed the third-year, 25-year-old Tatupu to a $42 million, six-year contract extension.

When a team has a Hall of Fame caliber coach such as Mike Holmgren, it's easy to feel, upon entering a new season, like everything will be handled accordingly.

Holmgren, after all, has been to the Super Bowl three times as a head coach. He knows what it takes to get there.

But this season is a little different for Holmgren. He's already announced this is his last with the Seahawks.

He's still the Seahawks' top dog, but he's also a lame duck. This is an issue he'll have to deal with that he's never had to address before.

Sports Illustrated's Michael Lombardi tackles this in this column posted late last month. It's worth reading.

My take: Anyone who has ever seen Holmgren pitch a sideline tantrum knows he's still got the fire. The guys on the team, I think, are fond of him and would love to send him out the right way, not to mention that they all want to win.

I don't see it as an issue, at least not at first. The real test will only come during trying times. Then we'll see how Holmgren responds, and the team, too.

What do you think?

While surfing the net the other day, I ran across this story from Tom Rock of Newsday about the Madden game turning 20 this year.

Lo and behold, our favorite ex-Seahawk had a lot to say about the game and his making the 2007 cover:

Shaun Alexander already was one of the most accomplished players in the NFL. He'd led the league in rushing and touchdowns, been named MVP, gone to three Pro Bowls and played a big part in the Seahawks' roll to Super Bowl XL. But that wasn't enough to impress some people.

Getting his picture on the cover of a 5-by-7-inch box was, though.

"My 13-year-old cousin comes up to me and says, 'Man, you must be pretty good,'" Alexander recalled while discussing his selection as the cover boy of Madden NFL 07.