We'll start with the news on Patrick Kerney, whose shoulder is more seriously injured than initially thought and who will be heading to Birmingham to be examined by Dr. James Andrews, who did the surgery to repair the labrum in Kerney's shoulder in the offseason. (Is it just me, or is Dr. Andrews making a killing off the Seahawks this year? He should just move to Seattle and become their team doc.)

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said the medicine that Kerney had taken during the game last week, when he injured the shoulder, started to wear off as the week progressed, and that's when Kerney's shoulder became increasingly sore. Holmgren said they will know more on Kerney next week.

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After multiple days of rampant speculation that he will be the next head coach of the Washington Huskies, Seahawks coach-in-waiting Jim Mora finally put to rest all the unrest.

"I am not a candidate for the University of Washington coaching vacancy," Mora said in a statement, which the Seahawks released. "I wish the university well with their search and the program nothing but sustained success in the future."

At last.

Of course, now the speculation may start up about Keith Gilbertson.

Apparently, Seahawks defensive backs coach Jim Mora sent a text message to the PI's Jim Moore last night that said he is not a candidate for the Huskies coaching job -- which is what everybody has been asking for all along, a simple clarification that he is not going to take that job.

The Seahawks have been obstinate in their stance that they will not address this situation because they announced in the offseason that Mora was the replacement for Mike Holmgren -- even though neither Mora nor Holmgren was at that press conference.

Practice started a few mintues ago, I am heading there and I'll see if anything else shakes out of the post-practice from this. Now that Mora has sent a text, effectively breaking his silence -- self-imposed or team-imposed -- we will hopefully hear something more concrete from the team itself.

Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren said Patrick Kerney will definitely miss Sunday’s game against Philadelphia. Talking during his weekly show with KIRO-AM this morning, Holmgren said Kerney will travel to Birmingham, Ala. to get checked out by Dr. James Andrews, who performed the surgery on Kerney during the offseason, to get a second opinion.

Kerney suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder during a playoff game against the Washington Redskins last year. He leads the team in sacks with five.

“He was pretty sore yesterday,” Holmgren told KIRO. “He improved over the day before, but he’s pretty sore. And then we’ll have a pretty good idea of where it sits probably next Tuesday.”

Holmgren said he’s hopeful fullback Leonard Weaver (sore foot) can practice today and play on Sunday.

Listen to the interview in this audio link.

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Jim Mora spoke today -- but not about the UW coaching job. He was asked the question, but his response was: "I'm focused on the Philadelphia Eagles." When the PI's Jim Moore asked why Mora won't address the question and end the speculation, Mora said, "You can call (his agent) Bob Lamonte."

With the weather still so nice, the Seahawks remain outside, though they have re-lined the fields and are now practicing perpendicular to the lake rather than parallel. Winds have been light this week so it has not had that much of an effect on practice, and the special teams field is still running in the same direction.

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Here is an interesting story on ESPN.com about Niners coach Mike Singletary dropping his shorts during halftime of Sunday's game against Seattle.

This is courtesy of a friend of mine who used to work the Sonics game nights:

The Washington Redskins are an accurate barometer for presidential elections. According to Steve Hirdt of the Elias Sports Bureau, who coined the term "Redskins Rule" in 2000, the following has held true for the past 17 presidential elections: If the Redskins win their last home game prior to Election Day, the party that won the popular vote in the previous election wins the White House; if the Redskins lose, the party that lost the popular vote in the previous election wins.

In this Monday's case, a Steelers win would forecast an Obama victory; a Redskins win would indicate a McCain win.

We don’t often lead with our competition, but I thought Danny O’Neil of the Seattle Times hit the nail on the head in today’s column, asking why Seahawks secondary coach Jim Mora won’t clear up the air surrounding Seattle’s future head coach. Is Mora interested in taking the head coach at the University of Washington, the school he attended and competed for as a player? Or will he stay put?

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I spoke with Lawrence Jackson for a few minutes this afternoon, and the thing that stuck out the most about the interview was that he does not seem to think he was benched. When I asked him about it, he said it was not as bad as it was made out to be, that the coaches told him he needs to work on some small things. (I didn't really ever think anybody ever gave it extensive coverage where Jackson got a bunch of criticism. I thought it was more that a rookie was learning the NFL, being unproductive and lost his spot.) Then another reporter joined the discussion and asked the same question, and Jackson essentially said he wasn't benched. He said he knew it was coming because he wasn't playing well but he didn't view it as getting benched. Therefore, he said, he is not viewing this as a chance to get back his starting job.

He did not want to reveal what Mike Holmgren, John Marshall or Dwaine Board said to him in their meetings to inform him that he was losing his starting gig, but he did say he has picked up a few things in the past two weeks that he has not been able to pick up from the beginning of training camp.

"I thought that I knew what pass rushing was all about," Jackson said. "The last few weeks, I have been pulling little stuff here, little stuff there. But the last couple weeks, in terms of seeing stuff and doing it, I felt more complete. Now it is about going out there and doing it. You can go out there and rush the passer and not necessarily know how to rush the passer at the elite level. I felt like watching Pat and the other guys really let me hone in on the art."

The Seattle Seahawks practiced for about 90 minutes this afternoon.

Defensively, as Holmgren stated during today's press conference, Lofa Tatupu did not practice today, but watched from the sidelines.

Darryl Tapp worked at left defensive end with Patrick Kerney out with a shoulder injury, while Lawrence Jackson worked at right end with the first unit.

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There was an awfully big hubbub in San Francisco about tight end Vernon Davis, who was kicked out of the game by Mike Singletary for his attitude during Sunday's game.

Well, the play that preceded Davis being booted from the sidelines was when he was tackled by Brian Russell, after which Davis hit Russell in the facemask, for which he was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Davis said Russell told him to try harder, which I asked Russell about. He just smiled with a Cheshire grin; he clearly said a little more than that.

Regarding the hit to the facemask by Davis, he said it was hard enough to warrant a penalty. "The good thing about it was the ref was standing right there," Russell said. "Usually it happens and you go complain to the ref and he tells you he didn't see it. But he was standing right next to us, and when he hit me in the facemask I looked at him and said, 'You have to call that one, right?' Hey, 15 yards for the good guys. What are you gonna do?"

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren just had his weekly news conference, during which he said Pro Bowl defensive end Patrick Kerney, who injured his shoulder against San Francisco on Sunday, is unlikely to play against Philly this weekend. Holmgren said the shoulder, which was surgically repaired in the offseason, was more sore today than it was on Monday. Holmgren said the real concern is that Kerney is concerned. Usually, Holmgren said, the player says they will be fine. But Kerney said he not sure what to expect, the cause for some consternation. Baraka Atkins will move into the defensive end rotation, though it sounds like Darryl Tapp and Lawrence Jackson will start.

Holmgren said Lofa Tatupu is likely to play, though his practice time will be limited this week. Matt Hasselbeck, Will Heller and Deion Branch are out. Of Branch, Holmgren said that they are just going to shut him down. He said Branch had been rehabbing and then when they tested his heel it flared up again. So they are not going to have him do anything with the hope that the heel heals. Holmgren said it was the heel and not something else.

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We had a chance to talk to Philadelphia head coach Andy Reid, and Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb this morning. Here’s some outtakes from both interviews.

Philadelphia head coach Andy Reid

On Mike Holmgren’s retirement at the end of the season: “He’s so good for the league. I hate seeing him go. I hope that somebody can talk him into coming back, whether it’s coaching or being a president or whatever it is, just coming back and being a part of the league. I know he loves to ride that Harley, though. But somebody’s got to talk him into doing both.”

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Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck returned from his appointment in California with back specialist Dr. Robert Watkins on Tuesday.

Hasselbeck said during his weekly interview on KIRO-AM radio that he did not pass a strength test given to him and will not be cleared to play this week.

This means Seneca Wallace will likely get the start at quarterback against Philadelphia.

"I thought they would clear me," Hasselbeck told KIRO. "He did not. And so I need to see him again real soon. I basically can’t get cleared until I pass his test. And that’s what I’m working towards."

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Dick Stockton
Brian Baldinger
Laura Okmin (sidelines)

This interesting stat was provided by the Seahawks' PR department:

Since 1970, only five running backs have had two receiving TDs for more than 43 yards in the same game. Church Van Weaver is the only fullback among the five.

Don Woods San Diego Nov. 3, 1974

Joe Cribbs Buffalo Nov. 1, 1981

Eric Metcalf Cleveland Sept. 20, 1992

Patrick Cobbs Miami Oct. 12, 2008

Leonard Weaver Seattle Oct. 26, 2008

Understandably, Seattle coach Mike Holmgren was in a much better mood during his press conference today.

First, the injury report. Holmgren said quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is in Los Angeles today getting looked at by back specialist Dr. Watkins, and the team will know more on Tuesday.

"Matt's thing is the same," Holmgren said. "He will rehab during the week. They'll check his strength. And right now it's on a week-to-week basis."

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Don’t look now, but with Seattle’s win against San Francisco, the Seahawks vaulted right back into the NFC West title hunt. With the rest of the division losing, Seattle is a half game ahead of the 49ers, tied with the Rams, and only two games back of Arizona.

The Seahawks still have two games left with the Cardinals and a game at St. Louis. Of course, the Seahawks need to keep playing well, with Philadelphia coming to Qwest Field next week. But Sunday’s 34-13 win over San Francisco is how we expected this team to play all season – ball-hawking defense creating turnovers and a crisply executing offense using short, quick passes to move the ball down the field.

Seattle might have discovered a big-play weapon in Leonard Weaver, who played out of his mind on Sunday, finishing with four catches for 116 yards and two, long touchdown runs.

View the box score and highlights of the game here.

And take a look at the standings here.

Seattle Seahawks

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Obviously, there is some issues with the postgame quotes from Frank. It happens when you copy and paste e-mails into our antiquated blog software. I'm sure many of you have seen snippets of Singletary's press conference. But it really doesn't do it justice until you see the whole thing and how intense this guy is. The guy has crazy eyes. It's awesome.

RE: Would you comment on [Leonard] Weaver’s two scoring plays?
“Those were huge plays for us. On the first one he made a heck of a catch, taking the ball up the field. He really can move, that was evident today. On the second one I was scrambling around a little bit and found him open.”

RE: What was the coach’s message going into the game?
“He set the tone for us. He said, ‘Let’s go out there and play football, and let it all hang out,’ and that’s what we did today. His message put us at ease and at the same time, gave us direction. That was good.”

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RE: Would you talk about your two scoring plays?
“One was a pass and it got out in front of Mr. [Patrick] Willis. I got a good block downfield, and that sprung me. The second one was the real backbreaker. Seneca [Wallace] was scrambling and I got into the flat. Koren [Robinson] got a good block for me and opened things up downfield.”

RE: What was the emphasis of the 49ers defense?
“They looked like they were trying to stop the run. They put an extra guy in the box. They did a good job with that. You’ve got to give them credit, there were times when they forced us into throwing situations.”

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RE: How did it feel to get another division win, this one on the road?
“We don’t have the monkey off of our back yet. We’ve got a big hole to dig from, but it felt good to get that division win. I think Arizona lost today. To us, we aren’t out of anything. There are still nine or 10 games left.”

RE: How would you describe your play today with a high number of tackles?
“I don’t think I played well actually. I could have done a little more, but I had a lot of things that came my way and I think I made the tackles that came my way.”

RE: Is this a little bit of a momentum builder for you guys?
“We have got to keep it going. We have got to take the momentum, take the feeling of how we feel now and accept it. This is what we’re used to. Just go in week-in and week-out, and focus on the one game at hand and prepare like we prepared for this game.”

€œClearly it feels a lot better this week than it has the last couple. I thought the guys responded very well this week. As I told you, they practiced well. I think they played very hard today and this game, unlike the last couple, we were able to come up with the big plays: [Josh Wilson’s] interception, of course, [Leonard] Weaver’s two big plays and that was really the difference. We need to have those next week and today we got it. I think our defense played a much better game against them down here than we did in Seattle. I thought we rallied pretty good. I thought we did a decent job on [Isaac] Bruce, he really had a great game against us up there. [Frank] Gore is always a tough one, so you do the best you can with him, but it’s a great win. I’m very happy for the players. As hard as they work, they deserve a little ice cream so it was good.”

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TE Vernon Davis
RE: What happened before you left the field?
“I made a play, tapped the guy on his chin — I didn’t mean anything by it — but they called a flag. He was talking trash, of course. I didn’t take it personally — I wasn’t swinging or anything. I just did like this. I came back to the sideline and Coach [Singletary] said, ‘Vernon, you can’t do that, you have to be smart.’ Coach Singletary told me to go sit down, and after a while, he told me to just take a shower and take it in. He’s a good coach. Coach Singletary is an emotional guy, just like myself. He wants to win, and I did exactly what he told me to do. He is the head coach, and I listen to him. He just told me to come in, and I went in.”

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Pardon the type, the 49ers' computers are not converting to my Mac for whatever reason.

€œBefore you ask any questions, I want to say this: number one is I apologize. I apologize for the start. I don’t really…it’s like this: today was good for me. It was good for me because sometimes you take a step back and you look at it and you say, ‘You know what? We’re here. It’s on. We’re going to make it work. They’re working hard. They’re doing this. They’re doing that. We’re going to go out there and it’s going to change right now. It will change and I’m not trying to tell you something. Guys, it’s going to change. It’s not like that…But I want you to understand where I’m coming from. It will change. And it will change because they want it to change, not because of me. It will change because they want to be champions. But right now we’ve got to figure out the formula. Our formula. Our formula is this: we got out [and] we hit people in the mouth, number one. Number two: we are not a charity. We cannot give them the game. That’s number two. And number three is we execute from the very start of the game to the very end of the game. That did not happen. I do not apologize about… I’ll go ahead and take questions.”

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"The guy did a pivot. He came in and went back out. The quarterback kind of eyeballed him and threw it a little bit behind and I just made the most of the opportunity and outran my old teammate."

"We used to have a lot of footraces. But I felt like I was running forever. I felt like I was in St. Louis all over again. I was tired."

But you let a tight end catch you: "No no no. He didn't catch me. He had a good angle. And he just touched me. But he is fast. I'll give it to him. He got some speed. We go back and forth with it. He knows if it was the same situation I would hawk him down too."

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Needless to say, this locker room was dramatically more happy than the past three, a huge sigh of relief as they snapped their losing streak and watched the rest of the division lose.

Josh Wilson was being ribbed mercilessly for getting caught from behind by, as Julian Peterson said, "a guy that weighs 100 pounds more than him. And an old college teammate to boot." Wilson said Vernon Davis "had a good angle," the reason Wilson got caught. His teammates acknowledged that regardless of being caught from behind, he still scored, and that trumps everything. I asked five players and not one was willing to say he was surprised the Niners went for it on fourth down -- but it was sort of the wink wink No I'm not surprised. I was not there for Mike Singletary's postgame, but apparently he told SF reporters that Mike Martz wanted to go for it and he did not want to overrule Martz because of the look in his eye. I'll post those quotes if/when they are available. Wilson said JTOS sat on the ball for a count too long, which allowed Wilson, playing inside in the nickel, to break on the ball. He said it was his first defensive TD since pee wee football.

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I am heading down the field, but the Seahawks are leading 34-13 right now and will not be caught. They will improve to 2-5, with everybody else inside the division losing. I'll be back up with postgame in a while.

A scrambling Seneca Wallace hit Leonard Weaver in the flat for what looked like a mundane pass, but Weaver got a big block from Koren Robinson to spring him for a 62-yard score, giving Seattle a 34-13 lead. That comes on the heels of Weaver's 43-yarder a few minutes ago. Maybe Holmgren will split Weaver out next week.

The Niners just put together a 15-play drive that ended with Shaun Hill hitting Jason Hill for a touchdown pass that trimmed the lead to 27-13. The Seahawks will take that given that the drive lasted so long, but it certainly adds a small element of intrigue to a game that Seattle has controlled throughout.

Seneca Wallace threaded a pass to Leonard Weaver on an out-and-in pattern. Weaver took the short pass and rumbled 43 yards for a touchdown and a 27-6 lead. Things are working very well for the Seahawks right now, a feeling that they needed to remember.

Shaun Hill helped engineer a lengthy San Francisco drive, and this time Mike Singletary opted to kick a field goal. Joe Nedney kicked a 40-yarder to cut the lead to 20-6.

JTOS did lose his job; Shaun Hill is now playing QB for the Niners. Interesting. Mike Singletary not shy about making changes.

Mike Singletary made a very curious decision to go for it on fourth and four from Seattle's 29 rather than kick a 47-yard field goal and trim the Seahawks' halftime lead to 13-6. Instead, JTOS threw an interception that Josh Wilson returned 75 yards for a TD and a 20-3 lead.

That was very similar to the two INTs Wilson had in preseason practices, when he was sitting on Seneca Wallace's out passes and intercepted them. This one, he was sitting on OS's pass, broke on it and was gone. It's a funny coincidence because somebody was sitting at practice this week and actually said, "That guy is going to take one back before this season is over." He should have last week in Tampa. He did today.

Before Wilson's TD, I was thinking the Niners are creeping back into this game, and they are dangerous sitting at 13-6 at the half with all the mistakes they have made. But with that, I have to think that Singletary is wondering if he should replace JTOS, who has fumbled twice and thrown an interception.

If anything, that final score has to have shattered San Francisco's hopes. It would be interesting to be a fly on the wall in their locker room right now.

The Niners put together a stop-and-go drive that ended with Joe Nedney kicking a 42-yard field goal to pull to within 13-3.

Frank Gore had a long run on the drive that got SF to the 2, but Gore grabbed the facemask of Kelly Jennings, to put it back 18 yards. Then the Niners were called for holding. Then Rocky Bernard got a sack. Weird series.

Also, Niners tackle Barry Sims hurt his ankle and is questionable to return. Sims was already playing for the injured Jonas Jennings.

Lofa Tatupu suffered a groin injury and is out for the remainder of the game. DD Lewis is taking his spot at MLB.

The Seahawks are dominating this game so far, taking a 13-0 lead after T.J. Duckett plunged into the end zone from 1 yard out. The play was the final capper on a 14-play, 63-yard drive that took up more than seven minutes. This is how the last game started as well, so let's see if the defense can hold down the Niners with a nice lead.

The Niners fans are tired of watching JTOS turn over the ball and commit errors. He was booed after the last fumble, and when he came back out on the field just now, they booed him again. That can't be good for one's psyche.

Seneca Wallace missed on two passes, forcing the Seahawks to kick another FG. Olindo Mare was good from 42 for a 6-0 lead.

On Julian Peterson's pass rush, it looked like left tackle Joe Staley either tried to block inside and left Peterson by himself, or his leg gave out and he tumbled over. Either way, it was Seattle's second sack in as many series.

With the Niners on the Seahawks' 5, Julian Peterson got to JTOS unimpeded, forced a fumble, which Kerney picked up and returned 50 yards. That's a big swing. The Seahawks are now in scoring position.

Seattle ran a nine-play drive that culminated in a 43-yard field goal by Olindo Mare for a 3-0 Seattle lead. They converted one of two third downs on the drive, but Bobby Engram dropped a pass on third and 10 that would have put the Seahawks inside the 10. Seneca looks good so far, and it appears he should have an easier time finding receivers this week than he did last week. It's still early, though.

On the second play from scrimmage, Patrick Kerney and Rocky Bernard sacked JTOS, who fumbled the ball. Darryl Tapp scooped it up and looked to be headed for the end zone, but he dropped the ball and the Niners recovered. The pressure they were able to get is a good sign, though.

Last week in Tampa Bay, rookie Justin Forsett and veteran Bobby Engram were back fielding punts. Today, it is only Forsett back there.

SEATTLE

K Brandon Coutu
QB Matt Hasselbeck
CB Kevin Hobbs
G Mansfield Wrotto
WR Deion Branch
TE Will Heller
DE Baraka Atkins
DT Howard Green

SAN FRANCISCO

QB Jamie Martin
CB Reggie Smith
S Dashon Goldson
LB Ahmad Brooks
C Cody Wallace
T Jonas Jennings
T Kirk Barton
DE Ray McDonald

Barry Sims will start at RT in place of Jonas Jennings.

Good morning/afternoon from Candlestick Park, where the weather is virtually perfect. Clear skies, nice sun, great day for a football game.

Today's officials are:

Referee Terry McAulay
Unpire Bruce Stritesky
Head linesman Wayne Mackie
Line judge Mark Steinkerchner
Field judge Dyrol Prioleau
Side judge Michael Banks
Back judge Bob Lawing
Replay Earnie Frantz

I'll post the inactives as soon as they become available.

Let’s face it, if the Seattle Seahawks are to win today against San Francisco they have to get better play from the quarterback position. That means quarterback Seneca Wallace must perform better than the 12-for-23, 73-yard effort against Tampa Bay.

Seattle’s offense has to stay on the field longer, sustain some long drives and put some points on the board to earn a victory. And Wallace has the ability to lead Seattle on those scoring drives.

But like the rest of this team, Wallace seems to lack confidence on the field. If his calf lets him, Wallace needs to make some plays with his feet, which would add another element to this struggling offense. And by making plays with his feet, that should loosen up the 49ers defense and give Wallace even more confidence to lead Seattle offensively. Maybe Wallace should watch this before he takes the field.

Who else do you think needs to step up for Seattle to win today? State your case in the comment section.

Seattle Seahawks

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You want to know why Tim Ruskell is hanging on to kicker Brandon Coutu? Take a look at what is happening in Kansas City: Since trading Lawrence Tynes to the New York Giants for a seventh-round draft choice, the Chiefs are on their fifth kicker since opening day 2007.

They’ve gone from Justin Medlock to Dave Rayner to John Carney to Nick Novak and now rookie Connor Barth, who replaces Novak. That’s an average of one kicker every 4.6 games.

Novak made just six of 10 field goal attempts, including two misses against Tennessee. So now Barth, an undrafted free agent from North Carolina -- who battled Novak to a virtual tie in training camp – steps in.

I’m guessing the Chiefs might snap up Coutu were he made available.

The Texans are on a pace to commit the fewest penalties since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978. They’ve committed 16 penalties, 2.7 a game. They’re on a pace for 43. Last season, the Seahawks committed 59, an average of 3.7 a game, fewest since 1978.

By comparison, the Seahawks this season are averaging 4.83 penalties a game, which means they are on pace to commit 77 penalties this season, 18 more than they did last year.

Former Niners coach Mike Nolan was on Sirius radio with Adam Schein and John Riggins, explaining his firing and his replacement by Mike Singletary:

“When they had told me I was fired, which Jed York had done, there was a lot of speculation about who did what. But Jed York was the one that told me and he told me in a one-on-one conversation in my office. Anyhow, I said, ‘Who’s the replacement?’ And they had mentioned Mike Singletary and I had said that I felt that was a good choice from the standpoint of keeping the team together. Because, you know, when they have things like this that go on and you pick an offensive or a defensive coordinator, not that either one of those guys even would’ve taken it, because I don’t think any of the coaches, you know, I think I have a very loyal bunch of coaches. I think that sometimes you get a division. All of a sudden players start to say, well, ‘my guy,’ ‘your guy’ and all that. So I thought Mike was a good neutral choice. Obviously, Mike Martz has got tremendous experience and could very well have handled the job. I mean, it’s not a question of handling the job, but they just felt, that’s who they had suggested to me. So I said, ‘Look it, you need to talk to Mike if you haven’t talked to him yet, because to let me go and not have somebody in line, I don’t know how that’s going to fare for you if he says no.’ So, anyhow, they spoke with Mike and I said, ‘Look it, I would imagine Mike’s going to want to come talk to me.’ So Mike did. He came down after they spoke with him and he came to me and we sat down and I said, ‘Well, what’s up?’ And he told me what they all said, and he said, ‘I can’t do it.’ He says, ‘You’re my friend and I can’t do that.’ And I said, ‘Well Mike,’ I said, by choice I chose a table other than my desk to sit down with Mike in my office, and I pointed to the desk and I said ‘Mike, I just want to tell you something,’ I said, ‘You see that desk, there’s no one sitting in it.’ I said, ‘I’m not the coach of the San Francisco 49ers. Right now they don’t have a coach.’ I said, ‘So for you to say you can’t do it because you’re going to take my job, you’re not taking my job.’ I said, ‘That job’s already been vacated.’ I said, ‘Mike, you need to take that job.’ I said, ‘We came in here together. You know how important these players are to us and I think you’d do a hell of a job of keeping them together because right now that’s the most important thing, is just keeping them together.’ It’s not X’s and O’s, it’s not new ideas, everything’s kind of on autopilot as far as the schedule goes. I said, ‘They need somebody to lead them.’ I said, ‘I think you’d do the best job because of your position with this team. You are the assistant head coach.’ I mean, we exchanged a couple more times where he said he didn’t feel right about this and that, but I just told him, I said, ‘Look Mike, they don’t have a coach, alright? You’re not taking Mike Nolan’s job. You’re taking the 49ers job and they don’t have a coach.’ And so one thing led to another and it was emotional and it was not easy, but that’s kind of proof in the pudding, that’s how it went down.”

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren confirmed after practice that QB Matt Hasselbeck is out for the San Francisco game and Seneca Wallace will start. Holmgren said Hasselbeck is rehabbing and his understanding is he is getting better. But he did not exactly dispel the notion that this could possibly be worst-case scenario and Hasselbeck may not come back this year. When asked that very question, he started out by saying this, "I am confident that he, well ...." Pause. "I am pretty confident he'll be back. But right now for anybody it is a little bit of guesswork. They are doing all the right stuff. He is doing all the right stuff. It's just the leg has to respond, is my understanding, the strength has to respond. The nerve has to start going in the right direction."

Seneca said he feels a little more confident this week because he has had another full week to work out and gets in reps. He said he doesn't know about the calf. He said if something happens to it during the game, he promised to alert Holmgren.

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According to this report, Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren said on KIRO radio this morning that quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will not play against San Francisco this week. Quarterback Seneca Wallace has taken most of the snaps this week at practice and will be the starter on Sunday.

Listen to Holmgren on KIRO in this audio link.

Some links to check out this morning.

Seattle Seahawks

Turnovers – or lack thereof – has been one of the reasons for Seattle’s struggles this season, writes Frank Hughes.

One of the Seahawks’ goals is to get a minimum of three turnovers a game. But through five games, Seattle only averages one turnover a game. Their one interception is last in the league, tying them with the winless Detroit Lions. By comparison, they had five interceptions through six games last season and finished with 20.

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For the second time this week, Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck did not participate in practice, making it extremely unlikely he will play against the Niners on Sunday. Wednesday and Thursdays are their days for drilling both offense and defense, and then Friday's are the day they run through everything. It would be very difficult for Matt to pick up and go with one day of work after missing essentially three weeks of practice. Mike Holmgren said he would like to see Hasselbeck practice before allowing him to go. As far as we have seen, Holmgren has not yet witnessed that. Seneca Wallace took most of the reps with the first unit and will, as Holmgren said Wednesday, start if #8 can't go.

Pork Chop missed practice as well, apparently still knocked out from the illness that overtook him at practice on Wednesday. Ray Willis got a lot of time at right guard, but Mansfield Wrotto also took some reps there.

While the rest of the team was in full uniforms, Koren Robinson was wearing sweats, as was Bobby Engram. Koren did not take as many reps as Engram, still bothered by his sore knee.

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Nothing earth shattering here. Coach Mike Holmgren said Matt Hasselbeck wouldn't practice today. Holmgren said Hasselbeck went through some drills this morning and he's working to strengthen his knee. Holmgren's still hopeful Hasselbeck can play this week, although he said Hasselbeck needs to practice this week in order to play on Sunday.

Seneca Wallace took most of the snaps with the first team, and Holmgren said he'll be the starter on Sunday. Deion Branch worked out with the trainers on the other field while the Seahawks went through team drills, and he's questionable for this week.

=> Read more!

Where to start on a day with multiple story lines?

Let's begin with the Seahawks' health since everything else, while important, is sort of ancillary. Holmgren still doesn't know about the availability of Matt Hasselbeck but he did not seem overly optimistic about it. He said he worked out this morning and is hopeful that Matt can work toward playing, but he will not practice today. He went on to say that he has to see Matt practice since he has missed so much time. Which means he will have only Thursday and/or Friday to show that he is strong enough. Holmgren clarified that Seneca will start if Hass is unable to go. He said that he learned only yesterday that Seneca said his calf flared up midway through the game, and that he had a meeting with him and told him he has to be more honest with him in the future about his health. He said Seneca agreed.

=> Read more!

Frank Hughes reports running back Julius Jones blew up at the end of Sunday’s game at Tampa Bay on the sidelines. Jones reportedly was unhappy about his amount of carries, and used Holmgren’s name during the rant. Read about it here.

Listen the Hughes talks about the Jones situation with KJR's Mitch Levy in this audio link.

Seattle Seahawks

Scott Johnson of the Everett Herald writes that most of the players continue to be frustrated with how the season has gone so far.

ESPN’s Mike Sando discusses what is wrong with Seattle.

Nate Burleson talks Seahawks with KJR AM’s Dave “Softy” Mahler in this audio link.

=> Read more!

Tuesday's are usually a day off for the players, but because they got home so late on Monday morning, landing around 4 a.m., Mike Holmgren gave them off Monday and had them come in Tuesday to watch some film. So we had access to a few of them as they passed from the film room through the locker room.

Seneca said his calf tightened up about halfway through the game, and that it was sore on the flight home, but he said he will be able to play. He didn't really answer the question about whether he would be shocked if he didn't start if Matt Hasselbeck doesn't play, saying only that it is Holmgren's decision and he will do whatever he has to to get wins.

=> Read more!

With the San Francisco 49ers firing Mike Nolan on Monday I thought we should lead today’s Morning Links off with what’s happening in the Bay Area.

Particularly interesting to Seahawks fans is the speculation that current Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren may be headed to San Francisco as the general manager or head coach once his tenure is completed in Seattle.

Holmgren has repeatedly said he has promised his wife Kathy to take a year off at the end of this season. However, Holmgren’s roots are in the Bay Area, and he may be tempted to return to the team where he got his start in the NFL.

Here are some excerpts from reports in the Bay Area.

San Francisco 49ers

=> Read more!

Fox Sports Jay Glazer is reporting the San Francisco 49ers have fired Mike Nolan, and will replace him with defensive coordinator Mike Singletary.

Nolan was on the hot seat after beginning the season 2-5. ESPN reported earlier today that Nolan would be fired after the Seattle game as the team headed into the bye week, but it appears the 49ers brass decided not to wait.

Nolan leaves the 49ers with an 18-37 record.

Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren just completed his weekly Monday Morning press conference.

He said the team will take a look at quarterback Matt Hasselbeck on Tuesday and make a determination if Hasselbeck can practice this week. Holmgren said Hasselbeck , who suffering from a bulging disk that causing a weakness in his knee, must pass some tests before he'll be cleared to go.

"The last medical report is that he's feeling better each day," Holmgren said. "But they have this measuring stick though, before they will allow him to play, that's my understanding. And until he reaches that, then he probably won't play."

=> Read more!

Different day, same story for the Seahawks. One particular statistic stands out among the rest in Seattle’s latest loss, a 20-10 setback in Tampa Bay. The Bucs held the ball for 41:41, while Seattle had the ball for just 18:19. The Seahawks gained just 176 total yards.

Seneca Wallace was just 12 of 23 for 73 yards, finishing with a touchdown and an interception. Seattle was 2 of 10 on third down offensively, while Tampa Bay was 10 of 18 on third down.

I thought the defense actually played good, but the offense just didn’t give the defense any help by sustaining any drives. View the lowlights here.

And check out the standings here, where you’ll find the Seahawks on the bottom looking up. We’ll have injury updates and other tidbits from Coach Mike Holmgren’s press conference later today.

Seattle Seahawks

=> Read more!

I just spoke with the league, who said that Ike Hilliard had completed the catch and had established himself as a runner, therefore there was no helmet-to-helmet and there will not be a fine on Leroy Hill.

(On his touchdown in the first quarter)

“Just a little bumping. He bumped me a little bit and I gave him a little bump. We got in the end zone and it felt good to get started early and get the team off to a jump.”

(On being 5-2)

“It just makes you realize how important it is to win these games and knowing that we are getting closer to what we are all trying to accomplish and that’s to play the Super Bowl here at home. I think that’s our number one goal, but we know that we have to take it one game at a time.”

(On being prepared for the opponent every week)

“I think our coaches have a great feel for the flow of the game and what works. We get great insight of our opponents every time we go to work. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, we just focus in.”

(On his first return)

“The one I took out the first one I wasn’t. I don’t think I should have taken it out. I will have to watch the film to see how far it was, deep it was. All in all, I think today was a good day for special teams.”

(On if he was talked to after taking the one at the three-yard line)

“They said next time know where you’re at on the field. We got to the 15 so it wasn’t too bad. We have to be smarter than when we are backed up.”

(On if it was a function of him wanting to make something happen)

“It was me not knowing how deep it was, how close it was to the end zone; it was back there at the three. It was a low line drive kick. He out kicked the coverage which we knew he would do in the game. Without a lot of hang time usually the coverage is far back and I have some room to make some big plays.”

(How much he blames performance on not playing for a while)

“There is probably a bit of rust, but that can’t be the reason. We had a good week of practice. We just missed some things and left some plays out there on the field.”

(On his calf injury)

“Calf held up, I can’t say too much about it. I still have to go out there and play football; injured or not, it doesn’t matter.”

=> Read more!

(On plays not going Seattle’s way)

“This game is so tough, you just have to keep fighting, and it is what it is. It is a lot more plays than that. Just to make plays, we just haven’t been able to do that this year and we just haven’t been able to do that this year. I don’t what it is, plays that we’re accustomed to making, being able to get up and down the field, we just aren’t doing that.”

(On QB Seneca Wallace’s lack of repetitions this week)

“I don’t think so, he’s been in this offense for six or seven years now so he knows the offense, so it’s easy to him. I don’t think that had anything to do with that. I just think we’re just not clicking right now. We just have to go back to the drawing board and find ways to get points on the board and win the game in the end.”

(On only being one big play away)

“I hope so. I hope that’s what it takes, you look at the game and they made one big play and kind of got the momentum from that big play. We just needed one play probably to get us over the hump. A lot of our games this year have been like that. We just haven’t been able to make plays we are accustomed to making.”

Sorry for the delay in quotes, folks, it got very late very quickly last night.

Mike Holmgren is doing his usual 2:15 news conference, but he gave the players today off and they are scheduled to come back in tomorrow. With a nearly six-hour flight facing them after that gave, they probably did not get home and in bed until 4 or 5 in the morning.

Mike Holmgren Quotes

Opening statement)

“The game reminded me a little of our game last week. The number of statistics was similar. They were 10 of 18 on third downs, last week was 10 of 17. We were 1 of 9, last week I don’t know we were a little better on third down last week. We had the ball for 40 minutes and it was 40 minute-20 minute game. Very similar. We had a chance for a big play and it didn’t work. They had a big play, like the long pass a week ago. So you get the outcome we had. Unfortunately right now that’s the way it is. Our confidence on offense is not where it should be and now we have to keep it going somehow, some way and regain the confidence that we used to have.”

(On the offense)

“I didn’t think we executed very well early on. We did some things a little better in the second half. They have a good defensive team. They’re good on defense and so the combination of our shortcomings and their good defensive play, you get kind of what you get.”

(On QB Seneca Wallace)

“We didn’t sustain things enough for him to get into a rhythm. We’re just struggling right now on offense. It’s just hard.”

(On the impact of the fumble that was reviewed)

“We got the ball back on review. If they let the play go, we probably would have scored. CB Josh (Wilson) picked it up and was running. So it was a factor in the game.”

(On LB Lofa Tatupu injury)

“Yeah, he got a concussion in the game and is still a little foggy.”

Here is the unedited version of my game story that will appear in Monday's News Tribune:

By Frank Hughes
Frank.hughes@thenewstribune.com

TAMPA – Things are going so poorly for the Seattle Seahawks right now that their best play in a disheartening 20-10 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night not only made impossible a defensive touchdown but knocked middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu from the game with a concussion.
If there were any remaining doubts that the karmic reservoir built up over the past five years of coach Mike Holmgren’s tenure is now exhausted, those are officially gone.
Yes, the Seahawks are disintegrating and it does not appear it can be pieced back together any time soon.
“When it rains it pours – and we need to get it to stop raining,” center Chris Spencer said. “We need some sunny days around here.”

=> Read more!

Coach Mike Holmgren again seemed resigned, saying essentially that this game reminded him very much of the last game, where they couldn't convert on third downs, they couldn't throw the ball, they couldn't get a pass rush. No answers, really. He said he didn't think Seneca was rusty as much as he couldn't get into a rhythm. The one positive was that the team didn't give up after he got into them at halftime. Lofa has a concussion, and he was still groggy after the game. He didn't speak with the media.

The locker room I would say for the first time this year felt different. Granted, it is a road locker room, which always adds a different element. But on this night, the players were whispering to each other, kind of listening to what the other players were saying about the loss. It's hard to put a finger on it, really, but it was just different. Take that for what it is worth but I would guess that when different things keep getting the same results, a sense of frustration sets in. The one big thing I did not hear tonight that we have heard in the past is the keep working hard and turning it around line.

=> Read more!

I am heading downstairs now, but with the score at 20-10, there is little doubt that the Seahawks will drop another game. I'll have postgame stuff when I come back up.

With the chance to pull to 17-6, Olindo Mare was wide for the first time this year, missing a 38-yarder. The score is still 17-3.

There are going to be fewer posts here on out because I have to start writing my stories for the paper.

Don't think the East Coast thing can be used as much of an excuse right now. This team is just not playing very well. Their offense is stagnant and their defense continues to struggle to get stops. Throw in two turnovers -- an interception and a fumble -- and it is a recipe for a disastrous first half, which Tampa Bay leads 17-0.

Given the way this season is going, the Seahawks' best defensive play resulted not only in Lofa Tatupu geting hurt, but a touchdown being called back. Tampa Bay's Ike Hilliard was violently hit by Leroy Hill on a crossing pattern, and he fumbled the ball on the hit. The officials did not know he was not down, though, and they blew the play dead as Josh Wilson scooped up the loose ball and would have scored a 96-yard touchdown. Lofa got a concussion, the Seahawks got stopped and their bad fortune continues.

Hard to see much reason for optimism in the second half, given their offensive ineptitude. Ray Willis is now playing right tackle after Sean Locklear whiffed on his man, and DD Lewis is playing linebacker in place of Tatupu. Third down conversions still are not friendly to Seattle, though little else is too.

It looked like Chris Spencer snapped the ball early, catching Seneca Wallace off guard. Seneca fumbled and Tampa recovered.

Tampa Bay flirted with going for it on fourth down, but backed off and kicked a 27-yard field goal instead, taking a 17-0 lead. Given that Seattle currently has 41 yards off offense, things are looking a bit bleak.

Everybody here is keenly aware of the baseball game going on down the road, and they just started chanting Let's go Rays" after Tampa Bay scored to tie the game at 1.

On the Seahawks' first play of the next drive, Seneca Wallace was pressured by Gaines Adams, had the pass tipped by Barrett Ruud and had it picked off by Aqub Talib. Tampa Bay is currently in Seattle territory and driving.

Earnest Graham just dove in from 1 yard out to put Tampa Bay ahead 14-0 with 6:32 left in the second quarter.

The drive came after the Seahawks' had a drive stalled because of another costly holding penalty on Mike Wahle. TJ Duckett had gained 20 yards on the play, but Wahle was called for tackling somebody (I couldnt see the number). The Bucs got back the ball, Jeff Garcia completed a big 31-yard pass to Jerramy Stevens and Graham's rushing TD was set up.

His return is being listed as questionable.

He took his baseball cap off but did not retrieve his helmet. DD Lewis is in the game. I don't have word yet on the injury.

Not sure yet what this means. Lofa got up off the bench, put his skull cap back on, but is wearing a baseball cap as well.

While everybody is attending to Ike Hilliard, Lofa Tatupu was on the sidline as well getting looked at by team doctors. He's still there as Hilliard is leaving the field.

Jeff Garcia threw a 47-yard TD to Antonio Bryant to give Tampa Bay a 7-0 lead. Bryant beat Kelly Jennings on the pass. A flag was thrown for interference, but then the officials waved off the penalty. Deon Grant blitzed on the play but got picked up by Warrick Dunn.

Perhaps more notable is that Leroy Hill nearly intercepted Garcia's first pass of the drive, but Lofa Tatupu wrestled it away and they both dropped the ball.

Babs was in for Josh Wilson at cornerback to start the game.

With Michael Bumpus on the practice squad, Justin Forsett and Bobby Engram are back fielding Jon Ryan's punts right now. Forsett seemed to be struggling with the lighting or something because he dropped a punt, prompting Kasey Dunn to do some work with him on the side, throwing the ball up into the lights.

Seattle

Brandon Coutu
Matt Hasselbeck
Kevin Hobbs
Mansfield Wrotto
Deion Branch
Will Heller
Baraka Atkins
Howard Green

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

QB Josh Johnson
QB Brian Griese
FB B.J. Askew
G Anthony Davis
T James Lee
WR Joey Galloway
WR Maurice Stovall
DT Greg Peterson

Here we are at Raymond James Stadium, where it is about 75 degrees and clear blue skies. The sun is starting to go down as the players begin to warm up. It'll be interesting to see exactly how many people show up for tonight's game because the Rays are playing the Red Sox in Game 7 right down the road, and both games start at about the same time.

Tonight is Mike Alstott night, in which all 68,000-plus fans will receive Alstott bobbleheads. As Boling pointed out, he is the one guy whose head doesn't bobble.

Before we start blogging in earnest, I thought I'd share a few weird Tampa gender stories. So on Friday night, I go out to dinner at a little Italian restaurant in Ybor City. After dinner, I decide to walk around the area, and I walk past a martini bar playing Reggae, which I love from my college days. So I walk in, sit at the bar, get a drink and think I'll listen to a little reggae before heading back to the hotel. As the bartender is getting my drink, I look around and realize I am sitting in an all-black, all-lesbian bar that is hosting a date night, "Gurlz Go Home." Needless to say, I got more than a few strange looks.

So the next day, me and Jim Moore from the PI go golfing at the University of South Florida Golf Course. The course is empty because USF is playing at home, and so we have the course essentially to ourselves. Just as we are about to tee off on No. 1, a golf cart comes flying up and this woman says the starter just paired her up with us. So she gets out of the cart, and it turns out she is a 6-foot-2, 240-pound transsexual -- who proceeded to shoot a 79 and kicked our behinds. S/he outdrove us on virtually every hole.

Seattle faces Tampa Bay in a nationally televised game tonight at 5:15 p.m. on NBC.

The Seahawks need a win to revive their season, but most of the betting public is giving Seattle no chance to get a win, particularly with Matt Hasselbeck out.

So what does Seattle need to do in order to win tonight? Does Seneca Wallace have to play big for Seattle to get a W? Should Seattle rely on its running game to control the tempo and keep the clock running?

Will Seattle need a couple turnovers from the defense to get things going? Or Maybe Justin Forsett springs loose for a big punt return?

Let me know your thoughts below.

And here are some Seahawks-related links to get you going.

=> Read more!

The Hawks just added linebacker Will Herring to the 53-man roster, putting receiver Billy McMullen on the waived/injured list.

Herring was on the physically-unable-to-perform list all season. McMullen had seven catches for 124 yards as a free agent acquisition signed on Sept. 10 because of the rash of injuries to front-line receivers.

Our old friend Jerramy Stevens spoke to the Pewter Report, a web site devoted to covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Right here you can read that Stevens is actually not a bad guy, as we all wrongly assumed when he was arrested 327 times in 2 months.

The Seahawks just finished about a 75-minute, light practice and are preparing to head out to Tampa Bay.

Here's some notes from practice.

An angry Holmgren berated players early on in practice as the team struggled with its execution on offense. Missed assignments, dropped balls and just particularly sloppy play had Holmgren fuming early on.

But the team picked up toward the later stages of practice. Cornerback Josh Wilson in particular made a nice interception toward the end of team drills, tipping a ball with one hand and bringing it in with another and skirting down the sideline.

Holmgren said Seneca Wallace will start unless something happens with his calf. Wallace has worked with the first team all week and will get his first start since Nov. 19, 2006, a 24-14 loss to San Francisco.

=> Read more!

Here’s some links to chew on this morning

Seattle Seahawks

It looks like Seneca Wallace will be the starting quarterback for Seattle on Sunday. We expect an official announcement from Coach Mike Holmgren today.

Seattle offensive line coach Mike Solari talks about the holding call that Mike Wahle received that negated Julius Jones’ 51-yard run. Solari doesn’t believe it was a hold, and says the key to blocking for offensive lineman is to “hide their hands” inside the shoulder pads of the person they're blocking and not extend them outside your body.

Scott Johnson of the Everett Herald talks to safety Deon Grant about the team’s defensive struggles.

Grant also reveals that he had a torn medial collateral ligament in his knee in 2007 but he played through the pain. Grant said this week’s knee injury is worse, but he still plans to play, continuing his 117-game playing streak.

Here’s an interesting column from Art Thiel of the Seattle P-I. He asks if it’s time to consider the Seahawks’ future without Matt Hasselbeck. The injured Seattle quarterback turned 33 this year.

=> Read more!

I spoke with offensive line coach Mike Solari after this afternoon's practice, and he confirmed that Ray Willis, who was splitting time with Sean Locklear at right tackle, will probably start at right tackle -- though he said the final decision is going to rest with Mike Holmgren. Solari basically said that the team was functioning well and they were pleased with Willis when he was playing, and that Locklear still is trying to work out the rust after sitting out for five weeks after spraining his knee. I think there can be no question that Locklear has struggled, both in the run game and the pass game. Boling watches the offensive line much more intently than I do during games, and he has noticed on more than one occasion that Locklear -- as well as Chris Spencer -- are not doing as well as some of their teammates.

=> Read more!

Having missed practice yesterday, and likely to miss practice again today, Seahawks WR Deion Branch is very unlikely to play against the Bucs on Sunday night, meaning that Keary Colbert is going to have an increased role, and perhaps Billy McMullen. Koren Robinson is likely to practice today and will remain a starter on Sunday.

In September Sports Illustrated conducted an online survey asking readers to rank their hometown NFL stadium in several areas, including from ticket prices to hospitality to the product on the field.

According to the results, nearly a third of the surveys submitted came from season-ticket holders, and the average number of games attended per season by all respondents was 3.23,

Qwest field finished seventh overall in the survey. The winner was Green Bay’s Lambeau Field, with Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field placing second and Denver’s Invesco Field placing third. View the results here, and the comments on Qwest Field here.

Seattle Seahawks

Frank Hughes asks Seattle players if Jim Mora being named the head coach for next year is affecting how the team is playing in head coach Mike Holmgren’s final season? All the players asked said it has had no affect.

Dave Boling writes that a glorified baby sitter may have helped stop the downward spiral for guys like Jerramy Stevens and Koren Robinson, although it certainly didn’t help this guy.

If Seneca Wallace can stay healthy this week, he’ll start on Sunday. Rookie defensive end Lawrence Jackson takes a seat and Darryl Tapp will take over as the starting right defensive end.

=> Read more!

Quarterback Seneca Wallace practiced on Wednesday and made it through the entire practice. Wallace appeared fine taking his drops and going through his footwork, but he'll need to make it through this week's practice before coach Mike Holmgren pronounces Wallace the starter on Sunday.

"I feel good, but it’s different playing in the game," Wallace said to reporters after practice. "But I feel good out here so we’ll see. We’ll take it day by day and see what happens."

Listen to Wallace talk about his status here.

Wallace and Charlie Frye split snaps at quarterback, while Sean Locklear and Ray Willis also shared time at right tackle.

Deion Branch is still nursing his bruised heel and did not practice today.

Defensively, Darryl Tapp will start in place of Lawrence Jackson at right defensive end. The rookie, first-round draft choice has struggled at times this season. He has 15 tackles, two sacks and and two quarterback hurries in five games.

Jackson said he and Tapp will continue to play about the same amount of time.

“I feel good about the progress I made," Jackson said. "There’s a lot of work to be done to get the end result that I want out of football. I have to get better at the little stuff as much as I can, and it’s going to take time.”

Deon Grant did not practice today but is expected to play on Sunday. Jordan Babineaux worked at safety in place of Grant.

Linebacker Leroy Hill also missed practice to rest his knee, and D.D. Lewis worked at outside backer in Hill's place.

The injured linebacker, who has been out all of OTAs, training camp and this season with an arthritic condition, took part in his first practice on Wednesday and said he is ready to play.

Herring was placed on the physically unable to perform list because he had swelling in his knees and ankles, something that he said he doesn't think is genetic because he does not have a history of it in his family. He said the doctors gave him some arthritis medicine and it cured the pain and swelling almost immediately.

He said he was worried about his career, but he was more worried about his life, and that he wouldn't be able to carry on a regular person with arthritic joints. He said the team has a three-week window to evaluate and activate him, but he said they told him they would activate him this week to play against Tampa Bay.

That raises the question of who will be released if Herring is activated?

Regarding Seneca Wallace, he is still iffy. Holmgren said he will allow Seneca and Charlie Frye to split practice time this week, and he'll make a decision on whether Seneca can play based on his mobility. I asked Holmgren whether that will affect his game plannin, given the discrepancy in the two players' games, and Holmgren -- after punching me in the kidney -- said no, he will for the most part put in the same game plan for both guys.

Deon Grant, who strained a ligament, is likely to practice this week, an upgrade over Monday, when Holmgren said he would not. And Deion Branch is questionable, it sounds like, they have to see how he performs to determine if he can play. That is more pessimistic than Holmgren sounded on Monday.

=> Read more!

Tampa Bay head coach Jon Gruden talked to the Seattle-area reporters this morning on a conference call, and as usual, was very entertaining.

Gruden talked about several topics, including his mentor Mike Holmgren.

About Holmgren leaving the game, Gruden had this to say:

"I would assume that he'll be back. I just hope he doesn't take my job or come back in the NFC. I'd like to see him maybe form his own league or something."

On aging receiver and ex-Seahawk Joey Galloway: "I've nicknamed him the 'White Tiger.' He's rare. He only comes out at Busch Gardens once every six months. But now it's kind of like he's the saber-toothed tiger, he's been extinct. We need him back."

On tight end Jerramy Stevens: "He's a good kid. He's obviously had some issues that have been well-documented and we're just trying to turn the page on it. We're tired of talking about it. We're really proud of what he's become and what he's going to do with the rest of his life."

Ex-Seahawk Shaun Alexander will participate in his first practice today and talks about returning to the field for Washington in this interview with Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post. Alexander plans to backup Clinton Portis in Sunday’s game against Cleveland.

Along with Alexander, Washington head coach Jim Zorn picks up two other former Seahawks in punter Ryan Plackemeier and safety Mike Green.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks sign running back Justin Forsett to roster and release Michael Bumpus. Bumpus likely will be signed to the practice squad today.

John McGrath details the litany of injuries the state’s football teams have experienced, including Seattle quarterbacks Matt Hasselbeck and Seneca Wallace.

Scott Johnson writes that Seahawks fans are jumping off the bandwagon at an alarming rate, but Seattle coach Mike Holmgren remains optimistic.

=> Read more!

With the Seahawks not allowing us to speak to their team doctors about their players' injuries -- heck, the players themselves are reticent to talk about their own injuries -- I went to an outside source for some information, Dr. James Gladstone, the co-chief of sports medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, who happened to go to school with Dr. James Andrews, the doctor who did the surgery on the knees of Deion Branch and Nate Burleson.

When I explained what was going on with Hasselbeck, Gladstone said that it seems very unlikely that Hasselbeck's knee injury in any way had an affect on his back. My own theory was that Hasselbeck hurt the knee, compensated for it by walking abnormally, which caused the bulging disc in the back to act up. Gladstone said that doesn't sound plausible. He said something else may have caused the disc problem but it was not likely the injured knee. Or, Hass may have had the bulging disc all along and only now, because of the knee injury, is he seeing or feeling the additional effects.

He disagreed with Hasselbeck's and Holmgren's percentages of people with a bulging disc. Hass said he was told 85 percent of people have bulging discs. Holmgren said everybody. Gladstone said 40 percent of people walking around have bulging discs. "But it doesn't mean anything unless it is pushing on a nerve," Gladstone said.

He said that from Holmgren's description of what is going on -- the bulging disc is creating weakness in the leg -- it sounds like the L2 or L3 disc is pressing on a nerve root and making Hasselbeck's quadriceps muscle weak. That would impede Hasselbeck's ability to plant or push off on his leg.

=> Read more!

The Seahawks signed rookie running back Justin Forsett from the practice squad to the active roster on Tuesday and have released wide receiver Michael Bumpus.

I can only assume that Forsett is going to return punts and perhaps kickoffs, and that Bumpus, if he clears waivers, will be put back on the practice squad

According to a Washington Post report, ex-Seahawk running back Shaun Alexander will sign a one-year veteran minimum contract with the Washington Redskins today.

Alexander worked out for Washington on Monday and apparently things went well. Barring any negotiations between the two sides Alexander is expected to sign this afternoon.

Also, Washington is working out four punters, including ex-Seahawk Ryan Plackemeier, and expects to sign on of those punters as well today to replace released punter Durant Brooks.

With John Madden sitting out Sunday night's broadcast of the Seahawks-Bucs game, Cris Collinsworth will step in to replace him, joining Al Michaels and Andrea Kremer on the broadcast.

NFL.com's Adam Schefter is reporting that Jim Zorn is bringing in Shaun Alexander for a workout tomorrow because Ladell Betts injured his knee on Sunday. We'll see if Shaun still has what it takes to impress NFL coaches.

Going back to the quarterback situation for a second, Holmgren said that he hopes that Seneca Wallace can get healthy enough to play against Tampa Bay. He said he needs to see him practice a few days this week to make that determination. If Seneca cannot go, Charlie Frye gets the call again.

Holmgren said he hopes to get Deion Branch back this week. Deon Grant did suffer a ligament strain in his knee but will play against Tampa Bay. Will Heller has a knee injury and is out for a while. Patrick Kerney is going to be OK.

After reviewing the film, Holmgren said he thought several players played well against Green Bay: Rocky Bernard, Kerney, Lofa Tatupu, the safeties, John Carlson, Mike Wahle and Koren Robinson.

=> Read more!

It turns out that that bulging disc in Matt Hasselbeck's back that the team poo pooed when we were in Buffalo is worse than originally thought. The knee injury that Hasselbeck suffered in New York somehow has triggered problems with the disc in Hasselbeck's back, the reason that he was unable to play yesterday. They sent him to a specialist in Los Angeles last night, and they said he is going to try to appropriately rehab the back for a week with the hope that he can be back against San Francisco at the end of October.

Now, there are a lot of unanswered questions here. Why did the knee injury prompt the back to flare up? Why is the back creating weakness in the leg? Is this a chronic problem that could bother him for the rest of his career? Mike Holmgren did not have all the answers, but the bottom line is that Hasselbeck is being treated for a bad back that will keep him out for at least one more game.

I was emailed this item from the Washington Post's publicity department: Washingtonpost.com’s Len Shapiro is reporting that John Madden will stay home in the Bay Area and sit out Sunday's night's Tampa Bay Buccaneers home game against the Seattle Seahawks in central Florida. This ends a 476 game streak for Madden, who never missed a regular season week in an NFL football booth in 28 years. NBC Sports President Dick Ebersol first broached the possibility of taking a day off this weekend with Madden last spring.

Six weeks into the regular season the Seattle Seahawks find themselves in the unfamiliar position of bringing up the rear in the NFC West standings. At 1-4, and with St. Louis getting its first win of the year against Washington, the Seahawks are tied for last place with the Rams.

San Francisco’s loss to Philadelphia makes the 49ers a ½ game ahead of the Hawks at 2-4. And with Arizona’s solid win over Dallas at home, the Cardinals lead the division at 4-2, 2 ½ games ahead of Seattle.

We’ll have more Seahawks news this afternoon after Seattle coach Mike Holmgren’s press conference, including injury updates on Matt Hasselbeck and Deon Grant. Here’s today’s links.

Seattle Seahawks

With Seattle at 1-4, Dave Boling says the good times are over for Seattle.

Holmgren says the Seahawks are facing “a test of sorts” in Holmgren’s final season, Frank Hughes reports.

=> Read more!

Hawks third string QB Charlie Frye is pulled down after a short gain on a scramble during the Seahawks loss to the Green Bay Packers at Quest Field Sunday.
Dean J. Koepfler / The News Tribune

Check out a slide show from the game.

(On how he thought the game went and what he said to the defense after the game…) “I thought we did all right in the run game. We let one get out that we really would’ve liked to have had that, but it didn’t really hurt us. I don’t know. It’s frustrating, but we don’t have any quitters in here. I told the guys: ‘Keep your head up. I know you’re not happy with what’s going on, but all you can do is all go to work, work even harder. The little things. Watch more film. Know your opponent more.’ I thought we did a good job, but it wasn’t good enough.”

=> Read more!

(On what he sees in the future of the team…) “I don’t think about the future. I live for the moment. When the future gets here, we’ll see. I don’t think about all that.”
(On how tough it is for the team to be struggling so much…) “You know, I hate losing…I get over it real quick. We have an opportunity to go out there and win games and still make it. We definitely have that opportunity. I look forward to that. After you lose a game, you watch film and all that, [then] I’m over that. You can’t go back and play that team again, unless they’re in our division. They’re not in our division. We got to forget about that. Last year we started off [slow] and we made a run. We got to just do the same thing this year. Everybody keep the hope, have faith. We’ll rally back.”
(On their record…) “One and four is one and four. Losing the game is losing the game, regardless if you lose three straight, you lose one, win one, lose one, win one. We’re still one and four. So if you play football, it’s ‘any given Sunday’ anyway. You can’t look at your record as one and four, you got to take one game at a time.”
(On the defense carrying the team in the first half and then struggling in the second half…) “I don’t know. We don’t really pay attention to that. We just go out there and play. Second half, the defense, we just weren’t doing what we were supposed to be doing.”

(On whether he’s perplexed as to why they’re not performing well…) “It’s rough. I really don’t know what it is, you know? We prepared harder all week. It’s just, in the game, we just don’t get it done. We just got to figure out a way to get it done.”
(On the defense falling apart after the first half…) “I don’t know. They adjusted, did some different things. They made some plays and we didn’t. Really, it’s nothing special. They played and we didn’t.”
(On what Green Bay did better in the second half…) “They didn’t do anything we hadn’t seen or worked on. They made plays. We didn’t.”
(On the general feeling on the team…) “It’s been a while since it’s been like this. It’s just a shock. I think everybody’s shocked around here, because for the last six years, we haven’t seen much like this.”

This is the unedited version of my game story that will appear in tomorrow's News Tribune:

By Frank Hughes
Frank.hughes@thenewstribune.com

A Seattle Seahawks season that began so sanguinely has disintegrated into a quagmire of shock and despair, a 27-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon the latest incarnation of their weekly ineptitude.
Missing starting quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and still searching for a defense that resembles the one that sent four players to the Pro Bowl last season, the Seahawks lost for the fourth time in five games.
Combined with the Arizona Cardinals’ overtime victory over the Dallas Cowboys, the Seahawks are now 2 ½ games back in the NFC West, in grave danger of relinquishing their four-year grip on the division title. With St. Louis’ last-second victory over Washington, which came from the foot of former Seattle kicker Josh Brown, the Seahawks now share a spot in the cellar with the Rams.

=> Read more!

QB CHARLIE FRYE

(On the game today…) I would have liked to have get in a rhythm a little bit earlier than what I thought I did. The game plan was to come out and run the ball, get Julius going, get T.J. going, get Mo going. I thought we did that, and then we had that long run called back. Those guys were making holes up front, and the touchdown pass, we ran that key pass earlier, and they really sucked in. Then, we ran it again on the 5 yard line, and he came in my face, and I just lofted it up and John got it in the end zone. The second touchdown pass, it was kind of an all up blitz, and I kept drifting backwards, and hit Keary in the end zone. Those were two positives, but it doesn’t outweigh the loss.

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(Opening…) Well, it’s tough right now. My message to the team when I called them together is one that they have heard before from me, but it is very important that they hear me now. It is a test of sorts, you know we are not used to this. We are certainly not used to losing games at home, and we are not used to being in the position we’re in. It’s been a long time, but here we are; so how do we deal with it, as players and coaches. It is very, very important that they answer that question. It’s easy to slap people on the back and coach and play when things are going well, and then it becomes a little more difficult when it is not going so well. That is a challenge for us right now, because it is hard right now. We are not playing very good football. And we still have a lot of games left to play. So, we have to start dealing with that sort of question in our locker room and in our building.

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The biggest eye-opener that came out of the postgame is that Mike Holmgren seemed somewhat pessimistic about Matt Hasselbeck coming back any time soon. He said Hasselbeck will have to get more exams on his hyperextended knee this week because it does not seem to be responding the way it should be responding to treatment. He said Hass was never even an option today. While saying Charlie Frye played "OK," he immediately said that Seneca should be getting better each day and has a chance to take the reps with the first team this week.

More than anything, Holmgren has turned philosophical as his team has fallen 2 1/2 games behind the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC West. He said he told the players something he has told them in the past, but it is very important they listen: They are not used to this losing, but this is a test of their character and it will show a great deal about who they are by how they respond to this tough situation.

=> Read more!

I am heading down to the field, but the Seahawks are going to drop to 1-4 after this loss. It can be pinned on everybody. The offense, as it stands right now, gained only 115 yards and Charlie Frye threw two interceptions. They had only two of 10 third down conversions. The defense could not get stops when it needed to, allowing the Packers to string together two long, time-consuming drives and to convert nine of 14 third down conversions. With Arizona and San Francisco currently winning their respective games, things are looking bleak for a team that once held so much promise. I will be back up with postgame locker room stuff in a while.

Trying to throw a deep pass to Koren Robinson, Charlie Frye was picked off by Tramon Williams, his second interception of the game. The fans are now streaming out of Qwest.

The Packers didn't go anywhere after the interceptions, but Mason Crosby was able to convert a 51-yard FG for a 27-10 lead with 8:41 left.

Trying to force a throw, Charlie Frye was intercepted by Charles Woodson. That probably seals up the loss and will drop the Seahawks to 1-4.

The Packers just put together a dominating, lengthy drive that culminated with Aaron Rodgers completing a one-yard TD pass to John Kuhn. Green Bay, which has converted nine of 14 third down converstions, leads 24-10 with 11:23 left. Charlie Frye needs to get busy if the Seahawks have any chance.

Brian Russell went on a safety blitz that did not get to Aaron Rodgers, allowing Rodgers to make a perfect pass to Greg Jennings for a 45-yard TD. He beat Marcus Trufant, though Trufant did not have any help because of Russell's blitz, which was picked up. Trufant actually had decent coverage but Rodgers' pass was better. Packers lead, 17-10.

A week after going 1 for 11 on third down conversions, the Seahawks are now 1 for 7 against the Packers. For those who are mathematically challenged, they are now two for their last 18 on third down conversions.

Neither team is dominating in a first half that resembles a boxing match where both teams are trying to feel each other out. It seems as if both teams are trying to establish ball control, both doing a good job of mixing runs with passes.

The Packers tied the score at 10 in the final seconds of the half with a one-yard touchdown by Aaron Rodgers, who was stopped but never brought down, enabling him to reach the ball across the goalline. It capped a 13-play, 66-yard drive.

Compared to what it had been doing this season, Seattle's defense is holding pretty steady. But here is the perfect example of what the coaches are talking about players not making plays. On a third and seven at the beginning of the Packers' last drive, Lofa Tatupu knew what the play was. He went from the line of scrimmage to deep safety. And even though he knew where the ball was going, Rodgers still was able to complete a 19-yard pass to Donald Driver, which kept the drive alive and led to the game-tying touchdown.

Charlie Frye has looked pretty decent, making a couple of nice throws. The Seahawks are doing a good job with their running game, Julius Jones, Mo MOrris and T.J. Duckett all contributing. In a seemingly evenly matched game, the Seahawks need home-field advantage to play a factor in the second half.

Robinson is getting his right leg stretched out, though it does not appear to be anything serious or urgent. I'll keep an eye on it though.

On 3rd and 2 from the 6, Mike Holmgren called a play-action pass, with Charlie Frye hitting rookie tight end John Carlson for a touchdown pass on which Carlson had to dive into the end zone. Seahawks lead, 10-3.

Julian Peterson sacked Aaron Rodgers, knocking the ball loose, and Rocky Bernard recovered. The Seahawks are starting on Green Bay's 32.

Mare kicked a 50-yard field goal to tie the game at 3. Charlie Frye missed an easy pass in the flat that would have extended the drive, but Frye was on the move when he threw the ball, not his most accurate place to throw. Mare is now 10 for 10 this season in field goal attempts.

The safety is sitting on a bike behind the Seahawks bench and peddling away to stay loose when the offense is on the field.

The Packers put together a nice drive that started at their own 46. Seattle's defense did a pretty good job of holding them in the red zone, and Mason Crosby kicked a 30-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

Grant, a team captain, emerged from the locker room and rejoined his teammates on the field during the Packers' drive, which is currently on Seattle's 21.

Deon Grant hurt his knee on the first defensive play of the game, colliding with Green Bay's Korey Hall. Grant limped off the field. He was running along the sideline trying to get his knee loosened up, but now he heading toward the locker room.

Seattle gave runs of 7, 17 and 5 to Ryan Grant on the first drive. But on 3rd and 5 from Seattle's 45-yard line, safety Brian Russell came up and made a nice play, tackling Grant for a 3-yard loss.

Ex-Sonic Gary Payton will raise the 12th man flag today.

Charlie Frye and Seneca Wallace have just come out of the tunnel and are warming up, throwing the ball. Receiver Michael Bumpus is catching Frye's passes and tossing the ball to Wallace, who's throwing to an assistant coach.

Looks like Wallace will be the No. 2 quarterback today.

Referee: Jeff Triplette
Umpire: Jim Quirk
Head linesman: Steve Stelljes
Line judge: Mike Spanier
Field judge: Boris Cheek
Side judge: Dave Wyant
Back judge: Steve Freeman
Replay: Lloyd McPeters

Just got the list of inactives today, and as expected quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is out for today and Charlie Frye will indeed start for Seattle.

Deion Branch, who warmed up during pregame this morning, also will be out, along with Jordan Kent. Here's the list.

SEAHAWKS

Inactives:

K Brandon Coutu
QB Matt Hasselbeck
G Mansfield Wrotto
DT Red Bryant
WR Jordan Kent
WR Deion Branch
TE Jeb Putzier
DE Baraka Atkins

Seahawks Offense
Charlie Frye will start at QB for #8 Matt Hasselbeck

PACKERS

Inactives:
S Atari Bigby
CB Al Harris
RB Brandon Jackson
DE Jason Hunter
T Breno Giacomini
WR James Jones
DE Michael Montgomery

QB Brian Brohm will serve as the 3rd QB

Packers Defense

#38 Tramon Williams will start for #31 Al Harris
#32 Aaron Rouse will start for #20 Atari Bigby

Packers Roster Moves
#28 Kregg Lumpkin was place on injured reserve
#42 DeShawn Wynn was signed to the active roster

So how does Seattle stop the bleeding in the defensive secondary? Well, it’s more complicated than just replacing cornerback Kelly Jennings and hoping the problem is solved. Seattle’s breakdown in the secondary is tied more closely to the entire defensive unit playing poorly in passing situations.

=> Read more!

Game day is here, with Seattle pretty much needing a win to stay in the playoff hunt. Coach Mike Holmgren has said Charlie Frye will probably be the starter today. But we'll see if either Seneca Wallace or Matt Hasselbeck has recovered enough to get out on the field.

Regardless of who starts, Seattle’s Lofa Tatupu and the rest of the defense will need to be at its best today for the Hawks to get a victory. Here’s today’s Morning Links.

Seattle Seahawks

Win or the season’s over says Dave Boling.

Frank Hughes writes about running backs Julius Jones of Seattle and Green Bay’s Ryan Grant, both Notre Dame products, meeting today.

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers tries to emerge out of Brett Favre’s shadow.

With both teams struggling to stop the run, you might see a lot of Jones and Grant today, writes Gregg Bell of the Associated Press.

=> Read more!

(On possibly starting in this weeks game…) “I can lean back on the preseason games as experience. I thought practice went pretty well, I threw the ball pretty well. I managed to lose my voice out there. This is the most I’ve talked in a long time.”

(On using his previous experience as a starter to help prepare for the game…) “That was almost two years ago and I had about 20 starts. You can lean on that. This is a different offense. My experience is off the preseason and all the work I’ve put in the summer. I’ve watched how Matt [Hasselbeck] played and how he interacted with the guys during the game. You see a different side of the game from the sidelines. I look at that as a blessing; you see a different side of everything on gameday.”

(On his performance from his last start as the starter of the Cleveland Browns…) “In my last start I think I only played a quarter. I don’t even look at that as a start. That was a whole different situation. This is a different situation, a new beginning. [Chris] Spencer will help me out there on the field.

Mike Holmgren confirmed on Friday that Koren Robinson and Bobby Engram are likely to be Charlie Frye's starting wide receivers on Sunday.

He also said Josh Wilson will be the starting cornerback.

Seneca Wallace practiced on Friday but he still is hampered by a calf injury he suffered earlier in the week. "If I feel like I can do, I will do it," Wallace said. "That is the situation with Matt being out or not. If I can help us out, I am going to do that."

If Seneca does go, I would think he is not going to be able to scramble the way he normally is capable of doing. If he cannot go, I guess they would have to sign Travis Lulay off the practice squad or go with Brian Russell as the emergency QB.

The defense was very good today, the secondary making a number of plays, including interceptions by Deon Grant and Wilson. "I think they looked good," Holmgren said. "They have to look good. The have to get it going. They know that. The players know that. I would expect them to have a real fine football game. Granted, Green Bay is good. We are going to need them."

This is a video of Matt Hasselbeck walking out to practice, as well as a portion of Mike Holmgren's subsequent news conference announcing that Hasselbeck is not likely to play against the Packers on Sunday.

Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck missed his third straight day of practice and afterward Mike Holmgren said Hasselbeck is probably not going to play against the Packers on Sunday. Charlie Frye will start if Hass can't go.

Holmgren said his hyperextended knee is just not responding to treatment and they don't want to risk further injury by putting him in there. Seneca Wallace returned to practice on Friday, but his calf injury is not 100 percent recovered, the reason that Frye is getting the start.

I was sent this link to some commercial outtakes from Matt Hasselbeck and Jason Campbell's ads with Expedia. It is pretty humorous, vintage Matt. Take a look.

Perhaps a major reason we’ve been seeing quarterback Charlie Frye taking a lot of reps this week is because he may be the guy on Sunday. Matt Hasselbeck missed his second day of practice on Thursday but says he’ll be ready on Sunday.

However, ESPN’s John Clayton says he wouldn’t be surprised if Hasselbeck, who suffered a knee injury against the Giants, is not ready to go on Sunday.

And with backup quarterback Seneca Wallace not available this week with a calf injury, Frye would be the starter in what seems to be a must-win game for Seattle to stay in the playoff hunt.

=> Read more!

Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck, who has a hyperextended knee, missed his second straight day of practice. He came out on the field later in the practice -- which Seneca Wallace has not done -- but he still has a slight limp. No word on his availability for Sunday but he told Green Bay reporters on Wednesday that he will play. Of course, he also told them he would practice today, and that he wanted to go yesterday but the staff held him out. The one thing that is a bit troubling is that he still does not have a rhythm with his receivers, and especially Koren Robinson, and this week would have been nice to get that chemistry. Offensive coordinator Gil Haskell said that, yes, Hasselbeck is a veteran, but you are never too good or too experienced to miss a practice. Every little bit helps.

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The Seahawks went back to the past and signed to their practice squad RB Justin Forsett, who had such a compelling preseason here and who was released by the Indianapolis Colts on Monday. They also signed quarterback Travis Lulay to their practice squad, presumably because Charlie Frye currently is taking 1,293 reps per practice.

To make room for those two, they released Matt Lawrence and Trent Shelton from the practice squad.

This was issued from the team:

Seattle Seahawks fans who utilize the Kent Park & Ride will now be shuttled to Qwest Field by Starline Coaches. This is part of the 2008 transportation partnership. The buses will operate the same direct service to Qwest Field as Metro has done in the past. Metro

Some links to start your morning.

Seattle Seahawks

Koren Robinson’s first playing time since his return to Seattle looms, and Josh Wilson appears to be the guy at right cornerback. Those appear to be the two main changes Seattle coach Mike Holmgren made this week.

Matt Hasselbeck has struggled this season with inexperience at receiver. But he also has had to deal with the absence of his quarterback coach Jim Zorn, who is having success as the head coach at Washington.

Holmgren talks about the late hit on Hasselbeck and playing Green Bay for perhaps the final time in his coaching career.

Scott Johnson of the Everett Herald discusses Seattle’s issues stopping the run. The Seahawks had trouble stopping Green Bay running back Ryan Grant in the snow nine months ago in Green Bay.

Gregg Bell of the Associated Press reports that Mike Holmgren put the team on notice – play better or else.

Jordan Kent gets another chance to shine, Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian reports.

=> Read more!

I spoke with Courtney Taylor some after practice, and he said the Denver Broncos were hot and heavy to sign him, and a few other teams called his agent as well. However, he said, everybody wanted to sign him to their practice squad, and he figured if he was going to make a lateral move, he might as well stay in Seattle, where he is comfortable and where he feels he has a future.

He said the biggest thing about his game is that he needs to get back his swagger. He said he knows he is good enough to compete at this level, but for whatever reason he did not perform well when he was given the chance. It is humbling, for sure, and he realizes you can't take anything for granted.

It was interesting, as I was interviewing coach Mike Holmgren came over and gave him a quick handshake and a pat on the back, as if to say, No hard feelings. Taylor said he realizes this is a business, and only a business, and he understands that and understands there is no reason to be bitter.

On Monday, Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said there would be changes this week, and after watching practice this afternoon Holmgren made good on his promise.

However, the player changes were mostly subtle. First, Koren Robinson was in full pads and working in with the first offense, along with a stable of other receivers. It's the first time Robinson, who has been hampered with a sore knee, has made it through an entire practice since Seattle picked him up a few weeks ago.

Robinson said he's getting close to being in playing shape, and wants to make it through practice healthy this week so he can play on Sunday.

"Today was the first step," Robinson said. "I felt good. I'm not where I need to be. I'm not where I'm going to be, but it was definitely a step in the right direction."

=> Read more!

Frank hustled out to practice so here's a couple more notes from Holmgren's press conference.

Even after another bad performance from Seattle's secondary Holmgren believes they can bounce back. Holmgren said he expects the defensive backs to play better this Sunday because that's been the team's track record after performing poorly the week before.

Holmgren said linebacker Lofa Tatupu is playing "just OK" right now. He expects guys like Tatupu, Matt Hasselbeck, Walter Jones, Marcus Trufant and other Pro Bowlers to play great. And when they don't play well, the team's play obviously suffers. Holmgren went on to say that he believes Tatupu's best football is ahead of him.

=> Read more!

Seahawks WR Courtney Taylor, released yesterday, cleared waivers and just came out to practice about 20 minutes after it started. So at the very least, the Seahawks get the chance to continue developing him.

First, health: Matt Hasselbeck will not practice today because of lingering effects from his hyperextended knee. Charlie Frye will take most of the reps. Why, you ask? I have the answer. Because Seneca Wallace tweaked his calf working out this morning.

Deion Branch is not going to practice this week. Kelly Jennings will practice -- but it sounds like he is going to share some time with Josh Wilson at corner. If Jennings is benched, we don't know, but it doesn't sound like he has completely lost his job. Holmgren was coy about which personnel changes he will make, saying we have to wait until practice to see.

Regarding Courtney Taylor, Holmgren said he thinks Taylor needs more seasoning, the reason they decided to release him. He said he had his chance early and didn't make the most of it, and he had been reduced to watching and working with the scout team, so they decided to go with Kent. Of Kent, Holmgren said he gives them "youthful enthusiasm," which means he often runs the wrong route, but he does give them speed, and that's what they need right now.

Somebody asked me to ask this, so I queried Holmgren on whether he thought the hit on Matt on Sunday was late. He said it was hard to tell. He said the one thing that may have been questionable is that it is a foul to hit a QB low, and Tuck's hit on Matt may have been low. But he said it was not blatant enough that he would take issue with it.

The Seahawks shuffled some receivers today, releasing Courtney Taylor, who started at flanker the first two games of the season, and signing former Oregon Duck Jordan Kent from the practice squad.

For whatever reason, Taylor's bravado never translated to success in games, and he quickly went from starter to scout team to, they hope, practice squad if he clears waivers. That has to be a big comedown for the former Auburn star.

Chris Rose
J.C. Pearson
Nischelle Turner

Here's the full transcript from Holmgren's press conference.

Opening statement: “Well, after viewing the film, I don’t know if I feel worse than I did yesterday afternoon. It was hard to envision that, but we just didn’t play very well.

“Defensively, we missed some tackles. I’ll state the obvious: we missed some tackles. Big plays hurt us, and that’s something we’ve worked hard on. A couple years ago, that was our Achilles heel. Last year, we did a much better job of eliminating big plays in games, and yesterday, it got us again. We coach to it, we talk about it. We just have to try and do a better job of enforcing it, I suppose. But that hurt us yesterday. We couldn’t stop the run. I think when you go against that team, or the team we’re going to play this coming week, there are certain teams that that’s where you start. Otherwise, it gets to be too hard, and we impressed upon them that point. But they did a great job and they pounded us.

=> Read more!

Some links to check out. I'll also post the full transcript from Seattle coach Mike Holmgren's press conference from Monday this afternoon.

Seattle Seahawks

Coach Mike Holmgren says offensively the team will try and rely on it’s running game mores and play more of a ball-controlled offense. But in order for the team to do that the defense has to play much better. Ranked 26th overall, Seattle’s defense has given up 24 plays of 20 or more yards so far this season.

Gregg Bell of the Associated Press chronicles Seattle’s defensive woes.

Scott Johnson of the Everett Herald talks about Seattle’s defensive team leaders Lofa Tatatupu, Deon Grant and Brian Russell getting together for an impromptu meeting to sort things out for next week’s game against the Packers.

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers is expected to play against Seattle this week.

Former Seattle offensive lineman Rob Tobeck talks to KJR’s Mitch Levy’s about the Hawks’ abysmal performance against the Giants.

=> Read more!

A subdued Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren talked for about 30 minutes his press conference this afternoon.

After watching the film Holmgren again restated what we already know -- the Seahawks didn't play very well. Missed tackles and big plays defensively hurt Seattle, Holmgren said.

Also, Holmgren said the defense needs to get a better pass rush. Particularly guys in one-on-one situations need to get to the quarterback, he said. Holmgren also said Seattle needs to execute its blitz packages more effectively, with guys not running into each other or running through the same gap.

"I'm not losing faith in them," Holmgren said. "I'm a little ticked off we didn't play better. But you just keep going, you keep plugging away."

Offensively, Holmgren said the Seahawks strayed away from the game plan early because they got behind. He also said the Seahawks may have to rely on its running game more in the future, similar to the St. Louis game where they ran the ball effectively, to win games down the road. Holmgren may look to the blueprint of teams like Baltimore or Tennessee, relying on ball control and good defensive play to win games 17-13. However, in order to do that the defense has to play much better.

"We're going to do what we do," Holmgren said. "And continue to try and get them thinking properly. Get them believing in themselves again. I think the important thing is they know that I still have confidence in them, which I do. And they must have confidence in each other and their ability to get this thing done."

=> Read more!

We’ll have an update this afternoon on Matt Hasselbeck, Deion Branch and other injuries of note. What can you say about the game? Seattle looked awful in all phases – offense, defense and special teams.

But the play of the defense was particularly troublesome. Eli Manning had enough time to fill out his taxes and bake some cookies while picking apart Seattle’s secondary. Manning finished 19 of 25 for 267 yards and two touchdowns for a career-high passer rating of 136.6.

The Giants were even more effective on the ground, physically dominating what was supposed to be a good Seattle defense. New York churned out 254 rushing yards. Brandon Jacobs led the charge, finishing with 136 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns.

I wasn’t at the game on Sunday. However, from reading the quotes and watching some of the guys on the sidelines during the game, besides Julius Jones, Hasselbeck and Leroy Hill, it didn’t seem the players looked angry at the end of the game. And I didn’t get a sense of urgency from some of the players after reading the quote sheets afterwards.

You’d hate to think a sense of resignation has set in with the players, with Seattle now 1-3, including two lopsided losses on the road. So it will be interesting to see how a veteran coach like Mike Holmgren attempts to get things back on track in a season where most observers expected Seattle to be a team capable of going deep in the playoffs. Changes should be in order, particularly in the defensive secondary where Seattle repeatedly has been abused in the first four games.

Seattle Seahawks

Frank Hughes offers a recap of Seattle’s miserable performance in New York. It includes this nugget – the 523 total yards the Seahawks gave up was the most allowed by a Seattle defense since a game against Kansas City in November, 2002.

Dave Boling provides a blow-by-blow rundown of all Seattle’s shortcomings, and says 2-14 is a possibility if they continue to play like this.

=> Read more!

Q. The common perception around the league is that teams usually play better when coming off of their bye week. It didn’t seem like you played your best football today, having last week off, so would you say that this is a misconception?

A. I have no idea. I didn’t feel like we were emotionally down or anything like that. We got some guys back and I felt like we were going on the right path, but things just didn’t work out for us.

Q. We’re not used to seeing the Seahawks get beat like that? What was the attitude of the players on the sidelines?

A. They made more plays than us…we didn’t wrap up and we let them get a lot of extra yards. We’ve got to make sure that we tighten up our techniques, just go back to the basics.

=> Read more!

This is the unedited version of my game story that will appear in tomorrow's News Tribune:

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren better hope the team’s biorhythms were off on Sunday afternoon at Giants Stadium.
Because the alternative is perhaps too distressful to consider.
For the second time in four games, the Seahawks were thoroughly manhandled, the New York Giants thrashing them from the very start of what turned out to be a 44-6 decision played before 79,529 fans, many of whom felt compelled to depart early for additional tailgating, which was more entertaining than this laugher.
Yes, the Giants are the defending Super Bowl champions who have won eight consecutive games.
But in dropping to 1-3 for the first time since 2002, the Seahawks did not appear to be even close to the same stratosphere as the undefeated Giants (4-0).
The outcome, Seattle’s worst loss since dropping a 41-3 decision to the New York Jets in the 1997 season opener, once again raised questions about the Seahawks’ inability to function properly when they travel to the East Coast, something Holmgren derisively dismissed as “bunk” earlier in the week.
But if that was not the explanation for getting outscored 78-16 in the state of New York this season – including a 34-10 loss at Buffalo in the season opener -- then it could only mean that the Seahawks have taken a significant step back in Holmgren’s final season as a head coach because they no longer appear to be able to compete with the upper echelon of the NFL.
“We have to really honestly, players and coaches, look at what we’re doing and how we’re doing everything,” Holmgren said. “Give the Giants credit, but from our standpoint today was unacceptable. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”

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LB Lofa Tatupu

Q. What can you take away from this game?

We’ll see what areas we can improve on. You name it, run, pass…we didn’t do a very good job at stopping either one.

Q. How tough was it going against Brandon Jacobs?

A. He’s a load, but I mean it’s just as tough going against Derrick Ward or Ahmad Bradshaw. I mean you’ve got to give him credit, but I think you guys have to start looking at what that offensive line is doing, rather than just giving him all the praise. He’s a very good running back in terms of his size and his speed, but they are opening some pretty big holes for him. Look at Bradshaw, he broke like eight tackles on that one play.

Q. Last year, the Giants had a pretty rough start to their season but they ended up as Super Bowl Champs. What can you take from their experience last season to help you with your current situation? It must feel good to know that it can be done.

A. Absolutely, that’s our attitude, but it’s going to have to be a team effort. When they made the commitment to turn it around, you could really tell the difference in their style of play and the way they executed. It can’t be just like an every other week thing, they made it happen week after week and that’s why they were able to be so successful. It’s a choice that everyone has, each one of these guys in this locker room has to step it up and correct all of the little mistakes.

Q. How are you?

A. I think I’m alright, I think I’m ok. I dodged a bullet, I think, so I’m not overly concerned with that.

Q. At first it looked worse than it was. Coach said it was just a tweak.

A. I hyperextended my knee. As I was hyperextending, I was able to twist with it. And so I don’t know exactly what’s wrong. The doctors didn’t seem too concerned. I think were going to do the normal scans. But I’m not too concerned about it.

Q. Did the guy hit you late?

A. No, it was a bang bang play. I think it was that I let the ball go kind of early and it’s just a football thing. Stuff like that happens. I feel kind of fortunate that I was able to walk off the field and play a little bit after that.

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Opening Statement: Well, that was what we call a good old-fashioned you-know-what. I believe we’re a better football team than that, but give the Giants credit. They really took it to us today. I think there’s only one thing we can do now and that’s lick our wounds a little bit and realize that it doesn’t get any easier. Green Bay, we have them next week, so we’re going to go home and make every attempt to fix things that went wrong in the game today and then get this one behind us. This was a bad one. They got us pretty good. They’re a talented team, and they got rolling and we couldn’t stop them.

Question: What do you tell the team after a game like this?

Response: Essentially that. I believe we’re better than we’ve played. We’re a good team that hasn’t played up to its potential yet. When you go up against a good team, they can make you look bad, and that’s what the Giants did today. Having said that, let’s do our best. Everyone has to fix it, coaches and players. There are any number of statistical analyses of teams that have started this bad and still done okay, but those don’t mean much unless you improve the product, and what you’re doing on the field. So that’s our goal and then we’ll get this one behind us rather quickly, I trust, and get on with Green Bay. You don’t have any choice because you have a really good football team coming in next week.

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First, Matt Hasselbeck said he hyperextended his knee but should be fine. He looked to be in a lot of pain to me, limping out of the locker room. I'm sure that thing is going to swell of overnight and get sore. He said he was able to twist with the knee when he got hit, which saved him from being injured more severely. He said he didn't think it was a late hit -- I did -- but that it was just playing football.

Mike Holmgren said Deion Branch was the only serious injury. He did not specify how long he would be out but said it was a heel injury. Now, this is speculation that we will never know, but you do have to wonder if this injury has anything to do with coming back too early. I know it is not the same leg or the same injury, but in the same way that Marcus Tubbs was injured last year, I believe your body compensates in other parts when one part of you is weak. Perhaps this is completely separate and not related, but it does raise the question.

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Marcus Trufant got called for pass interference, then got burned for a TD by Sinorice Moss, the Seahawks falling behind by 44-6.

It appears that Mike Holmgren is cashing in this game and saving Matt Hasselbeck for later. The Giants just kicked a field goal for 37-6 and Seneca Wallace I think is going in at QB.

Wahle is on the training table with his pant leg rolled up. It doesn't look to be serious but he has been there for a bit. We'll see if he goes in on the next offensive series.

They have not specified what the injury is, but it goes back to that play in the first half when the Giants were called for defensive holding. Branch came off the field after that and then got his right ankle/foot retaped. He is not returning.

On the punter's first attempt in the second half, he boomed a 63-yarder. Of course, it was a touchback, so it was net 43, but it's a start.

The Giants took the opening kickoff of the second half and kept on keeping on, scoring a TD on a 23-yard TD pass to Sinorice Moss for a 34-6 lead.

There's not much to say; this is an old-fashioned whupping. John Carney's field goal with less than a minute to go gave New York a 27-3 lead. An Olindo Mare field goal with three seconds left that pulled the Seahawks to 27-6 did little to dull the pain.

The defense is getting shredded, Patrick Kerney's sack of Eli Manning the only hint of pressure the Seahawks have gotten all day. Manning is finding receivers at will, mostly Domenik Hixon, and Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward are knifing through the defense for 5 yard a carry with some 20- or 30-yarders sprinkled in.

Deion Branch and Bobby Engram are nice for Matt Hasselbeck to have, but he is not getting much time to find them. Julius Jones is irrelevant now that they are so far behind. Seattle is playing for moral victories at this point, but they don't look like they are even close to the same class as the Giants. That East Coast thing is rearing its ugly head again.

One last thought: Punter Jon Ryan has been very poor since they signed him. He has gotten off only good punt that I can remember. I have to think it's only a matter of time before they lose patience with that.

The Giants just drove down the field to score again on a one-yard TD by Jacobs. Eli Manning can get an open receiver whenever he wants one right now and Brandon Jacobs is getting 4-7 yards a clip. The Giants hold a 24-3 lead.

The Giants have taken a 17-3 lead after John Carney kicked a 29-yard field goal. The big play on the drive was a 41-yard pass from Eli Manning to Domenik Hixon, who just blew past Josh Wilson to get open.

I was wrong about Jennings' neck. They were moving his head back and forth but he has a concussion. His return is questionable.

New York is just picking apart the Seahawks' defense. The Giants just marched down 75 yards in six plays and scored again, Brandon Jacobs going in from 3 yards out for a 14-3 yard.

The Seahawks' cornerback is on the bench right now and trainers are working on his neck, moving his head back and forth.

Let me amend that so far so good comment about Deion Branch.

He came to the sideline after the field and has a huge thing of ice taped to his left knee (not the knee that had surgery). He also was getting his right ankle retaped. Something happened to the ankle on that play in the end zone when they called a holding penalty on the Giants. HE came off the field after that and was doing something with his shoe or ankle. I'll keep an eye on it.

The Seahawks put together a nice drive that stalled at the Giants' 12, resulting in Olindo Mare's 8th FG of the season. Hasselbeck got drilled again by Justin Tuck on the third down pass and came up limping; it's already been a long day for him.

Julius Jones looks pretty good, and so far so good for Deion Branch.

After a 44-yard run by Brandon Jacobs took the ball to Seattle's 32, Eli Manning hit Domenik Hixon for a touchdown on a stop-and-go pattern that abused Kelly Jennings. New York leads, 7-0.

He was on the training table for a bit and the doctor was looking at the lower part of his right knee. He got up and limped to the bench, but it appears he is going to play again. Seneca is not warming up and Hass is looking at pictures of the first series.

Matt was hit high after he released the ball and got bent over Justin Tuck. He just limped off the field. I'll keep an eye on it on the sideline.

Seattle

Charlie Frye
Brandon Coutu
Koren Robinson
Maurice Morris
Mansfield Wrotto
Red Bryant
Courtney Taylor
Baraka Atkins

Deion Branch will start in place of Keary Colbert

New York

Lawrence Tynes
Taye Biddle
Terrell Thomas
Danny Ware
Sam Madison
Jonathan Goff
Adam Koets
Jerome McDougle

Good morning, everybody, an overcast, humid day here in northern New Jersey. We are at the top of the stadium, in a press box that has a view of an even bigger stadium going up right next door.

Here are today's officals:

Referee Al Riverton
Umpire Tony Michalek
Head linesman Ed Camp
Line judge Ron Phares
Field judge Steve Zimmer
Side judge Joe Larrew
Back judge Lee Dyer
Replay Bob McGrath
Video Clayton Judge

Three months after 9/11 happened, the Sonics were playing the Knicks in New York, which afforded me the opportunity to go to the bombing site. Incredibly, even three months later, fires were still burning and the entire area smelled of smoke. I decided, seven years later, to visit the site again, and this time I took some video of the excursion down there.

With Plaxico Burress out the New York Giants should rely on its solid ground game on Sunday, with bruising running back Brandon Jacobs leading the way. The Giants are fourth in the league in rushing, averaging 157 yards a game. Jacobs leads the Giants in rushing with 244 yards on 50 carries and one touchdown, for a 4.9 yards-per-carry average.

Seattle Seahawks

How will the absence of wide receiver Plaxico Burress change Seattle’s defensive game plan? Frank Hughes talks to Hawks’ defensive coordinator John Marshall, and he says not much.

“We just got to play our stuff,” Marshall said. “We have seen enough film on all of (their receivers), and our players are aware that they could get one guy or the other guy.”

Scott Johnson of the Everett Herald says after three games T.J. Duckett has proved his value to the team so far this season.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Art Thiel previews the Seahawks-Giants game on his alma mater’s radio station, KPLU in this audio link.

Tim Booth of the Associated Press reports one of Seattle’s tasks defensively will be containing Jacobs.

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According to ESPN.com, Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress had his fine cut in half for missing last week's practice, but he still will be suspended for Sunday's game against the Seahawks. Sal Paolantonio's story is right here.

The Seattle Seahawks had an hour-long walk through today, and Coach Mike Holmgren talked to reporters afterwards.

Here are some tidbits.

Holmgren said Deion Branch will start on Sunday at flanker. Holmgren did not want to put a number on how many snaps Branch will see, but expect to see Branch out on the field for at least half of the snaps.

McMullen has played well so far, but Holmgren said he'd likes what Colbert brings and wants to get him on the field as well. Colbert had been playing flanker, but has had to learn both positions in a short amount of time.

Listen to part of the conversation with Holmgren here.

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I thought it would be interesting to check in with Sehawks GM Tim Ruskell and see what his last few weeks have been like, what with all the injuries to wide receivers and him having to ramp up search-and-rescue missions for players. Here is that interview:

What have the last few weeks been like where you see receiver after receiver go down and it is your job to replace them? It goes back further than that obviously, having what happened in the offseason, with Deion coming back from his injury, then Bobby getting hurt in camo then Nate going down and then Logan going down. So it seems like it has been going on for two months. But I felt like we did the best we could to navigate the best we could. And getting guys like McMullen in here, and Bump going up and getting the job done. It could have been a disaster if those guys didn’t give us anything, but they did, and they helped us bridge the gap as we get to Bobby and Deion getting back. It has hurt us surely because that is a bread-and-butter position for us. But I felt like everybody was involved in getting these guys in and having the young guys ready to go, and I feel like we have weathered the storm.

What is the process for pursuing street free agents, especially multiple? One of the main priorities we said to ourselves, since we are in-season and we have only three days to get a guy ready, if we can at all possible, let’s look at the guys who have some experience in this system so we are not starting at ground zero. It’s a hard enough system if you do know the system. But to bring a guy in who has not been affiliated or have knowledge of the West Coast (offense), that has been a disaster in terms of how long that takes.

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It was a full practice where only Koren Robinson and Maurice Morris did not participate. Morris did more than Robinson, who did not wear his helmet or pads.

I have to say, Bobby Engram and Deion Branch look pretty darn good, like they are ready to go. They looked more in sync with Hasselbeck today than they did the previous days, and will probably look even better tomorrow. Matt is spreading the ball around to different receivers and appears to have a comfort level back that was missing in those weeks where he was playing pick-a-wideout.

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Here is some short video of the offensive linemen getting down some blocking drills early in practice today:

Plenty of stuff to read here as it appears summer has officially come to an end today. Get that Gore-Tex raincoat out of the closet.

Seattle Seahawks

Frank Hughes debates Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren on the theory that sleep deprivation and altered biorhythms could lead to increased fumbles and lousy play on the road.

A furrow-browed Holmgren doesn’t buy it: “Would I make that argument? No. I wouldn’t. I don’t believe in that stuff. Now I’m probably wrong with the scientists in the audience, but I don’t believe in that stuff.”

Dave Boling discusses the importance of the return of Matt Hasselbeck’s security blanket, Bobby Engram.

With Engram and Deion Branch back, Seattle should throw a bit more this week – maybe.

Some highlights from Holmgren’s Wednesday press conference.

Gregg Bell of the Associated Press notes that although Engram is considered Hasselbeck’s go-to receiver, he’s only the third-highest paid receiver on the team after Deion Branch ($3.5 million) and Nate Burleson ($3.25 million). Engram, who will make $1.7 million this season, wanted to renegotiate his contract during the offseason but Seattle resisted. Engram considered holding out.

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The Seahawks practiced for about 90 minutes this afternoon. Veteran receivers Deion Branch and Bobby Engram both got extensive work during individual and team drills, and both looked ready to go.

In particular, Branch looked explosive and nimble, tight roping the sideline after making a nice catch on an out route, and showing an extra gear as he caught up to a deep ball from quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.

"I yell at them all day," joked receivers coach Keith Gilbertson on his handling of Engram and Branch. "We’ve got to be smart. But at the same time they look good to me, so it’s not like they’re out there limping around. I mean they look good, and they look ready to go.

"And those guys are professionals and they’re very experienced. So they know when it’s time to throttle up, and when it’s time to pull it back a little bit.”

Branch ran at flanker with the starting unit, with Billy McMullen filling in at split end and Engram working at the slot during three-receiver sets.

Koren Robinson still appeared slowed by an ailing knee and still doesn't appear ready to go at this point.

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Here is some video from the early portion of today's practice. It is the receivers taking some reps with the quarterbacks. The first two receivers in each run-through are Deion Branch and then Bobby Engram.

Mike Holmgren said he expects everybody who has not been practicing in recent weeks to practice today, including Mo Morris. However, he still was wary about saying Morris will play against the Giants.

As for the receivers, he said he will have to wait to see how they practice this week to determine what exactly is going to happen there, including any roster moves. He can't answer how he will use guys until he sees how much they have improved from their respective injuries. Keep in mind that Michael Bumpus is the punt returner, so that factors into the roster decision.

Holmgren was very funny and pointed about the whole East Coast thing. He said he does not want to hear about biorhythms or sleep deprivation or anything else that somebody might come up with for reasons they lose on that side of the country. The bottom line is they lose because they play poorly and get beat. He will not even listen to any excuses, and he won't listen to his players on the topic. It is not up for discussion. Play when the schedule says play and perform well. That is it.

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Tom Coughlin talked to reporters during a teleconference this morning. He said receiver Placixo Buress is not working out with the team because of his suspension. Here are some of the highlights:

How does Plaxico’s suspension change the offense: “Well, you’re talking about a really outstanding football player. What has been here before in situations that are similar, whether it be a player injured or whatever is that other people realize that they have to player better than they’ve been playing in order to compensate. So that’s what has to happen.”

What reaction did you get from the team after the suspension? “A very good reaction. Players understood it. And they understood why, and they went back to work.”

On Eli Manning’s maturation: Well, I just think when we got to the postseason last year he almost completely eliminated any turnovers. And that was huge for our team. We had one turnover in the Super Bowl, and that was on a tipped ball coming off the line of scrimmage, and that’s the only one that Eli was a part of.

“So, that certainly has been a real huge issue. We’ve only had the one this year.”

On the play of tight end Kevin Boss: “He’s a very athletic guy and has good focus. He wants to be a good player. There’s a lot of work for him to do and for a lot of young guys to do to get to the point where we feel that their progress is where it needs to be.

But nevertheless, we had the inclination that we thought he was going to be a player.”

Does he feel he’s changed on how he deals with players? “I think I’ve communicated better than I have in the past. And I think I’ve taken the time to do that, and attack more significance to it. I’ve been more keenly aware of trying to make everyone understand what’s being done and why it’s being done. And do so with enough advance notice where there’s time for it to sink in.”

Have you seen a change in the way the team responds to you because of that? “I think so. I think the players are well aware that we’re trying to do everything we possibly can in the best interest of our team.”

Here's some links to start your morning. We'll have more from Renton later today, including conversations with N.Y. Giants head coach Tom Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning, along with observations from practice today.

Seattle Seahawks

A game day preview of the Seahawks-Giants matchup.

Scott Johnson of the Everett Herald writes that running back Julius Jones has lived up to expectations so far for Seattle.

Nate Burleson talks to KJR’s Dave “Softy” Mahler during his weekly show in this audio link.

A farewell to football piece on Isaiah Kacyvenski by Kevin Stevens of the Binghamton, N.Y. Press & Sun-Bulletin

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