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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