Seattle Seahawks fullback Owen Schmitt was arraigned in Black Diamond on July 2 for a charge of suspicion of DUI in June and pleaded not guilty.

Schmitt is scheduled to appear in a pre-trial hearing on July 22.

The Seahawks were at Fort Lewis earlier today. Check out an early edition of my story for tomorrow's paper here. And my main man Dean Koepfler posted a photo gallery too, so plenty of reason to check out our Web site later today.

Not much has changed to the field where Marcus Trufant first learned how to carry a football.

On Saturday Trufant returned to the place where he began to develop his skills as a football player, the Al Davies Boys and Girls Club in Tacoma.

The starting cornerback for Seattle hosted his annual Trufant Family Foundation celebration at the local community center on Hilltop. Along with his family, Trufant was joined by fellow Seahawks Deion Branch, Seneca Wallace, Courtney Taylor and Jordan Babineaux.

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The United States Marine Corps Reserve will have representatives at
Qwest Field to collect toys for the Toys for Tots program before the New England Patriots game on Sunday, November 7. This will be the 32nd year the team has participated in the toy drive.

Volunteers will be collecting new, unwrapped toys or donations at various gate locations throughout the stadium. There will also be a collection booth inside Touchdown City, which opens at 10 a.m.

Donated toys will be distributed as Christmas gifts to needy children in the Seattle community.

This is from the Seahawks:

The Seattle Seahawks, KIRO Radio and Northwest Harvest are encouraging fans to bring nonperishable food or cash donations to the Seahawks game at Qwest Field this Sunday, November 23.

Volunteers from Northwest Harvest will be available at all gates to accept contributions. The donations assist Northwest Harvest, the only statewide hunger relief organization in Washington. Each year, about 18 million pounds of food are distributed to approximately 300 food banks and hot meal programs throughout the state.

In honor of Brenden Foster, the 11-year old Bothell boy whose dying wish is to feed the homeless, the Seahawks have added additional option for fans to contribute. Seahawks personnel, Sea Gals and Blitz will also be available to take food or cash donations on Saturday, November 22 at the team’s Renton headquarters from 11 a.m. -1 p.m. The Virgina Mason Athletic Center is located off the 44th Street/Exit #7 on Highway 405 at 12 Seahawks Way.

Items that are most needed by Northwest Harvest:

General Food Items – canned fruits and vegetables, hot and cold cereals, tuna fish, canned meats, peanut butter, and soup.

Whole Meals – chili, stews and hearty soups, pork & beans, raisins, macaroni & cheese.

Infant & Baby Foods – baby formula, canned milk, powdered milk, jars of baby food, infant cereal (diapers are also needed).

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.

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

For the first time since he tore his ACL, we spoke with Seahawks wide receiver Deion Branch, who clarified a few things regarding his knee and his comeback.

First, and perhaps most important, he had the surgery to repair the torn ACL on Feb. 7, which means that Sunday is the 7-month anniversary of his surgery.

He said there are three different ways to do the surgery. He chose the one that gives the knee more stability but takes a little while longer to heal. He could have had a cadaver's ligament placed in his knee, but Dr. James Andrews, who did the surgery, said he wouldn't do that surgery for him, he would have to go elsewhere. Instead, he chose to have a piece of his own patella tendon shaved off and made into his ACL.

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This is a release from the team announcing their various activities this week:

RENTON, WASH. – The Seattle Seahawks have planned a number of activities to help prepare fans for the upcoming football season.

Thursday, September 4

Flight of the 12th MAN® Flag (various)

A 3,000 sq. ft. 12th MAN® Flag will fly behind a Skysigns airplane along the I-5 corridor from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and over the I-90 and 520 bridge’s from 4 p.m.-6 p.m.

Friday, September 5

Flight of the 12th MAN® Flag (various)

A 3,000 sq. ft. 12th MAN® Flag will fly behind a Skysigns airplane along I-5 corridor from 7-9 a.m. and 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and over the I-90 and 520 bridge’s from 4 p.m.-6 p.m.

Sea Gals Calendar Unveiling (6:00 p.m.)

Seahawks fans will have the opportunity to meet the entire Sea Gals squad and purchase the 2009 Sea Gals calendar during the Sea Gals calendar unveiling event at Fox Sports Grill, located at 1522 6th Avenue in downtown Seattle. These activities begin at 6 p.m. and will be hosted by Pro Football Hall of Fame member Warren Moon.

The way I am reading the NFL's substance abuse policy, it looks to me like Jordan Babineaux committed some alcohol-related offense that went beyond a mere arrest.

It is not, if I am reading it correctly, substance abuse. If it was that, he would go through several intervention programs and be suspended for up to four games for a second offense. If it was for a violation of the law with substances other than alcohol, he could be suspended for up to four games.

But with alcohol-related offenses, the policy says the discipline is generally 2/17th of a player's salary. Babineaux was suspended for one game, but he also was docked another game's pay. The policy goes on to say: If the Commissioner finds that there were aggravating circumstances ... increased discipline up to and including suspension may be imposed. Discipline for a second or subsequent offense is likely to be a suspension, the duration of which may escalate with each offense.

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Jordan Babineaux violated the league's substance abuse policy and has been suspended for the season opener against Buffalo.

Rocky Bernard violated its personal conduct policy and has been suspended for the Buffalo game as well.

This is a team press release:

RENTON, WASH. – The Seattle Seahawks and United Way of King County (UWKC) today announced the launch of a partnership for the 2008 season. In addition to a public service campaign, the Seahawks will also chair the 2008 UWKC Giving Campaign.

The PSA campaign “tough” features Seahawks players Deon Grant, Patrick Kerney, Lofa Tatupu, and Seahawks President of Football Operations/General Manager Tim Ruskell comparing football toughness to the daily challenge many local families face to find food and shelter.

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