Everett, Wash.
Published: Thursday, October 16, 2008

Holmgren leaves door open

Mike Holmgren, who is in his final season as the Seahawks' head coach, is open to returning to the NFL following a hiatus in 2009.

By Scott M. Johnson
Herald Writer

 RENTON -- When Mike Holmgren steps down at the end of the 2008 season, it might not be the final time he roams an NFL sideline as a coach.

The Seattle Seahawks' coach reiterated Wednesday that he will be open to any possible career move following a hiatus in 2009 -- even if that means getting back into coaching.

"I'm not eliminating anything," he said, "because I don't know how I'm going to react (to the time away from football). There's a possibility that, in the year off, life is so good that I just might want to ride my motorcycle all the time and go to the beach. I don't know.

"My feeling is, I've worked so hard most of my life, I will get a little antsy and my feeling is (wife) Kathy, as much as she loves me, will probably want me out of the house. So we'll see where it takes us."

Holmgren added that the team's 1-4 start, and the possibility of a forgettable final season, will not affect his future decision.

Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden, a former Holmgren assistant, said he does not know what the future holds for his ex-boss. But he added that Holmgren's competitive nature might lead the 60-year-old coach to take another crack at it in the future.

"I would assume that he'll be back," Gruden said. "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.

"… I expect him to be back, but only he knows."

The only thing Holmgren knows right now is that his future is the furthest thing from his mind.

"Right now, we are battling through this," he said, referring to the Seahawks' current season. "It is immediate. It is this next game. It is this season. Everyone -- coaches coaching hard, players playing hard -- everyone is just trying to get a win. That will have very little to do with the future, as far as I'm concerned."

The Seahawks (1-4) play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night.

Herring practices: On Wednesday, Seahawks linebacker Will Herring did something he hasn't done in months. That is, he played football.

Herring participated in his first practice since the end of the 2007 season as he prepares for the possibility of coming off the team's physically-unable-to-perform list (PUP). The team has a three-week window before it has to activate Herring or put him on injured reserve.

Herring has been out with an arthritic medical condition that causes his joints to swell. Herring said that the condition caused his knees to swell up, but medication helped curb the swelling and return him to a clean bill of health.

"It was something they were able to treat, and since they started treating it, I've been perfectly fine," Herring said.

Herring hopes to be activated from PUP this weekend -- the team would have to release a player to create a roster spot -- but the Seahawks have a three-week window before he has to be added to the active roster.

Medical report: Several Seahawks took the day off to rest sore body parts on Wednesday.

Wide receivers Koren Robinson (knee) and Deion Branch (heel) did not participate in Wednesday's practice, but Holmgren said he expects both of them to play Sunday.

Safety Deon Grant, who is wearing a brace to protect an injured left knee, also took the day off but could play against the Buccaneers.

"We don't want to put him in a situation where it doesn't have time to heal up," defensive coordinator John Marshall said. "He's all (ticked) off because he's not practicing, but you've got to keep the reins on some of these guys."

Said Grant: "I don't like missing practice, so it's definitely tough. But I'll be out there (Sunday)."

Shuffling the lineup: Holmgren said earlier this week that the Seahawks might shake things up again, but there were no obvious lineup changes at Wednesday's practice.

Two positions that could see shifts in playing time are at right tackle and right defensive end, where Ray Willis and Darryl Tapp, respectively, could see more playing time.

Tapp was the starter last season but has since lost his job to rookie first-round pick Lawrence Jackson.

"Regardless of who starts and who plays, you're always one play away from being the guy ," Tapp said. "So you've always got to be ready."

Dressing with the enemy: Seahawks fullback Leonard Weaver donned the jerseys of two teams on Wednesday.

Shortly after taking off his Seahawks practice uniform, Weaver pulled on a throwback Tampa Bay jersey with the No. 12 once worn by quarterback Doug Williams.

When it was pointed out to Weaver that he was wearing the colors of this Sunday's opponent, he looked down in shock.

"I just kind of picked it up," Weaver said. "I guess it seems (to have some sort of significance because of Sunday's game), but Doug Williams was always a player I really liked."

Quick slants: Running back Justin Forsett said he's excited about the opportunity to return both punts and kickoffs this Sunday. "It's exciting any time you get the ball in your hands," said Forsett, who played in three games with the Indianapolis Colts this season. "I got some game experience under my belt, so I'm ready to get my first return as a Seahawk." … The Seahawks might not be known for their trips across the Mississippi River, but Tampa Bay has been one city where they've played pretty well. Seattle has never lost a game in Tampa, having gone 4-0 there over the years. ... Tampa Bay's staff includes quarterbacks coach Greg Olson, a Washington native who has family throughout Snohomish County. The 45-year-old Olson, who grew up on the east side of the state, is in his fifth stint with an NFL team. "Greg is just a great coach," Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia said. "He is very thorough in his approach to the game. He is very passionate about the game."
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA