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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, June 4, 2008 Seahawks notebook: Ex-Husky lineman hoping to jump start his career By Scott M. Johnson Herald Writer KIRKLAND — Larry Tripplett’s NFL career has been the embodiment of that football axiom about only being as good as your last play. Tripplett, a University of Washington product who joined the Seattle Seahawks in April, is only as good as his last season. Once considered an up-and-coming star while playing for the Indianapolis Colts, Tripplett signed with the Buffalo Bills as a free agent in 2006 and essentially fell off the football map. “That’s how this league works sometimes,” he said. “Who’s hot, who’s not, and there’s no in between.” Tripplett’s fall from grace — he said a new defensive scheme in Buffalo took more adjustment than he originally expected — might work out in the Seahawks’ favor. After teams showed little interest in the six-year veteran in free agency, Seattle quietly signed him shortly after the NFL draft. Because of his UW ties, and the fact that wife, Natasha, is from Lynden, Tripplett jumped at the Seahawks’ offer. “Having this opportunity is unbelievable,” Tripplett said. “I feel blessed to have it.” The Seahawks are pretty deep at the position, with returning players Rocky Bernard, Brandon Mebane, Craig Terrill and Marcus Tubbs being joined by rookie draft pick Red Bryant on the depth chart. Tripplett was signed as insurance — Bernard has a pending court case, while Tubbs is coming back from knee surgery — and knows he might have to fight just to make the roster. “It’s tough,” he said. “There are a lot of good athletes here. A couple of them are on the shelf right now, but we know they can play. It’s going to be a big challenge.” Three or four years ago, Tripplett’s job security was at an all-time high. Now, there are no guarantees. “You’ve got to always prove yourself in this league,” he said. “As quick as you get in, it’s even quicker that you can get out.” How quickly things can change. From the darling in Indianapolis to a scapegoat in Buffalo, the 29-year-old Los Angeles native has already seen both sides of the NFL. “It’s a business that I obviously love, but it’s crazy,” Tripplett said. “I equate it to being bipolar. You can have such highs, and then when you’re not winning games, you can have really low lows.” Whom to run? The Seahawks have a unique problem this summer, especially when considering how things have gone in the past. The team that has spent past offseasons deciding between Shaun Alexander Left and Shaun Alexander Right is trying to find a new feature back to carry the load. Former Dallas Cowboy Julius Jones appears the most likely candidate, but Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren isn’t ruling out Maurice Morris. “We know how Mo (Morris) is going to play,” Holmgren said earlier this week. “He will play well. I know what he can do, he’s been with us a long time. … Julius, I don’t know as well but he appears to have good quickness, good hands, the right guy. I don’t see any downside to him. I think that will work out fine.” Both players give the Seahawks a dimension that Alexander never could in that they’re factors in the passing game. “It makes it easier,” Holmgren said. “With the few seconds (the coach has) to really make an intelligent call, you don’t have to think so much about protections, who’s in the game, the type of route you call. “If you don’t have a guy that can do all those things, absolutely, it’s my responsibility to try and do that to help the team. If you don’t have to, it’s easier. It’s easier to call the play and go.” Happy to be here: While few players look forward to minicamps, Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is among those who are happy to be practicing. Hasselbeck missed most of last summer while recovering from offseason surgery on a torn labrum. While high-profile teammates such as Walter Jones, Deion Branch and Patrick Kerney rest injuries, Hasselbeck is among those who have had full participation at minicamps this summer. “It’s way more fun getting to play football,” he said. Russo released: Former University of Washington receiver Anthony Russo was released by the Seahawks on Wednesday, making room for wideout Trent Shelton. Shelton went to camp with the Indianapolis Colts last season as an undrafted rookie. Russo took part in a May minicamp but was ineligible to participate in the current camp because the UW is still in session. The release of Russo leaves Seattle with three former UW players: Tripplett and safeties C.J. Wallace and Omare Lowe. Quick slants: After practicing at the UW on Tuesday, the Seahawks returned to their Eastside facility Wednesday. … Wide receiver Ben Obomanu appeared to hurt his left foot at Wednesday’s practice and did not finish the session. He walked off under his own power, and his status for the rest of camp was unknown.

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