Zebras invade Cheney

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, August 3, 2006

CHENEY – Just when it looked like the fans and blogs and radio hosts had exhausted the most controversial subject in recent Seattle Seahawks history, along came a little fuel to get the fire going again.

Four game officials – none of whom worked Super Bowl XL – made their annual trip to Seahawks training camp Thursday and defended the calls made in Seattle’s 21-10 loss to Pittsburgh six months ago.

“The league felt that the Super Bowl was well-officiated,” official Ed Hochuli told reporters a couple hours before meeting with Seahawks players. “That doesn’t mean that there were no mistakes; there’s always going to be mistakes. But it was a well-officiated game.

“I know, for anyone who was rooting for Seattle, they didn’t think so.”

The only call Hochuli directly defended was an offensive pass interference penalty that wiped out a Darrell Jackson touchdown. Jackson extended one arm to get away from a defender, but it was unclear on the replays whether any contact was made.

“The offensive pass interference call in the end zone would be called 10 out of 10 times,” Hochuli said. “As an official, you look at it and say: That’s a no-brainer. Anytime you have an extended arm, and you have separation by the player, there’s going to be a call for pass interference.”

Coach Mike Holmgren and the Seahawks players were saying all the right things Thursday, with more concern about the upcoming 2006 season than the way their historic 2005 one finished.

“We lost the game,” Holmgren said Thursday when asked if he was still irked by the Super Bowl officiating. “We’re going to try like crazy to get back there this year and make up for that.”

Right tackle Sean Locklear, who was called for a controversial holding penalty that wiped out a long pass completion, was also trying to move on.

“Refs are put in some tough situations,” Locklear said Thursday. “A lot of people say they were bad calls and a lot say they were good calls. I guess it’s somewhere in between, and you just have to deal with it.”

While the referees worked Thursday’s morning practice, Locklear fought off the urge to ask Hochuli for clarification on the controversial holding call.

“I wanted to ask Ed about that call, just to see what he would say,” Locklear said. “But I didn’t. He probably wouldn’t say anything about it. But maybe later I’ll ask him or somebody else.”

Holmgren spent the first 15 minutes of Thursday’s practice talking with the officials, mainly about the rule changes for the upcoming season.

Last March, the league decided to alter the number of officials eligible to participate in the postseason, due in large part to a number of mistakes made in the 2005 playoffs.

Quite a battle: One of the stars of camp thus far has been veteran cornerback Kelly Herndon, who is battling for a starting job.

His main competition, rookie first-round pick Kelly Jennings, has shown as of late that he’s not going to concede the job.

Shortly after Herndon deflected a pass in Thursday’s morning practice, Jennings responded with a diving breakup of his own. Near the end of practice, Jennings made another diving play that saw him catch a Seneca Wallace pass near the sideline.

While Jennings appeared to make the catch, one of the referees on hand signaled an incomplete pass because the rookie cornerback landed out of bounds.

Regardless of the outcome, Jennings showed his ability as a playmaker.

“I felt kind of rusty in the beginning (of camp), but I feel better now,” said Jennings, a product of the University of Miami who reported to camp one day late. “My head’s still spinning out there. I have to learn all the coverages and pick up the keys. I’m still trying to figure it all out.”

Jennings said that one of the players who has taken him under his wing has been Herndon, who also represents his main competition.

“We’re all on the same team, trying to help each other out,” Jennings said. “We’re all trying to get back to the Super Bowl, whether he’s starting or I’m starting. If it was the situation in reverse, I would be helping him too.

“It’s built up as a competition, and it is a competition. But we’re both great athletes, and the coaches will make a decision at the end.”

Hackett out 2-3 weeks: Wide receiver D.J. Hackett is expected to miss “two to three weeks,” Holmgren said, after suffering a Grade 1 hamstring strain at Wednesday’s morning practice.

Hackett suffered the injury while catching a touchdown pass near the end of practice.

Cornerback Jimmy Williams suffered an ankle injury Thursday morning, but the severity is still unknown.

Quick slants: Holmgren got a bit more specific in terms of return dates for tight end Jerramy Stevens, who is expected to start practicing next week, and defensive end Grant Wistrom, who is due back a week later. Both Stevens (knee) and Wistrom (shoulder) underwent offseason surgeries and have not practiced since the Super Bowl. … Offensive lineman Chris Spencer, who was the team’s first-round draft pick last year, has been splitting time at center and guard this camp to diversify his game.