Who’s the 3rd-string QB?

Published 11:40 pm Thursday, August 30, 2007

SEATTLE – In what was supposed to be the final audition for the Seattle Seahawks’ third-string quarterback job, Derek Devine and David Greene got an incomplete grade, that is.

That’s because neither player even got to throw a pass.

Devine, an undrafted rookie from Marshall, came into the game midway through the fourth quarter but handed the ball off on his first 10 snaps before kneeling down twice to run out the clock in Thursday’s 19-14 preseason win over Oakland. Greene, who has struggled since being taken in the third round of the 2005 draft, didn’t even get in the game.

Both players are hoping to win the No. 3 quarterback job behind starter Matt Hasselbeck and backup Seneca Wallace. But it’s just as likely that the third-string quarterback will be a player who’s not yet on the roster.

“We’ll hash it around (today),” coach Mike Holmgren said of the decision that’s due no later than Saturday. “To be honest, I was a little disappointed in the quarterback play during the preseason by David.

“Those guys don’t get to play much, but if they do have to play they become very, very important. How we’re going to do that, I won’t know until (today or Saturday).”

Even before the conclusion of Thursday’s game, a rumor started circulating out of the Washington D.C. area that the Seahawks were on the verge of acquiring former University of Washington quarterback Mark Brunell from the Redskins. WUSA in Washington D.C. reported that Brunell would be traded to Seattle, but the Seahawks were not confirming the rumor.

There could be several other veterans available after Saturday’s cuts. Tampa Bay’s Chris Simms and Tim Rattay play in a similar system to the Seahawks, and one of them may be released. The New York Jets’ Marques Tuiasosopo, also a UW product, may be in danger of losing his job as well.

Seahawks Light: Seattle rested 17 starters, including quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and running back Shaun Alexander. The only regular starters who opened the game were wide receiver Deion Branch, offensive linemen Rob Sims, Sean Locklear and Chris Spencer, and defensive end Darryl Tapp.

Obomanu not in uniform: Wide receiver Ben Obomanu, who hurt his right hamstring at practice earlier this week, was among the players who did not suit up.

“At first I didn’t know if he’d be available for Tampa,” Holmgren said, referring to the regular-season opener in nine days. “But some guys heal differently. Ben’s never been hurt before, so I don’t know. He might be available to play in that game.”

Safety Michael Boulware, who does not appear to be a lock to make the final roster, was also inactive for the game because of a minor hamstring injury. That left veteran Mike Green and UW product C.J. Wallace, a rookie, as the starting safeties. Both Green and C.J. Wallace played the entire game.

C.J. Wallace had a fourth-quarter interception that helped seal the win.