Time to get down to business
Published 11:43 pm Monday, September 3, 2007
KIRKLAND – The mood was a little more serious, the talk a little less jovial and the practice lines a little bit shorter.
But the most obvious hint Monday that the Seattle Seahawks were getting closer to opening the regular season came not from how practice looked but from who was participating.
Linebacker Julian Peterson, defensive back Jordan Babineaux and cornerback Kelly Jennings were all back on the practice field Monday afternoon, when the team started preparations for Sunday’s opener against Tampa Bay. Coach Mike Holmgren said that Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones, who has not practiced in four weeks while resting a sore shoulder, is likely to return to the field for Wednesday’s practice.
With several players traded or released over the weekend, and several more returning from injuries, the Seahawks are starting to look like the team that hopes to make a run at a fourth consecutive NFC West title.
“We’re all excited,” quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. “We’ve been working a long time toward this goal.
“Training camp’s over, and hopefully we’ve got what amounts to a long season ahead of us.”
The Seahawks host the Buccaneers at Qwest Field on Sunday, and the coaches and players are excited to get down to business.
“When this time of the year comes along, I’m tuned in,” safety Deon Grant said. “What we went through (at Monday’s practice) will be helpful, and I think it will be a key to the week (of practices) and what we do on Sunday.”
The only players who didn’t participate in Monday’s session were Jones, cornerback Josh Wilson (hip), tight end Ben Joppru (hip) and wide receiver Ben Obomanu (hamstring). Of that group, Holmgren said, only Obomanu appears to be in jeopardy of missing Sunday’s game.
The most-watched health situation involves Jones. He hasn’t practiced or played since the Aug. 12 preseason game at San Diego, and yet both Jones and Holmgren believe that he’ll be ready for Sunday’s game.
“I’ve got to get ready now,” Jones said Monday as he rested his sore right shoulder. “I feel good. I’m just glad to be back with the guys. Hopefully we can get on a roll.”
Of the time off, Jones added: “It helped a lot. It calmed (the injury) down. We’re taking the right steps to get it ready for the season. That’s the most important thing: getting ready for the season.”
The Seahawks have been careful with some of their starters this preseason, which is part of the reason that Peterson (two weeks due to a sore right knee) and Jennings (eight days due to a bruised right leg) took extended time off.
Both are back on the field and ready to go.
And so are the Seahawks. There are no more two-a-days, preseason games nor meaningless opponents. As of this Sunday, the games count.
“It’s a little more serious now,” wide receiver Nate Burleson said. “Guys aren’t joking as much in the locker room. They’re talking about the team we’re playing and the (upcoming) game.
“In the preseason, it’s like scrimmaging an opponent, so you don’t game-plan so much. But now, guys are really focused on Tampa.”
Said Holmgren: “Now, here’s the real start. We have our team assembled for right now, and now things get a little more serious. You don’t have room for error, and you have to start counting the games. This is where we start.”
