Branch remembers Spittsburgh

Published 11:29 pm Wednesday, November 7, 2007

KIRKLAND — A full month has elapsed since the last time Deion Branch played on a football field, and yet the Seattle Seahawks wide receiver hasn’t forgotten.

On Oct. 7, Branch sprained his foot in a road game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The way Branch tells it, a fan spit on him as he was being taken off Heinz Field on a cart.

“A drip landed on my arm,” Branch said on Wednesday, after missing another practice as he recovers from the injury. “I think that’s the worst thing you can do. They ask us, as professionals, not to go in the crowd. But these guys, the fans, they can throw things?

“You can say whatever you want to say to me, but don’t try to do that. Don’t try to spit on somebody. … I wouldn’t expect a fan to spit on anybody during a game.”

During the television broadcast, Branch was seen pointing toward the crowd while saying, “I’ll be back.” While the receiver never returned to action, he did make sure to point out the fan to security officials at the stadium in Pittsburgh — or is it Spittsburgh? — that afternoon.

“They went and got the guy,” Branch said. “He was arrested.”

Branch added that he knows where the animosity came from. In the AFC Championship game at Pittsburgh following the Steelers’ 15-1 regular season in 2004, Branch caught two touchdown passes to help end Pittsburgh’s hopes of going to Super Bowl XXXIX.

“I’m probably one of the most notorious, hated guys in Pittsburgh, just from the New England days,” Branch said on Wednesday, “being a part of the New England team when they feel like they should have won a Super Bowl.”

Branch also had a message for fans who attend NFL games.

“If you’re going to come out, just be fans of the game,” Branch said. “Don’t be crazy and do anything like (spit on a player).”

Still recovering: Branch was one of six starters who didn’t practice Wednesday, but coach Mike Holmgren wasn’t making any specific predictions about who may or may not be available for Monday’s game against San Francisco.

“I think we’re going to have half of them for the game,” he said. “Now, which half? I don’t know.”

Running back Shaun Alexander (left knee), defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (groin), linebacker Leroy Hill (right hamstring), defensive end Patrick Kerney (oblique muscle) and tight end Marcus Pollard (right knee) joined Branch on the sidelines Wednesday.

Also not practicing were reserves Baraka Atkins (left ankle), Will Herring (hamstring) and Ray Willis (knee).

Holmgren said that Alexander still had swelling in his knee, although it has subsided since Sunday night.

“The inflammation is limiting his ability to bend his knee,” Holmgren said. “… Friday or Saturday, he has to show me he can do what he does. Otherwise, we’ll probably rest him (for the game).”

The injury report comes out Friday.

Coaching fun and games: Holmgren has a weekly competition with his offensive coaches, challenging them to come up with new plays at their Thursday night meeting.

In Sunday’s game against Cleveland, plays designed by assistants Keith Gilbertson and Jim Zorn were pivotal on a scoring drive in the first quarter.

Gilbertson, whose job includes coming up with “special” plays that sometimes involve trickery, helped design a ball-behind-the-quarterback’s-back-play-action fake that resulted in a 26-yard completion to Nate Burleson. On the next play, Zorn’s unorthodox play led to a 5-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Engram.

“We actually ran a similar play when I was a player with (wide receiver Steve) Largent,” Zorn said, adding that the Detroit Lions ran it during his days as an assistant with them.

On the touchdown, Engram ran parallel to the line of scrimmage at the snap, catching a flip pass from Matt Hasselbeck at the line.

“(Zorn) drew up the play perfect,” Engram said. “It was textbook; the defense had no chance. I had the easiest part.”

When asked Wednesday what kind of rewards the assistants get if their chosen play works, Zorn patted a reporter on the back.

“(Holmgren) just gives an atta-boy,” he said. “Calling your play and seeing it go for a touchdown, that’s pleasing.”

Gilbertson said that the weekly competition helps motivate the coaches to come up with new ideas.

“All guys are competitors,” he said. “We want our play called, want our run run. What the heck; it’s fun.”

O-line shuffle continues: After using Floyd Womack at both guard positions during last week’s practices, the Seahawks had the versatile veteran taking some snaps at right tackle with the No. 1 offense Wednesday.

Womack split time with Sean Locklear, although Holmgren didn’t mention anything during his press conference earlier in the day about a possible lineup change.

Quick slants: In an effort to make the long preparation week more routine, 49ers coach Mike Nolan did not schedule a practice for Wednesday. Players had meetings and watched film and will return to the field today. Nolan said he was hoping to simulate a typical week heading into Monday’s game. … San Francisco receiver Darrell Jackson will make his first return trip to Seattle since being traded in April. Neither Holmgren nor Hasselbeck made much of the reunion. “I don’t really know, and I don’t really care either — to be honest,” Hasselbeck said when asked what kind of reception Jackson might hear from the Qwest Field crowd. “Whatever. I’ll say hi to him, and then I’ve got to go play (against) their defense.” … … Pro Football Weekly and ESPN both put out midseason all-pro teams on Sunday, and not a single Seahawk was on either list.