Burleson: ‘I can’t complain’

KIRKLAND – Don’t bother telling Nate Burleson about the unfortunate timing of his demotion within the ranks of the Seattle Seahawks’ wide receivers.

Don’t make any attempt to commiserate with him about Deion Branch’s expanding role, the fact that it’s happening at Burleson’s expense or the unfortunate coincidence that it happened just days before the Seahawks’ game against Burleson’s former team.

None of that seems to matter to Burleson, who is excited to face the Minnesota Vikings despite the circumstances.

“Coming here, I didn’t expect to be the No. 1 receiver,” said Burleson, who was immediately named a starter after signing with the Seahawks in free agency but lost his spot two weeks ago to the newcomer Branch. “So for me not to be starting right now, that doesn’t do anything to me.”

Nor does Burleson give off any hint of regret, even though the Seahawks are Puget Sound-deep at the position while the Vikings are desperate for help at wide receiver.

“Obviously, as a competitor, you want to go out there and do as many things as you can to help the team. (But) as long as we’re winning, I can’t complain about anything,” he said. “Whatever role the Seahawks want me to be in, that’s where I’m going to fit in. I’ve been the ultimate team player my whole life.”

Burleson enjoyed his three seasons with the Vikings but opted to sign with Seattle because it afforded him an opportunity to come back home. The Renton native and O’Dea High School product was a restricted free agent, and the Seahawks nabbed him by offering a “poison pill” contract similar to the one that allowed the Vikings to sign Pro Bowl guard Steve Hutchinson away from Seattle.

Burleson’s contract states that he could make $49 million over seven years, but the more realistic value is $14.5 million over four years. The contract was written for a higher value so that the Vikings would not match it. The stipulations – that Burleson had to play multiple games at Qwest Field was among them – were designed to guarantee the entire length of the contract if not met.

The eye-for-an-eye contracts of Hutchinson and Burleson made for interesting offseason storylines, but the former University of Nevada receiver didn’t put too much stock into all that was going on.

“I just looked at the contract for what it is – the meat of it, and I understood I’d be on a new team,” Burleson said. “As far as the logistics of it, my agent took care of that, (along with) the guys in the front office.

“However it worked out, that was the way it was going to be. I was excited just to have another opportunity to go out there and play ball. It just so happened that I got to go home to Seattle.”

It seemed like the perfect opportunity for the former high school star, but Burleson’s return to his hometown has been somewhat of a bumpy ride so far.

He was immediately slotted as the starting split end, but had to spend most of training camp filling in at flanker while Darrell Jackson recovered from offseason knee surgery. That slowed down Burleson’s ability to learn his primary position, and he was just getting into rhythm when the season started.

A hand injury that Burleson nursed all training camp also hampered him, and it might have played a part in the three dropped passes he’s already had this season.

The Sept. 11 trade for Branch all but solidified Burleson’s demotion from the starting lineup. Branch started at split end in the Chicago game and appears ready to hold onto that role the rest of the year.

Coach Mike Holmgren said this week that he’s not disappointed in Burleson. During his Monday press conference, he described the situation as having “more guys than we have footballs,” and later added that, “I don’t think you can keep Deion Branch off the field.”

If Branch is on the field, that often means Burleson will be sidelined. He’s currently the No. 3 receiver, but D.J. Hackett saw about as many snaps as Burleson did in the St. Louis game. And Bobby Engram’s return – perhaps as soon as next week – could push Burleson further down on the depth chart.

Burleson wasn’t stressing about the situation as of Monday afternoon.

“I’m just being patient and waiting for the next opportunity to make a play – regardless of starting or getting to play a lot or getting a ton of balls,” he said. “I still want to go out there and make as many plays as I can.”

Burleson made plenty of plays in Minnesota, especially during the 2004 season, when he led the Vikings with 68 receptions and 1,006 receiving yards.

“Playing with Randy Moss helped him a lot,” said Vikings receiver Marcus Robinson, a former teammate of Burleson’s. “It helped him because he gained confidence as a receiver. The pressure was off because he wasn’t looked at as the No. 1 guy.

“… Here in Minnesota, he could make a play out of nothing. He can take a lick and keep moving. He has quick feet; he can make a guy miss in a telephone booth.”

Burleson has yet to show his big-play ability in a Seahawks uniform, but maybe this will be the weekend it happens.

Burleson is eagerly waiting to have a breakout game – regardless of who’s on the other side of the field.

“I’m treating it like any other game,” he said. “The hardest thing for me (will be) turning off that switch from friends to opposition.

“It isn’t any different playing the Minnesota Vikings or any other team.”