KIRKLAND – More than two years after his last pass as a quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, Trent Dilfer still remembers the unceremonious way he left.
Maybe that’s because his last pass as a Raven came in Super Bowl XXXV.
Sunday will mark the first time Dilfer will face the Ravens since that game, although he will be serving as the Seattle Seahawks’ backup quarterback.
“We’re a couple years removed, which makes it more tolerable for me,” Dilfer said. “And that’s a much different football team than the one I played on.”
Shortly after helping give the Ravens their only Super Bowl title, he was essentially shown the door because the team opted to sign free agent Elvis Grbac. Dilfer was hurt by the move, which became more painful in the ensuing months and years as people looked back on that Super Bowl victory as one that was won in spite of the Ravens’ quarterback play.
“It’s one of those things where I find it laughable that that’s what’s talked about,” Dilfer said Monday. “But the people that matter to me, they know that it’s a farce. The people that matter to me know that we had a special gig there, and it was kind of taken away from us. Everybody’s got their own stuff they’re dealing with, and I’ve dealt with it and moved on.”
The Ravens have gone through six quarterbacks since Dilfer left, never finding the same success. Dilfer is aware of that fact, but isn’t going to rub anyone’s face in it.
“Ultimately, it doesn’t matter,” Dilfer said. “I’m very, very happy with where I’m at. I have nothing but wonderful memories of my time there, and I deeply, deeply respect 90 percent of that organization. I don’t want to cheapen that aspect of it for the 10 percent that I think is ridiculous.”
Simmons unapologetic: After being benched for Sunday’s game due to an undisclosed team rule violation, Seahawks linebacker Anthony Simmons was back practicing with the team Monday and is expected to play against the Ravens.
Both Simmons and coach Mike Holmgren said that the incident is behind them. Simmons added that he was not bitter about being benched.
“Actually, it really wasn’t that bad,” he said. “Not to take anything away from Detroit, but I felt like we had a good chance to win that game. If anything, it was a good opportunity for me to get a break and rest up.”
Clean bill of health? Holmgren said he expects to have everyone available for Sunday’s game, including middle linebacker Randall Godfrey.
Godfrey suffered a bruised sternum in the win over Detroit but should practice at some point this week. Safety Damien Robinson, who missed the game with a sprained left shoulder, is also expected to return in the next few days.
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