KIRKLAND – One day later, Matt Hasselbeck offered no excuses when talking about the two overtime picks.
The first pick came when Hasselbeck predicted that his Seattle Seahawks would score on the opening drive of overtime. His coin-toss statement – “We’ll take the ball, and we’re going to score” – was overheard on the stadium’s public address system because the head official’s microphone was accidentally left on.
“It was one of those things where I said it, and then I went, ‘Did I just say that out loud?’” said Hasselbeck, who failed to get Seattle into the end zone during overtime of a 33-27 playoff loss to Green Bay. “I know I was thinking it, but …
“I try to minimize those in my life. But I think it had a real positive effect on our team.”
The second pick was the most important one, coming when Green Bay cornerback Al Harris intercepted a Hasselbeck pass and returned it for the game-winning touchdown.
Hasselbeck said that the play ate at him Sunday night, but that he has since thought about a number of other plays that could have been the difference.
“It never had to come down to that last play, and it never had to get to overtime,” he said. “It’s unfortunate, really unfortunate.”
Coach Mike Holmgren defended Hasselbeck’s decision to call an audible, but said that the throw and receiver Alex Bannister’s route were both flawed.
Holmgren said that Bannister was supposed to run a three-yard comeback route. But the third-year receiver actually went about five yards and didn’t make a hard cut back to the ball, allowing Harris to step in the passing lane.
Holmgren added that Hasselbeck should have seen Harris and not thrown the ball.
“The more experience we have there, maybe we don’t do that,” Holmgren said. “We did not execute the play very well, all the way around.”
Hutchinson named All-Pro: The Associated Press announced its All-Pro team Monday, and Seahawks guard Steve Hutchinson was named to the first team.
Hutchinson received 24 votes, second only to Kansas City’s Will Shields (32) among guards.
The only other Seahawks player to get any votes at all was tackle Walter Jones, who received just two.
Hutchinson became the first Seahawk since Jones in 2001 to be named AP All-Pro.
Hutchinson is an alternate to represent the NFC in next month’s Pro Bowl, and he is likely to go because LaCharles Bentley of the New Orleans Saints underwent season-ending knee surgery.
Hutchinson said he has not yet received official confirmation from the Pro Bowl that he’ll be invited to Hawaii, but he expects to go.
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