Holmgren, QBs have friendly chat

  • SCOTT M. JOHNSON / Herald Writer
  • Wednesday, November 8, 2000 9:00pm
  • Sports

By SCOTT M. JOHNSON

Herald Writer

KIRKLAND – If communication is the key to any relationship, Mike Holmgren may have been wise to stop at a flower shop Monday.

Mixed signals with the quarterbacks led to a meeting between the Seattle Seahawks coach and his signal-callers Monday, and for no other reason than to clear the air.

“These are young guys, they’re sensitive guys, and I’m kind of gruff on occasion,” Holmgren said Wednesday. “It was one of those meetings, I just wanted them to know where I’m coming from. What I think of them. How I’m going to coach them. What to filter out and what to listen to.

“Young people, sometimes they hear you but they don’t hear you,” he said.

Holmgren has been frustrated by the passing game all season, so he called Jon Kitna, Brock Huard, Matt Lytle and Travis Brown into his office to find out the basis of the confusion. The meeting was designed to make sure everyone was on the same page while keeping communication lines open.

“It’s good to have the door open,” Kitna said. “Not that it was ever closed, but the perception was that it wasn’t open. To sit down and have him say, ‘What do you guys think?’ was great.”

Holmgren also wanted to make sure the players themselves weren’t getting any mixed messages about their future. He made comments Monday that indicated he might look elsewhere for help at the position beyond 2000. After explaining his direction to the quarterbacks later that day, Holmgren was a bit miffed at how the media played up the team’s search for a long-term signal caller.

“I like the fact that you’re interested, I really do,” Holmgren told a group of local media members Wednesday. “But nothing, nothing has been done. And we have not moved in any direction yet. It’s premature at this point.

“At the end of the season, we’ll make hopefully a good value judgment on how we have to do this and then it will be clear to everybody. Myself included.”

  • Huard questionable: Although Holmgren called Huard’s status “very doubtful” on Monday, the team injury report listed the quarterback as questionable two days later.

    “The test with him will be, every week, at the end of the week they will work him out and get him going and see then how he responds to that,” Holmgren said, adding that a Tuesday CAT scan came up negative.

    Huard underwent physical tests for the first time last week, but felt some of the symptoms of an Oct. 22 concussion return Sunday night. Huard did not practice Wednesday and will probably sit out today’s session as well.

  • Hey, rook: When Jacksonville quarterback Mark Brunell was a backup with Holmgren’s Green Bay Packers in 1994, the fourth-string quarterback was an unknown kid from the University of Northern Iowa.

    That kid, better known as Kurt Warner, got cut before the season began but eventually found his way back into the league. He was named the NFL’s MVP while leading the St. Louis Rams to the Super Bowl last season.

    “He got a little hazing,” Brunell said of Warner’s lone training camp in Green Bay. “We probably should have watched our mouths. Now he could be teasing all of us a little bit.”

    Still, Brunell hasn’t quite learned his lesson. When asked if he’s lightened up on rookies since then, he said: “Oh, heck no. Someone’s got to carry the helmet and shoulder pads.”

  • Quick slants: Wide receiver Sean Dawkins missed practice Wednesday due to a bruised quadricep. He is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. Cornerback Willie Williams (neck stinger) also missed practice, but is not on the injury report. … Jacksonville will play Sunday’s game without starting linebacker Hardy Nickerson (knee) and offensive lineman Leon Searcy (leg). Outside linebacker Lonnie Marts is listed as questionable with a groin injury. … Snohomish High School’s Mark Perry was named the Seahawks’ high school coach of the week by the Washington State Coaches Association. Perry’s Panthers improved to 9-0 with a 41-10 win over Sehome last weekend.
    Talk to us

    > Give us your news tips.

    > Send us a letter to the editor.

    > More Herald contact information.

  • More in Sports

    Monroe's Halle Keller drives past Meadowdale's Payton Fleishman during a Feb. 14, 2025 3A District 1 playoff game at Meadowdale High School. (Qasim Ali / The Herald)
    Last-second layup powers Monroe past Mavs

    The Bearcats staged a 50-49 road upset in a district playoff clash.

    Shorecrest’s Cassie Chesnut leaps in the air to block a shot by Shorewood’s Bridget Cox during the 3A district playoff game on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Shorecrest girls win rubber match against Shorewood

    Cassie Chesnut’s 28 points, 18 rebounds pushes the Scots to District 1 3A semifinals with 53-38 win.

    Snohomish’s Kendall Hammer yells in celebration with teammate Snohomish’s Sienna Capelli after she makes a shot and is fouled during the game on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Prep basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 14

    Snohomish, Stanwood girls cruise into district semis.

    Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Feb. 2-8

    The Athlete of the Week nominees for Feb. 2-8. Voting closes at… Continue reading

    Mountlake Terrace’s Svayjeet Singh leaps in the air after the basketball during the 3A district loser-out playoff game against Snohomish on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Snohomish upsets Mountlake Terrace for first playoff win in 11 years

    Bryson Wheat scored 25 in Panthers’ 49-43 win to advance to the District 1 Boys 3A quarterfinals

    Julio Rodríguez (left) and manager Dan Wilson (right) of the Seattle Mariners react after the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on Sept. 27, 2024, in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
    Dan Wilson begins first spring training as M’s manager

    An anxious eagerness to get through the first of… Continue reading

    Marysville Getchell junior Bubba Palocol reverses directions while dribbling against Arlington during a playoff matchup at Arlington High School on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
    Prep basketball roundup for Thursday, Feb. 13

    Marysville Getchell, Lakewood boys each earn district wins

    Kenneth Walker III runs with against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
    Seahawks hire run game coach

    Justin Outten added to staff as Mike Macdonald continues attempts to bolster rushing attack.

    Balanced scoring attack leads Gonzaga

    Zags take over second place in WCC with 88-77 win over USF.

    Shorewood senior Bridget Cox (11) elevates to get a shot over Everett senior Aimelie Hovde-Girard (21) in Shorewood's 41-30 win in the opening round of the District 1 3A Girls Tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
    Shorewood girls basketball avoids Everett upset bid in 41-30 win

    Glasser’s ‘dagger’ 3 caps second-half run, pushes No. 5 Stormrays to 3A District 1 Quarterfinals

    Prep roundup for Wednesday, Feb. 12

    Terrace, Monroe girls advance in district hoops tournament.

    Kimberly Beard, a Mukilteo resident who attends King's High School, prepares to release a throw during the 20-pound weight competition at George Fox University in Newberg, Ore. on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Donna Beard)
    Mukilteo’s Kimberly Beard wins throwing event

    The King’s High School junior won the 20-pound weight throw at a George Fox indoor meet.

    Support local journalism

    If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.