KIRKLAND – Head coach Mike Holmgren acknowledged Thursday that his agent has been in negotiations with the Seattle Seahawks on a contract extension, but he stopped short of saying that he expected to return to the team after his current contract expires next February.
“They’ve had some talks and some really good talks, and so it’s ongoing,” Holmgren said of his agent and the Seahawks after the team wrapped up minicamp Thursday. “I’m feeling good about stuff, but nothing’s been finalized yet. It’s a little premature still. I like the fact that everyone’s talking and everyone’s been pretty civil with one another.”
Holmgren’s original contract – an eight-year, $32 million deal – expires at the end of the 2006 season. Both he and the team are trying to work out a deal that would keep him around beyond 2006, but nothing has transpired as of yet.
Holmgren’s agent, Bob LaMonte, was in town this week to discuss matters with members of the Seahawks’ front office.
Part of the holdup could involve a desire to be a general manager again one day. Holmgren held that title during his first three seasons in Seattle but was relieved of his duties on New Years Eve 2002 while still being retained as head coach. Holmgren would not comment Thursday when asked about his desire to be a GM.
Holmgren did say that he’s not worried about his unsettled job status being a distraction – even if it carries over into the season.
“If the decision is just to coach my last year, (the possibility of a distraction) is overstated,” Holmgren said. “We have a good football team with good players, we have good maturity, and I think they like me OK. They’re football players, and they have more things to think about than me. But we’re not there yet.”
On his end, Holmgren said he hopes to remain in Seattle beyond 2006.
“I don’t think I’ve said anything different over the years,” he said. “We (Holmgren and wife, Kathy) like it here a lot, we really do. We like the area, I like most of you guys (in the media). So we like it, and we’d like to hang around.
“But at the end of every season, I’m a little drained, so (the front office) gave me some time. That’s how we’re approaching it. We’ve had some good talks, like I said. We’ll see.”
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