KIRKLAND – Playing for a high school powerhouse essentially ruined any chances of Michael Koenen going to a big-time college.
Fortunately for Koenen, the reverse wasn’t true in regards to his NFL chances.
The Atlanta Falcons’ rookie punter has overcome years of college football obscurity, becoming the second Western Washington University product to ever make an NFL roster.
And against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Koenen (pronounced KAY-nen) will become the first ex-Viking to play in multiple NFL games.
“Maybe one day I’ll be able to sit down and (enjoy) all that, but for now I’m just plugging along and working hard,” Koenen said.
The only other WWU player to appear in an NFL game was strong safety Erik Totten, who played in one game with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2002.
Koenen beat the odds this preseason, having such a strong camp that the Falcons released nine-year veteran Toby Gowin.
Not bad for a kid who didn’t really get recruited out of high school.
The way Koenen tells it, his Ferndale teams were so good that he rarely got a chance to kick. In three years as the Golden Eagles’ punter/placekicker, Koenen attempted just 12 field goals.
“We were too good,” Koenen said of Ferndale’s teams between 1997 and 1999, which went 33-4 and never lost a conference game. “There just weren’t any opportunities. We scored touchdowns almost every time, and even on fourth and short, we’d go for it.”
Koenen could have gone to Washington or Oregon as an invited walk-on, but he saw a better opportunity to walk on at Eastern Washington University. Financial concerns led him to WWU, which offered him a football scholarship.
In his four seasons with the Vikings, Koenen set a school record for net punting average (43.1) and tied the WWU record with 19 career touchbacks.
This weekend, he’s back in his home state. His mother already purchased 80 tickets for the game against the Seahawks, while Koenen expected plenty of other friends to also show up at Qwest Field.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “My family can’t come to a lot of games, so it will be good to see them. I probably won’t get to see them again until after the season.”
Hasselbeck probable: The Seahawks finally acknowledged what was obvious after Sunday’s loss to Jacksonville: that quarterback Matt Hasselbeck’s throwing arm is sore.
Hasselbeck was added to the injury report Friday, but he’s listed as probable for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. The injury report lists “arm soreness” as Hasselbeck’s ailment.
“His arm is sore, so we just back him off” at practice, coach Mike Holmgren said Friday. “He’ll play Sunday.”
Hasselbeck took part in less than a handful of snaps during practice Friday, all on running plays that required him to hand the ball off. Seneca Wallace has taken most of the snaps with the No. 1 offense this week.
Hasselbeck appeared to hurt his arm on the final offensive play of last Sunday’s loss to Jacksonville. Jaguars defensive lineman Reggie Hayward hit Hasselbeck’s arm as the quarterback tried to throw, resulting in a fumble.
No-name crew: Eight new defensive starters will make their home debut this season, including four – defensive tackle Chartric Darby, outside linebacker Jamie Sharper, cornerback Andre Dyson and rookie middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu – who will be playing their first regular-season game at Qwest Field.
Just how much has this defense changed in recent years?
In 2003, the Seahawks used 20 different starters on defense. Only three – cornerback Marcus Trufant, safety Ken Hamlin and linebacker D.D. Lewis – are still with the team.
Quick slants: After a Monday night victory and a short week of practice, the Falcons are scheduled to arrive in Seattle today. … Tight end Itula Mili was back at practice Friday but did not participate. Holmgren said his intestine problem will not require surgery, and there is a chance Mili could return to practice sometime next week. He will not play Sunday against the Falcons. … Holmgren said recent acquisition Rodney Bailey, a veteran defensive end, is not expected to play Sunday.
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