By Scott M. Johnson
Herald Writer
KIRKLAND – One day later, Rian Lindell was still employed. But he wasn’t exactly proud.
Lindell, the Seattle Seahawks’ 24-year-old kicker, hit the game-winning field goal in overtime of Sunday’s 13-10 win over San Diego after missing two earlier attempts that could have won the game in regulation.
“It’s embarrassing,” Lindell said Monday. “There’s all these guys pouring their hearts out. I mean, after the game I see (offensive lineman Steve) Hutchinson, and he’s got this big welt on his neck and he’s sweating and can barely walk. Then here I come lolly-gagging on the field and mess it up for them. It’s just embarrassing. It’s a pretty bad feeling.”
Lindell inadvertently skipped out of the locker room before reporters arrived Sunday because his brother was in town to see the game.
He has now hit three game-winning field goals in his 23 NFL games. But two misses Sunday hardly made him feel like a hero.
“I tend to be the guy that sees (the glass) as half-empty,” he said. “That is just the way I am. I really need to work on it. We won the game, so that is always nice to have in the back of your mind. (But) I would have definitely liked to have some kicks back.”
Coach Mike Holmgren reiterated Monday that he doesn’t plan to bring in a new kicker, even though Lindell’s field-goal conversion percentage (64) is lower than 13 other AFC kickers.
“Rian knows he has to make those kicks,” Holmgren said. “He’s trying real hard. Like I said (Sunday), thank goodness he made the last one. That won it for us. But I would hope for more consistency from our kicker.”
Hasselbeck progressing: He still hasn’t thrown multiple touchdown passes in a game since the end of October, but quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is continuing to improve.
The Seahawks’ new starter has taken hold of Holmgren’s no-mistakes policy, and has impressed his coach lately.
“I am very pleased,” Holmgren said Monday of Hasselbeck’s progress. “We’re not anywhere close to being where we need to be, but he’s going to be fine. I am very pleased with his progress so far.”
Said Hasselbeck: “It’s definitely a maturing process for me and a learning process, just really trying to get on the same page as Mike.”
Holmgren stopped short of saying that he planned to open up the offense so that Hasselbeck can do more things, but it’s not out of the question.
“I have to see him comfortable in certain situations,” Holmgren said. “I have to see that he trusts me. I have to see him thinking kind of like I think. … When I’m seeing him doing that more and more and more, that’s very encouraging to me.”
Weiner to remain starter: Holmgren said Monday that he will stick with Todd Weiner as the starting right tackle for the remainder of the season, even though the position originally belonged to 2000 first-round pick Chris McIntosh.
Weiner has started eight of the 11 games this season while McIntosh recovers from a recurring nerve injury known as a neck stinger.
“It looks like that’s the way we’ll leave it for the rest of the season because that nerve thing flares up and goes back,” Holmgren said. “It will heal up, but he’s going to need an offseason for that.”
Final word: After 60 minutes of conservative football Sunday, Hasselbeck couldn’t believe it when he got the call to throw a pass on the opening play of overtime.
“I just hurried up and called the play before they changed it,” he said Monday. “I was just excited that they called that play. It’s a play I like a lot. I just hurried up and got the guys out of the huddle before they changed their mind.”
Hasselbeck completed an 18-yard throw to Koren Robinson, and the Seahawks then drove down the field and kicked the game-winning field goal.
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