SEATTLE — While the legality of the ongoing lockout was debated in a St. Louis courtroom on Friday, a group of Seahawks got together to work out for the second straight day at the University of Washington.
About 30 players took part in a weightlifting session followed by drills in the school
‘s Dempsey Indoor facility, and at a time when they are unsure of when they will be allowed to go back to work, these workouts were a chance to take control over what little they can.
“I was up on (the legal battle) for a while and then I just realized my main focus needed to be on just being
in the weight room, throwing the football, those kinds of things,” quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. “There’s not a whole lot I can do to affect that (labor) stuff. I’m hopeful, just like everybody else I’m sure you guys are bored of the same old thing and you’re ready to get back to life as normal when it comes to the NFL. … As players that’s all you can do right now, just make sure you’re ready. Whenever the lockout gets lifted you’ve got to be ready to go. That’s kind of the focus for everybody.”
Hasselbeck was one of several unsigned players, along with Chris Spencer, Sean Locklear and others, who took part in the workout despite not knowing if they’ll be wearing a Seahawks uniform next season. And even though Hasselbeck isn’t currently under contract, it’s clear he’s still a leader with this group of players. Hasselbeck organized drills, handed out workout sheets to players, and was very much the man in charge even though the workouts were organized by running back Justin Forsett.
And while Hasselbeck tried to downplay his role, saying “I’m like the secretary, that’s all,” it was evident that players still respond to him. Hasselbeck tried to pass the credit to the likes of Forsett, Ivan Lewis, the UW strength and conditioning coach, and Scott Woodward, the UW athletic director who is allowing the Seahawks to use the school’s facilities, but his teammates made it clear he is still the leader.
“He’s doing a great job of leading this group,” said tight end John Carlson, who has been working out with Hasselbeck throughout the offseason. “Even though he’s a free agent–he’s technically not a Seahawk at this point and time–he’s doing really all that he can.”
Forsett, who used Twitter, Facebook and a slew of phone calls and text messages to get players to show up from as far away as Alabama and Georgia, says Hasselbeck was, in part anyway, responsible for the solid turnout.
“That’s great leadership,” Forsett said. “I talked to Matt a couple weeks ago doing this. Him being here got other guys to be here, so it’s good. … A lot of other guys were like, ‘If he’s going to show up, I need to be there too.'”
Among those coming a long way to be a part of the two-day session was Charlie Whitehurst, the only quarterback currently under contract with Seattle. His presence was important because, while Hasselbeck could well re-sign with Seattle, there is also the possibility that Whitehurst is the starter next season. Whitehurst said the uncertainty surrounding Hasselbeck can’t change the way he prepares for the upcoming season.
“If you take a back seat, or if you expect you’re the guy, only bad things can happen,” said Whitehurst, who flew in from Georgia earlier this week. “My plan is to come in and compete every year in training camp to be the starter, no matter where I am.”
Receiver Mike Williams said it was good for the offense to have Whitehurst there, and that he saw good things out of both quarterbacks.
“(Hasselbeck) got out here today and threw the ball great,” said Williams. “He actually made some throws today that he didn’t make that well during the season, so you can tell the work has been put in.”
Williams, who made the team last year after two years out of the game, looks to be in great shape, a good sign for the Seahawks after they re-signed him late last season. He said a regime of football workouts and basketball has kept him fit this offseason. For anyone who thought Williams might balloon back up after getting a contract, he says don’t bet on it.
“The whole offseason, people have been saying, ‘Oh, well with all this time off and his attitude, he’s going to be fat again,'” he said. “Well, good luck with that.”
Williams also knows he’s fortunate this lockout didn’t happen a year earlier. With the normal schedule of minicamps and organized team activities last year, Williams was able to win over Pete Carroll and win a job when most figured he was done with football for good. Anyone hoping for a similar comeback this season hasn’t gotten those same opportunities to impress an NFL coaching staff.
“It really is unfortunate, timing wise, for guys who just got drafted, or guys who didn’t get drafted and are trying to get jobs,” he said. “The window to try to get on a team is going to be so much smaller than what any of us are used to, so you’ve got to feel for those guys. Hopefully they’ll work this thing out to where it’s fair to guys who need a shot, free agent guys.”
And like everyone else, Williams is getting tired of the lockout.
“You get enough down time, you’re like, ‘I’m rested, I feel good,’ but then you get to the point where you’re just bored,” he said. “I think we’re at this point. … When you find yourself going to two movies in the same day before nighttime, that’s when you’re bored. When you go see Kung Fu Panda 2 and Fast Five in the same day before 7 p.m., you might be a little bored.”
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
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