KIRKLAND – Among the players who will be at Qwest Field with the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday are two ex-Seahawks facing their former team.
Defensive end Chike Okeafor and middle linebacker Orlando Huff signed with the Cardinals during free agency. Both declined interview requests with The Herald this week.
Okeafor’s return has gained more publicity this week because of comments he made a few months ago. While the Seattle newspapers quoted Okeafor after he left the Seahawks, his criticism of unnamed players actually started late last season – before he left town.
After the Seahawks’ defense gave up 482 yards and 27 points in a Dec. 19, 2004, loss to the New York Jets, Okeafor questioned the desire and work ethic of some of his teammates.
“We’ve got to swell hearts up,” Okeafor told The Herald. “It’s about desire, want – almost need. It’s not desperation, but you have to want that (stuff) more than the (player) across the line.
“… Guys have to make up their mind whether they want to get it done, or whether they want to sit around and say they want to get it done. There’s a lot of talk, but the most powerful thing is less talk and more action.”
Okeafor repeated similar comments the day he signed with the Arizona Cardinals in March.
“There’s a different attitude here,” Okeafor was quoted as saying in the March 10 issue of the Arizona Republic. “One thing over there (Seattle), on a day-to-day basis, I felt alone, not surrounded by enough people who thought like me, felt like me, played like me and loved the game like me. I’ve been in search of that from teammates, and I felt that here.”
The few Seahawks defenders remaining from last year’s team had little reaction.
“He’s just venting when he leaves,” said defensive end Grant Wistrom, one of just nine defensive players left over from the 2004 team. “It doesn’t matter what he says. We’re a different team this year, and I don’t think anybody really cares about what he said.”
Rhodes’ role won’t change: Defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes will work in a support role again this Sunday, while linebackers coach John Marshall runs the defense for the third straight week.
Rhodes did not attend practices this week, and Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said he was comfortable with Marshall continuing to fill in as coordinator.
“(Rhodes) is most comfortable with that right now,” Holmgren said. “He’s getting better every day, but why push the envelope? He’ll be sitting right next to John (above the press box); they can confer. John’s doing a good job. We’ll just leave it like that for a while.”
Rhodes suffered a stroke on Sept. 4 but returned to work last week. He was originally expected to resume his coordinating duties this Sunday.
Warrick shines: Based on how he looked at practice this week, wide receiver Peter Warrick might finally be ready to contribute on offense.
Warrick, who was signed a few days before the regular-season opener, had his best week of practice, highlighted by one-handed catches with his left hand Thursday and his right hand Friday.
“I’m a receiver,” Warrick said, shrugging off the difficulty of the receptions. “I get paid to catch the ball. That’s what I do.”
The former Cincinnati Bengal looks more at ease – both in terms of learning the offense and playing on a knee that underwent offseason surgery.
“It’s at the point now where I’m just starting to get more comfortable,” Warrick said. “Once you get more comfortable, and you’re not out there thinking, it’s easy.”
Holmgren is hoping that Warrick’s practices translate to the game.
“He has excellent hands, that’s obvious,” Holmgren said. “Now he feels a little more comfortable in the offense. I want him to be more comfortable catching punts, and the whole thing. We need him to show.”
Big-time matchup: Last week’s Pro Bowl battle between Seattle left tackle Walter Jones and Atlanta defensive end Pat Kerney was a walk-over, with Jones dominating all afternoon.
But Jones doesn’t expect such a one-sided battle while facing his second consecutive Pro Bowler on Sunday: Arizona’s Bertrand Berry.
“He’s a great speed rusher,” Jones said. “He’s relentless, and he keeps coming at you all the time. He’s one of those pass-rush specialists that live for the pass rush. You just have to stay focused and try to counter whatever he’s giving you.”
While Berry led the NFC with 13 sacks last season, he was held without a sack in two meetings against Jones.
Quick slants: Holmgren said tight end Itula Mili is still probably too weak to make much of a contribution in Sunday’s game. Mili is coming back from an intestinal disorder that caused him to lose 15 pounds and miss the first two games of the regular season. … The Seahawks, who had the fewest penalties in the NFL last season with 79, have already been whistled for 15 this year. That ranks 17th in the league. … Wide receiver Darrell Jackson (offense), defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (defense) and linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski (special teams) were given game balls for their performances in Sunday’s win over Atlanta. The team also gave special game balls to Rhodes, Marshall and team president Tim Ruskell. … Linebacker D.D. Lewis (ankle) and fullback Leonard Weaver (shoulder) were added to the injury report for Sunday’s game. Both were listed as probable. … Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck saw limited action in Friday’s practice as he rested his ailing throwing arm.
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