KIRKLAND – While quarterback Matt Hasselbeck addressed more than a dozen media members outside the Seattle Seahawks’ practice facility earlier this week, teammate Seneca Wallace sauntered through a nearby hallway and barely got noticed.
While running back Shaun Alexander continues to bask in the glory of his 201-yard rushing game, teammate Maurice Morris is back to being just another backup.
Life outside the spotlight has been an adjustment for Wallace and Morris, but it’s a life they’ve lived before.
This time, it’s a little more difficult for the former starters.
“It is, but you’ve got to know your role,” Wallace said. “When I’m called upon, I’ve got to play. I just keep battling through practice and try to keep getting better.”
Now that Hasselbeck has returned from a sprained knee, Wallace is back to being the No. 2 quarterback. Morris, who started seven games in place of Alexander, knows how he feels.
“You always want to play; that’s why you’re in the league,” Morris said. “If you felt like you couldn’t play, you wouldn’t be here.”
If nothing else, the backups-turned-starters-turned-backups have gained a new level of confidence this season.
“I finally got a test of playing in a regular season game, so you’re going to be a lot more confident if you’re asked to play,” said Wallace, who went 2-2 and had an 87.8 quarterback rating while filling in as starter (by sake of comparison, Hasselbeck’s rating is 77.7 this season).
Morris, who turned in back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances before Alexander returned two weeks ago, feels like he might have answered some questions around the league.
“I proved to the people that didn’t expect too much out of me that I can carry the load,” he said.
He’s a Champ: The Seahawks have faced Cover-2 defensive schemes in three different games this season, and several other teams have played a lot of zone.
What they haven’t seen yet is a true shutdown cornerback – maybe because it’s a dying breed in the NFL.
Denver’s Champ Bailey is not only considered the best cover corner in football, he’s also considered one of the only “shutdown” corners left in the game.
“Champ’s a phenomenal player,” Seahawks receiver Darrell Jackson said. “He may be the best cornerback in our league right now. He does what he gets paid to do, and that’s shut down his side of the field.”
Denver’s new starter, Jay Cutler, has faced Bailey more than any other quarterback in football. Cutler saw a lot of Bailey while running the Broncos’ scout team during the first 12 weeks of the NFL season.
“I am still shocked on Sundays that some of the quarterbacks go at him the way that they do,” Cutler said in his conference call with Seattle media earlier this week. “He is an unbelievable player. He just knows exactly what is going on out there and has a break on the ball. He is fun to watch.”
Bailey typically stays on one side of the field, so he should see time against all of the Seahawks’ outside receivers. Jackson actually looks forward to the challenge.
“It’s going to be great competing against him,” the Seahawks’ wideout said. “Every player in the league wants to compete against the best, and he’s one of the best.”
Locklear practices, but Ashworth to start: Right tackle Sean Locklear, who is recovering from a high ankle sprain, took part in his first practice since Oct. 21 on Friday. Locklear worked with the scout team while Tom Ashworth continued to play with the No. 1 offense.
“It’s good to see him back out here,” coach Mike Holmgren said of Locklear after Friday’s practice. “And now we’ll see how it feels (Friday night) and then (Saturday). And then he’s close to coming back.”
Holmgren added that Ashworth was likely to start in Sunday’s game but that Locklear could be available in an emergency.
Wide receiver Darrell Jackson (foot) and cornerback Kelly Herndon (toe) also returned to practice and are expected to start in Sunday’s game. Safety Jordan Babineaux (shoulder) and defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (foot) did not practice, but Holmgren said both players would play.
The only players ruled out of Sunday’s game are center Robbie Tobeck (hip), wide receiver Bobby Engram (thyroid condition) and linebacker D.D. Lewis (toe).
Glove-gate? A few weeks ago, Holmgren was overheard grousing about the lime-green gloves that wide receiver Deion Branch, cornerback Kelly Herndon and cornerback Jimmy Williams wear.
On Friday, none of the three players were wearing the green gloves, and Herndon said his gloves had mysteriously disappeared from his locker.
But Herndon said he hadn’t heard anything from Holmgren, and the conspiracy died when Williams provided him with a pair from his cache of available gloves.
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