KIRKLAND – Ray Rhodes made a small step toward his usual routine Wednesday, and he expects to make another long journey in that direction this weekend.
The Seattle Seahawks’ defensive coordinator, who had not attended a practice in nearly four weeks after suffering a mild stroke on Sept. 4, was back on the field Wednesday. Coach Mike Holmgren said Rhodes will travel with the team to Washington, D.C., later this week for Sunday’s game against the Redskins.
“It’s good to see him out there, just to know he’s healthy and doing all right,” Seahawks linebacker Kevin Bentley said after Rhodes helped the team through a Wednesday afternoon practice. “To have him out there with us, that’s always a blessing. It’s also another set of eyes with a ton of experience.”
Rhodes said last week that it would take a while for him to feel like himself again, and the players noticed that he was missing a little bit of his edge Wednesday.
“Ray’s always out there coaching me up; right now, he can’t get his blood pressure too high,” safety Michael Boulware said. “Hopefully he’s not watching me too much because he might have to go back inside.”
Rhodes is expected to resume his duties as coordinator this Sunday. Linebackers coach John Marshall filled in for the first three games, with Rhodes sitting alongside him in the past two – both at home. Seattle’s defense has fared well enough to rank eighth in the NFL in yards allowed per game (283.7).
“We’ve done well,” Bentley said. “But just because Ray hasn’t been out there doesn’t mean he hasn’t been behind the scenes. He’s still a big part of what we’re doing here and how we’re doing it.
“But Marshall’s done a good job of filling in.”
You can go home again: While Seattle sports figures like Ken Griffey Jr. and Lou Piniella have gone home to unexpected adversity, former Seahawks cornerback Shawn Springs has fared just fine.
The native of Silver Spring, Md., has enjoyed his return to the Washington, D.C., area.
“It worked out. It’s been a good thing so far,” said Springs, who played seven seasons with the Seahawks before signing with the Redskins as a free agent in March 2004. “Change is good for me.”
Springs was one of the leaders of the NFL’s third-ranked defense last season, becoming the third player in league history to lead his team in both sacks (six) and interceptions (five).
Those numbers are far better than the statistics he put up in Seattle, the most obvious of which was 18 missed starts over his final three seasons.
“Now I’m feeling good, and it goes like that,” Springs said. “First part of my career in Seattle, I went three years without missing a game, and then I had a couple years where I missed some games (due to hamstring and shoulder injuries). Now it seems like everything is clicking for me.”
Springs was playing down his first meeting with his former team, which has just 23 players remaining from his final season in 2003. He doesn’t expect any emotions in the days leading up to Sunday’s game.
“None until game time,” Springs said. “I’ll go out there and see a couple of the guys, and the emotions won’t run until the game starts. I’ve played so many games, it’s just preparing for another game.
“… I really liked being there. I had great memories from there.”
Arrington coming off bench: Despite being one of the marquee players in football, Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington has been relegated to a reserve role this season.
Arrington missed most of the 2004 season with a knee injury, and he’s still not 100 percent. He had fluid drained from his knee two weeks ago and continues to work behind starter Warrick Holdman.
“It’s been a long, tough road for us trying to get him back in playing shape,” Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said.
Arrington was on the field for just a few plays in Washington’s last game – a 14-13 win over Dallas 10 days ago. Most of his action came in a package that saw Arrington line up at defensive end.
Paralysis by analysis: With 12 days to prepare for Sunday’s game against the Seahawks, the Redskins would appear to be at an advantage.
But Washington’s bye week might not necessarily have been a good thing. Teams coming off the bye week were 15-17 last season. The Redskins have lost three times in the past four years in games immediately after the bye week.
Quick slants: The Seahawks’ injury report included wide receiver Peter Warrick (questionable, groin) and cornerback Kelly Herndon (probably, neck stinger). Neither one practiced Wednesday. … Washington’s most notable injuries are to starting cornerback Walt Harris (calf) and kicker John Hall (quadriceps), both of whom are listed as questionable. … Seattle continued to rest Matt Hasselbeck’s arm Wednesday, when he split practice time with Seneca Wallace. “We’re at about 90 percent,” Hasselbeck said. “We’ll get there.” … The Redskins (2-0) are one of four remaining unbeaten teams in football, joining the 3-0 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals. … Fans wanting to vote for the Seahawks’ 30th anniversary team can do so by picking up a ballot at any local Macy’s.
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