By Scott M. Johnson
Herald Writer
The Seattle Seahawks welcomed back one tight end Thursday, meaning they might be saying goodbye to another.
Itula Mili, a 28-year-old who has been with the Seahawks since 1997, signed a multi-year deal with the club. Coach Mike Holmgren was quoted earlier this month as saying that he only intended to bring back one of Seattle’s two tight ends eligible for free agency, which could mean the end of Christian Fauria’s seven-year stay in Seattle.
Holmgren probably will add another player to the mix via either free agency or next month’s NFL draft.
Mili and Fauria split time at tight end last season, with Fauria starting 11 games to Mili’s five. Fauria also caught more passes (21-8) and is considered a better blocker, but Mili has more speed.
Mili was originally a sixth-round draft choice of the Seahawks who had to overcome a knee injury that he suffered during his senior year at Brigham Young University. He has caught 42 passes during his NFL career, including a career-high 28 in 2000. He caught seven passes during the first 10 games of 2001 – including Matt Hasselbeck’s first touchdown pass as a Seahawk – but only caught one pass for three yards during the final six games.
Mili is the Seahawks’ third free-agent signing, joining quarterback Trent Dilfer and wide receiver Bobby Engram. All three were with the team last season.
Seattle is reportedly considering veterans Shannon Sharpe (Baltimore), Ken Dilger (Indianapolis) and Freddie Jones (San Diego) on the free-agent market. The upcoming draft is also deep at the position, with Miami’s Jeremy Shockey, Colorado’s Daniel Graham and local product Jerramy Stevens, who came out after his junior year at the University of Washington.
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