KIRKLAND — Deion Branch wasn’t trying to start a trend.
When he donned lime-green gloves for his first game as a Seattle Seahawk last season, he was just trying out a little fashion statement that Reebok designed specifically for him.
But it certainly has caught on.
Tight end Marcus Pollard now wears lime-green gloves. Linebacker Julian Peterson designed a pair of shoes that feature the color, and teammate Deon Grant liked them so much that he got a similar pair of his own. Running back Shaun Alexander has worn lime-green elbow pads during warm-ups before games.
“I didn’t do anything except put on some gloves that everybody likes,” Branch said of the fashion trend that has spread through the Seahawks’ locker room.
Everyone, it seems, has a different reason for wearing lime green.
Peterson likes the way his shoes stand out on the field. He said he actually got the idea from former teammate Jimmy Williams, who painted the color onto his cleats last season.
Peterson went one step further by designing a shoe with Nike.
“It goes with the uniform,” he said. “People will look at them and go, ‘What can you wear with those?’ Then they see them with my uniform and go, ‘Oh, yeah, OK.’”
Grant also wears lime green shoes that are similar to the metallic blue ones he had in Carolina while playing for the Panthers.
“I love fashion,” he said. “When you feel like you’re looking good, you feel better about yourself, and then you play better. It’s a mind psyche.”
Pollard said he likes the gloves because they’re “different.”
When the possibility was mentioned to him that the look might grow in popularity, he said: “I hope not. Then I’ll have to change up again.”
Peterson wouldn’t mind if lime green became a national craze.
“If people start using it, I think we should get royalties or something,” he said. “I just need two percent, that’s it.”
Steelers’ Ward out: Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward, who was the MVP of Super Bowl XL, is not expected to play Sunday against the Seahawks. He has not practiced all week because of a knee injury and was listed as “out” on the official injury report that came out Friday.
Two other Pittsburgh stars, nose tackle Casey Hampton and safety Troy Polamalu, are questionable. Neither player has practiced this week.
The Seahawks definitely will be without wide receiver D.J. Hackett (ankle) and tackle Ray Willis (knee). Tight end Ben Joppru (ankle) and cornerback Josh Wilson (ankle) are doubtful.
Defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (ankle) is questionable after missing Friday’s practice, but coach Mike Holmgren said Bernard was given the day off because the coaches didn’t want the cold, wet field to aggravate Bernard’s injury.
Running back Maurice Morris (hip) returned to practice and is probable for the game. Linebacker Will Herring (knee) also is probable after practicing Friday.
Surprise award: While the Seahawks typically just give out three game balls on the Friday following a victory, a surprise fourth was added this week.
Holmgren was given a commemorative game ball for his 150th career win in Sunday’s victory over San Francisco.
“It’s special,” said Holmgren, who was passing out game balls to players Friday before being presented with a game ball of his own. “One, it means I’m old.
“It’s pretty neat. I take a lot of pride in giving out the game balls to the players. I want them to believe it’s special; it is. This is just a lot of great players, a lot of hard work from assistant coaches. It’s pretty neat.”
The other game balls went to wide receiver Bobby Engram (offense), cornerback Marcus Trufant (defense) and linebacker Niko Koutouvides (special teams).
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
