KIRKLAND _ One defensive award came down Wednesday, and another one will follow today.
But the Seattle Seahawks’ two winners weren’t exactly basking in their sudden glory Wednesday.
“Whatever,” middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu said after learning that he’d been named the NFC’s defensive player of the week. “It’s what we’re supposed to do. It’s what we get paid to do.”
Defensive end Patrick Kerney, who will officially be named the conference’s defensive player of the month today, wasn’t exactly popping the champagne either.
“It’s an individual thing. Last time I checked, there was no big, huge trophy for that,” he said, referring to the Lombardi Trophy that he hopes to earn after a Super Bowl victory.
No matter how much the players downplayed the awards, the back-to-back honors say a lot about Seattle’s improving defense.
Tatupu had three interceptions in Sunday’s 28-24 win over Philadelphia, including one that stopped the Eagles’ final drive. Tatupu’s first two interceptions led to Seahawks touchdowns in the first quarter.
Kerney had a three-week stretch in November during which he had seven sacks, including back-to-back, three-sack games.
If the honors brought any joy for the recipients, it’s that Seattle’s defense is finally starting to get some attention.
“We’ve had a lot of guys step up in different games,” Kerney said. “Julian (Peterson, with three sacks) in that first San Fran game, Darryl (Tapp, with four sacks) in the first Rams game and Lofa on Sunday.
“There are a lot of guys who have that game-changing ability on defense, and it’s really fun to play with them.”
Scobey’s back: The Seahawks addressed their special teams problems by re-signing running back Josh Scobey, who was on the team for 19 games in 2005 and ‘06.
Scobey got released by Buffalo in September and had been out of a job for more than two months.
In addition to having some return skills, Scobey is solid covering kicks and punts.
To make room for Scobey on the roster, the team placed safety C.J. Wallace on injured reserve. Wallace re-injured his knee in Sunday’s win over Philadelphia.
The team also released veteran fullback Fred McCrary and signed cornerback Kevin Hobbs from the practice squad. Cornerback Omowale Dada, a Washington State University product, was signed to the practice squad to fill Hobbs’ spot.
Oh, brother: For the fifth time in their NFL careers, quarterback brothers Matt and Tim Hasselbeck will be on opposite sidelines this weekend.
Matt will be starting for the Seahawks, while Tim is the third-string quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals.
Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said that Tim will run the scout team this week to give Arizona’s defense a feel for his brother’s tendencies.
“One thing I can guarantee you is that we’re getting a good look from Hasselbeck at quarterback this week,” Whisenhunt said.
Matt Hasselbeck said that he had not yet talked to his brother about the game but that he would answer the phone if Tim called.
“We won’t talk football, though,” Matt Hasselbeck said. “I’ve got nothing to gain by talking football to him right now.
“It’s a dangerous situation. I can’t even tell my mom (Betsy) about injuries because it goes right down the chain.”
Hackett recovering: Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said Wednesday that wide receiver D.J. Hackett (ankle) is ahead of schedule in his rehab. Holmgren has not ruled out Hackett for Sunday’s game.
Cornerback Josh Wilson, meanwhile, is expected to miss at least two weeks with a strained quad. Neither player practiced Wednesday.
Also sidelined were center Chris Spencer (oblique) and defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (groin), although Holmgren said he expects both of them to be available Sunday.
The Cardinals practiced without starting wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald (groin) and Anquan Boldin (toe).
“A little bit up in the air,” Whisenhunt said of their playing status for Sunday. “It’s going to be, certainly, questionable for both of our guys. We’ll have to see how they progress.”
Don’t cry over …: On Wednesday, both Hasselbeck and Holmgren were asked about the infamous final offensive play of the last Arizona game in Week 2.
Hasselbeck and running back Shaun Alexander fumbled an exchange when Alexander misheard an audible, resulting in a turnover during the final minutes of a 23-20 loss.
“We didn’t execute it and lost the game because of it,” Holmgren said. “… I wish I could remember all the really great games as much as I remember the ones that we let slip through our fingers.”
Said Hasselbeck: “If the season ends, and we win our division and we’re able to do something in the playoffs, then who cares? Spilt milk.”
Quick slants: Seahawks kicker Josh Brown was excused from Wednesday’s practice for personal reasons. … The injury-plagued Cardinals have two ex-Seahawks in the starting lineup. Defensive end Joe Tafoya was on the Super Bowl team in 2005, and safety Oliver Celestin was with Seattle last season. … Arizona wide receiver Jerheme Urban, who is nursing a sore heel, is also an ex-Seahawk. … Without getting specific, Holmgren answered a Wednesday question about his staff by saying that one of his current assistants had asked for permission to talk to a college team about a head coaching job. There were a few minutes of media speculation about whether that meant secondary coach Jim Mora might be interviewing with the University of Washington, but those rumors died when UW announced it was retaining Tyrone Willingham for another year.
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