CHENEY – Talk about arriving in style.
On the heels of agreeing to his first multi-year contract, Lofa Tatupu summoned the services of a high-profile chauffeur for his trip to Sea-Tac airport.
It’s too bad for the Seattle Seahawks that Tatupu couldn’t convince that driver to get on the plane with him.
Chris Spencer, the Seahawks’ first-round pick in the April draft, drove his fellow rookie to the airport after Tatupu had agreed to join the Seahawks at training camp.
“I told him, ‘Why don’t we just go ahead and both sign?’” Tatupu said of their conversation while driving to Sea-Tac. “Everybody has their own situation. I just hope it works out best for him.”
While Tatupu eventually made it to Eastern Washington University in time for Sunday’s morning practice, Spencer remains unsigned. He is the lone Seahawks rookie not under contract and one of 19 first-round picks still unsigned.
Seahawks officials continue to express optimism that Spencer, a center from the University of Mississippi, will be signed soon. The player selected behind him in the NFL draft, wide receiver Roddy White at No. 27, signed a five-year deal worth up to $8 million with the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
While Spencer will have to find a new workout partner – he and Tatupu spent part of the past week lifting weights together at the Kirkland 24 Hour Fitness – Tatupu is relieved to finally be at training camp.
“It was very frustrating,” Tatupu said of a contract impasse that cost him the first two days of training camp practices. “Just like college, you are always used to going to camp on time. There is no such thing as not being there. (But) you have to play it the way you are told to. It was tough, but I got it over with.”
Tatupu saw limited practice time while the team was in pads Sunday morning, then was part of the regular rotation in the non-contact, afternoon session.
“We’re going to kind of ease him into it,” linebackers coach John Marshall said. “That was his first movement out on the field, so we didn’t want to just throw him out there in the normal rotation. We did (Sunday) afternoon, and he worked well when we weren’t in pads.”
Tatupu, 22, is expected to eventually challenge Niko Koutouvides for the starting spot at middle linebacker.
“Actually, it’s going to be good to have him back,” Koutouvides said. “We need everybody. This position, I don’t want anybody to hand it to me.”
Who’s No. 2?: After a strong showing at summer minicamps, quarterback Seneca Wallace is the front-runner to land the job as Matt Hasselbeck’s primary backup.
But he didn’t help himself much Sunday morning, when Wallace threw two interceptions and was often off target in a sloppy practice.
“It was just one of those days,” he said afterward. “You’re going to have your highs, and you’re going to have your lows. We knew that going into our red-zone (drill), we were going to have some tough times. For the most part, it was all right.”
Wallace was slightly better in the afternoon session, making better reads before throwing a third interception to cornerback Kris Richard.
Wallace’s main competition for the No. 2 job will probably come from David Greene, a left-handed rookie from the University of Georgia. But there is also the possibility that Seattle could add a veteran backup in the coming weeks. Former Seahawk Jeff George and Everett High School product Chris Chandler are among the players available in a shallow pool of unsigned quarterbacks.
Wallace doesn’t think the Seahawks need to look for anyone else.
“I have confidence in what I can do,” he said.
Big hitters: The Seahawks got to take some aggression out Sunday morning, when they donned pads for the first time at training camp.
While there were no memorable hits in the open field, there was plenty of contact during the 9-on-7 run drill. Chances are that players will be walking a bit more gingerly today.
Quote of the day: Offensive consultant Keith Gilbertson showed he still has a sense of humor Sunday when a fan asked him for an autograph.
“Me?” Gilbertson cracked. “You must be a Cougar fan.”
Quick slants: Strong safety Michael Boulware (ankle) and rookie linebacker Cornelius Wortham (hamstring) returned to practice Sunday morning after missing time Saturday. Boulware made an immediate impression, intercepting two passes during the two-hour morning session. … New acquisition Bobby Shaw, a wide receiver, was returning punts during Sunday’s practices. … Rookie linebacker LeRoy Hill missed Sunday’s practices with sprained left ankle. … The Seahawks toyed with a three-receiver set Sunday that included Darrell Jackson and Jerheme Urban on the outside, with Bobby Engram running out of the slot. Engram is slated to start at split end, but he could move inside in three-receiver formations. Urban is battling Joe Jurevicius, Jerome Pathon, Taco Wallace and Shaw for the role of No. 3 receiver. … The temperature reached 97 degrees Sunday afternoon, marking the hottest day of camp thus far.
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