KIRKLAND – His introduction to the city of Seattle bordered on chaotic, and yet these days there is no place C.J. Wallace would rather be.
The Sacramento native came to the University of Washington football program as part of the 2003 recruiting class, and Huskies coach Rick Neuheisel was fired shortly thereafter. He suffered through a miserable freshman year and made plans to transfer the following summer.
“I don’t really know why I stayed,” Wallace said on Monday. “My teammates talked me into staying, and the next thing you know, (the coaching staff) put me into the game in the third week of the season and I’ve been playing ever since.”
These days, Wallace is hoping to stay in Seattle for a long time. The safety made the Seahawks’ initial 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie, and he’s hoping to stick around for years to come.
“It’s almost like it’s not real,” Wallace said. “I’m in the best situation. I’m working for a legendary coach, with a great coaching staff, in the Seattle area.
“Everything’s good. It couldn’t be better.”
Wallace was one of five safeties to make the roster Jordan Babineaux is listed as a safety even though he also plays cornerback and the UW product had such a good camp that the Seahawks traded former starter Michael Boulware to Houston.
While Wallace still isn’t a lock to stay on the roster, and he’s unlikely to see much playing time other than on special teams, the UW product is happy to still be playing in Seattle.
“Even though I went to Washington and didn’t get drafted, everything turned out all right,” he said. “Everything started off rough, but everything’s good now. I’m happy now. It’s like there’s a load off my shoulders.”
Wyms replaces Davis: The Seahawks signed defensive tackle Ellis Wyms on Monday, and made room for him by releasing veteran Russell Davis.
Wyms was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday and agreed to a contract on Sunday afternoon. He took a flight to Seattle first thing Monday morning and arrived at 11:30 a.m.
“It’s a long trip,” Wyms said Monday afternoon while sitting at his locker a few minutes before his bags arrived from the airport. “But I’m happy to be here now, and I’m looking forward to learning the defense and getting to know my teammates.”
Wyms, who started eight games in Tampa last year, didn’t
only take Davis’ roster spot, but he also took his jersey number: 95.
A fresh start: Also excited to be in a new city was fellow defensive lineman Jason Babin, who was part of the Boulware trade Saturday.
“It’s a great move,” the 6-foot-3, 267-pound Babin said. “In Houston, they had the new coaches in running the 4-3 (defensive front), and they wanted the bigger, taller guy.
“I’m more of a smaller, speed guy. That’s not really what they wanted. I just think I’m a better fit here in Seattle.”
In an interview with the Houston Chronicle, Boulware also said that he’s excited to have a fresh start.
“I had an idea something might happen,” Boulware told the newspaper on Sunday. “This is a bittersweet experience for me. I slipped a little bit last season, and this is a chance for me to wipe the slate clean.”
Babin, who led the Texans with five sacks last season, will wear jersey No. 52 in Seattle.
Only two … for now: While the Seahawks’ cut to a 53-man roster left them with just two quarterbacks, coach Mike Holmgren said that could soon change.
“That’ll be a flexible situation,” he said after Monday’s practice. “I think, before too long, we’ll probably have three quarterbacks.”
Seneca Wallace, who is currently the only backup behind starter Matt Hasselbeck, said it was strange to have only two quarterbacks at Monday’s practice.
“It’s different,” he said. “Ever since I’ve been in the league, we’ve had at least three. But I know it’s temporary.”
Several experienced quarterbacks were cut over the weekend, including former starters Byron Leftwich (by Jacksonville), Vinny Testaverde (New England), Ken Dorsey (Cleveland) and Tim Rattay (Tennessee).
Another possible option could be Buffalo castoff Craig Nall, who had experience in a Seahawks-like offense while serving as a backup under Mike Sherman in Green Bay.
Nothing official: When asked Monday about the starting lineup for Sunday’s game, Holmgren was non-committal about two positions.
He said he would not name starters at split end or right defensive end until later this week.
D.J. Hackett seemed to have the split end job all wrapped up early in training camp, but Nate Burleson made a late push for the starting job. At right defensive end, Darryl Tapp appears to have the inside track over 2006 starter Bryce Fisher.
Hackett and Tapp saw most of the snaps with the No. 1 units Monday.
Quick slants: Rookie defensive end Baraka Atkins switched from No. 96 to No. 98. … Rookie offensive lineman Steve Vallos, who mostly played tackle while at Wake Forest, worked at center with the scout team. Other than starter Chris Spencer, and starting right guard Chris Gray, the Seahawks have no one with experience at center on their roster.
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