By SCOTT M. JOHNSON
Herald Writer
KIRKLAND – All those long practices during Karsten Bailey’s otherwise idle rookie year might finally pay off this weekend.
With Derrick Mayes out due to a slight fracture in the middle finger of his left hand, Bailey will serve as No. 3 receiver for the Seattle Seahawks in Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts. During the game, Bailey will re-assume his role of go-to guy for Brock Huard.
“Brock and I have a real good connection,” said Bailey, who caught numerous passes from Huard on the scout team last season. “I think he has a lot of confidence in me. That’s good to have from the starting quarterback. It’s just a matter of going out and letting stuff happen.”
The bond that Huard and Bailey started as rookies in 1999 carried over to Friday’s practice, when the duo hooked up at least four times during 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. Unlike last week, when Bailey was on the inactive list while four other receivers saw playing time on offense, his practice time will be rewarded by game action this week.
For most of the season, Bailey has been buried behind Mayes, Sean Dawkins and rookies James Williams and Darrell Jackson on the depth chart.
“I kind of understand, but it’s still hard on me,” Bailey said. “I got hurt in training camp, then James and Darrell came along real well. It kind of hurt me a little bit. But when they call upon you, you’ve got to do anything you can to help the team win.”
Also missing were fullback Reggie Brown (stinger) and defensive end Lamar King (sprained ankle).
Rookie John Hilliard took all of the repetitions in King’s spot Friday, but coach Mike Holmgren said King will play in Sunday’s game. Mayes was placed on the inactive list, along with defensive end Matt LaBounty, while Brown’s status is still questionable.
Offensive linemen Pete Kendall (stinger) and Frank Beede (calf) returned to practice Friday, but are still listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. While they sat out the first two days of practice, Todd Weiner moved from right tackle to left guard. He will be replaced by Chris McIntosh at right tackle in Sunday’s game.
Adding to the confusion on Seattle’s line is center/guard Robbie Tobeck, who has not yet been added to the active roster but could be by the end of the day if Kendall and/or Beede aren’t healthy enough for Sunday’s game.
“Whoever’s playing is whoever’s playing,” right guard Floyd Wedderburn said. “You just keep doing what you have to do.”
Tongue was critical of the decision to start Kerry Joseph in his place at strong safety for Sunday’s game, and openly showed his disgust to the media on Wednesday.
“The thing that bothered me more than anything else was that he thought we were looking at him as a scapegoat for everything that was wrong defensively,” Holmgren said of Tongue’s comments. “Shoot, that’s a young person saying something. There’s no way that was the situation.”
Tongue has mellowed since the benching, but his feelings haven’t changed.
“I’m still real upset about it,” Tongue said. “But I really can’t do much about it except go out and prove everybody wrong. I’m still upset about it. That hasn’t gone away at all.”
The most convenient Park &Ride locations for Snohomish County residents are at Kenmore (7346 NE Bothell Way), Shoreline (Aurora Ave. N. and N. 192nd St. south of Aurora Village) and Northgate Mall.
Bus service begins at 11 a.m. and continues every 20 minutes until the game’s 1:15 p.m. start.
“I was pissed that I got fired because the only thing that was ever any good in New Orleans was the defense,” Sidwell said. “To me, that’s old news. Jim and I get along fine.”
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