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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Hot Dogs Too Costly For Hawks Erickson Hands Out $1,000 Fines To His Trio Of Sidelines Snackers

Associated Press

Dennis Erickson has fined three Seattle Seahawks - Rick Mirer, Cortez Kennedy and Eugene Robinson - $1,000 each for eating hot dogs on the sidelines during the Seahawks’ exhibition game in San Francisco.

“We just felt that the fines were necessary,” the first-year head coach said Monday. “It wasn’t done intentionally by them and they’re great kids. But they made a mistake. They know that better than anybody.”

Robinson, the team’s regular free safety and its defensive captain the past three years, said he apologized to team president David Behring, the coaching staff and his teammates.

“I had half a hot dog,” Robinson said. “It was a pretty expensive hot dog.”

The 300-pound Kennedy, a four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, and Mirer, who is starting his third season as the Seahawks’ starting quarterback, did not want to talk about the third-quarter hot-dog incident.”You guys have already written enough about that,” Mirer said.

On Saturday night, Fox Network television cameras caught the three Seahawks furtively trying to eat hot dogs on the sidelines in the third quarter of a 17-7 loss. The players all had come out and were not going back into the game.

“It’s embarrassing,” Robinson said. “It makes us look like we’re undisciplined. It was just uncalled for. I hold myself fully accountable.”

Erickson said the $3,000 in fines will be given to First Place, a Seattle school for homeless children, to pay for breakfasts and lunches until the money runs out.

Roster moves

The Seahawks released nine-year linebacker David Brandon and 13-year offensive tackle Rich Baldinger, getting down to the NFL player limit of 53.

The Seahawks also signed three players waived after their training camp to their practice squad, including 1995 seventh-round draft choice Keif Bryant, a defensive end from Rutgers.

Also signed to the practice squad were tight end James McKeehan, a free agent from Texas A&M, and cornerback Dexter Seigler, a free agent who spent last season on Miami’s practice squad.