Nash Sets Mark In Games Played

The only previous time officials stopped the game for Joe Nash was against Cincinnati years ago when Seattle Seahawks coach Chuck Knox had him fake injuries to slow down the Bengals’ no-huddle attack.

For Nash, it was a lot more enjoyable Sunday when, after one play against San Diego, the game was halted so that he could take the game ball and store it on the sidelines for safe-keeping.

The ball commemorates Nash’s team-record 201 games played with the Seahawks - breaking Steve Largent’s mark of 200.

“It was very exciting for me,” the 35-year-old defensive tackle said. “Not too many guys get games stopped for them.”

Not too many guys have a story as intriguing as Nash, an undrafted free agent out of Boston College in 1982.

“No way I could have ever dreamed this,” Nash said. “If you go back to 1982, I felt fortunate to just get in a couple games, especially since I wasn’t even on the active roster when the season started.”

Fittingly, Nash was in on the first tackle, making the stoppage of play more satisfying.Playing for one team for 13 seasons was important to Nash “for my piece of mind, and for my family,” he said.

On Sunday, Nash was credited with five tackles. No other Hawk defensive lineman had more.

Stan still the man

Although Charger quarterback Stan Humphries has been out of action with a shoulder injury, he had very little trouble against the Seahawks.

Humphries fired three touchdown passes and completed 14 of 26 attempts for 166 yards.

“It feels pretty good,” Humphries said of his shoulder. “I took a couple of shots on it today, but it feels good.”

Humphries spread the passes around to eight different receivers.

Achin’ Atkins

For six games, inexperienced left tackle James Atkins has played with unexpected success.

But Sunday, Charger defensive end Leslie O’Neal abused him, picking up 3.5 of San Diego’s seven sacks.

“I felt like I was having a pretty good game and then all of a sudden he goes BOOM,” said Atkins, who slightly injured his left knee during the game. “There were times when (quarterback Rick Mirer) tried to step up but there wasn’t anywhere for him to go and he was trapped.”

Notes

Chris Warren’s 112 yards on 18 carries marked the first time since Oct. 10, 1993 (Barry Foster of Pittsburgh) that a rusher has picked up in excess of 100 yards against San Diego.

Hawks coach Dennis Erickson was steamed about the play of his special teams.

On the other hand, Steve Brous sard had his best day returning kickoffs, as he totaled 162 yards on six returns, with a best of 48 yards.

, DataTimes