As Camp Nears End, Hits Pick Up

The worm finally turned at Camp Courteous, otherwise known as Seahawks training camp, on Tuesday.

Oh, it was nothing major, no brawl or significant flareup. But fullback Reggie Brown obviously got under the skin of the defense. In return, defenders tried to plant Brown into the turf.

Late in practice, Brown was dropped on separate plays by safety Darryl Williams and tackle Myron Elzy. Safety Tim Hauck also delivered a blow on Brown.

“I come to practice every day to make everybody else better, and obviously they try to make me better,” Brown shrugged afterward.

“That’s what it seemed like today.”

When the hitting started, so did the talking.

“I just try to get people out of their game, just like (Dennis) Rodman,” Brown said. “I talk to people like ‘The Worm’.”

Coach Dennis Erickson didn’t mind the contact, though tackling is generally shunned for fear of injury. Practices have been competitive, but absent of the usual scuffles.

“Reggie has a tendency to do that (instigate), as we all know,” Erickson said. “He ran through and hit somebody, so Darryl Williams decided to hit him… There was a hell of a lot of hitting out there and it was a pretty good deal.”

Bubble riders

Tight end Ronnie Williams is one of numerous Seahawks whose fate could be decided in the next week. Seattle must trim its roster to 60 by Tuesday.

But Williams doesn’t seem fazed.

“I’ve been down this road before,” he said. “You just go out and practice every day and try to be consistent. If they decide to let me go, I have to try and hook up somewhere else.”

The well-traveled Williams has been with Seattle one season. He was on injured reserve with San Diego in 1988, on Indianapolis’ developmental squad in ‘89, sat out ‘90, played in the World League in ‘91 and ‘92 and spent 93-95 with Miami.

“All the (tight ends) can play on this team or any other team,” he said. “I don’t know if they’re going to keep three or four. I’m quite sure they’ll put in a good word for a person that’s leaving the team.”

Camp sights

The final practice in Cheney will be this morning from 8:30-10. The NFL Experience will be open during that time, but the Fox Kids Club camps ended on Tuesday. Autograph hounds beware: Signatures may be difficult. Players are scheduled to leave at 11 a.m… .

The Seahawks practice Thursday afternoon in Kirkland.

, DataTimes