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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Talk Becomes Secondary Key Matchup Has Say As Hawks Entertain Jets

It might get loud in the Kingdome today. Rabid fans cheering the rejuvenated Seattle Seahawks in their season opener against the New York Jets?

Perhaps. Or maybe it’ll just be Jets receiver Keyshawn Johnson barking at Seahawks rookie cornerback Shawn Springs. And vice versa. It’s expected Springs, at times, will be charged with shadowing Johnson.

Johnson, the top pick in the 1996 draft and author of a book that harshly criticized several of his teammates, usually speaks his mind. Springs, the third selection in this year’s draft, isn’t shy, either.

“I like what he did in college and he’ll be one of the better corners in the NFL by season’s end,” Johnson said. “I know he’s a good corner, he knows he’s a good corner. That’s what I like about him. He has confidence.”

On the Seahawks front, coach Dennis Erickson has confidence his team can kick its habit of sluggish starts. But he’d like some evidence today to reinforce his belief.

“You can sit and talk about it, how I feel and the additions from free agency, but the thing I can tell you is the atmosphere, the camaraderie and the leadership in the locker room is quite different,” the third-year coach said. “That I can see. Now, how that relates to the field, we’ll see.”

Seattle’s main makeover is on defense, with five new starters, and at quarterback, where John Friesz starts and Warren Moon is No. 2. Ex-starter Rick Mirer was shipped to Chicago in the off-season.

“Our players know going into the game that our quarterback isn’t going to go in and make mistakes, he is going to give us a chance to win,” Erickson said. “If you don’t make mistakes and play good defense, you’ve got a chance to beat anybody in the NFL.”

The Jets, meanwhile, beat only one team last year. Shame on you, Arizona. Ask New York players about ‘96 and they develop convenient amnesia.

“When you go through a year like that, you try to forget about it as fast as you can,” quarterback Neil O’Donnell said.

The Jets don’t foresee a rerun of ‘96. New coach Bill Parcells has impeccable credentials, two Super Bowl rings and he’s already brought 27 new faces onto the roster.

He also brought his sometimes-biting humor.

“I dropped a touchdown pass in the Giants (preseason) game and he told me he’d never give me his Rolex because I’d drop it,” Johnson said. “I told him, ‘I already own one.”’

The Jets are buying into Parcells’ disciplined system.

“You hear so much about his coaching manner,” O’Donnell said. “He yells at every position that way, it’s not just the quarterback.”

Parcells is a tad misunderstood, according to Johnson.

“Everyone wants to make coach out to be this big (jerk), but that isn’t the case,” Johnson said. “He cares about his players. He’s a coach who wants to win desperately.”

Parcells led New England to the AFC title last season and a Super Bowl loss to Green Bay. Turning around the Jets figures to take time, but several East Coast writers already are predicting a winning season.

“My goal is to get this team to play to its potential,” he said, “its potential as I perceive it to be.”

For all of Parcells’ tough talk and hard exterior, he showed a compassionate side when asked if Patriots players still contact him.

“Sure do,” he said. “I still hear from some of the Giants, too. I mean, that’s what this thing is about, I think.”

Not even Johnson would argue with that.

Galloway may be ready

Joey Galloway pushed himself to practice in team drills Friday and received a favorable review from Erickson, who still lists him as questionable.

“He practiced a little more today and did some things, so I think it’s a pretty good possibility he’ll play,” Erickson said. “The improvement from yesterday to today was pretty good. We will have to work him out (today) and see how he is.”

Galloway sprained muscles in his right foot in the exhibition finale against Cincinnati eight days ago. Originally it was listed as a four-week injury.

Notes

Defensive end Martin Harrison, fullback Oscar Gray, and wide receivers James McKnight and Andre Coleman were named the inactives Friday. Three more players must be deactivated by this morning. … Approximately 51,000 tickets have been sold for the opener, which will be blacked out for local television. Tickets are selling only a little better for next week’s game against Denver. Approximately 52,000 are gone.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: HAWKS VS. JETS The game: 1 p.m. at Kingdome Coaches: Seattle - Dennis Erickson, 15-17, third season. Jets - Bill Parcells, first season; 109-81-1 overall, 13th season. The records: Season opener for both teams. The series: Seattle leads 8-4. Last season: Seattle finished 7-9. Jets were 1-15. The line: Seattle by 6.

On the air Television: NBC, with Mike Breen and James Lofton. Radio: KXLY (920 AM) with Steve Thomas and Steve Raible.

This sidebar appeared with the story: HAWKS VS. JETS The game: 1 p.m. at Kingdome Coaches: Seattle - Dennis Erickson, 15-17, third season. Jets - Bill Parcells, first season; 109-81-1 overall, 13th season. The records: Season opener for both teams. The series: Seattle leads 8-4. Last season: Seattle finished 7-9. Jets were 1-15. The line: Seattle by 6.

On the air Television: NBC, with Mike Breen and James Lofton. Radio: KXLY (920 AM) with Steve Thomas and Steve Raible.