He’s trying to get foot in door
Leo Araguz’s bio in the Seahawks media guide could easily double as a travel log. Like many punters, Araguz has lived a nomadic lifestyle in pursuit of a coveted NFL roster spot.
“This is probably eight or nine (training camps and/or tryouts),” Araguz said matter-of-factly, after taking a moment for calculations. “Miami, San Diego, Oakland, Kansas City, St. Louis, Detroit, Minnesota. … pretty much everywhere.”
That list doesn’t include a 2001 stop with the New York/New Jersey Hitmen of the defunct XFL and a stint with the World League’s Rhein Fire in 1996.
Araguz is competing against undrafted free-agent rookie Chris Kluwe at Seahawks training camp at Eastern Washington University. Tom Rouen, Donnie Jones and Ken Walter punted at various times for Seattle last season. Even kicker Josh Brown was summoned for one punt after Rouen was injured.
Araguz held the starting job in Oakland from 1997-99, posting a career-high 45-yard average in 1997. In 2000 Araguz lost out to Shane Lechler, who has become one of the league’s best punters. At the time, Oakland’s special teams coach was Bob Casullo, who is in his first year with the Seahawks in the same capacity.
“We’ve always kept a real good relationship,” Araguz said of Casullo. “You want to keep good relationships in the NFL because you never know what can happen.”
In addition to abundant air miles, Araguz has emerged with a tougher mind-set.
“You have to take the negative sometimes and see what it has to offer on the positive side,” Araguz said. “Yeah, you get cut here or miss a ball there, but it builds character in the sense that it humbles you. If you take that and develop into a better person and athlete, why not take advantage of that?”
Araguz has learned to take nothing for granted. Kluwe, who is 5 inches taller and 25 pounds heavier than the 5-11, 190-pound Araguz, has a strong leg and averaged 43.4 yards in his senior season at UCLA.
“As a punter or kicker you have to prepare totally different – it’s 90 percent mental, 10 percent physical,” said Araguz, who also holds on PATs and field goals. “Mentally you have to know that whenever you get the opportunity to punt you have to shine.”
Richard traded
Seattle dealt reserve cornerback Kris Richard to Miami for defensive end Ronald Flemons.
Flemons, 25, has played in six games over four seasons, three with Atlanta and last season with Miami. He was listed on the Dolphins’ Web site as third-team right end.
Richard, a USC graduate, had 38 tackles in three seasons, including 21 last year when he saw additional time with Bobby Taylor sidelined by a knee injury. Seattle picked Richard in the third round of the 2002 draft.
“It’s kind of a roster maintenance move,” president Tim Ruskell said. “I talked with (Dolphins GM and former Seahawks executive) Randy Mueller and they were short in terms of defensive backs and we’ve always said we’d like to look at defensive linemen that fit what we’re trying to do.”
Scrimmage Saturday
The Seahawks will scrimmage at 2 p.m. Saturday at EWU’s Woodward Field. An estimated 7,000 fans packed Woodward Field to watch Seattle scrimmage in 2001. Scrimmages were held in Seattle in 2002 and 2003 and Portland last year.
Fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable, non-glass food items to benefit the Cheney Food Bank. Donations will be accepted at the south and west entrances to Woodward Field beginning at 12:30.
Other events scheduled for Saturday include a Gatorade Jr. Football Clinic that is free for kids ages 8-15 from 9:30-12:30 on the practice fields and a barbecue beginning at 11 a.m. in the Central Mall with raffle drawings and appearances by the Sea Gals and coach Mike Holmgren.
Health update
Running back Shaun Alexander was a spectator most of the day’s two practices due to a tender hamstring. It’s not believed to be a serious injury. … Reserve tailback Maurice Morris and rookie linebacker Lofa Tatupu also were sidelined with sore hamstrings. … Defensive tackle Rashad Moore (shoulder) missed practice and linebacker D.D. Lewis (concussion) missed his third straight day.