Hawks keep doctors busy
The Seattle Seahawks announced Thursday that Shaun Alexander had surgery this week to mend the left wrist the 2005 league MVP broke in Week 1.
Five teammates, all non-starters, also had procedures to repair injuries sustained during Seattle’s run to its fourth consecutive NFC West title.
Defensive end Patrick Kerney and left tackle Walter Jones, both All-Pro players, plus leading receiver Deion Branch and starting center Chris Spencer are next up for surgery.
The Seahawks, who lost last weekend in the divisional playoffs at Green Bay, said that Kerney and Jones will have shoulder operations next week. Kerney showed no signs of shoulder problems while finishing second in the NFL with 14 1/2 sacks this season. Jones, who turns 34 on Saturday, had been selected to play in his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl next month. He took practice time off to rest throughout the season and is having his shoulder repaired for the second consecutive off-season.
Spencer will have shoulder surgery and reconstructive thumb surgery today.
Coach Mike Holmgren said earlier this week that Branch will have surgery “soon” to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Holmgren estimated Branch will miss at least nine months, meaning he likely will miss the 2008 season opener.
The Seahawks’ season ended last weekend with a 42-20 playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Garrett stays in Dallas
Jason Garrett held a news conference to discuss his decision to remain the Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator. He withdrew from consideration for coaching jobs with the Baltimore Ravens and Atlanta Falcons to remain in Dallas, where he has been promoted to assistant head coach.
Garrett gave thoughtful answers to all questions but one. Asked if he was promised he’d replace Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips, Garrett said, “No,” then turned his head to seek a question from across the room.
League rules prevent team owner Jerry Jones from anointing Garrett as the heir to Phillips, but that likelihood seems to be apparent.
Chargers recover
The San Diego Chargers are slowly getting back their injured players ahead of the AFC championship game Sunday against New England.
Quarterback Philip Rivers sat out for the second straight day with a sprained right knee, and two-time NFL rushing champion LaDainian Tomlinson returned to practice after sitting out Wednesday to rest his hyperextended left knee.
Around the league
The Tennessee Titans hired Broncos assistant Mike Heimerdinger as offensive coordinator, his second stint with the team after spending the past two seasons in Denver. Heimerdinger had a successful five-year run as the Titans offensive coordinator from 2000-04. … Britt Reid, son of Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid, already in jail on a road rage charge, pleaded guilty to DUI and drug charges stemming from a separate incident. … The league, which held its first regular-season game outside North America in London last October, has announced it would come back again in 2008. The teams, date and venue will be announced during Super Bowl week late this month or in early February.