Holmgren misses rare practice
KIRKLAND, Wash. – The Seahawks received a brief, unexpected sneak preview of next year.
Coach Mike Holmgren was absent from the team’s minicamp practice Monday with what a team spokesman emphasized was a minor medical procedure of an undisclosed nature. Holmgren is expected to be back on the field leading drills today.
Holmgren, who turns 60 on Sunday and has been thankful for fine health throughout his 16 years as an NFL head coach, has declared this will be his 10th and final year leading Seattle.
The Seahawks have already named assistant head coach Jim Mora as Holmgren’s replacement in 2009. Monday, the former coach of the Atlanta Falcons stayed in his role as the Seahawks’ defensive backs coach while offensive coordinator Gil Haskell ran the four-time NFC West champions in Holmgren’s absence.
Most players felt Holmgren was still there.
“I don’t think we’re any different. We always practice at a high tempo because that’s the way he teaches it,” said Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Trufant, who has been with Holmgren since he was drafted in 2003.
“You don’t go out there thinking, ‘OK, coach isn’t here. So we can ease up a little bit.’ We’re just used to doing it a certain way.”
Punter Ryan Plackemeier won’t be back as quickly as his coach. Plackemeier will have surgery today for a torn pectoral muscle, which apparently happened when the 6-foot-3, 247-pound draft choice in 2006 was lifting weights. The Seahawks don’t know how long they will be without Plackemeier, who has averaged 42.4 yards per punt through his first two seasons.
Training camp begins at the end of July. Reggie Hodges, who punted in five games each for St. Louis and Philadelphia in 2005, is the other punter on Seattle’s roster.
The Seahawks did get one player back on Monday. Starter Rob Sims was at right guard for the first time since arthroscopic surgery on his knee May 6.
Reserve safety C.J. Wallace, who played at the University of Washington, remained home in Sacramento, Calif., resting after an emergency appendectomy last week. Linebacker Lance Laury missed the practice to take care of an undisclosed personal matter. Leading receiver Bobby Engram remained away in a contract dispute, one day after saying he may skip training camp, too.
Seattle’s final, voluntary minicamp of the off-season runs through Thursday.