Montgomery Moves Past Adams

The Seattle Seahawks traded for defensive tackle Glenn Montgomery in the off-season to keep the pressure on Sam Adams.

Because Adams, the team’s talented 23-year-old former first-round draft choice, missed two days of drills this week with ankle injuries, Montgomery was promoted into the starting lineup for Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson expects Montgomery to be part of a three-tackle rotation involving Montgomery, Adams and Cortez Kennedy.

This is the second consecutive Friday that Erickson made a starting lineup switch because of things he noticed in practices. Last week, Christian Fauria replaced Carlester Crumpler at tight end because he practiced better. Crumpler was in on only three plays in the loss to the Denver Broncos last Sunday.

Adams, the most dominating defender during the exhibition season, has five tackles and one sack in two regular-season games. He missed most of the first half last week with an ankle injury that the trainers deemed to be minor.

Quarterback on edge

More than at any time in his four years in the pros, quarterback Rick Mirer is sounding like a leader. On Wednesday, before practice, he assembled the offensive players for an informal meeting on the field.

Complaints were aired and the team had one of its best weeks of practice. Since being benched last Sunday, Mirer, reinstalled as the starting quarterback, has a certain edge to his voice and that seems to transfer to the attitude of the team.

“There is no more Mr. Nice Guy stuff,” Mirer said. “We’ve been nice to each other. We’ve been nice to our opponents. We’ve been too nice all the way for us. We need to start looking out for us because nobody else is looking out for us.”

Mirer admitted that he’s been in a remarkably better mood all week since meeting with Erickson and discussing why he got the hook at halftime against Denver.

“I’m not looking for apologies, I’m not looking for any excuses, and I never was,” Mirer said. “That doesn’t correct anything that happened. I just don’t want it (being benched) to happen again, and I can help that not happening by playing better. Others can help the situation.”

What pleases Mirer is that players are “scratching and clawing” more to do their jobs.

“There is no point in getting down about stuff that’s over,” Mirer said. “I just kinda said, ‘Forget it, you know, just go play.’ That’s it. No more being nice to everybody.”

Notes

Just in case Adams can’t play on his sore ankles, the Seahawks didn’t deactivate defensive tackle Henry McMillian, who was inactive for the first two weeks. Safety T.J. Cunningham, tackle Robert Barr, linebacker James Logan and guard Pete Kendall were named as the inactive players. Linebacker Terry Wooden (hamstring) and defensive end Matt LeBounty (knee) will be among the inactives announced Sunday. … The Chiefs officially will be without their top two tight ends - Keith Cash and Derrick Walker - along with defensive end Pellom McDaniels and center Jeff Smith. They were Friday’s inactive players.

Wide receiver Tamarick Vanover is also expected to miss the game. … The Seahawks elected halfback Chris Warren as the alternate player representative to the players’ association. Punter Rick Tuten was re-elected as player rep.