Battle For Defensive End Job Hasn’t Sacked A Friendship
Two players. One starting position. No friction.
Phillip Daniels and Antonio Edwards are waging one of the more cordial battles in the history of football, trying to be the Seahawks’ No. 1 right defensive end.
“We hang out, talk a lot,” Daniels said following practice Tuesday afternoon in Cheney. “We both know somebody’s got to start, but we both want to win. As long as we win, everything will be fine. A lot of people overlook that fact.”
Both went to schools in Georgia (Daniels at the University of Georgia, Edwards at Valdosta State). Both were born and still reside in small Georgia towns (Daniels in Donalsonville, Edwards in slightly larger Moultrie).
Even their bios are side-by-side in the media guide.
“A lot of people are trying (to stir something up). They think we’re going to have a falling out, hate each other,” Daniels said. “Antonio and I will never be like that. I got to know Antonio through his cousin. I played with his cousin. When I got to (the Seahawks’) first camp I asked for Antonio. That’s how we became friends.”
Edwards started the first three games last season before injuring his knee. He lost his job when Michael McCrary, now with the Baltimore Ravens, went on a sack spree. Edwards, a fifth-year veteran, was a reserve the last half of the season.
Daniels is a relative newcomer to defensive end. He played end only his senior year at Georgia. Carrying 258 pounds on his 6-foot-5 frame, Daniels was a tad light for the position entering the NFL. But now he’s up to 270 and still runs fast enough to play on special teams.
It probably will take a couple of weeks to sort out the starter.
“They’re both trying hard,” defensive line coach Tommy Brasher said. “We really don’t make judgments (on starting) until we play games, so we’re looking forward to Saturday” against Minnesota.
Speaking of Minnesota
Preparation will begin Thursday for the preseason game with the Vikings.
“We’re (still) deciding how long to play the first guys, how long to play the second guys,” Brasher said. “Because we have an extra game, the second and third group will see some action so we can make some evaluations as far as decisions in the next couple weeks.”
Even if Seattle were to sign draft picks Shawn Springs and Walter Jones, it’s probably too late for the pair to play Saturday. “I can’t see either one in camp until Thursday at the earliest, and that’s too late,” Erickson said. He paused and added, “I hope we get them in Thursday. It’s getting a little old as far as I’m concerned.”
Notes
An electrical storm hit Cheney Monday evening, but it came too late to disrupt team meetings. “We had just finished when the electricity went out,” Erickson said. “I’m scared of the dark so I had a little problem with it. I had to have a guide up to my dorm room. … But the lights came back on and we were all happy. We got to watch TV.”. … Darrell Russell, the second pick in the draft, agreed to a contract with Oakland. The Seahawks, who are negotiating with No. 3 Springs and No. 6 Jones, are hoping Russell’s agreement spurs movement among the top picks to sign.
Camp sites
Linebacker/end Chad Brown, who suffered a slight knee strain on Monday, sat out Tuesday. An MRI revealed no damage. … Safety Darryl Williams drew applause when he picked off a pass that deflected off Ronnie Harris’ pads. Still, quarterbacks John Friesz and Warren Moon appeared to have quality practices. Moon chucked a bomb to Eddie Goines and Friesz zipped a nice pass to Brian Blades on a deep seam route.
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