Mili seeks renewal after year of trials

Itula Mili started the 2005 season in a hospital bed and ended it as a spectator on the Ford Field sidelines while the Seattle Seahawks were losing to Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XL.

Frankly, there weren’t too many high points in between for Mili.

“I understand with injuries you have to take them as they come, but being competitive and being in the NFL it’s your nature to get frustrated,” Mili said, following a training camp practice earlier this week at Eastern Washington University in Cheney. “My frustration was not being part of it and not being able to help out.”

Mili started feeling ill the day before the Seahawks caught a flight to Jacksonville, Fla., for the season opener. Within hours, the pain was so intense he checked into an emergency room. After extensive testing, it was determined Mili had an intestinal blockage. He eventually lost about 20 pounds and much of his strength and endurance.

“They say it happens once in a million to people,” he said. “It was related to a surgery I had when I was 8 years old. Knock on wood, I hope I never have to go through that again. I had the tubes, all of that stuff in me.”

Mili played in only two games, one of those the regular-season finale at Green Bay when Seattle had already clinched home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Mili, who set the franchise record for catches by a tight end (46 in 2003), finished the year without a reception. He was inactive for all three playoff games as Seattle relied on Jerramy Stevens (45 catches) and Ryan Hannam (13).

“I would feel pretty good coming onto the field, but when you’re gone so long, it’s hard to get into the rhythm and groove of it all,” Mili said. “Your body isn’t where it needs to be.”

The Super Bowl was especially painful.

“The dream of all dreams,” Mili said, “and I was watching it happen before my eyes.”

Two weeks after the Super Bowl, Mili dove into an off-season conditioning program, determined to be in top shape for this season. He monitored his nutrition more closely and started regaining lost pounds and strength.

“It all started with my attitude,” he said. “I was going to make this a positive experience and I went back and started training right away. I responded the right way and when you do that, good things happen.”

With Stevens rehabilitating a knee injury and Hannam now a Miami Dolphin, Mili is working with the first-team offense at camp. He missed a couple of practices after tweaking a back muscle, but he was back on the field Wednesday.

“He’s back where he was and he’s actually in really good shape,” head coach Mike Holmgren said. “It was no fun for him last year. Even when he healed up a little bit, I couldn’t get him on the field. He’s having a good camp and he had good minicamps. He’s got to contribute this year.”

That would represent a substantial upgrade from 2005.

“I’ve got a little extra boost because of what happened to me last season,” Mili said. “I definitely feel like an older guy sometimes, but I’m glad I’m in this situation. If I wasn’t out here battling, I would have something to worry about.”