Whirlwind month fine for Murphy

The stress meter should be hovering in the red-line area for Matt Murphy, but his relaxed demeanor suggests otherwise.

A few months ago, Murphy was asked by the Houston Texans to move from tight end to the offensive line. When that didn’t work out, he was released in June. Murphy and his wife, Alison, celebrated the arrival of son, Mason, on July 24.

And less than a week ago, he received a phone call at 10 a.m. from the Seattle Seahawks, boarded a 2:30 p.m. flight out of Houston, took part in a workout and was signed by the team.

“It’s been an interesting month or so for me, no doubt about it,” said Murphy, who seems unaffected outwardly by the detours his career path has taken since the end of the 2005 season. “Your head starts spinning for the first few days. I didn’t know where anything was but the guys have been really cool. Everyone has been helping me with the plays and showing me everything.”

While most of Seattle’s starting jobs and many of the two-deep spots appear to be locked up, there is a vacancy for a third tight end, presuming Jerramy Stevens returns at full strength in the next week or two and veteran Itula Mili remains in Seattle’s plans.

There are four tight ends competing for the spot. Murphy, with three catches in four NFL seasons, and Will Heller, who had 15 receptions in three seasons with Tampa Bay and Miami, have the most NFL experience. Mike Gomez, who has diversified his resume by taking on some long-snapping duties, and Keith Willis are also in the mix.

“There’s no question there’s a third spot to be won,” offensive coordinator Gil Haskell said. “Will is doing a fine job; I like what I see from him. Keith is a young guy and he’s coming on. And then Murphy came in the other day and he’s a big, strong guy who has played in this league so there’s competition.”

Finding repetitions for the tight ends hasn’t been easy. Gomez, Heller and Willis saw extended time last week when Mili missed a couple of days with a strained back muscle and Stevens continued to rehabilitate his surgically repaired knee. Mili has returned and Murphy has been added, which means reps aren’t as plentiful.

“We were so beat up that it’s been a little bit scrambled at times,” Haskell said. “The most important thing is when a guy is in there, how did he do? I don’t worry about whether he got in for five snaps or three snaps.”

Murphy was leery when the Texans approached him about moving to the offensive line. Nonetheless, he essentially doubled his food intake, gained nearly 25 pounds and went through organized team activities, working at center, guard and tackle.

“They told me right before the draft,” he said. “They said they had their guys they wanted to bring in (at tight end). Mark Bruener and I were the blocking tight ends and they only needed one.”

When it became apparent offensive line wasn’t in his future, Murphy asked for and was granted his release. He immediately started dropping weight and waited for the phone to ring.

“I was careful not to eat bad food (when he bulked up). I’d just eat double the chicken and rice in case I needed to lose the weight,” said Murphy, who has shed 15 pounds to his current 275. “I started working out right away (after his release), running and lifting real heavy.

“I was anxious for a few weeks not knowing, but I kind of figured with training camps starting I’d get some phone calls. It was tough waiting around.”

Almost as tough as leaving his wife, Mason and 3-year-old daughter Taylor to pursue an opportunity with the Seahawks.

“I just wanted a chance and I think I have one,” Murphy said. “It’s hard, but my wife sends me pictures (of Mason) and I see how different he looks already. My wife understands and she’s happy that I’m out here. Hopefully there’ll be a chance for them to come out here.”