Mili returns from tight spot

KIRKLAND, Wash. – Itula Mili sprints off the line, curls at about 10 yards and wraps his soft hands around a pass from Matt Hasselbeck.

Making a routine catch during an average minicamp practice never felt so rewarding to the veteran tight end.

“It feels good to be running around and feeling healthy,” Mili said. “Sometimes you take your health for granted.”

Last year provided a painful lesson in health for Mili, when a surgery he had at age 8 cost him a chance to play in the Super Bowl.

Mili missed most of the season after being hospitalized just before the opener in Jacksonville with an intestinal blockage. Doctors told Mili that the blockage was caused by scar tissue rubbing against his intestines. The scar tissue was left over from when Mili had his appendix removed at age 8.

“They say it happens to one in 1,000 people,” Mili said. “It’s just a matter of luck. It could happen at any time in your life.”

So while his teammates were putting together the best season in franchise history, Mili was left to stand by and watch. He was inactive for 14 of the 16 regular-season games and played just minimal time against Houston and in the season finale against Green Bay.

He went without a catch all season, after hauling in 23 receptions in 2004. In 2002 and 2003, Mili had a combined 89 catches for 1,000 yards and six touchdowns.

Mili became a scout team tight end, stuck behind Jerramy Stevens and Ryan Hannam on the depth chart. It was frustrating for Mili, who had waged an entertaining battle with Stevens during training camp for the starting role.

Stevens went on to have the best year of his career, catching 45 passes and five touchdowns in the regular season.

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said he wanted to have Mili active for more games last year, but the need for other players on special teams made it difficult.

“He was a real pro last year and went through a real tough year because he had been use to playing,” Holmgren said.

Mili is trying to profit from an advantageous situation.

Hannam left for Dallas in the off-season and Stevens is recovering from knee surgery that will keep him out until training camp. That leaves Mili as the No. 1 tight end on the roster during minicamp.

Mili is back lining up next to offensive tackle Walter Jones, catching passes from Hasselbeck and blocking for league Most Valuable Player Shaun Alexander.

“With this opportunity I need to take advantage of that,” Mili said. “Whatever happens down the road, at least I have gotten the chance to get in and get the reps for what I need to be successful.”

Being stuck on the sidelines also rekindled Mili’s passion for the game. Mili, who graduated from Brigham Young University, has spent his entire career with the Seahawks, and is hoping to redevelop a partnership with Stevens at tight end.

“It was to me a wake-up call … because I realized how much I really love the game,” Mili said. “The previous years I was always in there, always in the grind of it all.

“Not to be a part of it and making it all the way to the Super Bowl and not being able to play was very, very difficult for me.”