Ancient history
To at least one Seattle Seahawk, Sunday’s matchup with the Chicago Bears is about more than just a game pitting two of the NFC’s three remaining unbeaten teams.
Wide receiver Bobby Engram was drafted by the Bears and spent his first five seasons in Chicago. Sunday will mark the first time he returns to the Windy City to play in a game.
“I (wouldn’t) want to be the Bears after they cut Bobby Engram and now he’s coming back to town,” said Seahawks receiver Darrell Jackson, who is one of Engram’s closest friends on the team. “That’s all I can say about that.”
To his credit, Engram is downplaying the reunion.
More than five years have passed since he was released by the Bears in 2001. Chicago has changed head coaches since he left town – from Dick Jauron to Lovie Smith – and only six former teammates are still with the team.
“I’m so far removed,” said Engram, who caught six passes for 73 yards and a touchdown for the Seahawks when the Bears visited Seattle in 2003. “Obviously, it’s going to be a little different because I spent the first few years of my career there. But my focus is not going to be on the Bears or a reunion. It’s just on helping us continue to win games and continue to move forward.”
Engram, 33, was a big part of the Seahawks’ climb toward Super Bowl XL, serving as one of the few experienced receivers and a quiet leader within the locker room. While his exit from Chicago was difficult at the time, he landed in the right situation at the right time.
“Everything happens for a reason,” he said. “When you get cut, you’re not excited about it. But with the way things have turned out, I think it was great for me.
“I had a couple of choices, but obviously playing against coach (Mike) Holmgren for a couple years and knowing what kind of offense he likes to run, I felt like Seattle had a lot of upside. I feel like I made the right decision.”
Since coming to Seattle, Engram has quietly been one of the most productive receivers in recent Seahawks memory. His 245 receptions as a Seahawk rank sixth in franchise history, and he’s been among the team’s top four in receptions in each of his first five seasons here.
The Bears gave up on the former second-round pick after the 2001 training camp, citing salary-cap and injury concerns while also putting their faith in a group of younger receivers like David Terrell and Marcus Robinson who have since moved on.
The Seahawks’ Jackson was recently teasing Engram by saying that the Bears thought he was “not fast enough” and “not good enough.” When Engram jokingly added “not tall enough” to that list, Jackson laughed.
“Deion Branch is shorter than you,” Jackson said, referring to the Seahawks’ newest receiver, “and he got 39 (million dollars).”
Granted, Engram is not considered a burner by NFL standards. Nor is his 5-foot-10 frame very intimidating. But Engram has found a niche in Seattle and continued to be productive well into his 30s.
“The quarterbacks were talking at dinner (during training camp) and it was 20 minutes of ‘How awesome is Bobby Engram?’ ” Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said last month.
“… (Penn State coach) Joe Paterno once said that Bobby Engram is the best football player he ever coached. That’s saying something.”
Engram has been pretty darned good for the Seahawks over the years, and now he gets to return to the city that gave up on him.
Notes
With Maurice Morris and special teamer Josh Scobey as the only healthy halfbacks on the active roster, the Seahawks could make a move this week. Practice squad player Marquis Weeks is the most logical choice to serve as Morris’ backup, but the Seahawks would have to clear a roster spot to activate him for the game. … The Seahawks still haven’t updated the expected return date for Alexander. Holmgren said Monday that he could be out “a few weeks,” adding that he might have something more concrete by today. … Defensive tackle Chris Cooper, who was released by the Seahawks on Saturday, signed with Arizona.