A life-changing call

KIRKLAND, Wash. – Two weeks ago, Pete Hunter was sitting in front of a computer at his Dallas home, putting the finishing touches on a home loan for one of his clients.

Fast forward to Wednesday, and the 26-year old was making an appearance on national television, talking about his chances of playing in this weekend’s NFC divisional playoff game.

The recent turn of events has Hunter feeling like he’s on top of the world. As it turns out, it hasn’t been such a bad thing for the Seattle Seahawks – so far.

One week into the calling-all-cornerbacks experiment, the Seahawks are still alive in the postseason. Seattle has added four defensive backs since Week 16 of the NFL season, and the sky has yet to fall.

“I thought the (defensive) coaching staff did a great job of getting those kids ready to play,” head coach Mike Holmgren said Wednesday as his team prepared for Sunday’s game at Chicago.

While Holmgren has been impressed by the play of his patchwork secondary, he wasn’t all that happy to hear about Hunter’s appearance on ESPN’s morning television show.

“I need to talk to him about that,” Holmgren said during his press conference.

A little while later, he did. So Hunter shied away from questions about his television appearance when approached by reporters in the afternoon.

The loan officer did say his life has been quite different over the past 10 days.

“It’s changed a lot – a whole lot,” said Hunter, who signed a contract Jan. 2 after cornerbacks Kelly Herndon and Jimmy Williams suffered season-ending injuries in the same game. “I’m not doing so much paperwork right now. I’m not in front of a computer.”

Hunter flew into town on New Year’s Day, with only a duffle bag filled with two pairs of sweatpants and a few T-shirts. He had a workout planned for the following morning, but he had no idea he’d be offered a contract on the spot.

A friend express-mailed a formal suit that arrived Wednesday, just so Hunter would have something to wear on the team plane this weekend.

It’s been quite a whirlwind for Hunter, but as the veteran cornerback pointed out: “It’s a lot better than being back home.”

Injuries to Herndon, Williams and Marcus Trufant forced the Seahawks to do a lot of shuffling before Saturday’s game against Dallas.

Rookie Kelly Jennings started for the second week in a row, while safety Jordan Babineaux changed positions and was immediately forced into the starting lineup. Hunter and new acquisition Rich Gardner added depth in nickel and dime situations.

The secondary held its own against the Cowboys. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo rarely tested the Seahawks and threw for a modest 189 yards in Seattle’s 21-20 victory.

“They did whatever they had to do, and I guess (testing the secondary) wasn’t it,” said free safety Ken Hamlin, who shifted toward go-to receiver Terrell Owens’ side of the field on several plays. “If they did decide to throw deep at any point in time, we were in position to make the play.”

Another strategy involved using the 200-pound Babineaux to jam Owens at the line of scrimmage. It’s a tactic the Seahawks might have to use again Sunday when they face the Bears.

“There’s no other way to approach it now,” Babineaux said. “It’s in-your-face football now. It’s the playoffs, and guys are fighting to hold on and to play another week.”

Seattle’s makeshift secondary has passed one big test, but that doesn’t mean the Seahawks are in the clear.

“We’re still a banged-up secondary and lack experience back there,” Hamlin said. “People are still probably going to challenge us.

“But we feel like we’ll be prepared for that.”

Jackson may play

Seattle’s leading receiver, Darrell Jackson, is listed as questionable for Sunday’s NFC playoff game, but is expected to play.

Receiver D.J. Hackett is listed as doubtful with a sprained right ankle and his status is unknown. Cornerback Trufant, also doubtful with an ankle sprain, won’t play.

Jackson, who asked out of Saturday’s NFC wild-card win over Dallas when he aggravated the ligament strain in his left big toe, said Wednesday he would be ready to play – he just might not practice much.

“It’s going to be one of those things where I have to suck it up as long as I can and make a couple of plays while I’m in there. That’s it,” Jackson said.

Hackett sprained his right ankle against the Cowboys, on top of a hip injury suffered in the season finale at Tampa Bay.