Veteran Seahawks have plenty to prove
Matt Hasselbeck was throwing passes again, six months after shoulder surgery.
Shaun Alexander was running through the rain and is cleared to play this season, after the league MVP in 2005 missed much of last season with a broken foot.
Patrick Kerney, Seattle’s biggest defensive acquisition this offseason, was knifing through blockers for the first time since he had surgery eight months ago. And Deion Branch glided through his first day as the No. 1 receiver, after an admittedly so-so Seattle debut last season.
Training camp? These initial days of practices in Kirkland, Wash., for the defending three-time NFC West champion Seahawks will be more like proving camp.
“If we can stay healthy, which is a big ‘if’ in this business, and if our best players play their best, then we are going to have a fine year,” coach Mike Holmgren said after the preseason’s first practice. “We’re pretty solid.”
Though far from perfect.
At one point in the afternoon practice, Holmgren talked sternly to Alexander. Later, the coach was animated while illustrating with an exaggerated throwing motion how he wanted more of Hasselbeck’s throws placed out ahead of his running receivers.
Branch, a former Super Bowl MVP who caught 53 passes and had four touchdowns last season, feels the expectation for more. He is calling himself “the first-round pick” this summer. It’s a reference to what the Seahawks gave to the Patriots through a trade last September for Branch.
Kerney is a pass-rushing menace formerly with Atlanta who went to the Pro Bowl in 2004. A torn pectoral muscle cut his season short last year.
Strahan still a question
With Michael Strahan holding out and considering retirement, the New York Giants plan to give recently released defensive end Simeon Rice a physical on Wednesday.
Strahan, 35, stunned the Giants on Friday when he failed to show up for training camp at the University at Albany, apparently considering retirement.
Rice will arrive in New York on Tuesday and be examined the next day. He failed a physical with Tampa Bay.
Around the league
Running back Adrian Peterson agreed to terms with the Minnesota Vikings on a five-year, $40.5 million deal. … Former No. 1 draft pick Tim Couch signed a two-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. … The Chicago Bears acquired defensive tackle Darwin Walker from Buffalo for a future draft pick. … Jim David, a six-time Pro Bowl defensive back who won three NFL championships with the Detroit Lions, died Sunday at his home in Allen Park, Mich., after a long illness. He was 79.