Hawks’ change smooth

Mike Holmgren had already given Seattle the golden age of Seahawks football.

A first Super Bowl appearance. An ongoing run of five consecutive playoff appearances. The trade that made Pro Bowler Matt Hasselbeck the franchise’s quarterback and cornerstone. A league-wide reputation as an elite organization, a premier destination that players seek.

This week, the veteran coach gave the Seahawks yet another gift: the smoothest transition between coaches the NFL has seen.

“Yeah, it is unprecedented,” said agent Bob LaMonte.

He was in a unique position to broker Seattle’s coach-on-layaway deal, which has Holmgren finishing his contract in 2008 and Jim Mora already under contract to replace him beginning in February 2009. LaMonte represents both Holmgren and Mora.

Ellis beat odds

A Pro Bowl debut can’t be more meaningful to any player than it is for Greg Ellis.

The Dallas linebacker won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award against one of the strongest fields. Considering that last summer, Ellis couldn’t be sure he’d wear a Cowboys jersey again, his selection for Sunday’s all-star game is more impressive.

Ellis tore his left Achilles tendon in November 2006. Few injuries are as devastating, and his recovery was slow. Still, Ellis beat out a list of comeback candidates including Randy Moss, Ben Roethlisberger, Brett Favre, Jamal Lewis, Bobby Engram, Patrick Kerney and five others.

Around the league

Chicago Bears star linebacker Brian Urlacher underwent minor neck surgery recently and is expected to be fully recovered when training camp starts in July. … The Miami Dolphins signed former Montana State cornerback Joey Thomas. Thomas was a third-round draft pick in 2004 by Green Bay.