Seahawks can again bank on Branch
KIRKLAND, Wash. – When Seattle Seahawks receiver Deion Branch found out that he wasn’t going to be cleared to play in last Saturday’s playoff opener because of a calf injury, he had one request of his teammates.
“I asked the guys before the game to come out and give me another opportunity to play a game,” Branch said on Wednesday. “They did that, so now I have to play. No ifs, ands or buts – I have to.”
Branch took a step in that direction by taking part in his first practice in two weeks on Wednesday afternoon. Although he didn’t finish the session, Branch said his calf felt fine and added that he will definitely be on the field Saturday in Green Bay.
“There’s no doubt,” he said of playing against the Packers in a second-round playoff game. “I’ll be out there this week.”
The Seahawks’ receiving corps has done just fine without Branch, but his return would be a welcome addition.
Offensive coordinator Gil Haskell said he’s looking forward to seeing Branch back on the field for a game.
“He looked so good (at Wednesday’s practice) he teased me to death,” Haskell said. “He’s a quick bugger, with great hands, and he moves so fast.”
While the Seahawks welcomed back Branch, they were still without defensive end Patrick Kerney and left tackle Walter Jones. Kerney is nursing a sore left knee, while Jones has taken plenty of practices off in recent weeks to rest sore shoulders.
Coach Mike Holmgren said he expects both players to be available. The same goes for defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (groin) and backup linebacker Niko Koutouvides (knee), both of whom were also held out of practice.
Favored Favre
Holmgren has been asked dozens of times over the years to compare quarterbacks Matt Hasselbeck and Brett Favre.
For once, he actually made a comparison.
Asked during his Wednesday press conference which is the better quarterback, Holmgren paused for several seconds.
“I think when it comes to natural ability, I think it would be hard to find anybody as talented as Brett, honest to goodness,” Holmgren said. “His natural-ability, God-given ability is pretty unique. I will say this: As important as Brett is to the Packers, that’s how important Matt is to us.”
Holmgren added that Hasselbeck’s ascension into a Pro Bowl player has been more impressive because of where he started. While Favre was a second-round pick who had plenty of early success, Hasselbeck was a sixth-round pick that took a little more time to find his groove.
No fear
When asked Wednesday about Green Bay’s so-called Cheeseheads, Seahawks safety Deon Grant said: “There are going to be a lot of them. I might eat some of them.”
The eight-year veteran doesn’t seem to be intimidated by Lambeau, the Packers or Favre.
“I’m going to try and get as many interceptions as I can from him,” he said of the Packers’ record-setting quarterback. “He’s a great quarterback, and he’s got a lot of passing records, but at the same time he’s broken the interception record too.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for the guy, but when I put my chinstrap on Saturday, all that goes out the window.”
Cold? What cold?
Forecasts in Green Bay call for a high of 30 degrees and snow flurries this weekend.
But when asked about the conditions, Holmgren was succinct in his concerns.
“Weather,” he said, “will not be an issue.”