Fret no more

RENTON, Wash. – When Deion Branch misses practice, news tends to travel fast to his friends and family around the country.

“I had family members calling me saying, ‘What’s wrong with you?’ ” Branch said.

This is what happens when a former Super Bowl MVP has trouble staying healthy for his new team, a team that traded away a first-round draft pick to get him.

Every misstep is analyzed, every day off is a cause for concern. But despite missing a few practices this training camp, the Seahawks receiver said he’s just fine.

“I’m good,” he said. “Nothing is wrong with me, I promise you that… I’m good, I’m cool, I’m fine, I’m feeling good.”

Branch even pleads with a reporter to make sure his message gets across to anyone worried about his health.

“Write it tomorrow. Say ‘I spoke to Deion Branch, and he’s feeling good and promises everybody that he’s doing well,’ ” he said. “Seriously, all jokes aside, I don’t want people to be worried about anything, especially my mom. She called me, too. I’m feeling good.”

But Branch also understands why people are worried.

Seahawks fans were excited to have the former New England Patriot when Seattle acquired him early in the 2006 season. Three years later, however, those same fans wonder how much of No. 83 they’ll see on the field. Branch missed four consecutive games in 2007 with a foot injury, then missed two more later that season. He tore his ACL in a playoff loss to Green Bay, which caused him to miss the first three games of the 2008 season. Branch then returned to the lineup only to suffer a foot injury in his first game back, and that injury cost him five more games.

Branch knows why people might question his ability to stay healthy.

“I do understand that,” he said. “It’s hard, you do want to go out there and do your job. But on the flipside, this is the NFL. Guys are going to get hurt. It’s going to happen, and unfortunately I’ve been on the bad end of it the last couple of years, but mentally I’ve been able to bounce back. I’m still positive. I know I still have a lot of years left in me. I feel like I still have a lot to give to this team, and this team is well deserving of it.”

On the field, Branch smiles more than just about anyone on the team. But the past two years – the injuries, the criticism – have taken their toll on the receiver.

“It’s been tough (on him),” said fellow receiver Nate Burleson. “That’s probably one of my closest friends on the team, and he’s all smiles when he’s out on the field, but there are times when we talk to each other, and we’re realistic about how fans feel about us. Believe it or not, we hear just about everything. Not too many things are swept under the rug nowadays with the internet, TV and reporters. So if you’re a guy sitting at home blogging in his basement, or a reporter that’s on TV, we hear everything and everything in between, and it’s tough… it’s give and take. You sign up for what you receive, and that’s the good and the bad, that’s the praise and the criticism.”

Branch is confident that this season he is ready to show he was worth a first-round pick three years ago.

He feels he can turn the criticism of the past two seasons into the praise.

“I take it with a grain of salt,” he said. “When I’m on the field, I know what I can do. The team, everyone around me knows what type of player I am. I’m blessed to still be on the field, and I’m going to give this team everything I have each and every day, every down. That’s that.”

Healthier Hawks

After several days in which increasing numbers of players were absent from practice, the Seahawks Wednesday were about as close as they’ve been to full since the first few days of camp.

A number of players who were absent or limited Tuesday were back, including center Chris Spencer, who was carted off the field Friday with an ankle injury. Also returning to practice or increasing their roles in practice were linebacker Lofa Tatupu, cornerback Josh Wilson, defensive end Lawrence Jackson, linebacker Will Herring, safety Deon Grant, and receiver Nate Burleson.

Missing were left tackle Walter Jones (back), guard Mansfield Wrotto (unknown), guard Cory Withrow (leg), guard Grey Ruegamer (elbow), cornerback Marcus Trufant (back), and defensive end Patrick Kerney (rest).