Seahawks decide not to activate WR Branch
Written by: ¦ 9/16/2006
Source: seattlepi.nwsource.com
KIRKLAND -- Wide receiver Deion Branch, who was acquired Monday in a trade with the New England Patriots, will not play Sunday in the Seahawks' home opener against the Arizona Cardinals at Qwest Field.
The club had until 1 p.m. PDT Saturday to activate Branch for the game. The Seahawks had received a two-game roster exemption when they signed Branch.
To add him to the 53-man roster, the Seahawks would have had to release a player and also probably deactivate another wide receiver against the Cardinals -- most likely D.J Hackett.
Coach Mike Holmgren had been vacillating all week on whether to play Branch. He was weighing the option of getting a limited look at his newest player versus sitting down another player who already knew the system and releasing a player who had been with the club since the start of training camp.
Branch worked out with the Seahawks the first time Wednesday, and it was his first practice since mid-January, when the Patriots where eliminated from the playoffs. Branch sat out the offseason minicamps, training camp and the preseason in a contract dispute.
Branch said Friday that he would understand, whatever decision Holmgren made.
"If coach says, 'Yes,' I'm ready to go,'" Branch said after practice. "If he tells me, 'No,' I'll understand as well."
In other news, Lions rookie linebacker Ernie Sims has been fined $7,500 by the league for a hit on Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in last week's season opener.
The hit occurred at the end of a scramble, as Hasselbeck was sliding, and Sims was penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct.
"I've got to be a smart ballplayer," Sims told the Detroit News. "But at the same time, I can't let nothing take away from my game."
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com
Written by: ¦ 9/16/2006
Source: seattlepi.nwsource.com
KIRKLAND -- Wide receiver Deion Branch, who was acquired Monday in a trade with the New England Patriots, will not play Sunday in the Seahawks' home opener against the Arizona Cardinals at Qwest Field.
The club had until 1 p.m. PDT Saturday to activate Branch for the game. The Seahawks had received a two-game roster exemption when they signed Branch.
To add him to the 53-man roster, the Seahawks would have had to release a player and also probably deactivate another wide receiver against the Cardinals -- most likely D.J Hackett.
Coach Mike Holmgren had been vacillating all week on whether to play Branch. He was weighing the option of getting a limited look at his newest player versus sitting down another player who already knew the system and releasing a player who had been with the club since the start of training camp.
Branch worked out with the Seahawks the first time Wednesday, and it was his first practice since mid-January, when the Patriots where eliminated from the playoffs. Branch sat out the offseason minicamps, training camp and the preseason in a contract dispute.
Branch said Friday that he would understand, whatever decision Holmgren made.
"If coach says, 'Yes,' I'm ready to go,'" Branch said after practice. "If he tells me, 'No,' I'll understand as well."
In other news, Lions rookie linebacker Ernie Sims has been fined $7,500 by the league for a hit on Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in last week's season opener.
The hit occurred at the end of a scramble, as Hasselbeck was sliding, and Sims was penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct.
"I've got to be a smart ballplayer," Sims told the Detroit News. "But at the same time, I can't let nothing take away from my game."
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com
