Obviously, what everyone wants to know is the status of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, and head coach Jim More didn’t waste time getting to it.
“Let’s talk first about what you all want to know about and that’s Matt,” Mora said. “I’ve always had a lot of respect for him and it keeps growing and here’s why.”
And basically, Mora then told the story of meeting with the press on Monday and then going to the locker room about two hours later and seeing Hasselbeck in “excruciating pain.” Not exactly what he wanted to see after telling the media just hours before that Hass would practice on Wednesday. Mora said that Hasselbeck was also upset about his condition. Mora just tried to comfort his quarterback and tell him that things could be better on Tuesday.
And …
“He had come in and gotten his treatment and taken a couple of aspirin – high potency aspirin – and gone out on the field and worked out and fought his way through it,” Mora said. “And he’s going to go on the field today.”
Hasselbeck will participate in stretch, individual work, installation and then the Seahawks will reevaluate where he’s at and see how much more they will have him do.
“If he can keep pushing, he’ll keep pushing,” Mora said. “The guy is without question doing everything possible to get out on the football field. That’s what you’d expect of him. But to see him every day and the kind of the ups and downs of pushing the injury and his willingness to do what it takes at any level to get out on the field has really garnered a lot of respect around here from me, the coaches and his players.”
So does that mean he’ll be ready to go on Sunday? Not exactly.
“Let’s all keep our fingers crossed and see how it goes today with him,” Mora.
But hold on, what about this whole “excruciating pain” thing on Monday what caused that?
“It was just part of the healing process,” Mora said.
Well, okay then. IT’s not usually any part of the healing processes that I know of, but I guess we’ll believe him.
Really it’s not a question of how tough Hasselbeck is, but whether he can be effective and whether playing on Sunday could make the situation worse and have miss more time.
“Being tough is not enough,” Mora said. ” Being smart, being able to function. We just have to see where he is a tthe end of the week. Time will tell. By the time we get to Saturday we should have a pretty good idea.”
Obviously, Hasselbeck wants to get out on the field. And he’ll push to play. He’s been doing that, but hopefully not to detriment.
“Matt’s smart though. We’re going to make the right decision,” Mora said.
Now onto other things …
Patrick Kerney has a strained groin and will not practice today, but Mora is hopeful he’ll play Sunday.
Walter Jones will not practice this week, and Eric asked if they are looking to get through the bye week and then reevaluate, which Mora confirmed.
It later led to how it affects the decision of bringing in another tackle.
“I don’t know if there is anybody out there, we can go get,” Mora said.
He talked about the personnel department and coaches studying up on players.
“If there’s a guy we need to find about, we make time to study him,” Mora said. “And then you say, ok is this the right guy and then you try to bring him in, and if he’s not, you don’t. It’s not always as cut and dried as you think.”
Mora said they don’t ignore anything.
“If we didn’t see it as our best solution, then we would make a move,” he said. “If there was a better solution, then we would. This is the solution we have and we are going to make it work.”
Part of the problem in the solution is Jones himself. They have to respect him as a player, what he’s done for the organization and his overall belief that he can return. Mora was asked if he had a “drop dead date” where they have to make a decision on Jones and what to do with him.
“Yeah, but it’s not firm,” Mora said. “We’re talking about a hall of famer. There’s a lot of factors that go into it. What’s best for the team, how much respect do you show Walter. If Walter can get back, how long do we wait for him. What if we IR’d him and two weeks later, he’s ready to go, would you look back and just be sick about it. It’s a puzzle. And we talk about it every day. We talk to Walter as well. We’re all on the same page. We’re just trying to make the right decision. And right now, the right decision as far as all of us are concerned – coaches, doctors, trainers and Walter -is back off see where it is in a couple weeks and reassess.”
There is a lot of conflicting and puzzling things coming from Mora. How does one have a drop dead date that is not firm? What is this nonsense about Matt and excruciating pain and high potency aspirin? Come on. Did he get the pain injection or not?
× Flag comment
“Obviously, what everyone wants to know is the status of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck”
Not true. I don’t want to know about Princess Fragileback and his soon-to-be-ongoing game of hurt/not hurt. Playing this game, again, is throwing away any chances to get an offense with some rhythm and dis-a-prin. He’ll come in, take the offense for the entire week, get a boo-boo, and everyone will sit around crying that Wallace is terrible because he’s tossed into a live game without practice. Fragileback is toast, history shows that, let Wallace get the reps, let him get the offense rhythm going.
× Flag comment
This O-line thing is getting worse…how do we justify letting Matt come back only to get blindsided from backside…how about this: Trade Branch for a Tackle straight up…fill a need w/ a need…too bad his contract is so huge, the Raiders will take him, they trade and over pay everyone, he’ll fit right in there!!…Have we dressed 45 since week 1 or 2, I know we were short Wk 3, what was Wk 4?…I live in Stealer country and just seeing them w/ same record as us before last week was great!!…Use Seneca until Bye wk. then re-eval. the injuries w/ Walt and Matt.
× Flag comment
The offensive line is nowhere near as bad as people think it is. The coaches made a big mistake allowing Frye to single team Freeny early, but they (finally) rectified it in the 4th quarter and Wallace had time to throw.
This situation reminds me of the Pats of 1999-2001. Bledsoe was one of the most sacked QBs in the NFL and everyone blamed his line, forgetting his release was slow and he was basically a statue. Tom Brady came in, played behind the same line and was rarely sacked. I’d throw David Carr out there as another player who created his own sacks when he was with the Texans.
× Flag comment
“high potency aspirin”? Are those the same ones Brett Favre had too much of a few years back?
I have been outta town and just got around to watching the Bears game. I thought Seneca played pretty well and do not see why there is all the hate against him here. Yes, he made a couple of bad decisions, but come on, Matt makes bad decisions at times also. And Seneca was throwing off balance a lot due to our leaky line. That leaky line is going to get Matt killed this weekend so why risk it? Put Seneca back in there and let Matt heal up. The real problem with our O has more to do with the OL than the QB at this point.
× Flag comment
All the sports writers at Mora’s press conf were just asking the same questions about Hass and Walt injuries that get asked over and over. Please move on, guys. Hasselbeck won’t be part of the game plan, Seneca will be. Ask Mora some questions that actually matter to this week’s game.
I’m impressed with the job Mike Solari is doing with the backup O linemen, but we can’t have Brandon Frye protecting Matt Hasselbeck’s blind side. I think we need to accept that Walt will not play for awhile, Hasselbeck should not play until Walt of Locklear is in at LT, and let’s move on from this obsession with these injuries. We have enough players to beat Jacksonville.
× Flag comment
This is a tough call re Matt. I mean, it’s pretty accurate to say that our season boils down to these two games, and we need to have our best shot at winning. On the other hand, how in the world can you ask a guy with a broken rib, who is in ‘excruciating pain’ just going through a practice, to absorb NFL-lineman hits to that broken rib? Can only imagine how much that would hurt.
I’ve broken a rib before (i’m sure plenty of people on here have too) and it’s painful just to breathe and get around – having somebody slam into you repeatedly, well, hard to see how anyone could do it.
“Not true. I don’t want to know about Princess Fragileback and his soon-to-be-ongoing game of hurt/not hurt. ”
D-Bag comment of the day . . .
× Flag comment
On another note – we’ve got our own problems right now, and it’s not really the time to look at other teams – but SF signing Crabtree, while I don’t think it’s going to provide immediate dividends – definitely gives them a boost. Even if it’s all really about $, it still gives the off the general impression of a guy wanting to board a train that’s moving in the right direction. Could be their year.
× Flag comment
hellomouthbreathers:
Any intelligent thought or point you might have becomes moot when you write with such satire. Get over your hard-on for Hasselbeck and realize that the people making the decision of who to start under center will frobably forget more football knowledge than you or I will ever know.
Stay classy
× Flag comment
Fragileback come on he was crushed on the ground, really was lucky it was not a punctured lung.
McNabb was hurt 1 week earlier on much less of a hit, and he’s coming back this week. Logic would say Hasselbeck would come back next week if it was the same injury.
Hasselbeck is the Best QB we have like it or not and when he’s ready he will be back. The coaches will be as vague as possible to make other teams have to gameplan on him and Seneca.
Look at last week the Colts made it sound like Freeney was out with a strained quad, I’m betting it was a bruise they called a strain.
Any way I said it before, I hope the coaches will always keep the injuries a secret or mystery from us and every other NFL team within league rules
× Flag comment
Regarding Hass: I hope they don’t rush his return. I’d rather have a healthy Matt for 8 games then a f’d up Matt for 2 followed by out for the season.
× Flag comment
Seems to be a lot of focus on players that won’t be in the mix rather than focusing on those that are. Simply put the players that are active for the game need to step up. They are professionals and are here for a reason. No one is looking for excuses just for eveyone to put forth that extra effort. Building a level of rythm and comfort is a work in process when you have to plug “new” players into the gaps created by injuries. The teams that focus on what is at hand and not on the what ifs are the ones that are successful. Give this team some credit, especially the players that have stepped in. Time will tell. Just a few bounces of the ball in their direction and who knows. I am cautiously optimistic about this team.
× Flag comment
Regarding Seneca’s play; I agree with Pilot that it hasn’t been THAT bad. I blame Knapp’s lame play calling, lack of talent at RB & injuries on the ol at least as much as Wallace; probably more so.
Is it possible that Seneca’s been looking so unhappy on the sideline because Knapp’s offense is a bad joke fit for a Raider?
× Flag comment
Where’s the accountability? We KNEW going into camp Matt was one hit away from the DL and our O-line was fragile (i.e.-Walter, Sims, Whale, Spencer).
Can anyone say truthfully you felt comfortable going into camp as Senaca as a back up and a rookie as a #3 and our Oline could sustain a full healthly season?
If you answer yes, you’re either a dumba*s or full of sh*t. Point the finger at the GM for this hole were buried in. We had all offseason to plug our weak links. No action was taken. FIRE THE GM (not the coach).
× Flag comment
This is exactly the situation I was talking about happening when Ruskell ignored the offensive tackle situation in the offseason and the draft. Everyone was on the “Locklear can be Walter’s long term replacement” bandwagon, and here we are 1-3. Maybe Ruskell was so intent on not screwing up this 1st round pick after all the busts and duds he’s had with the other 1st round picks and the bust of a trade of our 2007 1st rounder that he forgot about adding a tackle later. Or maybe he just doesn’t value offensive linemen. But this situation can be laid at his doorstep, and his wheeling and dealing after taking a linebacker, not a position of need, in the 1st round, and trading our 2nd round pick for what looks like a late 1st round pick next year, then throwing away middle round picks to get the 2nd and then 3rd back, for a receiver, and taking a quarterback in the 6th, did nothing to help this year’s situation. Relying on a medical procedure with a zero full recovery rate, for a 35 year old lineman, and a RT playing out of position on the left side who has his own injury history, was stupid, but no one wanted to believe that.
And yes, the offensive line IS as bad as it looks, outside of Max Unger, the one bright spot. Willis is a guard playing a tackle position, Frye plays like what he is, a 3rd string waiver wire pickup, and Sims and Spencer flat suck and have always sucked, that is other than when they weren’t out injured. What I hope to see with whoever is the GM next year, and at this rate it won’t be Ruskell, is a left tackle in the 1st round, a guard in the 2nd, move Willis to guard and move Locklear back to RT where he belongs.
The good news next week is it’s a home game, the only spot where the Seahawks can play good football, and it’s the worst (currently) pass defense in the league, and looks like Josh Wilson is back so no Kelly Jennings starting. The bad news is Seneca Wallace is still at quarterback, Frye is still at left tackle and we’re facing Maurice Jones-Drew.
× Flag comment
Is their even plans for walter jones to even come back at all? Or do we put him on IR knowing that his surgery cause his career to be over, ya it football and players to get hurt and yes the game is hall of famer but how long do you give him until you place him on IR?
thought people need to chill out and stop acting like the sky is falling as injuries is party of football and you would know if you played football.
× Flag comment
What happened to the Jets wanting Branch? Now they have Edwards instead.
I know it was awhile ago But I wonder if they shopped him for a Tackle?
Everybody complaining about reporting on Matt and Walter.
They are the biggest stories for our team. get over it.
Can somebody bump the Matt is fragile skipping record?
matt is done. matt is done.matt is done.matt is done.matt is done.matt is done. enuff already. He’s our #1 QB
× Flag comment
Bring in Levi Jones NOW and give him Starting Money, if Jones can’t go after the bye week it’s Injured Reserve Time for him!
× Flag comment
Hey BigMike – Mora all but said that Walter is done for the year. He is just being respectful of his stature as a player and not pushing him out the door. Jones should man-up to the fact that he is not going to contribute this year, or probably any year, and call it quits so that the team can try to find another body for depth.
I agree with Nighthawk – TR has done a bad job of risk management with this team and has left it exposed. I would be very surprised if TR is here next year.
× Flag comment
Lawrence Jackson seems to be making some of us look foolish for calling him a bust. With this being said, not “ALL” of Ruskell’s first rounders can be called busts anymore.
Curry will be fine, although I have not been too happy with the immediate dividens.
I would be mad about the trading extra picks away, but when those players have turned into Tatupu, Carlson, and Unger… I won’t criticize because they are worth it.
× Flag comment
And before I get accused of being a card carrying member of the Ruskell Cult, I am mad at his salary cap management.
We all know Hutch should have been franchised. Over. Done. Ruskell is a moron for trying to save a few hundred dollars.
We have grossly overpaid for average FAs. Grant is good and I’m happy with him as a player — but he’s paid like Kenny Easley in his prime should have been. Kerney had the solid/great year, but he was/is paid like he should be doing that for 5 years. Branch was given Reggie Wayne money, although he’s not 1/110th as good. I have no problem with giving out lots of money (it’s not mine), but it should only go to the players who are the best at their positions in the NFL. I would have had no problem giving Faneca crazy money because he’s a top 3-5 guard in the NFL. Those are the guys you pay.
× Flag comment
“few hundred thousand dollars”
× Flag comment
I did eat my words about Lojack and did apologise last week.
I agree about Levi Jones being the only option left without giving away next years’ picks ( even though I’m still hopeful about Oher) Ok,ok I’ll let go off Oher. One can still wish and hope,right?
× Flag comment
At this point if there’s no hope then we truly have nothing.
× Flag comment
I am not calling out walter jones but we as fans and the seahawks as players should be prepairing for day that Big Walt Jones do retired and thought if he not ready after bye week than just place him on IR and let him get healthy to wear if he want to be back next season than the job is his.
× Flag comment
Man I love the conjecture in here about players futures. Don’t you think that if they already know that Walt won’t come back this year that they would have already IR’d him? That roster spot is too valuable for them to just string ANYBODY along. They know that if they can get Walt back for even 8 games that it’s better than getting a replacement. If it was so obvious to them, like it is to many of you, that he’s done for the year he’d be IR’d so fast it would make your head spin.
× Flag comment