We had a bit of news after practice, as Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll confirmed that wide receiver Deion Branch did indeed have a knee surgery, his third surgery in a little over two years. Carroll said that Branch had arthroscopic surgery last week.

“He had a little something to clean up after the minicamp,” Carroll said. “He didn’t hurt himself at all, but there was a little something in there that if they could fix up and clean up for the long haul, it was a really good decision. So we did that.”

Carroll did not give a timetable for when Branch would return to the field.

Carroll also said that T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who sat out of the team’s pre-draft minicamp two weeks ago and did not workout today, had surgery last week in Philadelphia for athletic hernia, and should be back in a few weeks.

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It probably was the most we’ve heard from Walter Jones in one sitting, as the 36-year-old shoe-in for the Hall of Fame talked frankly for about 15 minutes in announcing his retirement from the game.

Jones was honest, funny and retrospective in his comments to reporters this afternoon.

After 18 months of trying to rehab a injured left knee after microfracture surgery in December 2008, Jones said he finally came to the conclusion that he could no longer play the game he loved up to the high standards he had set for the position.

“I had to come to the fact that I couldn’t go out and play at a standard that I had set for myself,” Jones said. “So that was most of my reason, because I loved the game and my family loved the game and I don’t want to an embarrassment to them. So I had to be honest with myself.”

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According to Jason La Canfora of the NFL Network, safety Lawyer Milloy has re-signed with Seattle. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but it’s likely a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum, which is close to a $1 million.

Milloy, 36, gives Seattle another veteran player in the back end of the defense to help tutor newbies Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. And he’s familiar with Carroll’s scheme, having played for the new Seahawks head coach when the two were in New England.

The new roster is not out yet, but when it comes out I’ll post an …

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BY ERIC D. WILLIAMS
Staff writer
He simply changed the way the position of offensive tackle is played, and will go down in football history as perhaps the best ever to play the position.

Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Walter Jones called it a career after 13 impressive years in the league, making an announcement through the team on Thursday.

Jones is expected to talk to reporters on Friday, the first day of Seattle’s three day, post-draft minicamp.

In Jones’ honor, the Seahawks announced they immediately will retire his No. 71 jersey. And Governor Christine Gregoire has declared Friday Walter Jones Day.

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In anticipation of Walter Jones impending retirement this week, our own Dave Boling looks back on his impressive, 13-year career in Seattle through the eyes of two people who know him well – former teammate Robbie Tobeck and Randy Mueller, who served as the team’s general manager when Seattle drafted Jones sixth overall in 1997.

Boling:

This region never had a superstar who managed to go so unexamined, who kept such a low profile. That’s who Walter Jones is and always will be; singular and unique, a man unto himself.

Former Hawks general manager Randy Mueller recalled when the team brought him to its headquarters for an interview the week before the 1997 draft.

“He was wearing a sweatshirt and jeans and he didn’t say ‘Boo’ the whole time he was here,” Mueller said. “He was hard to get a read on, but you knew he was uncomplicated and pure.”
Uncomplicated and pure … not modifiers generally applied to superstar athletes.

“And he never changed,” Mueller said. “He just kept working, kept his mouth shut, and kept getting better and better. In 25 years, I’ve never been around anybody like him. We’re all very fortunate to have had time with him.”

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The Seattle Seahawks announced some moves today, releasing cornerback DeAngelo Willingham and punter Tom Malone. The Seahawks also agreed to terms with long snapper Matt Overton and safety Quinton Teal.

Teal is entering his fourth season in the league. He played his first three years with Carolina, starting four games for the Panthers in three seasons. Teal was a restricted free agent for Carolina but not offered a contract with the team.

Teal also participated in Seattle’s pre-draft camp as a tryout player, but was not extended an offer at that time. He adds depth to a safety group …

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I’m sitting here watching the Mariners and avoiding yard work, so why not talk Seahawks instead?

After last week’s draft, the Seattle Seahawks appear to still need a dynamic pass rusher coming off the edge.

But part of the reason that they did not go after that player early in the draft is the fact that Seattle likes the competition at the position.

Chris Clemons, who Seattle received back as part of the Darryl Tapp trade to Philadelphia, is penciled in as the starter at right end, and will compete for time with Ricky Foley, Nick Reed and Dexter Davis.

Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said the Clemons’ acquisition was part of the Seahawks’ concerted effort to get faster off the edge of the defense.

Bradley said one of the conclusions the coaching staff reached after evaluating film from last season is that they needed to get leaner, more mobile bodies rushing from the edge.

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