A lot riding on Hasselbeck's back

A lot riding on Hasselbeck's back
January 16
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
"Matt Hasselbeck has been called Hasselback more times than he cares to remember.

But the syllabic slip never has been more appropriate, as Hasselbeck enters his ninth season as the Seahawks quarterback with a bulging disk in his back and his 34th birthday on tap in September.

The combination of Hasselbeck's injury situation, age and elevated contract status prompted more than a few reports and rumors in the past few months that he could be released or traded this offseason.

The look on club president Tim Ruskell's face when presented with that scenario screams please.

"Matt's our quarterback," Ruskell said. "I'm very happy that he is."

Jim Mora, the former secondary coach who has replaced Mike Holmgren as head coach, echoed that sentiment Tuesday.

"Certainly, Matt Hasselbeck is the point man," Mora said. "He's our point guard. He's our triggerman. He's our quarterback. I'm very excited about that.

"Matt is a special player. He's a special man. And he gives us a ton of flexibility. The most important thing for us right now is that Matt get -- and stay -- healthy."

Good point, because the ailment that forced Hasselbeck to miss nine games in 2008 -- and play ineffectively in the seven games he did start (10 interceptions, compared with five touchdown passes) -- is a concern that lingers.

"The body heals itself," he said as the players were cleaning out their lockers the day after the season-ending loss to the Cardinals in Arizona.

"I'm hopeful to be better by the end of (January). All in all, I'll be better before I talk to you guys again."

That should be the first week in April, when the Seahawks are allowed an additional minicamp by league rules because they have a new coach.

Hasselbeck says that dealing with the back situation -- which began in August and never was right for the entire season -- will help him as he moves forward.

"Just even the short time I was doing (the rehab), I felt like I had a lot more velocity on my ball and I was throwing it farther," he said. "And that's while I was hurt.""
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