WORD OF THE DAY
Weight. As in, lifting it. During an interview with Rob Sims on Monday, the Seahawks' right guard had some interesting observations about the weight-room work ethic of a couple of teammates.

The first was veteran left guard Mike Wahle, who was signed in February and prompted the move of Sims to the right side.

"Mike Wahle is just nuts," Sims said. "I call it grown-man strength. Mike's got two kids. Man, you get a little stronger when you have kids. I don't have that yet.

"Mike just knows so much about being (in the weight room). He's like another coach in there, so it's good to be in there with him."

The other was Pat Murray, a first-year guard from Truman State who apparently knows how to throw his weights around as well.

"Pat Murray is in there, he's lifting the gym right now," Sims said. "He's very strong. He's just raw. He could be the strongest dude ever, if he wanted to be. He's extremely, extremely strong."

Sims rates his own expertise somewhere between "nuts" and "lifting the gym."

"Just working out with those guys, it's good," he said. "We're in there really pushing each other."

PLAYER OF THE DAY
Rocky Bernard. It wasn't so much any play or plays the veteran defensive tackle made. It's that he was working at his usual spot in the full-team drills, including a goal-line session that ended the rain-soaked 98-minute practice.

Bernard's expanded participation was the next step in his recovery from having recent surgery on the toe that bothered him all last season – limiting Bernard to only one practice a week, and that was in a good week.

With Bernard back, the No. 1 D-line consisted of – from left end to right – Baraka Atkins, Bernard, Brandon Mebane and Darryl Tapp. Atkins is subbing for Pro Bowler Patrick Kerney, who is recovering from shoulder surgery.

PLAY OF THE DAY
Safety Brian Russell not only ran step-for-step up the middle of the field with tight end Jeb Putzier, he broke up a pass that would have been a touchdown without his coverage and timely tip.

POSITION WATCH
The bark was back. When the defense goes into its goal-line mode, Mebane barks – because the veteran made him do it as a rookie last season. It sounds more like a large bull seal than a dog, but it's a bark nonetheless. Mebane was at it again at the end of practice.

Joining Mebane on the five-man line were – from left end to right – Atkins, Bernard, Craig Terrill and Tapp. Also in the unit were safeties Deon Grant and Russell, defensive back Jordan Babineaux and linebackers Lofa Tatupu, Julian Peterson and Leroy Hill.

The No. 2 unit included Jason Babin, Larry Tripplett, Red Bryant, Howard Green and Lawrence Jackson on the line; linebackers D.D. Lewis, Wesly Mallard and David Hawthorne; and defensive backs Jamar Adams, DeMichael Dizer and Kelin Johnson.

Speaking of the 240-pound Hawthorne, he was signed as a safety but he is getting some work at linebacker in this camp. He was more of a rover-type at Texas Christian, so the coaches want to see how he handles the rookie handles the linebacking duties at this level.

INJURY/ABSENT REPORT
Coach Mike Holmgren did not return to practice, as expected, after having what the team called a "minor medical procedure" on Monday. Assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Gil Haskell continued to run practice in his absence.

Defensive lineman Chris Cooper was excused from practice because his wife had a baby. Linebacker Lance Laury missed a second day to tend to a personal matter. Wide receiver Bobby Engram continued his no-show aimed at getting a contract extension.

Ten players who are recovering from surgery or minor injuries continued to be sidelined: punter Ryan Plackemeier, who had surgery Tuesday to repair a torn pectoral; wide receiver Deion Branch (knee); offensive linemen Walter Jones (shoulder), Chris Spencer (shoulder) and Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack (hip/knee); defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs (knee), linebacker Will Herring (knee), safeties Mike Green (foot) and C.J. Wallace (appendectomy) and Kerney.

QUOTE UNQUOTE
"The organizational aspect, there's nothing different. The difference is, when he's not here, Mike knows the offense better than anybody. So he's able to pickup things that only he knows. When he's not here, we miss that." – Haskell, on Holmgren's absence