Three weeks before they play the Bears, the defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks on Monday added former Super Bowl MVP receiver Deion Branch to what was the highest-scoring team in the NFL last season.
In their opener, Seattle and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck were held without a touchdown by Detroit in a 9-6 win. The Branch deal to send a No. 1 draft choice to the New England Patriots had been in the works for two weeks.
“It’s tremendous. He’s a fine football player and a tremendous young man. You can’t have too many of those guys,” coach Mike Holmgren said.
Added general manager Tim Ruskell: “Our quarterback is in the prime of his career. We want to give him all the tools to work with.”
Branch, embroiled in a contract dispute with the Patriots, had been given permission to seek a trade. When the Seahawks and New York Jets offered contracts worth considerably more than New England was offering, the Patriots faced a grievance from the NFL Players Association for bad-faith bargaining if they refused either to pay or trade him.
A second-round pick by the Patriots in 2002, Branch put up regular-season statistics that were short of spectacular, but he became quarterback Tom Brady’s favorite target, catching 10 passes in the Patriots’ Super Bowl victory after the 2003 season and a record-tying 11 passes in becoming Super Bowl MVP after the 2004 season.
Small at 5 feet 9 inches and 190 pounds, Branch is known for running precise routes and for his ability to run after the catch. He almost never drops a pass.
The Seahawks, who added Nate Burleson from the Minnesota Vikings in the off-season, also have ex-Bear Bobby Engram, seven-year pro Darrell Jackson and second-year prospect D.J. Hackett. Engram led the Seahawks in receptions last season. Jackson, who is coming off a knee injury, and Hackett helped the Seahawks beat the Lions on the final play Sunday with big catches. Seattle lost Joe Jurevicius and his 10 TD catches to Cleveland in free agency.
Green out
The Kansas City Chiefs said quarterback Trent Green suffered a “very, very severe concussion” when Cincinnati’s Robert Geathers slammed his head into the ground as Green was sliding after a run in Sunday’s game. Green will be hospitalized at least until Tuesday.
“He’s feeling much better,” Chiefs President Carl Peterson said. “But he has a king-sized headache. Hopefully he’ll be able to go home [Tuesday].”
Peterson said he didn’t know when Green might return, which could be devastating to the Chiefs.
Starting at Denver will be journeyman Damon Huard, who until Sunday had not completed a pass in the NFL since Dec. 24, 2000. Behind Huard are rookies Brodie Croyle and Casey Printers.
After their three receivers combined for just eight catches and 69 yards, the Chiefs reached agreement on a deal with Rod Gardner, ESPN.com reported. Gardner was cut by the Packers last week.
That’s Mister Rogers
Neither the Lions nor Seahawks could stop talking about 340-pound Detroit defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, who belied coach Rod Marinelli’s practice ethic by missing most of training camp before manhandling the Seahawks on Sunday with five tackles, two sacks, two quarterback hits and a blocked field goal.
“That big guy in the middle, he’s the real deal,” Hasselbeck said.
“That dude’s a man,” Seattle defensive end Bryce Fisher said. “When he wants, he’s the most unblockable force.”
New Lions defensive end Tyoka Jackson, playing with Rogers for the first time, told the Detroit News: “I think we’ve got the Shaquille O’Neal of football. . . . I’ve been doing this for 12 years and he got me excited. You saw other guys get involved because of his destruction.”
Opening wins
Super Bowl winners have a 33-6-1 record on opening weekend. Since 1978, start of the 16-game schedule, 207 of 394 opening-day winners (excluding the strike-shortened 1982 season) went to the playoffs. Only 93 of 394 losers advanced.
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Difference-makers
Atlanta defensive end John Abraham, traded from the Jets, had two sacks and forced two fumbles in upsetting Carolina.
New Indianapolis kicker Adam Vinatieri, signed from New England, helped Peyton Manning beat brother Eli of the Giants 26-21 with field goals of 26, 32, 48, and 32 yards.
New Ravens QB Steve McNair was 17 of 27 with a TD in a 27-0 drubbing of the Bucs.
New Philadelphia receiver Donte’ Stallworth, in town from his New Orleans trade just long enough to glance at the playbook, caught six passes for 141 yards and a touchdown.
New St. Louis linebacker Will Witherspoon, signed from Carolina, made nine tackles in leading a revamped defense over Denver 18-10.
O-line anchors away for season
Rams center Andy McCollum, a 13-year veteran who made his 156th consecutive start Sunday, will miss the rest of the season with two torn ligaments in his left knee. . . . Panthers starting left offensive tackle Travelle Wharton will miss the rest of the season after tearing two ligaments in his left knee late in the first half against Atlanta.