By Scott M. Johnson
Herald Writer
KIRKLAND – This Sunday’s game will be a reunion of sorts for Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren and Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid.
Reid got his first job while still attending Brigham Young University in 1982 when he was hired by then-quarterbacks coach Holmgren. After Holmgren got his first head coaching job with the Green Bay Packers, his first call was to Reid. For seven years, Reid served as a Green Bay assistant under Holmgren.
“I want to beat him bad (Sunday), and I’m sure he wants to beat me bad,” Holmgren said. “I’m very proud of him. … Andy and I were together a long time. I really watched him develop and grow into his position. I’m really proud of the job he’s done.
“But now when we play this game, it gets hairy now.”
Reid started his NFL career coaching offensive linemen and tight ends before Holmgren made him the quarterbacks coach in 1997.
“That was a little unprecedented because I don’t think Andy had thrown a ball since he was the biggest kid at the Punt, Pass and Kick contest in Carson, Calif.,” Holmgren said. “He was 13 years old, he was 6-foot-5. He was as big as he is now.”
Although they haven’t worked together since 1998, Holmgren and Reid have remained close over the years. They still talk on the phone and go out to dinner together whenever they’re attending league functions.
“I had a hard time believing that any head coach did it better than he did. And this is when I was an assistant working for him,” Reid said. “I just thought he covered every base. He was as thorough as can be, (and) was great with people.
“He had a nice feel for it, and he had a great offensive mind on top of it. He just handled everything so well. From that, he was a great example.”
Reunited, Part II: Reid was also responsible for breaking Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck into the NFL, having served as his first quarterbacks coach in 1998, when they were with the Packers.
Reid helped the Packers make the decision to take Hasselbeck in the sixth round of the draft that year after watching game films from his senior season at Boston College.
“He just has a nice feel for the game,” Reid said. “He might not be the fastest or the strongest or any of that stuff, but he knows how to play the game.”
Said Hasselbeck: “He’s pretty much why I have a career in the NFL. He’s a guy who knew I wasn’t rated high by the so-called experts coming out. He’s a guy that watched a lot of quarterbacks that year and wasn’t pleased with what he saw. He was still looking for a guy, and somewhere near the bottom of the list was my name.”
Quick slants: Seahawks cornerback Ike Charlton practiced Wednesday for the first time since he had his right knee scoped two weeks ago. He is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. … Cornerback Shawn Springs (hamstring), offensive lineman Chris McIntosh (neck stinger) and wide receiver James Williams (wrist) are also listed as questionable. Springs was the only one held out of practice Wednesday. Cornerback Willie Williams (forearm) will not play against the Eagles. … Philadelphia has two assistants who were with the Seahawks before Holmgren arrived: defensive coordinator Jim Johnson (1998) and defensive line coach Tommy Brasher (1992-98).
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