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Ken Hamlin, Antonio Cochran and Matt Hasselbeck are known for wearing their emotions on their sleeves during games.
So when the three Seahawks starters combined to draw four 15-yard penalties
for taunting, roughing the passer and a late hit out of bounds on Sunday, it
didn't come as such a shock. The fifth 15-yard penalty in Seattle's 20-19 win
over the San Francisco 49ers, however, was charged to backup fullback Heath
Evans.
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Evans, who took over for starter Mack Strong in the second half after Strong pulled a hamstring, does not have a reputation for being expressive on the field because he hasn't received the playing time to justify it. Because of that, his penalty for unnecessary roughness on the first play of the fourth quarter surprised many on the Seahawks' sideline. NFL Tickets
Of the five big penalties, Evans' situation seemed the most excusable.
The flag was thrown after receiver Darrell Jackson caught a pass and headed
upfield for a 6-yard gain.
"There were two guys right in front of Darrell. I saw Darrell shaking,
getting ready to cut back and there was a third guy," Evans said. "I
couldn't get to the two guys or it would have been a clip if I hit one of them.
So I just went after that third guy, and Darrell sneaks out of stuff all the
time, and I just went and hit him, and there was no whistle.
"I don't even believe Darrell was down yet. So if that's a personal foul,
then you just can't really play this game much anymore." NFL Tickets
Evans said coach Mike Holmgren was perplexed with the call.
"Mike was like, 'What happened?' He didn't see anything wrong with it,"
Evans said. "If he's happy, then I'm cool."
"I've never coached a game where we had that many penalties like that,"
Holmgren said. "So I'm searching as to why. ... It looks bad, and clearly
we don't want that in our league, and so hopefully we learned a lesson."
As for Evans, the third-year pro could start Sunday against Chicago if Strong's
hamstring continues to be a problem. Evans has one career start, at Arizona
last season. NFL Tickets
Regarding his extended playing time against the 49ers, Evans said he was happy
with the way he blocked and was in sync with running back Shaun Alexander.
Holmgren shakes up line
Defensive tackle Rocky Bernard was among the seven inactive players for Sunday's
game. Bernard is not injured and had played extensively in the Seahawks' first
four games, but he is among the defensive players who have struggled this season.
NFL Tickets
Holmgren pledged more playing time for other defensive reserves before the San
Francisco game, and activating rookie Rashad Moore in favor of Bernard was one
of the most visible changes. Bernard, a fifth-round draft pick in his second
season, hasn't recorded a sack since the four he had last September, when he
was named the NFL's defensive rookie of the month.
Brown ignores pain
Outside linebacker Chad Brown said he decided to forget about the pain he still
feels in his surgically repaired right foot, and he ended up with his best game
of the season Sunday.
Brown had a sack and a key forced fumble late in the game, and he made eight
solo tackles. He looked faster in pursuit of the ball and executed two textbook
spin moves on 49ers right tackle Scott Gragg to get to quarterback Jeff Garcia.
"I stopped babying the foot," Brown said. "The fact is, it's
going to hurt."
Notes
• Armegis Spearman and Frank Chamberlain were among five linebackers who
worked out for the Seahawks yesterday. Spearman, who can play both outside and
inside linebacker, was waived Sept. 1 after three seasons with the Cincinnati
Bengals. Chamberlain is a former Tennessee Titan. NFL Tickets
• Seahawks TE Itula Mili is tied with Mike Tice for the most touchdown
receptions by a tight end in team history (nine).