Engram rejoins Seahawks as training camp starts

Finally, Bobby Engram and Matt Hasselbeck found a field they didn't get kicked off of.

Seattle's record-setting receiver from last season skipped the Seahawks' final two spring minicamps in a contract dispute, but was back on the Seahawks' practice field Friday for the first day of training camp.

This was after Engram and his Pro Bowl quarterback spent vacation time arranged by their wives on a high-school field near a lake resort in rural Washington.

"Can't tell you our secret location ... most recently out in Lake Chelan with our families. That was fun," a grinning Engram said after rejoining the starting offense for the morning practice. "A few high school coaches, a few kids. But for the most part we went undetected."

Not really.

"Well, we did get kicked off a field because of a high school seven-on-seven once," Hasselbeck said. "We told them we were eighth graders, though, and that we would be freshmen next year."

The Seahawks' approach to Engram's stance has been: Play under the two-year contract, worth $1.7 million this season, that we gave you after your 2006 season, when you could have been an overlooked free agent.

That year, Engram missed nine games because of a debilitating thyroid condition that made it difficult for him to get off his couch. Then in 2007 Engram set a Seahawks record with 94 catches.

Seattle executives are now telling Engram to prove himself again before they will consider another deal. Engram doesn't expect the team to negotiate before January.

"They would have to approach us," he said. "We've said all we needed to say.

"I know certain things that I didn't know about the organization and their views, but I can't say about the certainty of my future here."

Engram said he understands - to a point - the Seahawks not wanting to commit multiple years to a receiver who will be 36 at the end of this season.

"Yeah. I mean, I realize the business side of it," he said. "But I think you have to look at each individual situation separately. And I felt like mine was a special situation.

"Yeah, it's the security. Obviously, you want a new deal in place. It's just, there's change in the air," he added, referring to Mike Holmgren leaving the Seahawks after this season and assistant Jim Mora becoming Seattle's coach in 2009.

"I just had to step back and assess the situation and say, 'What's my future here?' I think that's like a common sense thing that anyone in my position would do."

So was reporting to work, just like 79 of his teammates on Friday. The Seahawks could have fined him as much as $15,000 per day had he held out.

"I'm under contract, I'm going to honor that contract. I'm going to play it out and what is meant to happen it will happen, whether I'm here or somewhere else," Engram said. "I know after last year I can play at that level for three, four, five more years. Hopefully it will be Seattle, but if that is not meant to be we will just have to deal with that when the time comes. For now I'm happy to be here. This has been a special place for me.

"This is where I belong."

Hasselbeck, who's been throwing to Engram since both arrived in Seattle in 2001, thinks so, too.

"Throwing to Bobby is kind of like riding a bike," Hasselbeck said of the former Penn State star.

"I don't think it's any secret: that's where I throw the ball. A lot. And there's a reason. I still remember Trent Dilfer telling me Joe Paterno allegedly said, 'Bobby Engram is the best football player I've ever coached.' And I thought, 'That is a ridiculously wild statement to make.'

"And I kind of agree. He's the best - he's at least as good as the best guy you've ever been around."

Holmgren is just happy that his leading receiver from last season has resurfaced.

"I think Bobby's an outstanding person," Holmgren said. "He had feelings, personal feelings, about what he needed. And I think it's very indicative of how he plays the game that he was able to put those personal feelings aside and come in, participate. You know, he's the ultimate team guy. And you don't see it that much.

"That's what keeps me going actually, players like Bobby."