Seahawks | Big-play receiver has low-key personality

Aman with million-dollar hands drives a two-door Civic to work most days.

Not always, though. D.J. Hackett drove a Lexus to Seahawks headquarters Wednesday. But usually it's the black 2002 Honda. It is fuel-efficient, it is sensible and, well, it's the car he has had since college, and Hackett is the kind of guy who stays pretty much the same whether it's his car or his demeanor. "He's very steady in his manner, his approach," said Nolan Cromwell, Seahawks wide-receivers coach.

Hackett is the big-play receiver with a low-key personality. A fifth-round draft choice in 2004, Hackett didn't play a game his rookie season, but grew incrementally. First, he became a contributor, then a starter and now he seems poised to grab a starring role after catching three touchdowns in the three games since he returned from a high ankle sprain. He's coming off a career-high 136 yards receiving against Chicago.

His presence in Seattle's offense is prominent enough that his absence from practice Wednesday and Thursday with a sore knee is at least a little worrisome for Seattle. The injury, however, isn't expected to keep him out of the game Sunday in St. Louis.

Seattle's wide-receiver equation is full of kinetic energy from players like Bobby Engram, Deion Branch and Nate Burleson. Hackett's the one with a little more size, a surprising dose of speed and a personality that never veers too far from neutral. But Hackett does have a celebration he performs after every touchdown catch. He uses sign language to say, "Thank you, Jesus."

Hackett used to be kicker Josh Brown's roommate in the hotel before home games.

"He doesn't even hardly talk," Brown said.

No snoring, Brown said. Hackett doesn't stay up late, either.

"The son of a gun doesn't make a noise," Brown said. "Like a mouse."

A great trait for a roommate. It's a bit more problematic in an interview because Hackett treats words like they were $100 bills. He doesn't go throwing them around.

Have you always been laid back? "Yeah. That's just my personality."

Did you know much about the Seahawks when they drafted you? "No."

What did you expect coming up here to the Northwest? "I was just happy to be in the NFL."

Hackett averages 12.6 yards per reception, but it's more like five words per question during interviews.

As four reporters gathered around him Wednesday, his teammates laughed at his discomfort. Burleson shouted for Hackett to relax. Engram jokingly rubbed Hackett's shoulders like a cornerman keeping his boxer loose between rounds.

Thing is, Hackett's never uptight.

"Reminds me of the guys I grew up with in San Francisco, their 'Peace and love,' " coach Mike Holmgren joked.

Hackett's been that way since high school. Gary Prestesater coached Hackett in basketball at San Dimas High School in Southern California. Hackett played point guard as a freshman, but grew into a small forward who averaged 16, maybe 17 points, as a senior. Then in the playoffs, Prestesater remembers Hackett's scoring jumping up to 28 points a game and the team reached the state tournament. Prestesater drove with Hackett to an awards ceremony after that season, and he had a question for his star player.

"D.J., why didn't you play like that the whole year?" the coach asked.

"I didn't have to," Hackett said. "There were other guys who could do the job."

He doesn't need the spotlight. He'll just pick up the slack and take everything in stride, even when his high-school football coach told colleges he was more interested in basketball, which Hackett said dampened recruiting interest for football, which he intended to play all along.

"Oh, of course, I was upset," he said.

Not mad enough to doubt his future trajectory, though.

"God puts you in a certain situation, and I was going to make it here regardless of where I was playing at," Hackett said.

So Hackett went to Cal State-Northridge, caught on with an air-it-out offense and when the Matadors dropped the football program after his sophomore season, he wasn't worried.

"I just figured it was going to be another opportunity to go to a bigger stage," Hackett said.

This time he had his pick of schools. He chose Colorado, and two years later he was in the NFL.

The paycheck didn't change his choice of car. Didn't alter his demeanor, either. Football might be a game of roller-coaster emotions, but Hackett stays steady as a metronome.

NOTES

• S Mike Green did not practice Thursday because of knee soreness. Other Seahawks who didn't practice: T Walter Jones (shoulder), LB Will Herring (knee), Hackett (knee), DT Rocky Bernard (groin), RB Shaun Alexander (knee) and QB Matt Hasselbeck (ribs).

• Alexander received treatment for an injured knee Thursday, missing practice. He is not expected to play Sunday, leaving Maurice Morris to start his third consecutive game.

• Rams receiver Torry Holt returned to practice Thursday after missing the workout Wednesday because of the sore knee he has played with all season. DE James Hall (ankle) is the only Ram who didn't practice at all Thursday.

Danny O'Neil: 206-464-2364 or doneil@seattletimes.com