Originally published January 7, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified January 8, 2008 at 12:33 AM

Hasselbeck says he'll play vs. Packers despite bruised thigh

Seahawks' quarterback Matt Hasselbeck assured coach Mike Holmgren that he was fine for Saturday's NFC divisional playoff game at Green Bay despite his latest ailment: a bruised thigh.

By Gregg Bell

The Associated Press

KIRKLAND, Wash. — Mike Holmgren walked into the Seahawks' training room and saw Matt Hasselbeck. Barely.

The coach joked his quarterback was so obscured by treatment machines Monday, all he could manage was an arm wave and a shout of assurance that he was fine for Saturday's NFC divisional playoff game at Green Bay despite his latest ailment: a bruised thigh.

"I don't even like to go in the training room anymore," Holmgren said, smiling. "He's in this thing that you would swear ... I didn't even know it was him. His arm came out and (he said), 'I'm going to be OK. Don't worry."'

Hasselbeck's latest pain is in his right thigh, though it is not expected to keep him from practicing Tuesday. He took a hard hit from the helmet of Washington's Fred Smoot during an open-field tackle in the third quarter of Saturday's 35-14 win over the Redskins in the wild card game.

Hasselbeck said the hit was so sharp it broke his thigh pad. Third-string quarterback Charlie Frye gave Hasselbeck his on the sideline so Hasselbeck could go back out for the next series. He did, then shook off two interceptions to throw for the go-ahead score in the final quarter. Hasselbeck, who set team records for yards (3,966), completions (352) and attempts (562), finished 20-for-32 for 229 yards.

Seattle's most indispensable player has also had bruised ribs, a strained oblique muscle, a strained quadriceps, and a sore wrist.

And now the sore thigh.

"He actually broke my thigh pad. Some guys don't wear thigh pads. I'm glad we wear thigh pads," Hasselbeck said after the game. "It hurt for a little while, but I'm fine."

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