Seahawks' Nate Burleson leads way at receiver

KIRKLAND — The Mohawk hairstyle Nate Burleson is sporting isn't the only reason he stands out for the Seahawks.

"I figured I might as well do it," said Burleson, one of four Seahawks wearing the hairdo. "It's getting hot out here, and when the heat comes, it's kind of crazy."

The summer heat has yet to arrive. But the heat, as in pressure, is on for the Seahawks' crew of wide receivers. For now, Burleson is their veteran leader.

The sixth-year pro is the most experienced wide receiver in practice during the team's ongoing minicamp.

Deion Branch and Bobby Engram are either unable to practice or choosing not to. Which makes Burleson the elder statesman at the tender age of 26, in a corps of receivers that for now includes younger players Ben Obomanu, Courtney Taylor, Logan Payne, Jordan Kent and several others.

Obomanu had 12 catches for 180 yards in 2007. Taylor, Payne and Kent have either played sparingly or spent last season on the practice squad.

Being the most experienced of the receivers is a new experience for Burleson.

"I've always been on a team where there's a vet to look up to," he said. "And now, I'm the vet guys are looking up to. So you shoulder a little bit more of the responsibility for the young guys that are here. Sometimes they can get wide-eyed and they need somebody to talk to."

Burleson hopes he can be a starting receiver while maintaining kick- and punt-return duties. Injuries to Branch and ex-Seahawk D.J. Hackett last year gave him more playing time at receiver, and he flourished with 50 catches, nine touchdowns and a pair of return TDs.

"Hopefully, I'll be able to do a little bit of both," he said. "If I'm playing more receiver, then I understand that maybe I will be more of a situational returner than a full-time returner."

Wide receiver is a position of emphasis for Seattle, especially without Engram until training camp and Branch until the regular season. Consequently, coach Mike Holmgren presided over the position drills Monday and Tuesday, making sure the players knew the urgency of the situation not only with his presence but with his instruction.

"We know what type of game we have as receivers," Burleson said. "We know what we can do and what we can bring to this team, and Mike understands that. If we start now, start progressing and getting some consistency and getting that chemistry with the quarterback, it's obviously going to help us.

"It's not going to take Mike to yell down our throats every week," he added. "We're yelling at each other in our meeting rooms and on the field. So we understand the sense of urgency of what the receiving corps needs to do."

Venue change

Rain washed out practice Tuesday at Seahawks headquarters and sent the team by bus to Washington's Dempsey Indoor facility for the afternoon.

Notes

• DT Rocky Bernard was able to take part in individual drills but missed the team portion in his first practice of the offseason. Bernard had left foot surgery and missed the May minicamps.

• OL Floyd Womack did not practice.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com