Seahawks coach turning 60

KIRKLAND — Practice was over. June minicamp had ended. Mike Holmgren had emerged from minor surgery in good health and spirits.

It was time to talk about the most important topic surrounding him — his upcoming birthday, the big 6-0.

"You know, I'm 58," Holmgren kidded amid laughter from reporters. "Some of you had me 60 already! Sixty is the new 30."

To set the record straight, the Seahawks coach is 59 years old until Sunday, when he turns 60. He's entering his 10th and final season of coaching the Seahawks.

On Thursday at team headquarters, he didn't have much to say about the medical procedure that caused him to miss Monday and Tuesday practices.

"Before the first question gets asked, I didn't die," Holmgren said dryly. "I had a little surgery done on Monday, so that's all I'm really going to say about that. I'm not going to go into great detail. I just need a little time to recover ... and I'm all set."

Holmgren was asked if, in light of the surgery, he had taken time to reflect on one last offseason with the Seahawks and how he will approach his job this season.

"That will come at the end of the season," Holmgren said. "I'm going to look at it the same way, I'm going to coach the same way as I always have. ... Right now I'm just looking forward to some vacation time. I like this team a lot. They're a fun group of guys, and they're very unselfish. That's one of the reasons I came back another year. ... We're going to go out and do the best we can and make this a special last year."

In recent years, Holmgren has taken a less stressful approach to his job. He has also made sure to get away at the end of every season and collect his thoughts, unwind and mentally ready himself for the next one.

The end of the June camp is also getaway time with training camp about a month and a half away. Holmgren wants his coaching staff and players to briefly get away from football, which he will do with some quality beach time and a good book at the family's California cabin, along with some motorcycle riding.

"Cellphones and computers, it's a blessing and a curse, and I really don't want to be contacted at all unless something real goofy happens," Holmgren said. "I need that time to get away from that because when we start, we start."

This weekend, though, Holmgren's daughters are in town to celebrate his birthday, Father's Day, and a soon-to-be born grandson.

"I like the fact that they're all around, and I can see them a lot," Holmgren said. "Just being with them on my birthday is going to be fun."

Notes:

• Holmgren was asked about WR Bobby Engram's statement about possibly missing some training camp in protest of his contract. Holmgren said he believes Engram will report to camp on time. "Right now, I'm saying the glass is half full."

• Holmgren said he's optimistic about DT Marcus Tubbs' availability when training camp starts. WR Deion Branch won't be ready, and P Ryan Plackemeier figures to be limited and might not play until the regular season starts after surgery for a torn pectoral muscle.

• The following players missed practice for injury, rehabilitation or personal reasons: Branch, Tubbs, Plackemeier, S C.J. Wallace, S Mike Green, C Chris Spencer, LT Walter Jones, WR Courtney Taylor, DEs Patrick Kerney and Chris Cooper, LB Will Herring and OLs Floyd Womack and Chris Gray.

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