KIRKLAND — Those in Seattle who thought seeing the Seahawks' home playoff game on television was a foregone conclusion had better think again.

As of this morning, the game is close to being blacked out locally.

In an effort to keep that from happening, the NFL granted the Seahawks a deadline extension yesterday to sell more tickets. There were 3,500 available as of last night for Saturday's NFC wild-card game against St. Louis at Qwest Field, which kicks off at 1:30 p.m.

The original blackout deadline was 1:30 p.m. yesterday. The league decided to extend that 24 hours because of the short turnaround time after Sunday's Seattle victory over Atlanta.

Seahawks players aren't necessarily surprised by the high number of tickets left, but some are dismayed.

"Am I surprised? No," running back Shaun Alexander said. "Do I wish we would sell them out? Definitely."

Alexander characterized Seattle as a laid-back sports town where fans wait until the last minute or game day to get tickets to a Seahawks game.

"Football is still entertainment out here," he said.

"I've been kind of disappointed with the lack of hype for it," added quarterback Trent Dilfer. "This is a huge thing. I mean, the biggest sport in the world right now. This city should be very proud to be hosting a game. It's embarrassing, to be honest."

The Seahawks must get as close to a sellout (66,000) as possible to avoid the blackout. The team has sold 62,500 tickets since Sunday evening, and has a streak of 15 consecutive home sellouts on the line.

There is the possibility that an individual, company, or group of companies would purchase the remaining tickets as the deadline approaches to lift the blackout.

Holmgren on Shaun

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren would like to re-sign Alexander, he told members of the St. Louis media yesterday.

Alexander is slated to become an unrestricted free agent unless the Seahawks can re-sign him before March 2.

"There will be a lot of misinformation floating around," Holmgren said. "First of all, Shaun and I get along fine. There's no problem there. Second, I have tremendous respect for him and the job he did this season. He really carried us offensively for almost the entire season ... Most definitely I want him back here."

Notes

• WR Koren Robinson missed yesterday's practice with a sore hip. But TE Itula Mili, K Josh Brown, LB Niko Koutouvides and CB Marcus Trufant were back at practice after missing Tuesday with injuries and an excused absence.

• DE Grant Wistrom put on a jersey and walked out to practice but did not take part.

• In St. Louis, DEs Leonard Little and Tyoka Jackson did not practice yesterday, Little because of a groin injury and Jackson with an ankle problem. The Rams will likely be without G Tom Nutten, who sprained his left knee in the Rams' victory over the New York Jets on Sunday. Rookie Larry Turner is the probable replacement.

• The Seahawks signed CB Michael Harden to the 53-man active roster after moving him off the practice squad Tuesday.

• Seahawks LB D.D. Lewis says he will be ready for minicamps in the offseason, as the rehabilitation of his surgically repaired left shoulder is going well.

• WR Jerry Rice is the all-time playoff leader in 100-yard receiving games with eight in his career.

• For being part of a division winner, each Seahawk receives an $18,000 bonus share for his participation in the wild-card round. Rams players get $15,000 apiece as a wild-card team.

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