Notebook: Doctor gives Holmgren's heart the OK

KIRKLAND — It's still not known exactly why Mike Holmgren has felt discomfort in his chest several times in recent weeks, but there was good news on the condition of the Seahawks coach's heart.

A doctor found nothing wrong with Holmgren's heart after conducting follow-up tests Friday. Holmgren was sent to the hospital with chest pain last week and missed one day of the team's current minicamp so he could rest.

"I'm OK. I'm in good shape, and they just have to figure out why I have these little things," Holmgren said, then switched to joking mode. "I blame [center Robbie] Tobeck. Every time I have one of these things, it's his fault. So he promised me he'd be better this year. But my heart's good, which is what they tested for."

Holmgren went on to discuss how difficult last season was for him, as the Seahawks had an up-and-down season with frustrating losses, including the home playoff loss to end the year.

"I am emotional, and if I didn't ever react to something during our Monday press conference or Wednesday, then you better start asking me questions," Holmgren told reporters. "Then it is maybe time to make a change, when I don't react to it. ... I hope we can win a few more games so I don't have to deal with that as much."

Moving on

Bobby Engram might forever be known in Seahawks history as the guy who dropped the pass that might have forced overtime in that playoff loss to the Rams on Jan. 8. But he's determined to show that he has moved on, and today finds himself as the No. 1 split end, the position once occupied by Koren Robinson.

It's a spot Holmgren feels is Engram's to lose. Engram enjoys the opportunity and wants to forget about the past.

"It's just a part of the business," Engram said of his drop. "It's an awful part. It was a tough play, but I should have made it nonetheless. I picked it [the throw] up way late."

Tucker's homecoming

Three days after helping his Amsterdam Admirals to the NFL Europe title in World Bowl XIII, B.J. Tucker found himself back home, of sorts.

The Seahawks cornerback watched his teammates practice after a 20-hour trip from Europe to Newark, N.J., to Seattle by air. He and several other Seahawks who were in NFL Europe this spring attended practice, including punter Ryan Dutton, kicker Kevin Miller and linebacker Terrence Robinson. All are expected to be in training camp.

A native of the African nation of Sierra Leone, Tucker came to Renton at age 10 to live with an aunt and uncle. He started out as a soccer player, than switched to football in ninth grade and played at Kentridge High School.

He moved to Milwaukee as a high-school junior and played in college at Wisconsin.

"A whole lot of this is familiar," Tucker said. "I have all my friends that I went to school with still here."

QB update

Starting quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is due back from an excused absence for practice today. Seneca Wallace has been leading the No. 1 offense, and rookie David Greene has been the beneficiary of more snaps.

"David is a rookie, and he plays like a rookie," Holmgren said of the third-round pick from Georgia. "Let's not put any more pressure on him than he needs. It's tough, but he's hanging in there, too."

Holmgren also said that if the Seahawks can sign a quality veteran quarterback to compete with Wallace for the backup job to Hasselbeck, it's likely they would do so.

"But sometimes you can't," Holmgren said. "I'm not just going to bring in a guy to bring in a guy. If that [doesn't] happen, than Seneca has to do it, and right now I'm feeling more comfortable with that every day. Is it my ideal situation? No. But I am feeling more comfortable about it all the time."

Notes

• Holmgren said he is very pleased with the play of his linebacker corps in practice, even though he chastised some of the linebackers for some overly rough action and contact in practice yesterday.

• RT Floyd Womack has not been practicing because of a strained calf, and OG Steven Gibbs has missed the past four days of camp because of a broken finger that required surgery.

• After practice, Holmgren talked American football with two British star athletes who visited team headquarters, Manchester City goalkeeper David James and rugby legend Martin Johnson.

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