You hear the laughter and you can visualize that sparkling smile right through the telephone, and that's when you realize that Shawn Springs is enjoying life back home.

The former Seahawks cornerback is with the Washington Redskins now, playing his second season in the nation's capital since leaving the Seahawks in free agency to sign a six-year, $30 million contract in March 2004.

Springs' current and former teams meet Sunday in Landover, Md., for a regular-season game, the first chance for Springs to reunite with and face some of his old friends. To hear him say it, the typical "it's just another game" line doesn't seem to fit.

The return to the D.C. area and his native Silver Springs, Md., has been for the best. Springs is used all over the field on defense — as a cover cornerback both outside and inside, a pass rusher and a rover. He's close to family and lots of friends, and his team is off to a 2-0 start.

But No. 24 sounds like he truly misses his time in Seattle, even though he said the emotions won't be there until game time. The memories flow from him like a waterfall — the times he spent being scolded by coach Mike Holmgren, the friendships, even the local cuisine.

"I loved being in Seattle and everybody made a big deal about me leaving Seattle," Springs said. "Believe it or not ... I had a pretty good relationship with coach Holmgren. I thought we had a good locker room. We had some crazy guys in there, but I really liked being there. I liked it, and they have great sushi out there."

Springs, who went to one Pro Bowl as a Seahawk in 1998, said he "sneaks" into Seattle every so often and sees some of his former teammates. It just wouldn't be Springs not to give them a hard time.

He calls it friendly trash talk, and he used it on current Seahawks Ken Hamlin and Rocky Bernard over the recent offseason.

"I want to see those guys do well and I really do care for those guys," Springs said, "because I obviously remember Matt [Hasselbeck] and D-Jack [Darrell Jackson] and Bobby [Engram] and those guys. After spending so much time in Cheney, Washington, with those guys you develop a personal friendship."

The familiarity Springs has with his former teammates — including Jackson, the Seahawks' leading receiver — has its advantages. Springs said he knows exactly what Holmgren has been saying to the Seahawks in film sessions. He claims to know how Jackson, Hasselbeck and Engram think.

As for his health, Springs, 30, is in good shape after being slowed by nagging injuries and a four-game suspension for violating the league's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances during his time in Seattle.

What seemed to concern Washington the most before it signed Springs was a hamstring problem.

"He's got more or less a defect there that sometimes gives him problems," Washington coach Joe Gibbs said.

No laughing matter, but Springs can only look back on the past and laugh.

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