Originally published September 12, 2006 at 12:00 AM | Page modified September 12, 2006 at 10:08 AM
Branch an MVP addition
Deion Branch's speed is what made the strongest impression on Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. But it's how quickly Branch can contribute...
Seattle Times staff reporter
KIRKLAND — Deion Branch's speed is what made the strongest impression on Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.
But it's how quickly Branch can contribute that was the biggest reason the Seahawks acquired him from New England on Monday in exchange for Seattle's first-round pick in next year's draft.
"This is a known commodity that we know fits our system," Seahawks president Tim Ruskell said of the receiver. "He's going to be a good player for us, going to fit with our guys, going to be good for our quarterback, who's in his prime.
"We want to give him as many tools as we can to help him."
First-round picks are something general managers like Ruskell treat like manhole covers. They're not to be tossed around casually.
But the Seahawks were willing to give up next year's pick and a good deal of cash to add a marquee receiver to the offense that led the league in points last season.
"We'll live by the draft," Ruskell said. "But this was a known commodity for this team in a period where we have this quote-unquote window and felt this was a good step."
Deion Branch![]()
![]()
Pos: Wide receiver.
Ht: 5-9. Wt: 193.
Age: 27, born July 18, 1979, in Albany, Ga.
High school: Football and track star at Monroe HS, Albany, Ga.
Junior college: Jones County JC, Ellisville, Miss. Second-team All-American as a sophomore (1998).
College: Louisville. In two seasons (2000-01) caught 143 passes for 2,204 yards, 18 touchdowns. Conference USA first-team selection each season. Also competed as a sprinter for Louisville track team.
Drafted: Second round, No. 65 overall, by New England in 2002.
Career highlights: MVP of Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005, catching 11 passes in Patriots' victory. ... Has caught 21 passes in two Super Bowls (2004, 2005). ... Career highs last season in receptions (78), yards (998) and touchdowns (five).
Branch's full sticker price will include a long-term extension, and the parameters of that deal are already established, said Ruskell. He did not give any details.
The trade ends two months of arm wrestling between Branch and the Patriots. He had been holding out for a new deal, and hasn't played yet this season.
Branch is 27 years old and coming off his best season. He caught 78 passes for 998 yards and five touchdowns in 2005, his follow-up to being named MVP of Super Bowl XXXIX, when he caught 11 passes. Branch, a second-round pick in 2002, was playing the final year of the contract he signed as a rookie and was scheduled to make just more than $1 million after his performance triggered an escalator clause.
"Adding a guy like that to our team is exciting," Hasselbeck said. "And it's going to be that much harder to defend our offense now."
Wide receiver Darrell Jackson was asked about his reaction to the acquisition.
"I don't have a reaction at this time," Jackson said.
Does it make the team better?
"Yeah, any time you get a player of his caliber, it definitely makes you a better team," Jackson said.
Tackle Walter Jones hadn't heard of the trade until after Monday's practice.
"That's the first time I've heard that," he said. "Anybody that can come in here and help this team win, I look forward to it."
That was the gist of the reaction from the Seahawks: A great deal of long-term optimism but not much in the way of short-term logistics.
"We have good receivers on the football team right now," Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said. "This certainly gives us a lot of flexibility to use different packages, more wide receivers in certain packages."
The Seahawks requested and received a two-week roster exemption, which will allow Branch to become acclimated to the team. Branch can be activated at any point, but the team has up to two weeks to decide when he will go on the 53-man roster and who would be cut to make room for Branch.
Branch held out of the Patriots' training camp, which began July 28. He was subject to a fine of $14,000 for every day he missed.
New England gave Branch permission to inquire about a trade on Aug. 25, and a week later the Seahawks were one of two teams that had agreed to the parameters of a contract extension. The Jets were reportedly the other team. It took 10 more days for the Seahawks and Patriots to reach an agreement on a first-round choice.
Ruskell said the team's rationale took into account the unpredictability of a first-round choice, estimating about half turn out to be busts. Not only that, but Seattle may have had to wait a couple of years for that prospect to contribute. No need to wait on Branch.
"It's not going to be a period of development," Ruskell said. "He's ready to go."
The only question left is how quickly that will happen.
"From everything I've heard, he's a quick study and he's a diligent worker," Holmgren said. "I would say sooner than later."
It's Branch's quickness, after all, that made him a target for Seattle in the first place.
Seattle Times reporter José Miguel Romero contributed to this report.
| Deion Branch's statistics | |||||
| Deion Branch was a second-round NFL draft pick (65th overall) of New England in 2002. His statistics with the Patriots: | |||||
| Year | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2005 | 16 | 78 | 998 | 12.8 | 5 |
| 2004 | 9 | 35 | 454 | 13.0 | 4 |
| 2003 | 15 | 57 | 803 | 14.1 | 3 |
| 2002 | 13 | 43 | 489 | 11.4 | 2 |
NFL, union resume labor talks at mediator's office
UPDATE - 08:52 AM
Hundreds attend funeral for fallen Mich. player
UPDATE - 09:40 AM
Norway's Tarjei Boe wins men's biathlon at worlds
Crying is OK, but admitting it is apparently not
NEW - 08:46 AM
Tripoli ruled unsafe for international soccer
![]()

Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
- Lakewood cop accused of embezzling $150K meant for slain officers' families
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Agency set to investigate handling of 911 call about Josh Powell
- Quick decisions: How Washington hired its new football staff
- Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looms
- Justin Wilcox's versatile defensive style is the right fit for Huskies | Jerry Brewer
- Social worker recounts minutes before Powell fire
- It's Terrence Time: Enigmatic Ross leads Huskies
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- Club promoter convicted in brutal 2010 murder of Des Moines prostitute
- Gay-marriage bill passes House, awaits Gregoire's signature
476 - Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looming
364 - Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
336 - 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
244 - Source: NY, California to sign mortgage settlement
231 - Council members get briefing on arena proposal, minus details
196 - AP Source: Obama to change birth control rule
178 - Oregon live game thread
155 - Pac-12 picks ... including the UW game
140 - Worker: Josh Powell told son he had 'surprise'
107
- Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
- State Medicaid program to stop paying for unneeded ER visits
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Economy, blogs give survivalists new reason to look to Northwest
- State's share of mortgage settlement: $648 million
- One man's audacious pursuit of sailing history
- Darren Berg gets 18-year sentence for Ponzi scheme
- Bellevue College adds a third bachelor's degree program
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- 'Gauguin and Polynesia': dazzling mix-and-match | Art review
