Hawks Notebook | Hutchinson on return: It's just another game

KIRKLAND — Steve Hutchinson is coming back to Seattle.

The 12th Man is bound to react. Hutchinson, you might recall, is the Pro Bowl left guard who left the Seahawks for the Minnesota Vikings to sign a whopping seven-year, $49 million contract.

The departure of Hutchinson, considered key to the Seahawks' offensive success, came as a shock, especially the way it went down with the infamous "poison pill" contract.

The Seahawks tried to match the Vikings' offer. But in the end, even after a hearing before a league-appointed special master, Hutchinson was able to sign with Minnesota. Now Hutchinson's new team is coming to Qwest Field this Sunday.

So what did Hutchinson have to say to Minnesota reporters about it Monday? Not much.

"This team is going to Seattle, trying to be 4-2 after this week," Hutchinson said. "Obviously I know those guys and those coaches on that team. I played there for five years. That's about the extent of [how much] I'm going to talk about myself."

Is he looking forward to or dreading the game?

"There are 16 games we play and this is another one."

Are there things he can help the Vikings' coaches with?

"I know personnel so I'll be able to help them out with any questions on people as I can."

Does he stay in touch with people in Seattle, and whom?

"Absolutely. Linemen. Offensive linemen, mostly, a couple of defensive linemen. [Defensive end] Grant Wistrom."

Hutchinson's former teammates are also trying to move forward, despite criticism that the Seattle offense has suffered in Hutchinson's absence.

"He's on the other sideline," tackle Walter Jones said. "It's going to be nice to see how he handles the crowd noise. The crowd noise is going to be against him this game.

"He and his agent did what's best for him," Jones said, "and he got the deal that he wanted."

Runoff redux

The illegal-formation penalty against Seattle on the second-to-last play of Sunday's victory at St. Louis occurred after the tight end changed sides of the formation, moving from the left to the right.

Wide receiver Nate Burleson could have done a better job recognizing that, Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said, and lined up on the ball to avoid the 5-yard penalty. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck could have done a better job, too, Holmgren said, calling out the formation change.

And Holmgren included himself as having room for improvement. He wouldn't have called the running play to Mack Strong on second down. The play began with 17 seconds left and gained 1 yard.

"If we were to come into the identical situation again, I wouldn't run another play," Holmgren said. "That's how I could be better."

Rams coach Scott Linehan's suggestions for improvement were aimed at the NFL rulebook. He said Monday that an illegal-formation penalty should require a 10-second runoff in the same way a false-start penalty does in the final two minutes if a team is out of timeouts.

"The whole idea is you can't have an illegal play of any kind without any timeouts while the clock is running to ensure that you get a chance to get a kick," Linehan said, according to the Associated Press.

Linehan said teams could use an illegal-formation penalty as a way to stop the clock. For example, after a long completion, two receivers down the field could execute a snap between themselves instead of waiting for teammates to hurry to the line.

"If you have a long play now, what I would say is I think Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce should run up and snap the ball to each other," Linehan said. "Everybody stand still. It's an illegal formation."

Linehan said it could save a team 10-15 seconds.

"I promise you they're going to have to figure out a way [to look at the rule] because that's what we're going to do," he said.

Engram improving

Seahawks wide receiver Bobby Engram is feeling better after receiving medication to treat what has been diagnosed as a thyroid problem, but Holmgren said it's unlikely Engram will practice this week or play this weekend. The coach said it's possible Engram could be ready for the Oct. 29 game at Kansas City, but that will depend on how he recovers.

"It's just his strength and his energy," Holmgren said. "He feels better, [but] it's my understanding this thing kind of sapped his energy."

Notes

• TE Jerramy Stevens was inactive for Sunday's game, a decision Holmgren said was made the night before. Stevens is coming back from arthroscopic surgery to repair a damaged meniscus in his left knee. He underwent the procedure in August, and returned to practice Oct. 9. Itula Mili started at tight end Sunday, and Stevens is expected back this week.

• The Seahawks' victory at St. Louis will be shown on the NFL Network at 7:30 p.m. today and at 2:30 p.m. Friday. The program is a condensed, 90-minute version of the game with all key plays.