Hasselbeck shows off progress at Hawks minicamp

KIRKLAND — Bobby Engram was right when he said his teammate, Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, probably has a key to team headquarters with all of the working out and rehabilitation Hasselbeck has been through.

Hasselbeck's card key won't let him in the building after 6 p.m. But it looks as though the time he has spent working himself back into shape from left shoulder surgery at the end of last season is paying off.

Hasselbeck said he's ahead of schedule. And, sure enough, he was on the field Friday throwing passes, dropping back and moving well for part of the Seahawks' first practice of their May minicamp.

"His rehab has gone very well, and his shoulder is feeling good," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. "He's not participating in any team things that would test his left shoulder at all, like handing the ball off even. But he can throw the ball."

Hasselbeck admitted he isn't in competitive shape yet, but he's happy he had the surgery. Backup Seneca Wallace and No. 3 quarterback David Greene will get more snaps in full team scrimmage situations over the course of this minicamp while Hasselbeck continues his comeback and increases his workload heading into training camp.

At the time of his surgery, few expected Hasselbeck to be ready to throw by the May camp. June was the earliest he figured to return, more realistically the start of training camp in late July.

"I just think I have to get in shape," Hasselbeck said. "I don't think it's gone as fast for me. I'm in that training room all day every day, and it's not that much fun flying around the country seeing doctors and people. It hasn't been fun."

Hasselbeck has gone to see specialists and trainers in Arizona and Toronto, among other places.

While getting stronger, he plans to continue building a rapport with two receivers who haven't been with the team very long: Deion Branch and Nate Burleson.

"As soon as Matt gets back out there in full stride, we'll be ready," Branch said. "We're taking whatever he can do and we're going to try to get the most reps in ... and when he comes back full speed, we'll do the rest."

Hasselbeck also weighed in on the departure of former Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens, who ran afoul of the law again this offseason and has since signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"I really appreciate the effort that he gave and even the selflessness that he had," Hasselbeck said, mentioning that Stevens was for much of his time a part-time starter as a Seahawk.

"All of his problems stem from one thing, and that was alcohol. If you take alcohol out of the equation, he's a perfect teammate and a great kid."

Notes

• Chris Spencer, slated to be the starting center, did not practice and will be held out for the immediate future. Spencer had shoulder surgery in the offseason and became sore during the recent conditioning program. Holmgren hopes Spencer doesn't need another surgery and said that the team will try a new rehabilitation program with the third-year pro.

RG Chris Gray opened minicamp at center for Spencer.

• DB Jordan Babineaux signed his one-year restricted free-agent tender, the last such free agent to do so, but he didn't practice while continuing to recover from shoulder surgery. Others held out for injury rehab included DT Marcus Tubbs (knee), S Michael Boulware (shoulder and ankle), CB Kelly Herndon (ankle), S Mike Green (foot) and T Tom Ashworth (hip). G Floyd Womack was excused from practice.

• Rookie CB Josh Wilson, the Seahawks' second-round draft pick, made his practice debut and came away from the first practice of the day with the following assessment of the action: "Really fast." Wilson intercepted a pass during the afternoon practice.

• RB Josh Scobey, an unrestricted free agent, has signed with the Buffalo Bills. Scobey was a kick returner and key special-teams player for the Seahawks in 2005 and 2006.

• Seattle is using the minicamp to try out rookies Joe Rubin, a running back from Tacoma; LB Marcus Rucker; LS Matt Overton; K Tyler Jones; and QB Derek Devine.

• CB Rich Gardner, signed near the end of the 2006 regular season when the secondary dealt with injuries, was carted off the field during the morning practice with a left leg injury and did not return.