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KIRKLAND, Wash. -- Mike Holmgren has some words of advice
for holdout Seattle Seahawks receiver Joey Galloway:
You're stuck in Seattle, so live with it.
"We're not going to trade him," the first-year Seahawks coach-general manager told his weekly news conference on Wednesday. "I want him here. I want him to be a part of this and he knows that." Galloway, the team's leading receiver in each of the last three seasons, missed all of the Seahawks' training camp and their four exhibition games. The Seahawks open their season on Sunday at the Kingdome against Detroit. Galloway has one season left on a five-year contract for $1.6 million. He signed the pact after Seattle made him the eighth overall pick in the 1995 NFL draft. Even if Galloway sat out this season, he would remain the property of the Seahawks. Galloway has turned down a seven-year contract offer for $35 million, including a $7 million signing bonus. He is seeking a five-year deal worth about $25 million with a $10 million signing bonus. Other teams are seeking to acquire Galloway in a trade, Holmgren told reporters. "I've been approached in casual conversations by about 15 (teams)," he said. "I've told them all the same thing: I am not trading him. He's here. I want him here." Holmgren doesn't sound like he's ready to give an inch, or a dollar, in the stalemate. Negotiations broke off two weeks ago. "I would hope he'd walk in the door and say, 'OK, I'm ready to play,"' Holmgren said. With Galloway missing and Michael Pritchard out with a knee injury, Sean Dawkins and Charles Jordan will be Seattle's starting receivers for the Lions' game. Derrick Mayes will be the third receiver. All are new this season. Quarterback Jon Kitna will be starting his seventh NFL game. Dawkins and Jordan signed with the Seahawks as free agents and Mayes was acquired by Seattle in a trade with Green Bay. "We're thin there in this first game certainly," Holmgren said of his receiving corps. Galloway and Pritchard led the team in receptions and receiving yardage last season. Galloway caught 65 passes for 1,047 yards and 10 touchdowns while Pritchard made 58 receptions for 742 yards and three TDs. Pritchard is expected back for Seattle's second game Sept. 19 in Chicago. Galloway, who is at his home in Columbus, Ohio, told KIRO Radio Tuesday night, "I would love to be there right now playing, but at the same time I can't accept playing for something that's way below market value." Holmgren also announced that former Pro Bowl offensive tackle Howard Ballard, who retired last Sunday after playing 11 seasons in the NFL, will remain with the team as an assistant coach this season. He will help offensive line coach Tom Lovat. After this season, Holmgren and Ballard will sit down again to decide Ballard's coaching future. A lot will depend on how much Ballard likes the job. "It's not quite as glamourous as being a player," Holmgren said. "You have to eat on paper plates and have long hours. You don't get to go home at 5 o'clock at night. A lot of players want to stay in the game. Then they realize they want to stay in the game doing something else." | ALSO SEE Galloway's status in jeopardy for Seahawks opener
Galloway rejects 'final' offer from Seahawks
AUDIO/VIDEO   Mike Holmgren says he is not trading Joey Galloway.wav: 139 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6  | ||||||
