KIRKLAND, Wash. -- Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren indicated Wednesday that the seizure Darrell Jackson had during last Sunday's game in Dallas was more serious than initially thought.

During his weekly news conference, Holmgren said the wide receiver "almost died'' because of the seizure.

A team spokesman later clarified the remark, saying Jackson never was in immediate danger of dying because his heart was beating and he continued to breathe. The spokesman said Holmgren meant to convey that Jackson could have died.

The coach's earlier comments, however, showed how seriously the team took the seizure.

"The simple thing of the matter is Darrell almost died,'' Holmgren said. "That's the deal. Is anything worth that? Let's look at the potential consequences of this thing.''

Jackson was greeted with hugs from teammates and Seahawks personnel when he returned to team headquarters Wednesday. He took a hard hit from Cowboys safety Darren Woodson, but claims his memory of the afternoon is clear.

"I can still remember the play that was called,'' he said. "I can remember everything, the hit and I can remember everything after.''

Asked if had reconsidered the potential danger to his health and his career, Jackson said it just comes with the territory.

"I haven't even second-guessed it,'' Jackson said. "This is the game of football and things like this happen. I put myself in a place out there for things like this to happen. You take it all in stride.''

Holmgren said medical personnel struggled to keep Jackson's airway open during a chaotic 40 minutes. The locker room was cleared of reporters until Jackson was loaded onto a waiting ambulance and taken to a hospital.

"I'm telling you, it was serious,'' he said. "Once they got things under control a little bit, we had a heck of a time strapping him down to the board to get him onto the ambulance. He was like the Incredible Hulk.''

The issue came up after Holmgren described giving Jackson a hug when he saw the receiver.

"I've never been so happy to see a player on a Wednesday morning,'' Holmgren said. "Normally, I'm a little grumpy.''

The NFL fined Woodson $75,000 on Wednesday for an illegal hit on Jackson. Holmgren used to be a member of the competition committee that drafted the rules on such hits.

Jackson didn't have an opinion about the fine.

"I don't make those calls,'' he said. "That's why they have rules.''

Besides the good wishes from his teammates, Jackson also has heard in recent days from Woodson, several Dallas players, Cowboys coach Dave Campo and numerous others around the league.

"It makes me feel like I'm wanted,'' he said.

Holmgren said football is a tough game, and contact is part of it. But he said coaches should emphasize the proper way for players to hit and tackle so that neither the receiver nor the tackler gets injured.

"Everyone take a step back and understand football is a tough game,'' he said. "It's a game for men. (Being) macho and being tough is part of this business. No one, no one wants to see anyone lose their life out there.''

Jackson is undergoing more tests related to the seizure and a concussion. He won't play Sunday when the Washington Redskins visit. Holmgren expects Jackson to play again, but couldn't say when.