Seattle's Hidden Injuries?

[70Chip]

It's hard to know what we should believe these days, but FWIW from PFT:

BRANCH IS A GAME-TIME DECISION
The guy for whom the Seahawks gave up a first-round pick in September 2006 in the hopes of taking the final step to a Super Bowl win might not play during the team's first step toward a 2008 Lombardi Trophy.
Per Ed Werder of ESPN, receiver Deion Branch is a game-time decision with a calf injury.
Werder says that coach Mike Holmgren says that Branch is doubtful (he technically was listed as questionable on the injury report). Holmgren expects Branch to lobby to play, and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck thinks that Branch will play, weather permitting.
As to Hasselbeck, he told Werder that he has a "slightly sprained right wrist," which is giving Hasselbeck concerns about his accuracy. But in yet another example of the blatant manner in which NFL teams fail to properly disclose injuries (without consequence), Hasselbeck is not listed as "probable" -- which is intended to disclose the existence of an injury that nevertheless leaves the player virtually certain to be available for normal duty.
If the goal is to ensure that there is no inside information that gamblers could attempt to acquire by infiltrating the team, a condition that is causing the quarterback to be worried about his accuracy in throwing the ball is probably the kind of information that should be available earlier in the week -- and not just a few hours before kickoff via ESPN.

[NinjaLink]

That is interesting. If Deion Branch is out then the Seahawks are screwed.

[dgack]

Originally Posted by NinjaLink

That is interesting. If Deion Branch is out then the Seahawks are screwed.

I think they're screwed but it has nothing to do with Branch. They have been fine with and without Branch this year. As many others have noted, Engram has played out of his mind this season, and Hackett and Burleson have had decent years as well.

I've said this before, but Deion Branch is maybe the most overrated receiver of our generation. He's never had a thousand yard season (got to 998 one year) and his best TD production was 5. 1000 and 5 does not impress me. Engram netted 1147 and 6 this year against a cupcake schedule.

Branch is a 650-700 and 4-5 guy. To put it in perspective, ol' "50/50" Rod Gardner was putting up those kinds of numbers most years he was here. The difference is Branch had Tom Brady throwing to him, and he had one great game that happened to be a Super Bowl victory.

[Smooter]

I just heard on NFLN that Branch is out.