Sunday, January 6, 2008

Through Their Hands

The last time Seattle hosted a playoff game, Redskins fans took great pleasure in the misfortune of Dallas. The Cowboys had a chance to win their first-round game last season at Qwest Field, but quarterback Tony Romo, then the holder on kicks, mishandled the snap in the closing seconds, and Seattle won, 21-20.

Inactive Seattle WR Deion Branch, wearing street clothes and a down Seahawks coat, entered a huddle of Redskins defensive backs during pregame warmups and traded pointed comments and gestures with them. After a heated minute, game officials and Seattle defensive backs coach Jim Mora intervened to separate Branch from trouble.

Redskins cornerback and Washington area native Shawn Springs was making his second return to Seattle after playing for the Seahawks from 1997 to 2003. Washington signed Springs, who played high school football at Springbrook, as a free agent in March 2004. Springs also played for the Redskins in their last playoff game at Seattle in January 2006.