Associated Press
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck apologized to the Arizona Cardinals for saying they should be fined for hard hits against him.
Hasselbeck’s apology was in response to a question about Arizona safety Adrian Wilson (N.C. State) blitzing free and sacking Hasselbeck in the second quarter of Arizona’s 26-20 win
“I probably owe them an apology,” Hasselbeck said. “I think they played hard. I think they played physical. I think they played within the rules and with class. So I regret saying that. In fact, I hope nobody gets fined.”
Wilson jumped on the sack, and his forearms appeared to hit Hasselbeck’s head after the quarterback ducked to absorb the blow. Hasselbeck was splayed on the ground for a few seconds and got up with a shoulder pad sticking out of his jersey.
Referee Bill Carollo was watching intently but did not call a penalty.
Hasselbeck missed on three of his next five passes and fumbled during another sack in the plays following Wilson’s hit.
About an hour after the loss, Hasselbeck looked punch-drunk and defeated. He said he was exhausted. He time spent in the training room taking fluids intravenously and then spoke in slow, almost groggy tones to the media.
He said then: “You know, it’s football. It’s a violent game. I guess the only thing that makes me feel good is knowing there will be some fines coming out in a couple days.”
Moments later, he added: “I probably shouldn’t have said that. I regret saying that. The film’s there. I mean, everyone can see it. I know it wasn’t a prime-time game. But I hope someone watches it.”
Monday, Hasselbeck said he probably shouldn’t have been allowed to meet with reporters for another couple of hours after the game.
LYNCH RETIRES
No more bone-jarring tackles for John Lynch.
The hard-hitting, nine-time Pro Bowl safety retired Monday, saying it was time to begin a new phase of life after 11 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and four more with the Denver Broncos.
Now, he’s preparing for his broadcasting debut with Fox next week in Jacksonville, where he’ll be part of the Jaguars-Vikings telecast.
COWBOYS
Suspended Cowboys cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones must keep waiting to find out whether he can resume his NFL career.
When commissioner Roger Goodell punished Jones last month, he said the suspension would be reviewed after four games ó and the fourth was Sunday. So now the wait is on for Goodell to make a ruling.
“Nothing to report on it,” league spokesman Greg Aiello wrote in an e-mail Monday.
VIKINGS
Defensive linemen Jared Allen, Pat Williams and Kevin Williams all will meet with league officials in New York in hopes of avoiding suspensions that would gut the team’s biggest strength.
The Williams Wall will appear to discuss testing positive for a weight-loss diuretic that is on the list of banned substances. They face four-game suspensions for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Additional appeals will be heard today for three New Orleans Saints: running back Deuce McAllister and defensive ends Charles Grant and Will Smith.
Allen will be in New York to talk about a hit on Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers two weeks ago that could leave him vulnerable to a suspension because it came two days after he was fined $50,000 for hits on Houston’s Matt Schaub.
Texans
Schaub’s recovery from a left knee injury will take longer than the two to four weeks initially projected.
Schaub has been out two weeks, and coach Gary Kubiak said it could be another four weeks.
BUCS
Earnest Graham injured his right ankle against Minnesota, and coach Jon Gruden said the running back’s season “could be in jeopardy.”
Graham’s injury figures to accelerate Carnell “Cadillac” Williams’ comeback from an injury that kept him from playing since tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee in 2007. The fourth-year pro was moved from the physically unable to perform list to the 53-man roster last week but he was inactive Sunday.
Rams
Offensive tackle Orlando Pace will be sidelined two to four weeks with a knee injury.
Coach Jim Haslett also counted out running back Steven Jackson, who will miss his fourth game in five weeks with a persistent thigh injury.
Titans
Cornerback Eric King (Wake Forest) has a broken forearm that likely will need surgery, and he will miss Sunday’s game with the Jets.
Coach Jeff Fisher said there’s a chance King could return this season.
Patriots
New England also placed rookie cornerback Terrence Wheatley on injured reserve with a wrist injury.
Giants
Running back Brandon Jacobs had a precautionary MRI on his knee, although coach Tom Coughlin said he didn’t think Jacobs had a serious injury.
Packers
Linebacker Nick Barnett will have surgery to repair his torn right knee ligament Thursday. Barnett said Sunday he is expected to need six to eight months of recovery time.