It's already been a busy season for Seahawks' GM

By Frank Hughes | The News Tribune • Published October 03, 2008

• Comments (0)

RENTON – Normally, this is the time of year when Seattle Seahawks general manager Tim Ruskell sits back and watches the fruits of his offseason labor germinate, consolidate and then perform at what he hopes is a playoff-caliber level.

But this has not been a normal season for Ruskell — or for anybody else working for the Seahawks.

Injuries to his top six wide receivers put Ruskell in scramble mode, seeking to find replacement after replacement for Bobby Engram, Nate Burleson, Logan Payne and even Seneca Wallace.

At a time when he is usually evaluating, Ruskell went back to scouting, frantically making phone calls and either signing or trading for players who could fill the void that put coach Mike Holmgren in a precarious position.

"We are gung ho," Ruskell said, referring to his staff, director of player personnel Will Lewis, vice president of personnel Ruston Webster and vice president of football operations John Idzik. "It gives you a heightened sense of intensity because we don't want to mess this up. We want to get the exact right people.

"The key is as quickly as you can possibly get it done, get it done so we can get him to the coach so he can start learning. Don't lose a week here going through all the logistics you are talking about. Get it done."

Ruskell first signed Billy McMullen and Samie Parker, though Parker was released a few days later. McMullen played a key role in his first game and has become the team's starting split end.

The next week, Ruskell traded a conditional draft pick to Denver for Keary Colbert, who started in the victory over the St. Louis Rams and will be a part of the rotation against the New York Giants on Sunday (10 a.m., Channel 13).

And Ruskell also went against his strict mantra of bringing in players with strong character when he signed troubled wide receiver Koren Robinson, though Robinson's sore knee has kept him from taking part in practices or games.

It is a delicate balancing act, Ruskell said, trying to find and fit a player into a system as varied and nuanced as Holmgren's while the player must meet criteria set forth by Ruskell and his staff — and doing it on short notice.