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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Obituaries Weather Archive Hot Topics Forum Photo Gallery Past Readers Polls Revels Etcetera Backpage O-Zone Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Online Games Movie Preview October 20, 2006 Seahawks' Burleson not balancing Hutchinson 'trade' By Greg Bell The Associated Press KIRKLAND, Wash. — In Minnesota, Steve Hutchinson is resurrecting the Vikings' offensive line. "I think he's able to change the line of scrimmage," Minnesota coach Brad Childress said of the former Seattle Seahawks All-Pro guard. "He's been great," veteran Minnesota center Matt Birk said. "His attitude has been great, and he's a fun guy to work with. "A good guy to chew the fat with, or play cribbage." In Seattle, Nate Burleson wouldn't mind cribbage. It'd be more action than the former Minnesota receiver has been getting during his Seahawks' debut season. Burleson, who graduated from Seattle's O'Dea High School, has seven catches in five games. He had none last week at St. Louis — even though Bobby Engram, who is ahead of him in Seattle's crowded receiving hierarchy, was out with a thyroid condition. "Obviously, as a competitor, you want to go out there and do as many things as you can to help the team," the likable, smiling Burleson said in advance of Sunday's game between his new team (4-1) and his old team (3-2). "As long as we are winning, I can't complain about anything ... I've been an ultimate team player my whole life, so right now I'm excited to see Deion (Branch) and D-Jack (Darrell Jackson) have breakout games." Hutchinson and Burleson are linked because they were essentially "traded" for each other during a 10-day span in March. Hutchinson, then Seattle's transition player, signed a Vikings free agent offer sheet for $49 million and seven years early that month. It included unprecedented clauses that guaranteed the entire contract if Hutchinson was not his team's highest-paid lineman. Seattle had a right to match the offer. But it already had left tackle Walter Jones averaging $7.5 million a year as its richest blocker. Giving a guard that much made no financial sense. So after the Seahawks lost an arbitration hearing on their complaint that the contract violated the league's collective bargaining agreement, they let Hutchinson go to Minnesota to become Vikings' richest lineman. Ten days later, Seattle signed Burleson, a Vikings restricted free agent, for the same $49 million over seven years. Now that he's signed, the Seahawks will never pay Burleson all that money. His base salaries of $10.5 million, $12 million and $12 million will be restructured by 2010 — if he is still with the team. The Seahawks are planning on that. Engram, out indefinitely with a thyroid condition of unknown origin, turns 34 in January. And it's a poorly kept secret that Jackson is unhappy that the team hasn't honored a promise from since-fired team president Bob Whitsitt to redo his contract. Seattle's leading receiver is scheduled to earn $3.25 million, $4 million and $4.75 million in the final three years of his deal, through 2009. Branch is 27 and signed through 2011. Burleson is 25. They are Seattle's future at wide receiver. "For me, adding Nate is very much a long-term thing," quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. "I'm looking forward to being his teammate, and all these guys, for a few years at least. "I think it is really unfair to judge Nate by his statistics ... he really has been great. He has been part of the reason that (receiver) group is getting along so well." In the summer, Burleson struggled to learn the intricacies of coach Mike Holmgren's passing offense. Then he was bothered by a thumb injury. Now Branch has arrived from New England to join Jackson as the starters outside, with Engram to start again when he returns. "We have more guys then we have footballs," Holmgren said. What about those flashy, four-wide receiver formations that briefly caught Holmgren's fancy last month and included Burleson? Holmgren said that will be a rare novelty now that starting tight end Jerramy Stevens is back from knee surgery. Stevens is likely to make his season debut on Sunday. And Burleson will mostly be watching. Again. "I'm just being patient and waiting for the next opportunity to make some plays — regardless if I am out there starting or not, or being out there getting a ton of balls, or blocking for the running backs," Burleson said. "You can ask anyone who knows me, I've been the type of guy who loves to see other guys be successful," he added. "For me, it's just finding my niche in the receiving corps." 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