On a day when the Seahawks were wrapping up a visit with free-agent cornerback Andre Dyson and preparing for the arrival of free-agent running back Anthony Thomas, they also were among three teams to express interest in wide receiver Rod Gardner.
Gardner is not a free agent, but the Washington Redskins have given his agent, Joel Segal, permission to talk with other teams about a possible trade. Segal said yesterday that the Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns had inquired about his client.
Where Gardner would fit for the Seahawks is open to speculation, starting with their interest in him being an indication that Koren Robinson could be on the way out after missing six of the final seven games last season for violating league policy or team rules. Or the team could be looking to add a fourth set of hands to a mix that already includes leading receiver Darrell Jackson, productive No. 3 receiver Bobby Engram and the erratic Robinson.
It is believed the Redskins are looking for a third- or fourth-round draft choice for Gardner, the 15th pick overall in the 2001 draft.
Gardner, 27, has one year remaining on his original contract with the Redskins and is scheduled to make a base salary of $2.097 million, so reworking his deal would undoubtedly be part of any trade.
He has caught 227 passes for 2,997 yards and 22 touchdowns in four seasons -- compared to 213 receptions, 3,167 yards and 12 TDs for Robinson, the ninth pick overall in the same draft.
One of Gardner's more memorable plays came in the Redskins' 27-20 upset of the Seahawks in 2003, when he took a pass from Trung Candidate on a halfback option to score the winning touchdown with less than two minutes to play. Gardner had eight receptions for 81 yards in that game.
GARCIA, HOLMGREN TALK: Coach Mike Holmgren met with Jeff Garcia yesterday to discuss the possibility of the former Pro Bowl quarterback for the 49ers becoming the backup to Matt Hasselbeck.
Garcia, who was released last month by the Browns, also has talked to the Broncos, Lions and Buccaneers. Garcia, who turned 35 last month, has said he wants to make a decision about where to sign by the end of the week.
The Seahawks need a backup because the weekend trade of Trent Dilfer to the Browns became official yesterday when he signed a four-year contract.
NERI RETURNS: Former Seahawks director of college scouting Phil Neri is working as a consultant to help the team prepare for the April 23-24 NFL draft. The club has not had a director of college scouting since Feb. 2, when Scot McCloughan left to become vice president of player personnel for the San Francisco 49ers.
Neri worked for the Seahawks from 1984-96 and most recently was director of college personnel for the Browns. A respected and astute talent evaluator, Neri has been a scout since 1978. He worked for the Philadelphia Eagles (1979-83) before his original stint with the Seahawks and the New Orleans Saints (1997) and Browns (1998-2004) after leaving Seattle.
HAWK TALK: Dyson left town, but the club will continue to talk with him and his agent. ... After Thomas' visit, the Seahawks are scheduled to meet with defensive end Bryce Fisher, a free agent from the St. Louis Rams, today and tomorrow. The Broncos also are interested in Fisher, who is from Renton and attended Seattle Prep. ... Although not confirmed by the club, free agent linebackers Donnie Spragan (Broncos) and Kevin Bentley (Browns) and tight end Anthony Becht (Jets) say they plan to visit the Seahawks. ... Linebacker Ed Hartwell (Ravens) and cornerback Kelly Herndon (Broncos), whose agents had said their clients wanted to meet with the Seahawks, are considering offers from the Dolphins and Falcons, respectively. ... Holmgren, who was out of town Monday for family reasons, leaves Friday for the NFL competition committee meetings that precede the owners meeting March 19-21 in Maui.
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