As Seahawks mull QB in draft, Hasselbeck vows he's healthy

"What's his name, Mel Kiper?" Hasselbeck said. "Yeah, when I was picked, with pick 187, I think his exact words were something like, 'That's a waste of a pick.'

"At 187! So, you know, whatever."

Monday, Hasselbeck looked rusty throwing, but was far more fluid than while coming back in November for three losses before he stayed out for good. He believes exercises to strengthen his torso have made him a stronger thrower.

Some of those exercises came in work with noted physiotherapist Rick Celebrini. A former Canadian national and professional soccer player, Celebrini was recruited by two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash early in the fellow Canadian's basketball career to help Nash with his ailing back related to a congenital back condition, spondylolisthesis.

Hasselbeck said Celebrini has taught Seahawks trainers some of his methods to maintain a healthy back.

"I thought Matt looked ... good," Jim Mora said after his first practice as Seattle's coach. "I did notice that first throw of team (drills) he zipped it in there well. He moved around well.

"I was impressed with Matt. I am very optimistic."

Hasselbeck has it all in proper perspective.

"It's April," he deadpanned.

He said what made 2008 even more difficult was the Seahawks' insistence he go along with a week-to-week watch on his health late in the season. Doctors told him in October that if nothing more happened to his back he could avoid surgery. Hasselbeck says now he should have just been shut down for the end of an already lost season that ended with a 4-12 record.

Yet the team publicly kept alive the possibility he could return for one of the final games coached by Hasselbeck's mentor, the now-departed Mike Holmgren.

"I know last year was really hard and frustrating," Hasselbeck said. "And, personally, on how it was handled - every week wondering - I think that made it harder. Instead of just knowing, knowing the truth.

"Pretty much with everything last year, we all just want to put it behind us and just forget it."