Seahawks coach Jim Mora says he wanted Mike Holmgren to get Seahawks job

RENTON — Jim Mora wanted Mike Holmgren to take the reins of the Seahawks in the front office. The Seahawks coach told reporters Monday that he was "hopeful" that Holmgren would accept the club's offer.

"It's no secret that I'm a Mike Holmgren fan, and I was an advocate of him coming back, to the point that I made my feelings known to the people that make those decisions," Mora said. "I'm probably as disappointed as anybody that he's decided to reject our offer and go onward. I don't know all the particulars. I just know that I absolutely have great regard for Mike Holmgren."

Mora's efforts were in vain. Holmgren, the former Seahawks head coach and general manager, accepted the Cleveland Browns' offer to become team president, The Associated Press reported Monday afternoon.

The Seahawks announced Saturday that they had offered Holmgren a "senior leadership position" but that he had turned it down after discussions with team executives.

Holmgren took the rest of the weekend to mull over his options, apparently, and reached an agreement with the Browns.

Owner Randy Lerner said details still needed to be worked out and a formal announcement would be made by next week, according to the report.

Mora said Holmgren never contacted him about the Seahawks' job, which came open after Tim Ruskell resigned as president and general manager earlier this month. "That's not Mike's style," Mora said.

Mora, who was the Seahawks' defensive backs coach and assistant head coach on Holmgren's staff in 2007 and 2008, felt it was necessary to express his opinion about Holmgren.

"I just wanted to be clear about where I was and how I felt about him, so that there was no doubt," Mora said.

Houser still

in hospital

The Seahawks hope long snapper Kevin Houser is able to leave the hospital by Wednesday after he was found to have a collapsed lung, Mora said.

Houser left Sunday's game against Tampa Bay after suffering what was first deemed a rib injury while on punt coverage in the first half. He was taken to the hospital and X-rayed, and by Monday afternoon was able to sit up in a chair and watch cartoons with his kids.

Houser tried to stay in the game and was given painkillers, but that didn't help. He's headed for injured reserve, ending his season, and the Seahawks are poised to sign Jeff Robinson, who served as the team's long snapper for the latter part of 2007 and all of 2008.

"For quite a while he was fighting through it," Mora said of Houser. "He was in a lot of pain but he wanted to keep going."

Notes

• WR Nate Burleson is no longer wearing the protective boot over his high ankle sprain, but he's doubtful for Sunday's game at Green Bay.

• LB Aaron Curry suffered a stinger on his right side against the Bucs and is also doubtful for this week. He came back into the game after the injury but had no strength in his arm.

• WR Ben Obomanu injured his hamstring, and his status for this week is to be determined.

• WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh left the team to attend today's funeral for former Cincinnati Bengals teammate Chris Henry. Houshmandzadeh will rejoin the Seahawks by Wednesday.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com