KIRKLAND, Wash. -- The Seattle Seahawks will pay Ken Hamlin's contract for 2005, even though they are no longer bound to because his season was ended by a non-football injury. Coach Mike Holmgren confirmed Wednesday the NFC West-leading Seahawks agreed to pay the rest of Hamlin's salary for this season -- $245,882 remaining on his $380,000 base pay. Holmgren called it "the right thing to do." Hamlin's agent, Lawrence Temple, said in an e-mail to The Associated Press: "Obviously, we appreciate it very much. The Seahawks are doing the right thing by standing by their player, who was the victim of an assault." Hamlin was beaten by two still at-large suspects outside a downtown Seattle nightclub early on Oct. 17, hours after his team beat Houston at nearby Qwest Field. He spent three days in intensive care, and six days in all, at Harborview Medical Center with a fractured skull, blood clot near the brain and bruised brain tissue. He has been out of the hospital and at his home, with his mother, for more than a week. The termination clause of the standard NFL player contract within the NFL's collective bargaining agreement states a team can end a player's contract for the result of actions "other than as a result of injury occurred in the performance of his services under this contract." Holmgren said the team never considered not paying Hamlin, 24. "There have been instances where guys go on the non-football injury list and are not paid," Holmgren said. "He was very much a victim in this case. He didn't decide to go skydiving without a parachute. We decided he deserved us to pay him." On Monday, Holmgren said Hamlin's headaches have subsided and doctors are now decreasing his original medications. "My prayer is that he comes back next year and that he is raring to go," the coach said Wednesday. To that end, Temple said: "At this point, we're more concerned with Ken's health than his playing career, but as his health continues to improve, we will begin to focus more on his return to the field."We are, however, optimistic. Ken is progressing well, and he's feeling much better. The reports are all positive at this time," Temple said. Holmgren said he is getting the same, positive reports, though he added he has not talked to Hamlin's doctors about him playing next season. Holmgren has asked the team's head trainer Sam Ramsden to research whether league officials know of a precedent of a player returning to competition after injuries similar to Hamlin's. "I know there have been race car drivers come back like that," Holmgren said. "As for an NFL football player, I don't know. We'll see."
Yeah, last thing the guy needs is to get dumped by his team after getting his ass kicked. This is a good demonstration of their dedication to their football players.
I wouldn't call it a classy move (more like the right move).The last thing they need is critique from me, though... So, here's to The Hammer getting well soon.
