"As Matt Hasselbeck slowly lifted himself from Husky Stadium's hard artificial surface, the jeers rolled over him as punishing as North Shore waves.

It was 2001, Hasselbeck's first game in Seattle, and the combination of the Philadelphia Eagles defense and the Seahawks fans was hazing him as if he were a fraternity pledge.

Back then, before Hasselbeck quarterbacked the Hawks to the 2006 Super Bowl, he was coach and general manager Mike Holmgren's great gamble. The make-or-break trade.

Holmgren had acquired Hasselbeck from Green Bay and, although Hasselbeck had thrown only 29 regular-season passes in his first two seasons, he was anointed the Seahawks' starter and their future.

Hasselbeck was expected to take Holmgren's Hawks to the same glamorous places Brett Favre had taken Holmgren's Packers.

But in his home debut, Hasselbeck was sacked seven times. He completed only 9 of 24 passes for 62 yards, and the Hawks lost to the Eagles 27-3. It wasn't exactly the harbinger of Super Bowls.

Over the next 10 seasons, however, Seattle learned to love Matt Hasselbeck. He had the toughness it took to survive those early growing pains. He was smart enough to digest all the information the demanding Holmgren gave him.

He made himself into a Pro Bowler. He became one of the most respected athletes to play in Seattle and one of the classiest, most humble guys I've covered.

But it was time for him to go."