Wyman's Remarks Annoy Hawks

KIRKLAND - Like any good linebacker, David Wyman is adept at backpedaling.

That's what the Denver Bronco is doing after a few choice quotes made it back to his former team and upcoming opponent, the Seahawks.

Wyman, who will start Sunday, told the Denver Post this week:

"Last year, I felt on their offense there were three guys out there really playing hard and giving 100 percent and playing well. They were Brian Blades, Chris Warren and John L. Williams."

Wyman also said, "As a defense, it was very upsetting. We were really playing hard every week. We were still holding ourselves accountable for mistakes we made, but on the other side of the ball, we thought they were making excuses for themselves."

Seahawk tackle Andy Heck said yesterday, "I think Dave sometimes may be a little too smart and thinks he knows everything. Apparently, he had all the answers to our offensive problems last year."

Guard Darrick Brilz said of Wyman, "I was pretty disappointed he said that."

In a telephone interview yesterday, Wyman said he wasn't trying to stir anything up.

"It's not a big deal," he said. "I just said they weren't very good last year, and they are really good this year."

Wyman said he had just mentioned that Williams, Blades and Warren "were always guys who were playing hard and doing well."

Wyman added, "I made it very clear that that was last year, and it's a totally different thing. This (season's) offense, they are scary looking. They really are. I've been on teams where we've had bad defensive years, just like they had a bad offensive year, and then turned it around the next year, and that's what they have done. Everybody is playing hard. Just because they were bad last year doesn't mean that they are bad this year."

Wyman has managed to create the biggest Seahawk-Bronco controversy since 1987, when linebacker Brian Bosworth boasted about his desire to injure John Elway.

Denver fans bought anti-Bosworth T-shirts that said "No Boz," but the linebacker had the last laugh - he was the silent entrepreneur behind the printing and sale of the shirts.

After Denver lost Michael Brooks to the New York Giants, the Broncos signed Wyman to a three-year, $3.2 million contract that makes him the team's top-paid defensive player.

Wyman made $560,000 last season.

"I'm sure Dave wants to prove to Seattle that they should have paid him the money and kept him," said Karl Mecklenburg, the Broncos' other inside linebacker. "I'm sure he's going to be fired up about this game."

Wyman said he became a Bronco because he "wanted a change" and liked the organization, in addition to the chance to play outdoors on grass.

Wyman is No. 4 on the Broncos in tackles with 42 (31 primary) this season and has stayed healthy. He missed 24 starts over the past three seasons because of injuries.

Wyman was the Seahawks' second-round draft pick out of Stanford in 1987.

Wyman married Shannon Forrest of Edmonds in May, and they are expecting a baby in April.

Though currently trying to sell an Eastside home, Wyman said he plans to move back to the Seattle area when his NFL career is completed so he and his wife can be closer to their families.

NOTES

-- Coach Tom Flores said he probably will activate cornerback Brian Allred from the practice squad for Sunday's game because Carlton Gray is out (broken ankle).

-- Backup center Joe Tofflemire, who injured his right knee in practice Wednesday, is listed as questionable for Sunday. He didn't practice yesterday.

-- Linebacker Kevin Murphy (thigh) was downgraded from probable to questionable but practiced yesterday. Flores said the decision on whether Murphy plays probably will be made Sunday.

-- A Denver radio station is distributing 75,000 Wade Phillips masks at Sunday's game because it is Halloween.

"There are a lot of coaches in the stands already since we're 3-3," joked the Denver coach.

-- Rock fan Rick Mirer attended an unpublicized performance by Pearl Jam on Monday at the Off Ramp nightspot. The quarterback called it "the coolest thing I've done since I've been here."

-- Denver has spent extra time on special-teams play recently after sloppy performances in losses to Green Bay and the Raiders. The Broncos also have been unlucky - opposing field-goal kickers are 16 for 16 against Denver.

-- Shawn Patterson, 29, the Green Bay defensive end who spurned a Seahawk offer in the offseason to remain a Packer, is out for the season. He suffered the third major knee injury of his career.

Information from the Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph was used in this report.