Seahawk Notebook -- Deems May Is A Catch For Seattle -- He Builds Career Block By Block

KIRKLAND - The word he was not wanted came as a shock to Deems May.

Somehow, he thought five years with the San Diego Chargers would mean something. His career had never been about big numbers or lots of money. He was a tight end who thought about blocks before catches. Teams could use a player like that.

But the Chargers let him go this spring. Deems didn't fit their plans, they said. And yet he is exactly what the Seattle Seahawks have been looking for - a tight end who knows his role.

Yesterday, he signed a two-year contract with Seattle worth a total of $800,000, including a $100,000 bonus, and then went out to the field behind the team's headquarters and started catching passes in veterans camp.

"I'm a blocking tight end, let's not confuse it," May said. "In San Diego, I blocked a lot for Natrone Means. I'm never going to be a player who catches a lot of passes. I'd love to, but it's never been my role."

Which is exactly why the Seahawk coaches seem so interested in May's arrival. They need depth at tight end. Christian Fauria has been hurt and Carlester Crumpler has been inconsistent. May will be steady.

"I thought I had a good year last year," said May, who caught 19 passes for 188 yards for the Chargers last season. "I started 11 of 16 games. But I'm happy to be here. What a great town to come to. It's good to be going to a team that's exciting."

May loves Seattle. When he came here with the Chargers, he would take an afternoon to walk around downtown. Yesterday, he looked at the sun burning brightly on the practice fields and smiled.

There are a lot of things he can do for this team. With the Chargers, he always was considered one of the team's most versatile players. He was their emergency long-snapper and played a little at H-back, as well.

In fact, he used to be a quarterback, once starting five games for North Carolina in 1988. But after losses to South Carolina, Oklahoma and Auburn, he was pulled from the lineup and told the team was going in a different direction. If he wanted to play again, he would have to move to tight end.

"I was tall," he said. "But I only weighed like 215."

Now he is 6 feet 4 and 263 pounds, perfect for a blocker who can catch a few passes. Which is what the Seahawks will ask him to do.

"If you're going to be a tight end in this offense, you better be a blocker first and then a receiver," said Keith Gilbertson, Seahawk tight end coach. "I think that's what his career has been and he knows that."

NOTES

-- The Seahawks tried to sign outside linebacker Lewis Bush from Tacoma yesterday, but he re-signed with San Diego, getting a four-year contract and a chance to start. Bush, who played at Washington State, was sought by the Seahawks to provide much-needed depth at the position. Seattle had offered a one-year deal worth about $500,000 with an option year.

-- Wide receiver Joey Galloway missed practice yesterday and Erickson had no idea where he was. "I'll let you know more after I talk to him," Erickson said.

The only other no-show for the voluntary practices was defensive end Pat Riley, who missed his flight.

-- Defensive end Matt LaBounty practiced yesterday after missing workouts two weeks ago because of a knee problem.

-- Wide receiver Grayson Shillingford suffered a separated right shoulder on the last play of yesterday's workouts.

-- Seattle has released cornerback Selwin Jones and tight end Coleman Bell. The moves weren't much of a surprise because neither player fit into the team's plans. The Seahawks don't plan to release any other players before June.