Mike Holmgren, according to ESPN's John Clayton, has informed the Seattle Seahawks that he will remain as head coach of the club for the 2008 season. Holmgren spent the weekend in Arizona trying to decide whether or not to retire. He is under contract through the 2008 season, and many have speculated he will not coach beyond his current contract.

Seattle Seahawks' Defensive Backs Coach Jim Mora pulled his name out of consideration for the Washington Redskins' head coaching job on Friday afternoon. Mora, who interviewed with the Redskins on Wednesday and Thursday, called Redskins' owner Dan Snyder on Friday and said he preferred to stay in Seattle for family reasons. Mora has his family in Seattle and felt he didn't want to uproot it after he was fired as the Falcons' head coach last year. Mora is in the running for the Seahawks' head coaching job if Mike Holmgren decides to retire next week. Holmgren is taking the weekend to think about whether or not he wants to coach next year. Mora, as well as Indianapolis Colts' Defensive Coordinator Ron Meeks, were part of the first round of the Redskins' interviews to replace departed Coach Joe Gibbs, who retired from the NFL on Jan. 8.

The end of the Seattle Seahawks' season was more painful than originally thought. The team announced Thursday that Shaun Alexander had surgery this week to mend the left wrist the 2005 league MVP broke in Week 1. Five teammates also had procedures to repair injuries sustained during Seattle's run to its fourth consecutive NFC West title. Defensive end Patrick Kerney and left tackle Walter Jones, both All-Pro players, plus leading receiver Deion Branch and starting center Chris Spencer are next up for surgery.

It only felt like a retirement. Mike Holmgren looked nervous. He leaned forward and pushed his hands into the armrest of his chair. A half-dozen photographers jostled for position around him. They flashed at each of the Seahawks coach's expressions. There were smiles. Deadpan stares. And, when reminded how much Seattle wants him to stay, there was obvious emotion in reddened eyes and pressed lips. "I'm kind of getting the feeling you guys are moving me toward the door here," Holmgren, 59, said Tuesday, chuckling during his annual season-ending news conference, which offered more hints that the most successful coach in Seahawks history may retire after 16 seasons. Seattle will find out soon. Holmgren said he could decide "perhaps" by next week, after he spends a few days talking with his wife, Kathy, at their home in Arizona.

Seahawks' wide receiver Deion Branch tore his anterior cruciate ligament in Saturday's loss to Green Bay and will undergo surgery, according to a report in the Seattle Times. Citing sources, the newspaper said the injury was confirmed by noted orthopedist Dr. James Andrews, who will perform the surgery. Coach Mike Holmgren estimated Branch's recovery time at nine months.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports NFL sources say injured Seahawks' wideout Deion Branch will need surgery to repair knee ligament damage, perhaps even the anterior cruciate ligament. Jason Chayut, Branch's agent, says he and his client are seeking a second opinion on Branch's left knee and that he will know more about Branch's situation by the end of the week. Branch was injured while making a cut on the Seahawks' third offensive play at Lambeau Field in Green Bay on Saturday in the team's 42-20 playoff loss to the Packers that ended the Seahawks' season. After remaining on the ground and clutching his knee for several minutes, Branch was able to walk to the sideline after being examined by the team doctors and trainers. He was then taken to the locker room on a cart.

Assistant Coach Gregg Williams interviewed again Monday for the Redskins' coaching vacancy, and the team was also planning to speak to Seahawks' aAsistant Jim Mora and Colts' Assistants Jim Caldwell and Ron Meeks. Owner Dan Snyder met for the third time with Williams, who has been in charge of the Redskins' defense since 2004. Williams had a preliminary interview Wednesday and his first full session with the owner Saturday.

Brett Favre spotted his favorite target all alone and let fly. He hit Donald Driver, all right -- with a snowball. Favre frolicked in the flurries the entire afternoon, throwing three touchdown passes as the Packers beat the Seahawks 42-20 Saturday to reach the NFC championship game. "I've been hoping for that for 17 years," Favre said. "I was watching the weather all day and it's a shame, I'm like, 'Just give us one of those big snow games."' "I wanted to play where you couldn't see the field, and the snowplow comes out. It keeps getting worse and worse," he said. With Lambeau Field looking like a snow globe, the Packers posted their biggest points total in postseason history.

Just as the Seahawks got finally got all of their receivers back and healthy, D.J. Hackett is hurt again. Seattle's oft-injured starting receiver missed all but the stretching portion of practice Thursday, the team's final one before it leaves for Saturday's NFC divisional playoff game against Green Bay. Hackett aggravated a sprained right ankle that he's had for most of the season by practicing on Wednesday. Four days earlier, he had six catches for 101 yards and a touchdown in the victory over Washington in the wild-card game. "His ankle is a little bit sore. We rested it today," Seahawks' Coach Mike Holmgren said. "That will be a game-time decision." "Instead of making it a little worse [Thursday] I think I'd rather have him there on Saturday."

Deion Branch came off the field cracking jokes with his fellow Seattle wide receivers, in a good mood after practicing for the first time in two weeks. "Out there running, getting pushed around by the guys, it felt good," Branch said Wednesday. Since injuring his right calf during practice in Dec. 26, Branch has loitered around team practices, waiting to get clearance from the Seahawks' medical staff to return to action. He tried to give it a shot before last Saturday's NFC wild-card game against Washington but didn't have the speed and quickness Coach Mike Holmgren felt Branch needs to play effectively. So Branch, who has been in the second-most playoff games on Seattle's roster, was just a spectator as the Seahawks beat Washington 35-14.