New Seahawk Walsh looks for redemption

RENTON, Washington — New Seahawks kicker Blair Walsh is intent on redeeming himself with the franchise that found itself the beneficiary of his most dramatic error.

Walsh missed a 27-yard field goal with less than 30 seconds remaining against Seattle in a Wild Card playoff game with the Minnesota Vikings two seasons ago. Walsh yanked the kick wide left, allowing the Seahawks to survive for a 10-9 victory. After Walsh’s struggles continued into last season, the Vikings cut him loose after nine games.

“It just wasn’t fun,” Walsh said of his last year in Minnesota. “It wasn’t fun trying to work through it and get better. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to finish out the year. I thought I would be able to correct it and I didn’t get that chance. But it’s all right. I’m happy with the place I’m in and I wouldn’t change anything.”

Walsh had missed four of his 16 field goal attempts with the Vikings last season and four of 19 extra point tries before being let go. Meanwhile, the Seahawks were looking to make their own change at kicker after Steven Hauschka missed 10 total kicks, with six kicks blocked, last season for Seattle.

“We are getting him at a time when he really has something to prove,” head coach Pete Carroll said of Walsh ahead of today’s pre-season game against the San Diego Chargers in Carson.

“He has been a tremendous worker for us, really diligent worker. He is a very good athlete too. You can see he has soccer background in him and all that.

“He has a big leg though, too. We haven’t seen a ball pop up in the air like this in years. We are really excited about what he’s bringing in and now it’s just about consistency.”