Spencer acquired ethic early

Chris Spencer is learning the art of playing center and delivering one-liners from Robbie Tobeck, an accomplished pro in both disciplines, but the rookie from the University of Mississippi appears to need little assistance in the work ethic department.

Two-a-day Seahawks training camp practices in the 90-degree heat at Eastern Washington University are no picnic, but Spencer understands the difference between work and playing football.

By the age of 6 or 7, he was on the tractor with his grandfather, helping tend to cotton and beans. Spencer dug ditches, learned how to fix farm machinery and later landed a job pouring concrete with a relative’s company.

“It was no fun at all, especially in Mississippi when it’s a 100 degrees and humid,” Spencer said. “We’d get up and drive an hour and a half to get prepared and set up. We’d be there until like 3 or 4 in the afternoon.”

The pay was good, but the fringe benefit was even better.

“It made me go to school, I know that,” Spencer said.

At Ole Miss, Spencer rotated in and out of the lineup at right and left guard his first two seasons before finding a home at center where he earned All-SEC honors as a junior. Unhappy with the school’s decision to fire coach David Cutcliffe, Spencer decided to find out where he stood in the NFL’s eyes.

“I got a letter back with a second-round grade,” Spencer said.

After weighing the pluses and minuses of playing his senior season, Spencer opted to make himself eligible for the draft. Seattle offensive line coach Bill Laveroni put Spencer through a private workout on the Ole Miss campus, but Spencer was still somewhat surprised when the Seahawks took him late in the first round. On draft day, Seattle coach Mike Holmgren described Spencer as someday having Pro Bowl potential.

Spencer missed nearly a week of training camp while resolving contract issues, but he’s proven to be a quick study.

“It’s getting better and better,” he said. “It’s all about getting reps and trying to watch the older guys and see what they’re doing. The offense is really complex here. It’s a lot to know as a center. If you’re not right, everybody else will be wrong so you have to get everybody on the same page.”

Strong backups

Fullback Mack Strong is entering his 13th season as a Seahawk and shows no sign of slowing down. His backup, Heath Evans, departed to Miami in free agency, leaving sixth-round pick Tony Jackson and undrafted free agent Leonard Weaver to compete for the job.

Strong keeps a close eye on the two.

“Leonard has stuck out in my mind as a guy that has a lot of potential and talent,” said Strong, who was an undrafted free agent when he first made the Seahawks in 1993. “He can definitely get it done. Tony, once he gets back on the field (from a shoulder injury) has a lot of talent as well.

“At some point the window is going to close for me, but I’m excited to see what these young guys can do. Whether I’m out there playing or sitting at home watching I believe they’re going to have a long career.”

Relatively successful

Safety Terreal Bierria’s cousin, Corey Bierria, pocketed $433,050 by finishing second in a World Series of Poker circuit event in New Orleans. The Texas Hold ‘em tournament, held in late May, was televised on ESPN earlier this week.

“We grew up together,” Terreal said. “We use to live together in Atlanta.”

Terreal, a fourth-year pro from the University of Georgia, said it was only recently that his cousin started playing poker seriously. Corey placed second to Walter Chambers, who won $787,340.

Guest speaker

At the request of Dallas coach Bill Parcells, actor Kevin Costner recently gave a motivational speech to the Cowboys. Asked whom he would ask to address the Seahawks, Holmgren went old school.

“I have always been partial to Sophia Loren,” he said. “She has been my all-time favorite.”

Seattle entertains Dallas on Monday night.

Notes

Tackle Cedric Woodard, who saw limited time in practice earlier this week, was absent Thursday morning and is still bothered by his surgically repaired left knee. Holmgren said Woodard was visiting the doctor who performed the surgery. Offensive lineman Wayne Hunter will miss two weeks with a knee injury. Cornerback Andre Dyson returned from the neck stinger he suffered against New Orleans on Friday. The return of linebacker D.D. Lewis (concussion) is imminent, Holmgren said… . There are plays that draw polite clapping from the crowd and those that draw applause from both the crowd and players watching from sidelines. From the latter category, cornerback B.J. Tucker made a diving deflection of a pass that was inches away from receiver Jerheme Urban’s hands. That was perhaps topped by cornerback Marcus Trufant snatching the ball while tight end Jerramy Stevens was trying to secure a one-handed reception.