Yet when they signed two veteran stopgap receivers on Wednesday, neither one was idle free agent Koren Robinson.

Billy McMullen and Samie Parker are in instead and readying to play Sunday against San Francisco - despite Robinson's experience of starting 52 games in Holmgren's offense from 2001-04 after the coach drafted him ninth overall.

Robinson is still at home in Raleigh, N.C., waiting for a call.

"Koren's name was one of the names mentioned, certainly. There is some logic to it," Holmgren said. "But that was one of 30 names."

Seattle released Robinson before the 2005 season after he pleaded guilty to drunken driving. He was suspended for four games in 2004 for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Robinson made his first Pro Bowl as a kick returner with Minnesota during the 2005 season, but the Vikings released Robinson just before the 2006 season, after he was again charged with drunken driving and fleeing police.

Not long after Green Bay signed the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Robinson that year, the league suspended him for a year. He sought treatment that included attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and taking a drug that would make him sick if he drank alcohol again.

When he was reinstated to the league, the 28-year-old Robinson won the support of former Packers quarterback Brett Favre, who has acknowledged his own history of substance abuse. In a public plea to league officials on behalf of Robinson in 2007, Favre suggested a comeback could help the league move past the negative publicity from other players' legal problems.

"He's done everything he's been asked to do, and it's time to set a good example - that you can resurrect not only your career, but your life," Favre said at that time.

The Packers gave him an opportunity. Robinson responded with 21 catches for 241 yards and one touchdown in nine games last season. He was also second on the team with 25 kickoff returns for 596 yards.

For now at least, Seattle did not give him another chance - though Holmgren said the Seahawks may not be done making roster moves for the week.

The decision not to bring Robinson back likely went above Holmgren, to president and general manager Tim Ruskell. Holmgren has said he gave Robinson multiple chances in Seattle and that he was sad it didn't work out here for him.

When asked if too much had happened with Robinson in the past for him to return, Holmgren said Wednesday: "I don't know. It depends on who you talk to I suppose."

"Koren has a history here. ... It's been talked about, and I probably had a fair amount of criticism on how I handled Koren, and all that. That's old news. But right now, I think, whether it's Koren or anybody else who can come in and help the football team and can contribute, I think you have talk about it. At the very least, talk about it. And that's what we did."