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January 29, 2008

Praising Arizona

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Former Patriots tight end Don Hasselbeck says his son, Tim, is surprised more free agents don't sign with the Arizona Cardinals.

"He said to me: 'You think anyone else in the league knows you can play golf every day after practice?' "

The younger brother of Seattle Seahawks starting QB Matt Hasselbeck, Tim has bounced around the NFL as a backup since graduating from Boston College.

He started five games for the Redskins in 2003, coming off the bench after Patrick Ramsey was injured. He had the best game of his undistinguished career in a 20-7 victory over the Giants, when he completed 13 of 19 passes for two touchdowns, without an interception. The following week, however, he had a quarterback rating of 0.0 in a 27-0 loss to the Cowboys in which he completed just 6 of 26 passes, for only 57 yards, and threw four interceptions. He hasn't thrown a pass in a regular-season game since that season.

Tim spent the 2005 and 2006 seasons with the Giants, as the backup to Eli Manning. Released by the Giants prior to the start of this season, he signed with the Cardinals in October after Matt Leinart and Kurt Warner were injured.

He is married to the former Elisabeth Filarski of Cranston. They met at Boston College. After appearing as a contestant on Survivor, she has become a television star, and now is co-host of The View.

Tim's mother, Betsy, also may be seen on TV, appearing in a commercial for Campbell's Soup. She's doing some promotional work for Campbell's this week in Phoenix.

Matt Hasselbeck played in the Super Bowl two years ago, when the Seahawks lost to the Steelers.

Don, who was a tight end for the Patriots from 1977-83, has long been an executive with Reebok.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 3:25 PM | Permalink