KIRKLAND, Wash. -- Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes has been hospitalized by team doctors and is undergoing a series of tests, coach Mike Holmgren said on Monday.
Holmgren would not be specific about the nature of Rhodes' illness.
If the 54-year-old Rhodes isn't available for the Seahawks' regular-season opener on Sunday in Jacksonville, linebackers coach John Marshall will fill in for Rhodes for that game, Holmgren said following a practice.
"He complained of some sickness yesterday and our doctors put him in the hospital overnight," Holmgren said when reporters asked him about Rhodes' absence. "They're doing a series of tests the next couple of days."
Holmgren said he wasn't sure Rhodes would be missing for the opener against the Jaguars.
"We hope there's nothing serious, but they're being careful with it," he said. "I'm waiting to hear from the doctors. The fact that he wanted to talk to the doctors leads me to believe he wasn't feeling very good. Let's just wait on that to make sure that's what's written and said is correct."
Rhodes is in his 25th season as an NFL coach and his third as Seattle's defensive coordinator. He was Holmgren's defensive coordinator with the Green Bay Packers in 1992-93, and served as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1995-98 and head coach of the Packers in 1999.
Holmgren hired him as the Seahawks' defensive coordinator on Feb. 5, 2003, after Rhodes served as the Denver Broncos' defensive coordinator in 2001-2002.
During the exhibition season, when the Seahawks went 2-2, Rhodes stood on the sidelines next to Holmgren during games.
Holmgren said when Rhodes returns this season, he will go back in the team's coaching booth.
"I said I was going to leave it up to him, but I have to pull rank," Holmgren said. "He's going upstairs."
Rhodes' defensive players were surprised to see Rhodes missing from Monday's practice.
"I love playing for Ray," defensive end Grant Wistrom said. "I just hope he gets better. I know he'll be better when he can. With Ray, they'll have to tie him down to keep him from being here right now."
Cornerback Marcus Trufant said Rhodes would be missed.
"He is our leader," Trufant said. "He's not a man of many words, but he's a man of different words. He's a very smart coach and all the players love him. We really give him our all when we go out there on the field."
Marshall also is in his third season on Holmgren's staff in Seattle. He was the defensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons in 1983-85, coached the defensive line for the Indianapolis Colts from 1986-88, was the defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers in 1997-98 and, the assistant head coach-defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers in 1999-2001.
"John has coordinated in this league and done a nice job of it," he said. The Seahawks have made the playoffs the past two seasons, but suffered wild-card losses to Green Bay in the 2003 season and to the St. Louis Rams in the 2004 season. They won the NFC West last season after going 10-6 in 2003.
Holmgren would not be specific about the nature of Rhodes' illness.
If the 54-year-old Rhodes isn't available for the Seahawks' regular-season opener on Sunday in Jacksonville, linebackers coach John Marshall will fill in for Rhodes for that game, Holmgren said following a practice.
"He complained of some sickness yesterday and our doctors put him in the hospital overnight," Holmgren said when reporters asked him about Rhodes' absence. "They're doing a series of tests the next couple of days."
Holmgren said he wasn't sure Rhodes would be missing for the opener against the Jaguars.
"We hope there's nothing serious, but they're being careful with it," he said. "I'm waiting to hear from the doctors. The fact that he wanted to talk to the doctors leads me to believe he wasn't feeling very good. Let's just wait on that to make sure that's what's written and said is correct."
Rhodes is in his 25th season as an NFL coach and his third as Seattle's defensive coordinator. He was Holmgren's defensive coordinator with the Green Bay Packers in 1992-93, and served as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1995-98 and head coach of the Packers in 1999.
Holmgren hired him as the Seahawks' defensive coordinator on Feb. 5, 2003, after Rhodes served as the Denver Broncos' defensive coordinator in 2001-2002.
During the exhibition season, when the Seahawks went 2-2, Rhodes stood on the sidelines next to Holmgren during games.
Holmgren said when Rhodes returns this season, he will go back in the team's coaching booth.
"I said I was going to leave it up to him, but I have to pull rank," Holmgren said. "He's going upstairs."
Rhodes' defensive players were surprised to see Rhodes missing from Monday's practice.
"I love playing for Ray," defensive end Grant Wistrom said. "I just hope he gets better. I know he'll be better when he can. With Ray, they'll have to tie him down to keep him from being here right now."
Cornerback Marcus Trufant said Rhodes would be missed.
"He is our leader," Trufant said. "He's not a man of many words, but he's a man of different words. He's a very smart coach and all the players love him. We really give him our all when we go out there on the field."
Marshall also is in his third season on Holmgren's staff in Seattle. He was the defensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons in 1983-85, coached the defensive line for the Indianapolis Colts from 1986-88, was the defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers in 1997-98 and, the assistant head coach-defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers in 1999-2001.
"John has coordinated in this league and done a nice job of it," he said. The Seahawks have made the playoffs the past two seasons, but suffered wild-card losses to Green Bay in the 2003 season and to the St. Louis Rams in the 2004 season. They won the NFC West last season after going 10-6 in 2003.
