He's back! Seahawks sign Koren Robinson

He offered a sincere apology for his transgressions. He’s repentant. He’s been sober for more than two years. He’s in shape.

And the Seattle Seahawks are desperate.

For those reasons, Seahawks general manager Tim Ruskell is traveling down a slippery slope he never expected in bringing back troubled wide receiver Koren Robinson.

On Tuesday, the Seahawks announced they signed Robinson to a one-year deal to help fill the void left by the long line of receivers the team has lost to injury. The latest was Logan Payne, who was put on the injured reserve list with a season-ending knee injury, leaving Seattle with only three healthy receivers.

The Seahawks released Robinson, their first-round draft choice in 2001, in June of 2005 because of a growing list of legal troubles involving alcohol.

And in a trade that will become official today, the Seahawks also acquired Keary Colbert from the Denver Broncos for a conditional fifth-round selection in next year’s draft, and signed training camp participant Trent Shelton to the practice squad.

Robinson, 28, will fill a roster spot vacated by Payne. However, Seattle still needs to make another move to clear a roster spot for Colbert.

Robinson’s agreement includes a side contract with undisclosed stipulations he must follow to remain with the team.

Initially unwilling to bring Robinson back into the fold, Ruskell said he did his homework before making the deal.

During an interview with reporters Tuesday, Ruskell said he performed a thorough investigation into Robinson’s background, with Seattle pro personnel director Will Lewis and director of player development Maurice Kelly, talking to people who know Robinson in Green Bay, the last place he played, and Robinson’s home state of North Carolina.

After receiving a clean report, Ruskell said he was swayed by information from quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.

After talking to Robinson during an off-season retreat, Hasselbeck believed Robinson was a changed person. The clincher may have been Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren’s desire to have Robinson back, in part because of Holmgren’s relationship with the receiver during his tenure in Seattle.

With that said, Ruskell still understands he’s rolling the dice by bringing Robinson back.

“There’s risk,” Ruskell said. “Obviously I feel better about it now than when I first heard about it or thought about the idea.

“We did a lot of research. We didn’t just do this haphazardly or spur-of-the-moment. A lot of people in the organization were involved.”

For his part, Robinson said he’s a changed man. He said he’s been sober since the August 2006 incident when he was arrested for drunken driving and fleeing police. The incident resulted in a year suspension for Robinson and his release from the Vikings.

Robinson caught on briefly with the Green Bay Packers, where he played in 13 games in two seasons, catching 28 balls before his eventual release in May.

Robinson said he’s been married for two years, has two boys, and has a third child due next month, a girl. His family and his renewed faith keep him grounded Robinson says, and provide a focus other than football.

“I’m married now,” Robinson said. “I look at life in a whole totally different perspective. (It’s about) my wife and my kids, and God.”

Robinson was the ninth selection overall in the 2001 draft. He finished with 213 catches for 3,167 yards and 12 touchdowns in four seasons with Seattle. And in 2002 he led the Seahawks with 78 catches for 1,240 yards. But legal troubles brought on by his bouts with alcohol led to a decrease in Robinson’s production. He only caught 31 passes for 495 yards and two scores in 10 games in his last season for Seattle.

Colbert, 26, signed a 3-year deal worth a reported $7.2 million with Denver in March. But he has not caught a pass in two games this season, and became expendable for Denver with the return of Brandon Marshall and the play of rookie Eddie Royal. Drafted out of USC by Carolina in the second round in 2004, Colbert caught 32 passes in 12 games in his final season with the Panthers in 2007.

The Seahawks worked out Robinson in North Carolina and at the team’s practice facility in Renton and deemed him fit to play.

If Robinson can return to his former self, his speed, ball-catching ability and elusiveness should give the team someone to stretch defenses on outside routes. Robinson also has the ability to return punts and kicks. He made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner in 2005 while with Minnesota.

Robinson said he’s ready to contribute, but don’t expect him to be the savior.

“I hope I can have a big impact, but I’m not going to put a lot of pressure on myself to kind of like, save the team, or anything like that,” Robinson said. “The only thing I can do is just worry about myself, go out there and do the best that I can do with the opportunities that I’ve been given.”

Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437

THE FIRST TIME WITH THE SEAHAWKS

April 21, 2001: Seahawks sign Robinson as the ninth overall selection the draft.

From 2001 to Aug. 2004: A public records search reveals Robinson incurred at least 18 criminal and/or traffic citations, some dismissed.

Nov. 22, 2004: He’s suspended four games for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.

Jan. 2, 2005: He’s benched after missing practice before a playoff game against Atlanta.

May 6, 2005: Robinson is charged in Kirkland Municipal Court for DUI and reckless driving.

June 3, 2005: GM Tim Ruskell releases Robinson.

July 22, 2005: Robinson violates a court order by showing up intoxicated to serve a one-day jail term on the DUI conviction.

Aug. 1, 2005: He checks into a 28-day alcohol rehabilitation program.

… AND WITH THE VIKINGS

Sept. 6, 2005: Signs two-year, $1.5 million contract with Minnesota.

Feb. 2006: Makes his first trip to the Pro Bowl as a kick returner.

March 2006: Signs a three-year, $12.7 million contract extension with the Vikings.

AUG. 16, 2006: Robinson is arrested for drunken driving and fleeing police, reportedly at speeds exceeding 100 mph. He was later sentenced in February 2007 to 90 days in jail for the incident and another 90 days in a Kirkland jail for breaking his probation. Robinson was suspended by the NFL for a year for violating its substance-abuse policy for a third time.

AUG. 26, 2006: The Vikings release Robinson.

… AND THEN THE PACKERS

Sept. 2006: He signs a two-year deal with Green Bay, while suspended, but continues to work out in Arizona.

Oct. 17, 2007: The NFL reinstates him.

Oct. 30, 2007: Robinson is activated by the Packers to fill a roster spot vacated by DeShawn Wynn, who was placed on injured reserve.

May 9, 2008: The Packers release Robinson after two seasons. Second time around with the Seahawks

TUESDAY: Seahawks re-sign Koren Robinson, right, to a one-year contract and make a trade with the Broncos for receiver Keary Colbert to replenish the team’s injury-depleted receiving corps. About Koren Robinson

Age: 28

Height/weight: 6-1/205

Born: March 19, 1980

Resides: Belmont, N.C.

Position: Wide receiver

College: Played through his sophomore season at North Carolina State.

Did you know: The Seahawks made Robinson the No. 9 selection in the 2001 NFL draft, despite numerous reports of problematic behavior in college. … Spent four hot-and-cold seasons in Seattle, highlighted by a 1,240-yard campaign in 2002. …Was released by the team in 2005 after a series of off-field incidents. … News Tribune columnist Dave Boling wrote at the time: “The Seahawks will struggle to replace the talent Robinson showed when he was at his best. But they will be improved by his absence.” … Signed with the Minnesota Vikings, where he was named to his only Pro Bowl, as a kick returner. The Vikings released him after he was charged with drunk driving. … Spent parts of the 2006 and 2007 seasons with Green Bay. About Keary Colbert

Age: 26

Height/weight: 6-1/205

Born: May 21, 1982

Position: Wide receiver

College: Southern California.

Did you know: Left USC as the Trojans’ career receptions leader with 207. … Capped his college career with a two-touchdown, 149-yard performance in a Rose Bowl victory over Michigan. … Selected by Carolina in the second round (62nd overall) of the 2004 draft. … Set Panthers rookie records with 47 receptions, 754 receiving yards and five touchdown catches in 2004. … Spent three more mostly disappointing seasons in Carolina – totalling just 670 yards – before signing with Denver in the offseason. … Signed a three-year, $7.2 million contract with Denver in March, but didn’t make a catch in two games this season for the Broncos. THE SEAHAWKS’ OPPONENT THIS WEEK

St. Louis Rams (0-2)

1:05 p.m., Sunday, Qwest Field; Ch. 13, 710-AM

Coach: Scott Linehan, 11-23, third season.

Last week: The Rams lost to the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants, 41-13. St. Louis trailed 20-13 early in the fourth quarter, but the Giants reeled off 21 unanswered points to seal the win.

Against the Seahawks: The series is tied 10-10, with Seattle winning the past six. Seattle outscored the Rams in two wins last season, 57-25.

Stats and stuff: A Sunnyside, Wash., native who played quarterback for Dennis Erickson at Idaho, Linehan is on the hot seat after getting blown out in the first two games and might not make it through the season if he does not turn things around quickly. Rams owner Chip Rosenbloom said this week he expects things to get better, and if they don’t, changes will be made. ... Former Puyallup High and University of Washington star Dane Looker has been steady at receiver for St. Louis. Looker got his first start of the season against the Giants, finishing with two catches for 29 yards. ... After playing his first five seasons in Seattle, kicker Josh Brown signed with the Rams as a free agent in the offseason.

Quotable: “I’ve been concerned about my job security since I started coaching. I’m scared to death to lose, OK? Losing is a bad thing as a coach. If you lose, you’re worried about everything.”

– Linehan, on the pressure of winning in the upcoming weeks.

Rams SCHEDULE

9/7 at Philadelphia, L 3-38

9/14 N.Y. Giants, L 13-41

Sunday at Seattle, 1:05 p.m.

9/28 Buffalo 1:05 p.m.

10/5 bye

10/12 at Washington 10 a.m.

10/19 Dallas 10 a.m.

10/26 at New England 10 a.m.

11/2 Arizona 10 a.m.

11/9 at N.Y. Jets 10 a.m.

11/16 San Francisco 1:05 p.m.

11/23 Chicago 10 a.m.

11/30 Miami 10 a.m.

12/7 at Arizona 1:15 p.m.

12/14 Seattle, 10 a.m.

12/21 San Francisco 10 a.m.

12/28 at Atlanta 10 a.m.

Eric D. Williams, The News Tribune