SAN FRANCISCO Seahawks downplay Owens' Sharpie

Seattle has no plans to get revenge for the 49ers receiver's antics in their last meeting.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Once the heated emotions from a difficult loss cooled, the Seattle Seahawks decided they were no longer angry about the pen in Terrell Owens' sock.
At least that was the party line this week in the Pacific Northwest.
John Randle and his teammates insisted they don't plan any revenge for Owens' memorably unique touchdown celebration, when the Seahawks visit the San Francisco 49ers this afternoon for the NFC West rematch.
On the other hand, some say revenge is a dish best served cold -- and it's always a bit chilly at Candlestick Park.
"I don't know how many games it's been, but we've played so many other games since then," said Randle, the defensive end who was among the Seahawks most offended by Owens' move. "We've been focusing on trying to win.
"We're not trying to stay focused on one little thing or lose track of what we're trying to do here."
No big deal
Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren didn't make a big deal out of it this week, but he didn't forbid his players from discussing the incident.
Owens sparked a national debate on sportsmanship by catching the winning touchdown pass, pulling a pen out of his sock, autographing the ball and presenting it to his financial adviser seated in the front row.
After the first game, Holmgren called Owens' move "shameful" and "a dishonor to everybody that's played the game," while several Seahawks vowed to exact revenge if a legal hit became possible.
Owens thought the pen was mightier than the sore feelings it caused. He thought his trick was simply clever and funny -- and then he didn't say much of anything else to reporters for six weeks.
"I think [revenge] is a shallow emotion that might energize one for a few minutes, but it's not something that carries you throughout a week or throughout an entire game," 49ers coach Steve Mariucci said. "I think it's real, I think it exists, but I think it's very temporary."
Since the teams' first meeting, the Seahawks (4-7) have fallen on more hard times that have all but eliminated them from playoff talk.
Matt Hasselbeck took over at quarterback for injured Trent Dilfer, and he played well in Seattle's win over Kansas City last week.
But Seattle would need a near-miraculous finish to make any playoff noise.
The 49ers (7-4) have a two-game lead in the division, but not because of anything they've done lately. San Francisco is on its first two-game losing streak in more than two years following an overtime loss at San Diego and an embarrassing 38-17 home defeat against Philadelphia last Monday.
The most recent loss was perhaps the worst game in the Niners' last two seasons, in which they've returned to contender status following consecutive seasons out of the playoffs.
Some wondered if a season of minor distractions finally caught up to the team, or whether Mariucci was simply outcoached by the Eagles' Andy Reid.
"Oh, it's definitely a wakeup call for people, because our livelihoods are on the line," defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield said. "I don't know if we lost our focus or what, but it's time to get it back. We've got five games left before the playoffs, and we need to get ready."
The 49ers passed a relatively quiet week at their training complex, with no news of anti-gay slurs from star running back Garrison Hearst or complaints from Owens.
Punter dismissed
The only controversy was the long-overdue dismissal of punter Jason Baker, who was replaced by Bill LaFleur, and demoted kicker Jose Cortez.
San Francisco spent the week devising a game plan to stop Hasselbeck and the Seahawks' receivers despite a struggling secondary shredded by Koy Detmer on Monday.
Starting safety Zack Bronson and his backup, Ronnie Heard, are both out with injuries.
Rookie nickel back Mike Rumph is playing so poorly he's being relentlessly targeted by opponents when he's not getting benched.
"They have some young people in their secondary, and they have some injuries," Holmgren said. "If you put that combination together, you are going to be a bit vulnerable at times."