Babineaux makes big plays for Seattle

RENTON, Wash. (AP) - Jordan Babineaux is one of just a handful of Seattle Seahawks remaining who remember what it's like to lose a game to the St. Louis Rams.

The Seahawks have won 10 straight over their division rival. St. Louis has also been the one place the Seahawks have been able to find success outside Seattle.

"With divisional opponents, it's always a rise to the challenge, war-playing kind of game because the teams are so familiar with each other," Babineaux said.

After the Rams defeated the Seahawks three times in 2004, including a win in Seattle in a wild-card game, Babineaux and the Seahawks sparked their run to the Super Bowl in 2005 with a big win in St. Louis.

"Big Play Babs" as he came to be known, forced a fumble on a punt return that allowed the Seahawks to hold on and beat the Rams 37-31. Seattle went on to win 11 straight games on the way to the first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.

Two weeks later, he intercepted Dallas Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe near midfield, returning it to the Cowboys 32 yard line with just five seconds to play to set up a game-winning field goal by Josh Brown.

His heroics continued into the postseason as well. Babineaux made a game-saving tackle of Tony Romo on a field goal try after Romo had the snap go through his hands in a 2006 wild-card game, allowing Seattle to preserve a 21-20 victory. He also had a 57-yard interception return for a score against the Washington Redskins in a 2007 wild-card game.

"He can play nickel. He can play a corner. He can play dime. He's very multiple," defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said. "That's where we felt like we needed his presence with our team just because he gives us some flexibility as far as what we can do coverage-wise as well."

Babineaux won the starting safety job a year ago when the team decided to part ways with Brian Russell at the end of training camp. He started all 16 games for the team in 2009 and recorded 105 tackles and two interceptions. But Babineaux struggled to find consistency as an every down player for the first time in his career.

With first-round draft pick Earl Thomas and a rejuvenated Lawyer Milloy earning the starting jobs in training camp this year, Babineaux became a high-priced backup for a team looking to get cheaper and younger.

The team decided to part ways with Babineaux during a wild cutdown weekend. For 24 hours, Babineaux had to come to grips with no longer being a member of the team that gave him an opportunity as an undrafted free agent out of Southern Arkansas.

Then general manager John Schneider called him to ask if he would consider coming back.

"I didn't want to play for no other team to be honest," Babineaux said.

Schneider apologized to him about the way the situation was handled and Pete Carroll talked to him about his role going forward with the team.

That role is as an extra defensive back off the bench in nickel and dime situations and as a stalwart on special teams, the same role Babineaux used to become a staple of the Seahawks defense. His versatility paired with his willingness to take a pay cut brought him back to the team.

Babineaux is taking the change in stride and is happy to be back doing what he does best.

"I miss playing the inside. I really do," Babineaux said. "That's where I was able to make most of my plays and kind of earn the name a little bit."