Think the Pro Bowl isn't competitive? Some Seattle Seahawks beg to differ.

Seven Seahawks players — running back Shaun Alexander, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, offensive guard Steve Hutchinson, offensive tackle Walter Jones, fullback Mack Strong, linebacker Lofa Tatupu and center Robbie Tobeck — met Pro Bowl teammates yesterday at the Ihilani Resort and Spa, just three days after a 21-10 Super Bowl loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"Some of us Seahawks feel that we let the NFC down this past week," Hasselbeck said. "So we've got to step it up a little bit. We owe these guys."

For the record, players on the winning team at Sunday's Pro Bowl — the 27th played at Aloha Stadium — will each earn $40,000 (coaches get $15,000). The losing team members each earn $20,000 (coaches get $10,000).

Many Seattle players yesterday were bombarded with questions about the officiating at the Super Bowl in Detroit, a game that had four "questionable calls" against the Seahawks, according to the Associated Press. The players responded with diplomacy, and didn't blame the officiating for the loss.

The NFL defended the officiating Tuesday, saying "the game was properly officiated."

The so-called questionable plays were: an offensive pass interference call that negated a Seattle first-quarter touchdown; Steelers' quarterback Ben Rothlisberger's 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter; a holding call that negated Hasselbeck's 18-yard completion to the Steelers' 1-yard line in the fourth quarter; and Hasselbeck's illegal below-the-waist tackle that resulted in a 15-yard penalty in the fourth quarter.

"The calls could have gone either way, a lot of them," said Tatupu, Seattle's Pro Bowl rookie linebacker. "For whatever reason, it just happened that way. I'm in no position to question their calling."

Seattle coach Mike Holmgren was outspoken on the officiating in a Monday rally at Seattle's Qwest Field, telling the gathering: "We knew it was going to be tough going against the Pittsburgh Steelers. I didn't know we were going to have to play the guys in the striped shirts as well."

The NFL has yet to decide whether to fine Holmgren for his comments, The Associated Press said.

"I just think no one is perfect," said Alexander, the NFL's most valuable player. "If you asked them (the officials), they'll probably say they could have had a better game. You can't take nothing back. What you can say is Pittsburgh won, and everybody has to go and knock them off because they're now the defending champions."

Hasselbeck said it's unfortunate that the officiating has "become such a big deal" after the Super Bowl.

"I know that those guys (the officials) have a difficult job, and they're trying the best that they can," Hasselbeck said. "So I certainly don't blame them. But you know, film doesn't lie, I guess is what I would say."

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.