CHANCELLOR NO TYPICAL HOLDOUT
Safety, seeking new deal, helps teammates from afar in what might become common scene for star-laden Seahawks
With his holdout approaching the three-week mark, Kam Chancellor is undoubtedly out of sight at the Seattle Seahawks’ vibrant training camp. But the all-pro safety is hardly out of touch.
“Talking to him every day,” Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett told USA TODAY Sports. “There are no hard feelings. We all know it’s a business.”
This is not your typical holdout, in more ways than one.
Chancellor has three years left on a four-year, $28 million extension signed in 2013. While the scheduled payout of $16.775 million through 2017 ($5.59 million average) might validate the case for a new deal when considering his impact on the NFL’s best defense, the holdout tests the limits of the Seahawks’ plans to build a sustained contender. It’s like more success, more problems.
A year after Marshawn Lynch’s holdout, Chancellor’s case looms as a precedent with other key players. If the Seahawks rip up Chancellor’s current deal, will others who are locked up with long-term deals — such as Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Bennett — seek extra-early restructured contracts?
When the players formulate the nucleus for a team that has a legitimate chance to advance to a third consecutive Super Bowl, this is a byproduct of that success.
As much as performance can drive up the price of worth, the Seahawks have only so many salary cap dollars. In re-signing so many key players to new deals, including a four-year, $87.6 million extension for quarterback Russell Wilson at the start of camp, the Seahawks have committed more than $97 million a year to 10 players. The cap room is tightened to the point that Seattle cut defensive tackle Tony McDaniel recently to save $2.5 million under the salary cap — at the expense of weakening depth on the defensive line.
“This is an interesting time for us,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “Our guys have grown up fast. They’ve had a lot of success, a lot of notoriety has come their way, and they’ve been rewarded, too. So there’s a lot happening.”
Holdouts are not like they used to be. With a deterrent featured in the collective bargaining agreement struck in 2011, the Seahawks can fine Chancellor $30,000 a day and at this point can recoup a fourth of his $1 million prorated 2015 signing bonus.
The stiffer penalties, in addition to a rookie wage scale, have made holdouts aberrations.
Yet Chancellor’s contact with his team also is rather unusual.
Like Bennett, Sherman has talked to his Legion of Boom comrade on virtually a daily basis.
Sherman has been providing camp updates, while at the same time Chancellor, who played in last season’s Super Bowl with a partially torn medial collateral ligament, has been watching videotapes of practice on his iPad, then coaching up younger players from afar.
“He sees the film from practice every day,” Sherman said. “He’s still doing everything he can to help the young guys learn the system, helping with corrections, helping them get better, day in and day out.” Say what? “All he has to do is make a phone call,” Sherman said. “Tell ’em what play it is, what they did wrong and what they could have done better. He’s still being a great team player.”
Second-year safety Dion Bailey tweeted thanks to Chancellor.
My, how holdouts have changed. I remember Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett’s holdout with the Dallas Cowboys during the 1980s included the compelling twist that media members had to go through loquacious fullback Ron Springs — Dorsett’s designated spokesman — for updates.
Chancellor, though, has many Seahawks as reference points. Like Bennett and Sherman, Wilson has been in steady contact with the safety.
Same for Carroll. Yes, even the coach is in touch. Carroll realizes it’s a delicate balance involving the business of football, longterm plans, team chemistry and fielding the best possible team.
“It’s always about the team,” Carroll said. “That’s always part of the conversation.”
At this point, players insist the team’s chemistry isn’t threatened. But it’s unlikely this will be the last case to test that.
“It’s one of those things when people are going to realize what their value is, regardless of how the team sees it,” Bennett said. “People start to see how good they are at their position. Look at Kam. He realizes that he’s one of the only safeties in the league that will take on a lineman or a fullback. He’ll do the things that no one else can do. That’s valuable. And you start to realize, ‘Hey, man, that guy doesn’t even do what I do. Why is he getting paid more than me?’ ”
As Chancellor’s case reflects, it is hardly just a game.
It’s big business, too.