There's no denying the integral nature of strong safety Kam Chancellor's contributions to the Seattle Seahawks cause in recent seasons. The big, hard-hitting quasi-linebacker has proven capable of impacting the game in any number of ways and has played a key role in helping to turn the Seattle secondary from a good unit into the vaunted Legion of Boom. It's not surprising then that Chancellor, despite signing a lucrative long-term extension with the team in 2013, is currently holding out in an attempt to see that deal upgraded. What is surprising is the response around the league to yet another Seahawk player looking for a new contract. According to a report from Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, the general feeling in NFL front offices is one of fear - fear that Seattle GM John Schneider will "blink" first and cave in again, presumably setting a dangerous precedent for his fellow NFL executives.
"They can't give a guy a new deal every time he asks for it," a rival executive said, via La Canfora. "John has done such a great job there -- and they did create this monster a little bit with the Lynch contracts -- but they can't do this, too."
Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, who Schneider referred to this offseason as a "heartbeat guy," has asked for and received contract upgrades on more than one occasion since joining Seattle in trade prior to the 2010 season. The team handed him a four-year, $30 million deal in 2012 and again provided Lynch with more guarantees this offseason, tacking two years and $24 million onto his deal.
While it's hard to argue with the thinking behind paying Lynch, the engine that makes the Seattle offense go, or Chancellor, the tone-setter on the Seahawks back-end, it may actually be the positions these two players play and the high-impact nature of their approach to the game that has other NFL executives worried.
"I understand what this guy means to their team on several levels, but a strong safety with three years left on his deal? You're opening up a real can of worms now," a contract negotiator said, per La Canfora.
Interestingly, it's not just front office types who don't want to see Chancellor's deal upgraded. It seems plenty of agents, many of whom likely have strong safeties on their client roster, are concerned that if Schneider and Seahawks owner Paul Allen cave in and hand even more guaranteed dollars to Chancellor, a player they already handed a position-record contract to once, it means plenty of similar players will be expecting the same kind of payday - a payday that isn't likely to come based on current market value.
In the end, it seems there are few people other than Chancellor, agent Alvin Keels and other Seahawks players who want to see Chancellor's current contract upgraded. While the Seahawks have built their semi-dynasty on the back of doing things their own way, this may be one of the few instances where they, and their fans, agree with the popular opinion.
