The last holdout of the 2015 NFL season may be coming to an end, according to Adam Schefter and Stephen A. Smith of ESPN.
"Ima go help my teammates that are understanding of my position and the ones who aren't," Chancellor said in a text message to Smith, Schefter reports. "God forgives all, why can't i? Time to help us get back to the big dance. I can address business after the season. Me and Marshawn started a mission 2 years ago. I can't let my Dawg down...Real Talk."
Despite the optimism, Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports notes a few hurdles for Chancellor and the Seahawks to jump over. The Seahawks have remained steadfast in their refusal to alter Chancellor's contract. They have told his agent, Alvin keels, that they also will hold Chancellor responsible for the fines he's incurred during his absence, though a reduction is possible. As of today, Chancellor has forfeited upwards of $2 million in lost salary, bonus money and fines.
Chancellor signed a four-year contract extension with the Seahawks back in 2013, but saw his annual $7 million salary eclipsed by a number of safeties in the intervening two years. The 27-year-old had been seeking a raise heading into this season, with a portion of his 2017 salary pushed to 2016. Seahawks GM John Schneider wouldn't budge, though, with three years still left on Chancellor's contract. It's not as if Schneider is averse to spending; he doled out a raise to Marshawn Lynch this offseason while locking up linebacker Bobby Wagner to a long-term deal. But the length remaining on Chancellor's existing deal made it unrealistic that the Seahawks would give in to his demands.
Seattle has started this season 0-2 without Chancellor, though their woes extend beyond just his absence. If the two sides are able to come to an understanding, Chancellor should be in the starting lineup for the team's Week 3 matchup against the Chicago Bears. However, the Seahawks will have to clear a spot on the 53-man roster before that can happen.
