Kam Chancellor has decided to skip the first day of training camp with the Seattle Seahawks. Earlier this week he made it known that there would be a possibility that he would hold out. Bam Bam is looking for more money. The ironic thing about him wanting more money is that for every day that he misses, he is subject to a $30,000 fine.
Chancellor, 27, was drafted in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Virginia Tech. His first season as a Seahawk, he sat behind veteran Lawyer Milloy and played here and there. In 2011, he became the teams starter and has been one of the league’s best strong safety’s. He is a three-time Pro Bowler (2011, 2013 & 2014) as well as a two-time second team All-Pro (2013 & 2014).
One thing that is a bit disturbing is he just got a new deal prior to the 2013 NFL season. He signed a four-year extension worth $28 million and he is scheduled to make $4.55 million in 2015. According to Spotrac.com, Chancellor has $5.1 million coming in 2016 and $6.8 million in 2017. That is $16.45 million over the next three seasons and you are looking for more money?
This writer loves the heart and passion that Bam Bam plays with every second he is on the field, but slow down for a second Kam. Everyone knows that all it takes is one play and your career is over, but other players on the team need to get paid as well. Your team just locked up Russell Wilson for the next four years at $87.6 million and $60 million guaranteed. Your defensive teammate Bobby Wagner is looking for a new deal as well and he deserves to get paid like everyone else.
You have three years left on your contract Chancellor. Play this year and then come back and see if the team can rework the deal for you so you can get more money. If you want to make another trip to the Super Bowl, you are going to need to keep as many of these players as possible. The team entered the season with $9.27 million in salary cap space according to John Clayton of ESPN. With Wilson’s deal and hopefully a Wagner deal in the near future, where are they going to get the money to pay you this year?
If you want more money, show up to training camp because if don’t, all you are doing is costing yourself money at $30,000 a day. Do the right thing, show up and be a good teammate. Also, you are the only one that decided not to show up. That is not a good thing.