The value of Kam Chancellor keeps rising as the Seattle Seahawks didn’t just lose to the St. Louis Rams in week 1. They looked bad defensively, with a secondary that can’t stop a not too highly regarding passing offense and quarterback.
Chancellor has been holding out for over a month, causing him to miss out on a lot of money in fines and missed paychecks, but he’s confident the Seahawks will eventually move his way, and also remove most of the fine money he’s been leaking since August 10.
The Seahawks lost the opening game in St. Louis to the Rams, in overtime. Nothing new, and not something to panic about. But they did give up 34 points and 276 passing yards. Dion Bailey, filling in for Chancellor, gave up too many big plays, including the 37-yard touchdown pass that tied the game. Right now, he clearly isn’t living up to the high standards of Chancellor and the Seahawks ‘Legion of Boom’.
It’s not just Bailey who disappointed. Richard Sherman all of a sudden doesn’t look like a cornerback who quarterbacks are afraid to throw against. Maybe it’s just a case of getting adjusted to the new faces, but it’s closer to Chancellor simply being irreplaceable for the Seahawks at this time.
The Seahawks and Chancellor are reportedly $900,000 apart on moving some money to the guaranteed column of his contract, and that’s the only thing keeping him from going back to playing for the team. Owner Paul Allen has said the Seahawks are done negotiating, and head coach Pete Carroll seems quite confident in saying the team isn’t going to budge from its current position, although they have moved from where they were when the summer began.
Chancellor in the meantime is losing money, but gaining leverage. He seems quite determined to see this thing through and win, which means earning more guaranteed money in 2016. The Seahawks are afraid of the aftershock effect that caving in to his demands might have, but another loss or two with some poor performances in the secondary could change their mind.