Seahawks Sign Safety Kam Chancellor To 3-Year Extension
By TIM BOOTH, AP Sports Writer
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Kam Chancellor was optimistic he would have a new contract before the start of the regular season.
A day after saying as much, the Seattle Seahawks' starting strong safety signed a three-year extension that will keep him with the only club he's ever played for through the 2020 season. The team announced the deal Tuesday morning.
Chancellor's new deal is worth up to $36 million with $25 million guaranteed. Two years ago, Chancellor was a training camp holdout because he was unhappy with his contract.
Any acrimony appears to have dissipated and the new deal takes away the chance that Chancellor would leave Seattle in free agency after this season. Chancellor's first contract extension, signed in 2013, is set to expire after the 2017 season.
Chancellor, 29, has been Seattle's starting strong safety since 2011 and one of the key locker room leaders. He spoke Monday about his optimism that a deal would get done before the start of the season but said he was willing to play out the final year of his deal.
"If it's not done I'll just play ball," Chancellor said Monday. "I'll play ball regardless. Right now, that's all I'm focusing on."
Chancellor is a two-time second-team All-Pro selection and a four-time Pro Bowler. Known as one of the biggest hitters in the defensive backfield, Chancellor is also a highly respected voice in Seattle's locker room, even after his holdout two years ago where he missed the first two games of the regular season. Any wounds from that decision were healed when Chancellor was voted a team captain last season.
Chancellor has faced injury issues in the past with his ankles, hips and knees. He'll be 32 at the end of the extension.
"Can't really put a time frame on how long I want to play. However long my body holds up," Chancellor said.
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