Richard Seymour has done all he can to try and get signed as a free agent for the upcoming 2013 season. The seven-time Pro Bowler is certainly not closing the door on returning to the field, but he is realizing that his days in the league might be number. The free agent market has been brutal for aging veteran, not matter how impressive their resumes are and Seymour is no exception. After 12 strong season in league playing for the New England Patriots and the Oakland Raiders, he still does not have a home. Seymour spoke with Sirius XM NFL radio and sounded like a man who knows retirement is around the corner.
Seymour has not been willing to just take any offer given to him. He was the right offer from a team that is likely going to contend for a championship. Numerous defensive ends are still on the market. Seymour is not willing to take the Dwight Freeney route where he signed with a team after another starter got injured. He wants a team to really want him.
"You always want to be at the top. I don't play just to be on a team. You always want to be able to contend. I've been fortunate and blessed and have no regrets about anything in terms of my career. I gave everything that I had when I played. If it's time to move to another chapter, obviously I've been blessed and fortunate in that regard," Seymour said.
The only team to show a serious interest in Seymour is the Atlanta Falcons. Seymour made $15 million in both 2011 and 2012 in his final two seasons with the Raiders. The Falcons have just $6 million to work with and they still have to sign their first-round pick Desmond Trufant and their seventh-round pick Sean Renfree. At this time, they cannot give Seymour a favorable offer until they free up space.
"But in terms of Atlanta, obviously, we had some talks. There's really nothing new to report. I think they are a team that is definitely on the rise and they obviously have a lot of great players at the positions that you want to have," Semour said.
Seymour said he would rather leave the game feeling like he has a little left in the tank rather than feeling like he left it all out on the field. He feels healthy and he would rather leave the game feeling that way instead of staying one year too long. Certainly though, money would persuade him to stay a little longer.