The Seattle Seahawks know that getting everyone to return in 2016 will not be easy. The franchise has done a good job of keeping players happy and in the Pacific Northwest, but that might not be able to continue forever with yet another slew of important names on expiring contracts or seeking raises. Bruce Irvin is one player in need of a new deal and he might be willing to help out in order to stick around.
Irvin was not happy last season when the Seahawks opted not to give him a new contract prior to the 2015 season. The linebacker had to settle with playing on an expiring deal in hopes of getting paid this year. However, if Irvin is going to really get paid, it might not be able to happen in Seattle. That is why the linebacker is telling the media he would be willing to take a pay cut in order to stay in Seattle for the long-term.
"I was asked that," said Irvin, via ESPN.com. "Pete [Carroll] and John [Schneider] asked me that when I met with them today. If it came to that, I would definitely come back. $3, $4 million? $3, $4, $5 million? I would definitely come back because I'm established here. These are my brothers. I honestly can't even imagine myself playing with anybody else, being in a different meeting room, listening to different pregame speeches. It's just crazy to me. I would definitely come back if they matched or if it was a little less. I would definitely come back to Seattle."
Irvin is certainly a critical piece to the Seahawks defense and a player they will want to keep around. Last offseason the linebacker made headlines when he told an Atlanta news source that he planned on playing for the Falcons in 2016 which would see him reunite with former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. However, if he takes a pay cut his future could remain in Seattle.
The question is whether or not some of his teammates will follow. Last year both Kam Chancellor and Michael Bennett who are signed through 2017 makes stinks about wanting new contracts. The chances the Seahawks give in this offseason to those demands are slim considering they must address needs elsewhere.
Would Marshawn Lynch take a pay cut? Would Jimmy Graham lessen his pay load? According to the Seattle Times, those are two players at risk of being cap casualties after lack-luster 2015 seasons. Lynch is an $11.5 million cap charge next year and with Thomas Rawls thriving behind him, the chances he returns are slim. Graham will likely stay put, but head coach Pete Carroll told the media that nothing has been determined in regards to Lynch's future.
"We'll figure it out," Carroll said, via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com. "It depends on how he comes back, and how he works at it, and all that kind of stuff. He had a difficult year physically. He's never [had] to recover from an injury like that, he's never had to deal with that kind of process. He made it back."