Peter King: Seymour upset and friend says may not report to Oakland - New England Patriots Forums

***Rob0729*** · 09-07-2009, 07:24 AM

Peter King had five points on the Oakland trade, one of them is that Seymour isn't happy (not surprising) and he has told by someone close to Seymour that he wouldn't be surprised if he didn't report to the Raiders.

Quote:

Five thoughts on the Seymour trade to Oakland for the Raiders' first-round pick in 2011:

1. In the last six drafts, here's where the Raiders have picked in the first round: 7, 4, 1, 7, 7, 2. If the trend continues, the Patriots will have no worse than the seventh pick in the 2011 draft. For a ninth-year defensive lineman who turns 30 in four weeks and who has missed eight games due to injury in the last two years ... well, let's just say Seymour would have to morph into Reggie White (who had 88 sacks after turning 30) to make this deal worth it for Al Davis and the Raiders.

2. Seymour, I'm told, is angry about the deal. He lives in Foxboro, has children he may have to relocate to new schools as the school year dawns and has to get acclimated to a new defense (and an awful team) a week before the opening game. "I would not be surprised if he doesn't report,'' a good friend of Seymour's told me Sunday. I would. Aside from not earning his 2009 salary of $3.7 million, Seymour wouldn't be able to be a free-agent if he doesn't play this year. As it stands now, his contract is up after this year, and if he plays well and stays healthy, he could hit the jackpot when next year's probable uncapped season plays out.

3. This is a deal for Davis to try to win now, obviously. But how many more desperation deals can one team make? Last year, it was $55 million for Javon Walker (who's been a total non-factor), $72 million plus two draft choices for DeAngelo Hall (cut midway through his first Raider year), $39 million for Gibril Wilson (cut after one year), and $50.5 million for Tommy Kelly (a starting defensive tackle still). This offseason, the Raiders made Shane Lechler the highest-paid punter in history, more than doubling the previous record, and gave cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha more guaranteed money than Tom Brady or Peyton Manning in their current deals. As crazy as all that is, you know that Seymour will want to get out of Oakland if he can make big money anywhere else, so the Raiders almost have to try to sign him long-term to avoid the embarrassment of him being one-and-done in Oakland.

4. For New England, it simply reinforces that Bill Belichick will keep you as long as you're worth keeping, and when he's done with you, or when you can be of no more value to him, you're gone. With second-round defensive tackle Ron Brace and sixth-round DT Myron Pryor both showing well in the preseason, and knowing the Patriots weren't going to pay a 30-year-old defensive lineman the $9-million-a-year in free agency some team certainly would have if he had a productive 2009, the decision couldn't have been a painful one for Belichick.

5. Defensive leaders lost in New England in the last 12 months: Mike Vrabel and Seymour (traded), Tedy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison (retired), and Junior Seau (not re-signed). I can't think of a team that's lost as many cornerstone players and leaders in one year since I've been covering the league.

Richard Seymour fallout, Michael Vick ruling, cutdown weekend - Peter King - SI.com

BTW, King is wrong about free agency sorta. Seymour can skip the first 10 games and show up for the last six and get his credit towards free ageny.

***reflexblue*** · 09-07-2009, 07:27 AM

If i were Seymour i'd be pizzed too. Oakland IS a Black Hole where talent goes to die.

***Patjew*** · 09-07-2009, 07:28 AM

Wouldn't that be an amazing footnote to this story if he didn't report?

I don't care for King but his point # 5 is a little startling.

patsox23 · 09-07-2009, 07:30 AM

I think it's a stretch to say "his friend says he might not report" when the quote is "I wouldn't be surprised if..."

I feel terrible for Seymour - as terrible as one can feel for a multimillionaire with three Super Bowl rings and a paycheck for playing a game. To get traded from the pinnacle of the sport to freakin' Oakland - talk about a black hole - has got to be incredibly dispiriting.

Patriot_in_NY · 09-07-2009, 07:31 AM

Gee, Rich maybe you should have ran your motor more in off contract years and not stepped on BB's dick so much in 2005.

I appreciate what Big Sey brought, but lets face it from 2005 on, he hasn't exactly been the model Patriot either. I'd be annoyed if he did not man up and show. Karma baby, karma.

That said, I doubt this is all that realistic.

***Rob0729*** · 09-07-2009, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patsox23

I think it's a stretch to say "his friend says he might not report" when the quote is "I wouldn't be surprised if..."

I feel terrible for Seymour - as terrible as one can feel for a multimillionaire with three Super Bowl rings and a paycheck for playing a game. To get traded from the pinnacle of the sport to freakin' Oakland - talk about a black hole - has got to be incredibly dispiriting.

It is hard to put a clear title with a character limit. I changed it twice. If you can come up with a better title that will fit the character limit have at it. I will switch if you do.

***MassPats38*** · 09-07-2009, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patjew

Wouldn't that be an amazing footnote to this story if he didn't report?

I don't care for King but his point # 5 is a little startling.

Of all the ability-centric issues raised over this trade, the leadership question concerns me the most with the current defense given the recent evolution of personnel. The leadership aspect evident in that group is not something taught, and the coach cannot call that quality in from the sidelines.

I won't go "gloom and doom" on this specific trade as I see the present trade value and prospects of resigning Seymour as well as Belichick's ability to coach defense, but it will be interesting to see how this new group works together on the field.

***PittPatriot*** · 09-07-2009, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patjew

Wouldn't that be an amazing footnote to this story if he didn't report?

I don't care for King but his point # 5 is a little startling.

It is probably coincidental, but it seems all the 'cornerstone' guys have big AFC West relationships:
Mike Vrabel (and Pioli/Cassel) to Chiefs
Seymour to the Raiders
Rodney Harrison and Junior Seau from SD
and to top it off, McD to Denver

***LeonPowe*** · 09-07-2009, 07:50 AM

Good riddance, crybaby. Let the Raiders deal with his attitude. Only has been a day and we can already see that the Patriots made the right move in dumping him instead of paying that lazy sack of crap.

***Tunescribe*** · 09-07-2009, 07:51 AM

So, it appears the only way for the Pats NOT to get the 2011 pick is if Seymour commits career suicide and doesn't report. In other words, he can't just sit out a season and be a free agent.

Question: Does anyone know if/when Seymour had a chance to sign a long-term cap-friendly deal with the Patriots and turned it down?