Bobby Engram Q&A

Published 10:11 pm Sunday, June 8, 2008

Before teeing off in a fund-raising golf tournament at Willows Run on Sunday afternoon, Seattle Seahawks receiver Bobby Engram answered a few questions about his current contract situation. Engram spent about three minutes with The Herald’s Scott Johnson and Q13 sports reporter Aaron Levine. Here is the transcript from that conversation:

What’s it like not being at minicamp?

“It’s been different. It’s the first time I’ve ever missed minicamps in my entire career. But sometimes — and guys understand this — it’s a business decision where you’ve got to take a step back and evaluate the Seahawks and their commitment to me.”

Is there a chance you could skip training camp?

“It’s a possibility. We’ll see what happens.”

Do you think the sides will come to an agreement?

“We’ll see. It’s a possibility.”

Why did you send a letter to coach Mike Holmgren last month?

“Let me correct the papers; they had it wrong. Actually, I wrote the letter to (team president) Tim (Ruskell) and copied it to Coach Holmgren and some other members of the front office to keep them privy to what was going on in my mind, to let them know that I wasn’t going to be around.”

What needs to happen to get you to training camp?

“In my mind, we’d like to see a new deal, a couple-year extension.”

And if that doesn’t happen?

“I’m not ready to make that decision yet, but it (not reporting for training camp) is a possibility.”

What are you trying to tell the team by skipping camps?

“I’m not really trying to tell the team anything. I’ve said my piece. They know where I stand. This is just about me evaluating my options for the future.”

Does your original contract (a two-year deal that paid him $1.7 million in 2007 and the same in 2008) represent fair market value?

“No, it doesn’t. We signed that deal coming off of the thyroid (illness in 2006), and I think that everyone is in agreement that I’ve outplayed that deal. I can’t force their hand, and I’m not trying to force their hand. I’m at peace with this decision, and it’s not coming from a place of ego or pride. I’m just trying to get something done that will be fair. It’s a business decision on both sides, and I understand where they’re coming from. But I have to do what I think is best for me in my career.”

Do you want to take advantage of your big year, especially when considering that you’re 35 years old?

“I’m going to come out and have a great year, either way. It’s just a matter of what I mean to the organization.”