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Seahawks camp Day 3: Chancellor reflects; tempers flare

Published 2:11 pm Monday, August 1, 2016

By Nick Patterson

A year ago Kam Chancellor was all over the headlines, but not in the way either he or the Seattle Seahawks would have hoped. However, Chancellor’s holdout is a thing of the past, and his presence is helping make for a drama-free training camp for the Seahawks.

The story of last year’s training camp was Chancellor’s holdout, one that lasted the entirety of training camp and preseason and extended through two weeks of the regular season. His holdout helped contribute to Seattle’s sluggish start to the season.

But this year Chancellor is 100-percent committed to the Seahawks’ cause, despite receiving no financial concessions as a result of last year’s holdout.

“I learned that it’s a business,” Chancellor said Monday following Day 3 of Seahawks training camp. “This is the NFL. But more importantly it’s about a brotherhood. We started a brotherhood here and we’ve got to continue with what we started with.”

The “brotherhood” theme was consistent throughout Chancellor’s recollections about last year’s holdout. He said “brotherhood” was what he emphasized when talking about the subject with his teammates.

“The brotherhood is most important,” Chancellor said. “I didn’t get to share it with the whole group, but when I talk to guys individually I let them know how important it is to stick together.”

The Seahawks had no holdouts this year, and coach Pete Carroll is particularly thrilled that his Pro Bowl strong safety is present this time around.

“When he’s here and he’s around, he affects other people,” Carroll said. “His toughness, his mentality, his words, his leadership, it’s just exemplary. We dealt with the void, which is how I can put it best. It’s just great to have him around.”

Hawks don the pads

Monday’s practice was the first time in training camp that the team suited up in shoulder pads, and the first day of heavy contact resulted in the first flaring of tempers.

Things boiled over during one-on-one pass-rush drills when Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Bennett and rookie right guard Germain Ifedi remained engaged after the whistle. The incident led to the units coming together and some shouting, but nothing beyond that.

“The little scuffle? That’s just part of it,” defensive end Cliff Avril said. “That’s all about competing, trying to see where [Ifedi’s] head is at, and also letting [the offense] know we’re not soft as well. It’s all fun and games. We keep it on the field.”

In his short time with the team Ifedi, Seattle’s first-round draft pick, has already shown a penchant for getting involved in confrontations. When there were altercations during offseason activities, Ifedi was usually in the middle of them. Then on Monday he took on perhaps the most intimidating member of Seattle’s defensive line in Bennett.

“That’s who he is, and he’s shown that throughout,” Carroll said. “There’s nothing wrong with that. He’s very aggressive, very tough, willing to stand up for himself on the first day. That’s pretty good.”

Injury update

Second-year defensive end and breakout candidate Frank Clark did not participate in Monday’s practice. Clark was fully suited up, but was held out as he wore an ice bag on his right calf. Carroll said Clark was dealing with “something minor.”

Rookie running back C.J. Prosise also remained out. Carroll said Prosise, who left practice early on Day 1 of camp, was dealing with a first-degree hamstring strain and estimated Prosise would be sidelined 7-10 days.

Carroll also said tight end Cooper Helfet will require surgery on the broken bone in his foot. There were no further details about how long Helfet may be out.

Observations from Monday’s practice

Here’s some of the things seen during Day 3’s scrimmaging:

– The Seahawks continued to rotate with the first team defense. DeShawn Shead returned to the first team at cornerback in place of Jeremy Lane, and it seems the two will be alternating days with the first unit. We also had our third different first-teamer at strong-side linebacker as Cassius Marsh received the reps. Mike Morgan was there on Day 1 and Eric Pinkins on Day 2.

– In the battle for the back-up quarterback spot, Jake Heaps seems to be closing the gap on Trevone Boykin. Heaps had a big day on Day 1 of camp, then he concluded Monday’s practice with a drive that culminated in a touchdown pass to Antwan Goodley in the corner of the end zone, a play in which Goodley made an acrobatic one-handed catch. Boykin was largely conservative with his throws Monday.

– Cornerback Tharold Simon had an impressive day. Simon, who missed almost all of last season because of a dislocated toe, stripped Douglas McNeil III and intercepted a Russell Wilson pass on consecutive plays.

– Rookie running back Zac Brooks is making the most of his opportunities. Brooks would seem to be No. 5 on the depth chart, behind Thomas Rawls, Christine Michael, Alex Collins and Prosise, and he was drafted primarily to provide competition for Prosise as the third-down back. But with Rawls (ankle) and Prosise sidelined, Brooks has received a handful of carries, and he broke a few over the past three days.

– The offensive line struggled with false starts early in scrimmaging, with the offense being flagged four times in a span of 11 snaps. At one point Ifedi and right tackle J’Marcus Webb were yanked from the first unit after being flagged for false starts on consecutive plays.

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