RENTON — Doug Baldwin wasn’t about to get into his contract situation.
The Seattle Seahawks receiver, who’s entering the final season of his contract, deflected all questions regarding his contract following Thursday’s organized team activity at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
“I’m just thankful for the opportunities I have to be out here every day,” Baldwin said when asked about his contract. “I’m going to focus on that each day as it comes, and I’m just enjoying the time I have with my teammates.”
Baldwin is coming off a breakout 2015 when, in his fifth season in the NFL, he set a franchise record with 14 receiving touchdowns, as well as career bests with 78 receptions and 1,069 receiving yards.
Baldwin is entering the final season of a three-year, $13 million contract extension he signed prior to the 2014 season, meaning he’s reached the stage where the Seahawks are willing to renegotiate. There’s been suggestions Baldwin could command an extension in the range of $10 million per season, such as the four-year, $40 million extension signed by Jacksonville receiver Allen Hurns last week.
But Baldwin wasn’t leaking any information about where he stands with the Seahawks in the negotiation process.
“If I focus on the task at hand, all that other stuff will take care of itself,” Baldwin said. “So I don’t really have to think about it too much.”
Extra points
There were several more players absent from Thursday’s OTA than the previous two weeks — OTAs are voluntary. Among those who weren’t present Thursday were cornerbacks Richard Sherman, Jeremy Lane and Brandon Browner, safety Earl Thomas and defensive end Cliff Avril. With defensive ends Michael Bennett and Chris Clemons choosing not to attend OTAs at all, it meant the Seahawks had just half its starting offense available Thursday. … Tackle J’Marcus Webb was spotted taking part in drills Thursday. Webb, signed as a free agent from Oakland and penciled in as the starter at right tackle, had been out with a calf injury. He participated in position drills, but not in scrimmaging. … Among those who were present Thursday but did not take part because of injury were tight end Jimmy Graham (knee), running back Thomas Rawls (ankle), tackle Garry Gilliam (knee), running back C.J. Prosise (hip flexor) and receiver Kenny Lawler (unknown).
Check out Nick Patterson’s Seattle Sidelines blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/seattlesidelines, and follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.
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