Kam Chancellor knows business is business, but he wanted to be back with his teammates.
Seattle’s two-time Pro Bowl safety ended his holdout Wednesday and reported to the team’s facility in Renton, Wash., just in time for the team’s home opener against the Bears on Sunday.
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Chancellor had been in regular contact with teammates and said watching the Seahawks begin their season with two road losses factored into his decision to return.
“When I feel like they’re in danger and be who I am and be their leader,” Chancellor told reporters Wednesday. “I feel like the time is now to get back to work. Right now it's all about coming back and playing football.
“I'm looking forward to playing in front of the 12s and hearing them roar."
Chancellor is entering the second year of a four-year, $28 million contract, but he held out through training camp after the team gave new lucrative deals to quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner. Fellow safety Earl Thomas was given a four-year, $40 million contract last year.
Chancellor doesn’t think he overvalued himself and prayed on the decision Tuesday before choosing to fly from Los Angeles to Seattle on Tuesday night.
“I’m a big team guy, a brotherly guy,” Chancellor said. “It just felt right. Usually when I’m doing something wrong, my heart trembles. But it felt perfect.”
During his holdout, Chancellor said, he enjoyed being able to spend time with his family during August and September, but he also “trained like crazy.” Coach Pete Carroll said Chancellor reported with 6 percent body fat.
Both Chancellor and Carroll said he was welcomed back with open arms, although Chancellor admitted things did feel personal at times and he did consider a seasonlong holdout.
“Being with my teammates and back with the organization just means a little more to me,” Chancellor said Wednesday.
Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, who consistently showed support for Chancellor during his holdout, expects his teammate of five years to make a seamless return.
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“He’s a smart player and understands where he needs to be,” Sherman said. “We do a great job of feeling each other out.
“Guys were excited to have him back in the building and see he’s going to be back out there.”
With Chancellor back to make Seattle’s Legion of Boom secondary whole again, the Seahawks will be facing a battered Bears team that will be without starting quarterback Jay Cutler. Chancellor’s holdout did have a silver lining, with DeShawn Shead and Dion Bailey gaining invaluable experience.
“It was good that other guys got to play and all of that’s going to pay off,” Carroll said. “We’ve created a little bit of flexibility.”
Chancellor is expected to play Sunday, although Carroll will have a better idea of how much following Thursday’s practice. Chancellor was subject to fines totaling about $1 million during his holdout, but Carroll would not discuss any of that.
“Kam’s going to be with us for a long time. He’ll always be a Seahawk,” Carroll said. “It's been fantastic until now and we're going to continue it. He's been an integral part of our team for years.
“It’s great to have him back. This is a great man and he’s been an incredible part of our team for years. We missed him and he missed it, too. We’re through that and have worked really hard to not look back and we’re going to do that. We’re excited to get going and excited for this week.”