In a two-week span last month, the SeahawksdeclinedBruce Irvin's fifth-year contract option and the linebacker was quoted as saying he wanted to play for the Falcons in 2016.
On Saturday, Seattle's 2012 first-round selection was singing a different tune during a football camp he, teammate Bobby Wagner and Broncos safety Omar Boldenput together at Colony High School in Ontario, Calif., for over 400 children ages 7 to 15.
"I have one year left. I would love to be in Seattle. That was the team that gave me a chance when nobody else did," Irvin told NFL Media's Tony Garcia in an interview that will air next week on NFL Total Access. "A lot of people told me I wasn't a first-round pick, but Pete (Carroll) and (general manager) John (Schneider) took a chance on me, so like I said I would love to be there, but I'm just going to go out here, I've been working my butt off, I'm going to go out here and have the biggest year of my career next year."
Irvin has reason for the motivation: He'll be a marquee name come March once he hits the free-agent market.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported last month that the Seahawks wanted Irvin to play out his rookie deal and maybe sign him to a long-term contract after 2015 if the linebacker played at a higher level. Irvin would have been on the books in 2016 for close to $7 million had the 'Hawks picked up his option.
The former WVU Mountaineer has been a consistent performer in Seattle, but he's not even the best 'backer on his own team. That distinction goes to the low-key leading Wagner, who along withRussell Wilson, is waiting for a sizable wage increase, too.
After locking up the likes of Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Marshawn Lynch the last two years, Schneider and staff will have to turn into salary-cap wizards to retain the team's next wave of free agents.
But like teammates before him -- see: Byron Maxwell's $63 million deal -- Irvin may find greener pastures playing elsewhere.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast discusses offseason clichés and who are the NFL's most valuable non-QBs. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.
