Seattle Seahawks General Manager John Schneider revealed that a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport regarding contract extension discussions with cornerback Devon Witherspoon caused the player to become distressed, prompting the team to take steps to de-escalate the situation. The incident, detailed on the show "Hard Knocks," highlighted the impact of insider reporting on player morale and contract negotiations.
According to Schneider, Witherspoon became “wigged out” by a report stating that the team was offering him the highest-paid contract for a cornerback and that he was not accepting it. Schneider contacted Rapoport directly, asking him to inform Witherspoon's agent that the information was not originating from the team. Maurice "Mo" Kelly, Seattle's vice president of player affairs, then spoke with Witherspoon, and the situation was reportedly resolved.
Rapoport had reported on July 21 that Witherspoon was seeking a new contract, similar to Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez. The report indicated that the Seahawks had offered Witherspoon at least $30 million per season, a deal that could have made him the league's highest-paid cornerback. However, the report noted that "no resolution yet" had been reached.
While the report did not explicitly state that Witherspoon rejected the offer, the implication that the player was holding up the deal due to the reported financial terms led to the subsequent chain of events. The current highest-paid cornerback in the league is Denzel Ward of Cleveland, with an average annual salary of $31.1 million.
Witherspoon himself commented on the demands of his position during "Hard Knocks," stating that cornerback is one of the hardest positions on the field due to the restrictions on contact and the talent of opposing receivers. He emphasized the value of a shutdown cornerback like himself and suggested that such players should be compensated accordingly.
Schneider expressed that while negotiations can be challenging, each individual player's situation is unique. He described Witherspoon as a high-energy player and stated that both the team and the player share the common goal of reaching an agreement, acknowledging Witherspoon as a significant player.