AP

One of the most popular arguments against the Seahawks ripping up the final three years of safety Kam Chancellor’s contract comes from the basic reality that he’s a box safety, and that the market for box safeties is a lot lower than the market for quarterbacks, cornerbacks, etc.

Earlier in the hour on NFL Network, former Seahawk Michael Robinson, who regularly communicates with Chancellor, floated a potentially compelling argument. Chancellor’s role extends well beyond what he does on the field, operating essentially as an extra coach. For example, Chancellor helps get guys like Marshawn Lynch (who wore Chancellor’s jersey to practice the other day) in the right frame of mind. Chancellor, as Robinson explained it, otherwise does things that would fall onto the shoulders of head coach Pete Carroll.

It’s an interesting point. Should players be paid for doing more than playing football? To be successful, every team needs certain things. Leadership from within the locker room is one of those things they need.

It won’t nearly be enough to get the Seahawks to blink at this point, but it’s a concept worth considering as the holdout reaches the $1.87 million mark, and counting.