Seahawks fans can empathize with Jets fans over Haason Reddick situation

Seattle Seahawks fans might consider themselves lucky in one important aspect this offseason: The team did not trade for edge rusher Haason Reddick. As recently as this week, CBS Sports' Douglas Clawson suggested that Seattle could trade for Reddick. No thanks.

Why would Seattle, a team with a first-year head coach and a young roster, want to trade for someone with an attitude like Reddick's? He is a fantastic pass rusher, sure, but what message is Reddick sending to his new team, the New York Jets, that he is not showing up to OTAs? He is in the final year of his contract and is probably trying to make a statement about making more money, but he could do that by showing up to OTAs even more.

The Philadelphia Eagles traded Reddick to the Jets this offseason because Philadelphia likely understood they were not going to meet Reddick's contract demands. The Jets already had a loaded defense so adding Reddick should make them even more dangerous. One of the first things Reddick does is not show up to OTAs, however.

Seahawks should feel fortunate not to have a Haason Reddick-type situation

If he wanted to impress the ownership of his new team he might have shown up to the voluntary workouts to appear committed to playing at a high level and helping the Jets win games. This may have made contract talks easier. By appearing at OTAs, Reddick might have implied, "I am happy to be in New York. Go Jets-Jets-Jets! Now, please pay me."

Again, OTAs are voluntary workouts, but Jets coach Robert Saleh said he had not even spoken with Reddick since New York acquired Reddick in a trade in March. This does not exactly scream Reddick is a team-first player. Maybe he will be productive in 2024, but his attitude toward his new team might mean the Jets have no interest in chasing Reddick in free agency this offseason, and neither will the Eagles.

Seahawks fans might remember a situation that happened with another player who was not a team-first guy. Safety Earl Thomas had been a fantastic player and one of the foundational pieces of the Legion of Boom. In 2018, he was entering the last year of his contract and he wanted his money. General manager John Schneider has made an extremely small amount of exceptions when it comes to negotiating extensions before a player's contract is up, though.

Thomas did not like that the Seahawks had not reached out about an extension, so Thomas decided to hold out into training camp. In Week 4 of the 2018 season, he injured his leg. While being carted off the field, he flipped his middle finger to the Seahawks sideline. He clearly thought he was bigger than the team.

Reddick seems to come across the same way. He hasn't even played a down for his new team, but he is already intentionally not showing up to voluntary workouts. At least he is not creating a cultural mess with the Seahawks.

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