The Seattle star opens up about the "wigged out" leaks regarding his $30 million offer and why he refuses to hold out while his teammates improve.
Devon Witherspoon didn't exactly enjoy seeing details of his contract negotiations become public.
It just wasn't going to keep him off the football field.
The Seattle Seahawks' ongoing attempt to extend their three-time Pro Bowl cornerback produced an uncomfortable moment earlier in training camp, when a report regarding the team's offer left Witherspoon "wigged out," according to general manager John Schneider.
Hard Knocks cameras captured Schneider explaining that he called NFL Network's Ian Rapoport after the insider reported Seattle had offered Witherspoon a deal worth upward of $30 million annually.
So ... the negotiations haven't been entirely uneventful.
But Witherspoon still hasn't missed a day of training camp, and now he's explained why.
"We've got a long season ahead of us, man, contract or not," Witherspoon told ESPN. "We've still got to play football at the end of the day, and we've got to be out there and be prepared."
Witherspoon pointed out that players around the NFL are practicing and improving. In his mind, sitting out while seeking a new contract would therefore come at the expense of preparing for the season.
"If you're not practicing, you're not getting ready for the season because everybody else in the league is practicing and they're getting better," Witherspoon said.
That helps explain why Mike Macdonald has been so complimentary of Witherspoon's approach throughout negotiations.
The Seahawks coach previously expressed complete confidence in the process and has since praised Witherspoon's ability to compartmentalize everything happening away from the field.
"I'm really impressed by it, honestly," Macdonald told ESPN. "It's something that you're not used to dealing with as a player."
Meanwhile, Seattle has continued evaluating potential additions to its secondary.
The Seahawks recently worked out former Detroit Lions first-round cornerback Terrion Arnold, whose evaluation was featured on Hard Knocks.
There's no indication Seattle's interest in Arnold has anything to do with Witherspoon's negotiations, and Arnold's ongoing legal situation adds significant complications to any potential signing.
But it's still notable that Seattle is exploring another former first-round talent while simultaneously working to secure the centerpiece of its secondary long-term.
As for Witherspoon, there's no immediate contractual deadline forcing Seattle's hand.
The Seahawks exercised his fifth-year option in March, keeping him under contract through 2027 while the two sides work toward something considerably longer.
And despite the negotiations dragging into August, Witherspoon doesn't appear interested in allowing them to interfere with football.
"I'm not worried about that right now," he told ESPN. "I'm out here focused on making plays and trying to get better day by day."
Seattle still hasn't gotten his signature.
But as the Seahawks prepare to defend their Super Bowl championship, they haven't lost Witherspoon from the practice field, either.
For now, that's about the best version of an unresolved contract situation Seattle could ask for.
