Seahawks RB Washington will be fine for training camp

Taking off New Orleans Saints jersey to join the Seattle Seahawks, running back Leon Washington seems eager to work with the new team. The 2008 All-Pro running back had to spend most of this offseason on recovering from a broken leg, but he told reporters recently that he would be fine for Seahawks’ training camp in late July.

Washington became expendable after his former team had a new running back LaDainian Tomlinson and it was no surprise that he was traded during the three-day NFL draft for a higher round draft pick. But to Seahawks, the addition of a running back like Washington was much more important than drafting a talented rookie. It was expected that Washington would take the starting job with the Seahawks. And if his leg allows him to return in time for training camp, Washington’s starting job would somewhat secured.

The All-Pro as a kick returner for the 2008 season made $535,000 in the final year of his rookie deal, and he had been asking for a significant salary raise before he broke the leg. The second-round tender he received from his former team was worth $1.759 million, far less than Washington’s expected $5 million to $6 million. The Seahawks have made it clear that they would consider giving Washington a chance to prove whether he is worth that much.

Jets Washington may not participate in training camp for contract dispute

Leon Washington recently told reporters that he may not report for the Jets' start of training camp if the front office is not ging to solve his contract dispute during the next few weeks.

Washington made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner last season and his current contract will bring him $535,000 of income this season. As he is ususally compared to Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew and San Diego's Darren Sproles, who get about $6 million of pay per year, Washingto n is looking for a "fair market value". For this reason, he sat out the first three weeks of OTA. But he returned to team last week and attended the first day of mandatory minicamp Tuesday.

He still may not attend Jets' training camp started on July 30 in Cortland, N.Y. if his contract dispute is still not solved.