The Seattle Seahawks recently made headlines when the news of the NFL team's decision to make a bid for two-time Pro Bowl star Evan Mathis earlier this week. With the rumors that the Seattle Seahawks stars Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch are excited to welcome Mathis combined with quality of the NFL roster of the team this season, it came as a shock to fans and followers of the NFL when the former Philadelphia Eagles star turned down the offer.
However, sources are now claiming that Evan already turned down the offer of the Seahawks due to his desire to become part of a contender team this upcoming NFL regular season. With that goal in mind, the two-time Pro Bowl player opted to settle for the offer of the Denver Broncos and signed with them for a year.
"Evan Mathis' deal is worth $4mil with incentives," wrote Ian Rapoport, the National Insider of the NFL Network, via social media, referring to the decision of the NFL star to opt for Denver instead of re-signing with the Eagles or accepting the offer of the Seahawks. The NFL insider went on to disclose, "He [Evan Mathis] turned a $5.5mil deal down from another team because he wanted to play for a contender."
Earlier this year, Evan Mathis bid goodbye to Philadelphia because the Pro Bowler reportedly complained about the salary he is currently offered by the NFL team. Although some NFL stars almost immediately latch on the next good offer given them while in the trading block, Mathis opted to not follow such practice. Instead, the two-time Pro Bowl star took his time to review his options and decided to only sign for a team considered as a contender this NFL season.
Although the Seahawks have quality players in its NFL roster, the offer made by the team to the Pro Bowl OG fell below Evans' expectations.
For the NFL team's part, the Andrew Mason of Denver official web site wrote that the addition of Mathis fulfilled the current need for an experienced player. He wrote, "The Broncos needed more experience up front. A two-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro from as recently as 2013 was still on the market."
Mason also added that Evan Mathis will not only boost the chances of the Denver Broncos to take home the Super Bowl trophy but also, and more importantly, provide the NFL team with the much needed veteran experience. More specifically, the Broncos expect Mathis to mentor fourth-round pick Max Garcia.
Mason wrote, "But for the Broncos, the opportunity to add a current Pro Bowler was too much to resist. Mathis makes the Broncos better now, and given what Garcia will learn from him, he can make the Broncos better in the future beyond the length of his one-year contract."
