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.