RENTON, Wash. (AP)Throughout most of last season, wherever Lawyer Milloy(notes)went, Kam Chancellor(notes) was attached.It was part of Chancellor's education, required when Seattle took a chanceon him as a fifth-round pick from Virginia Tech in the hopes his size and rawskills could help him develop into a potential NFL safety.So for nearly all of last season, Milloy had a 6-foot-3, 230-pound shadow.Answering the question of whether that education took hold will begin onSunday when Seattle opens the season at San Francisco. Chancellor and freesafety Earl Thomas(notes) combine to form one of the youngest safety duos aroundChancellor is just 23, while Thomas is 22. It can be a difficult position being so young and yet so responsible fororganizing the defense and getting veterans to listen. But Thomas and Chancellorwere Authentic Houston Texans Jerseys schooled by one of the best in Milloy."I'm a guy that leads by example so I think if I'm doing the right thingand playing right, doing everything right, a guy will want to follow that,"Chancellor said. "(It's) just like I did following Lawyer, so I think it isn'thard at all."In no way is Chancellor a prototypical strong safety. He has the size of alinebacker along with the background of a cornerback, having Authentic St.Louis Rams Jerseys started his careerat Virginia Tech originally as quarterback. He also played cornerback and roverbefore finally settling in at safety.But the experience he got during Indianapolis Colts Jersey his rookie season was limited with Milloystaying healthy and playing well. Chancellor played in all 16 games, mostly onspecial teams, but occasionally got some time as an extra defensive back innickel and dime packages.Because of his lack of playing time, it seemed likely Seattle would add aveteran presence to its defensive backfield when the lockout was lifted. Italmost immediately became clear that the Seahawks believed in Chancellor'sability to step in and take over Milloy's role.Milloy even tweeted a message to Chancellor on the day training camp opened,"Make me proud bro. It's your time!!""That's why I end up talking about it a lot for as little as he's done sofar. I think as it is, until the guys really get out there and play, he's notgoing to exert himself," Carroll said of Chancellor. "But once he does thethings that he's been doing on the practice field and he complements Earl(Thomas) the way they play back there, I think he's just going to be a biggerfactor."Carroll said he was impressed with hearing about Chancellor keeping incontact with players scattered all over the country during the lockout andreaching out to some of Seattle's younger draft picks.It was another one of the lessons taught by Milloy, who made a point ofreaching out to Thomas and Chancellor within the first days they had arrived inSeattle before the 2010 season.Of course, now Chancellor has to bring what Carroll's seen in practice tothe field. And his first test is hefty, trying to keep an eye on San Franciscotight end Vernon Davis(notes) while trying to figure out what the 49ers are runningunder new coach Jim Harbaugh.Thomas started right from the beginning last year. He doesn't worry aboutSunday being Chancellor's first NFL start."Kam got a little taste of what it felt like last year so I don't thinkit's that new to him," Thomas said. "The talking that goes on between me andhim is mostly the scheme, making sure we're on the same page."Follow Tim Booth on Twitter at: twitter.com/ByTimBooth
Report: D-Jax wants bigger deal than Santonio Holmes
DeSean Jackson(notes) will enter the season without the new contract he"s Authentic Seattle Seahawks Jerseys been gunning for, not a surprise considering the tight salary-cap restraints on the Philadelphia Eagles for the majority of preseason. According to Tim McManus of Philly Sports Daily, Jackson has his sights set on a Washington Redskins Jersey Authentic mega contract that would exceed Washington Redskins Jersey the $45.5 million, five-year contract Santonio Holmes received from the New York Jets Miami Dolphins Jersey at the outset of free agency.Per the report, Jackson and agent Drew Rosenhaus want Jackson to be compensated in between Holmes and freshly minted Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald(notes). That deal was a $120 million, eight-year blockbuster and it"s fair to assume Jackson won"t come close to approaching it.But McManus says Rosenhaus wants a five-year deal that fits in between the two Carolina Panthers Jersey Authentic and that could take some time to hammer out."Mathematically we are in a position where we can sign someone to an extension,” Eagles president Joe Banner said on 97.5 The Fanatic. "At the same time there are numbers that get so large that you can"t do that. But that is not what would keep us from doing something with somebody at this point.”Jackson will be paid $600,000 this season and the team needs to work out a new deal for him. But he"s a smaller guy and the Eagles might have reservations about a huge deal. We"ll have to see how this plays out. Follow me on Twitter: BradBiggsBrad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune
Alphonso Smith to miss Lions' opener
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP)The Detroit Lions have ruled cornerback AlphonsoSmith(notes) out for Sunday's season opener at Tampa Bay.Smith has been recovering from a broken left foot. He's practiced some thisweek, but on Monday coach Jim Schwartz said he wasn't "game ready" yet. Thathasn't changed. Detroit also listed defensive tackle Nick Fairley(notes) and offensive linemanJason Fox(notes) as out with foot injuries. Defensive tackle Andre Fluellen(notes) and runningback Maurice Morris(notes) are probable as they recover from right hand injuries.Smith started 10 games Authentic Tennessee Titans Jerseys for the Lions last season and had five interceptions.