Salk: If the Seahawks have lost Kam Chancellor, his leadership will be missed the most

Kam Chancellor is different.

He doesn’t fit into any mold. He is the biggest athletic physical freak I can ever remember seeing. And of all of the safeties in my lifetime, he hits the hardest – and the cleanest.

Pete Carroll responds to reports that Chancellor’s season is over

He has made so many big plays, crumpled offensive linemen, and made it his mission to ruin Vernon Davis. Not only that, he should have been the MVP of the Seahawks’ Super Bowl win.

But all of those things pale in comparison to his ability to lead this team. There are plenty of captains in the league. Plenty of guys who get the votes of their teammates or get named by their coaches. Plenty of guys who lead a bunch of other alpha males. But leading this group of alpha males? That’s different.

Earning the respect of Richard Sherman, Michael Bennett, Earl Thomas, Marshawn Lynch, Doug Baldwin and all of the other characters that have come through Seattle under Kam’s watch, that is the true testament of what kind of player, leader and man he is.

There is no way you could lead that group without a certain set of characteristics. You’d have to be good enough for them to care about you. Strong and tough enough to get their attention. Smart enough for them to not to argue. And man enough to gain all of their respect.

I don’t know if Kam will play again, this year or ever. And he has probably reached the point in his career where the Seahawks can survive without him on the field.

But he has earned everyone’s respect, starting with his teammates, and he has been one of the best at his position we’ve ever seen.

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