After reporting that Bruce Irvin wants to be in Atlanta when his contract is up on Thursday, Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks organization have entered damage control mode.
The report, first published in Black Sports Online after I received exclusive statements from Irvin about his intentions after the 2015 season.
“I’m going to be in Atlanta next season. I’m ready,” said Irvin in response to my question about where he wants to be after his contract his up.”
I asked him one more question, whether money would be a factor in the decision.
“Atlanta is where I want to be. Believe that,” said Irvin.
Now, Pete Carroll has issued a statement via Associated Press interview, hoping to change the narrative by stating that I misinterpreted the quotes.
“I’m really glad you asked me that, because he didn’t say that,” Carroll said, via the Associated Press. “We’ve been talking all along. He has been working out in Atlanta for these three weeks, and he said [that] in response to the question ‘Do you want to come back home?’ He said everybody likes to come back home, and it’s a dream to come back home. It wasn’t in reference to leaving us and coming back [to the Falcons]. He was really adamant about it, and I asked him to leave it and not go at it anymore.”
The notion that Carroll made, is false.
I asked two very specific questions. 1. Where do you want to be when your contract is up? and 2. Will money play a factor in your decision?
The questions that Carroll stated were asked, are not what was said during the conversation with Irvin. At no time did I ask Irvin “Do you want to come back home?”, and more importantly, Irvin never said to me that “Everybody likes to come back home. It’s a dream to come back home.”
Let’s breakdown the timeline of events leading up to Irvin making the bold statement that he wanted to be in Atlanta when his contract was up.
- Irvin’s contract with the Seahawks is up after the 2015 season after the Seahawks opted not to exercise their option for 2016.
- Irvin was very upset about the Seahawks not picking up his option, and publicly shared his distaste.
Worked for everything I got in my life this shit will b no different! I earns my keeps!
— Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) May 4, 2015
Faced way tougher adversity getting outta them streets coming up! That’s shit is nothing! FUCK THAT OPTION!
— Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) May 4, 2015
- Irvin began training with ex-Falcon Chuck Smith in Atlanta.
- Irvin was spotted at the Atlanta Hawks Game 5 on Wednesday May 13, as reported by me.
Seattle DE @BIrvin_WVU11 Reps the Hawks Courtside (Photos) http://t.co/Cfs5oBDyQw via @Sammy_Socialitepic.twitter.com/YvJrasqmtU
— Sammy Social-Hawks (@Sammy_Socialite) May 14, 2015
In addition to taking a photo from Black Sports Online at my request, Irvin even RT’d the story himself.
- After speaking with Irvin after the Hawks game, he enthusiastically made the statement that he would be in ATL when his contract is up.
With Seattle still expecting Irvin to play in the 2015 season for them, it’s understandable that Carroll and the organization would like to dispel the thoughts of Irvin thinking ahead to 2016, however, the statements that Irvin made were clear, and not in any way misinterpreted as Carroll alludes to.
Irvin, has always said what he feels and this incident was no different. It’s also interesting to note that Irvin has not tweeted since the story broke to address the issue, most likely due to Seattle trying to change the narrative.
This is also not the only damage control the Seahawks have done this weekend however. A report mentioning that the team and Russell Wilson are far from getting a deal done was also discredited by Carroll, in addition to ended rumors about Michael Bennett wanting a trade, after Bennett himself discussed it on NFL Network last week.