Eugene Parker wouldn't say whether defensive tackle Richard Seymour, who is unhappy with his contract, will report for the start of training camp tomorrow.

09:02 AM EDT on Thursday, July 28, 2005

BY TOM E. CURRAN
Journal Sports Writer

Richard Seymour's agent wouldn't say yesterday whether his client will hold out of the Patriots' training camp when it starts tomorrow.

But when asked about his philosophy on holdouts in general, Eugene Parker said, "I want the player playing."

Both Parker and Seymour have been notably tight-lipped about the three-time Pro Bowl player's displeasure with his current contract, which has two years remaining on it. But Seymour's mini-camp absence brought to the fore just how much he'd like his deal redone. Seymour will make about $2.8 million this year, less than half of the average of the top five defensive tackles in the game and about one-third of what the game's top defensive ends make.

"Richard and I concluded that we wouldn't discuss his contract or playing status (publicly)," said Parker. "We felt it would create the best possible opportunity to work out our situation with (the Patriots) at least from our vantage point without having things misconstrued, polarizing one side against the other."

Seymour is "trying to maintain a positive attitude throughout a tough process," said Parker.

Asked what the benefit of a holdout is (for any player, not Seymour in particular), Parker said, "Based on the alternatives available, you go back and play for the (salary you're contracted for), but what are the pros and cons of that? At least you're playing. But you're playing for less, and if you're injured, that's it.

"Absent that, the only recourse a player has is not to play," Parker added. "You can't bring in a third-party arbitrator and say, 'We have a dispute over what I'm worth.' You can't go to a judge. You have to accept what they're willing to do or not."

Asked whether talks have intensified as camp approaches, Parker said, "I can't really say that. Both sides have been serious. I can't really characterize the intensity. I take them at their word that (the Patriots) are serious and that we're trying."

Parker wouldn't divulge whether Seymour already has made a decision on reporting to camp or not. He also wouldn't comment when asked whether he wanted Seymour to be the highest-paid defensive lineman in the game.

"Our interest is to handle the business quietly," he said. "It's hard enough without saying something that would cause a party to take a stand."

Another reason Parker hasn't aired Seymour's side seems to be public perception.

"Even sympathetic fans have problems (with contract issues) because of the numbers we're discussing," Parker acknowledged. "As a player earning $2 million, that's a lot of money to a fan making anywhere from $30,000 to $100,000. 'This guy won't play for $2 million?' There's no way to relate what the player is dealing with and no reason to cry for sympathy to people who work as hard as the players do."

The sixth overall pick in the 2001 draft, the 25-year-old Seymour agreed to a six-year, $14-million deal after he came out of Georgia.

Quick kicks

The Patriots yesterday released rookie Michael McGrew, a wide receiver from Virginia. . . . The Boston Herald reported that wide receivers/kick returners Bethel Johnson and Tim Dwight both would begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list.