Complaining pays off: Redskins FB Mike Sellers contract extension, says ‘I got what I wanted’

Redskins FB Mike Sellers gets contract extension

ASHBURN, Va. — Mike Sellers’ offseason boycott eventually paid off, helping the Washington Redskins fullback land a contract extension.

The Pro Bowl fullback confirmed Wednesday he had finally swayed owner Dan Snyder to offer a new deal. Its total value is about $6.9 million over the next six years, but the final two years are voided automatically if Sellers is still on the roster after the 2012 season. Essentially it is a four-year deal with $1 million guaranteed: a $600,000 signing bonus and a $400,000 option bonus next year.

“I was complaining about not getting enough money during the season,” said Sellers, who had two years remaining on his previous deal. “I got what I wanted. Now it’s time to go play.”

Sellers stayed away from offseason workouts to voice his displeasure over his contract. He was coming off his first Pro Bowl season and was elected a team captain during preseason.

“I had the point to make to them that just because I’m not here in the offseason, I’m going to be in shape,” Sellers said. “And I think that helped a lot. It showed that I’m a hard-worker on and off the field.”

Sellers first joined the Redskins in 1998 after a stint in the CFL. He signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2001 and was beset by off-the-field problems. Soon he was back in the CFL before coming back to Washington in 2004.

At 34, Sellers is still somewhat of a class clown — he loves throwing objects at teammates to disrupt on-camera interviews — but he’s a solid special teams contributor and has helped clear holes for running back Clinton Portis.

“For years I sat around and watched everybody else around me get these great contracts and I was the only one (without one),” Sellers said. “I kept my mouth shut pretty much and did what I had to do.”

But this time?

“I had a good talk with the head man, the big man,” Sellers said. “And I voiced my opinions, and he understood and he blessed me with an extension.”