RENTON, Wash. (AP) - Anthony McCoy did not like having to be a spectator while his Seattle Seahawks teammates won their first Super Bowl.
So the reserve tight end jumped at the chance to stay with the only organization he’s ever played for knowing there’s a chance of more titles in the future.
“Everyone always has an interest in going into free agency and seeing what they’re worth on the market,” McCoy said Tuesday. “Seattle came at me tough. They were the team that drafted me and at the end of the day I felt this was the best place for me to continue my career in the NFL. I feel I made the right choice.”
McCoy signed a one-year deal with the Seahawks on Tuesday after missing the entire 2013 season with a torn Achilles tendon. The deal was announced prior to the start of free agency, where McCoy would have been an unrestricted free agent.
McCoy was expected to be a significant part of the Seahawks offense last season as a reserve tight end before suffering his season-ending injury during offseason workouts in May. He was stuck watching and going through the rehab process as the Seahawks won a title.
“At first it was tough. You want to be out there, you see all the plays you can make or all the things you can do to contribute to the team’s success,” McCoy said. “But not being out there, it weighed a lot on me at first. As time went by you kind of let it pass and focus on the stuff you can control and what I could control at that time was my rehabilitation process and my focus was on that. It was really good to see the team be successful this year. I was happy for them and I was happy to be a part of that, part of the Seahawks organization to watch them go all the way and win the Super Bowl.”
“It was fun and it was kind of sad for me at the same time.”
McCoy had 18 receptions and three touchdowns during the 2012 season in a backup role.
He said his rehabilitation is far enough along that he should be ready to participate in the Seahawks’ offseason program that begins in late April.
How the tight end position breaks down remains to be seen. Veteran Zach Miller is under contract but has a large salary cap number for 2014. Backup Luke Willson played well in his rookie season with 20 receptions and one touchdown.
“I feel I can compete with all of the guys here,” McCoy said. “It’s going to be a great competition and I think we’re going to do really well this year with the guys we have coming back.”
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