31
fit. You just have to go out there and provide the best
service you can to show them that you can help the
team win.''
Last April, the Seahawks signed Maragos to a re-
stricted free agent tender. But prior to the start of
the 2013 season, they had something else in mind.
"I was approached to help the team out,'' Maragos
said. "They were cap-strapped after acquiring Percy
Harvin, Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett.''
Maragos was asked to restructure his contract
and take a pay cut. "Obviously, there was the op-
portunity to possibly make a little more someplace
else,'' said Maragos, who would have been a free
agent if released by the Seahawks. "I understand my
value and what I provide the team with what I do.''
Before making a decision, he considered all of his
options with his wife, Serah.
"She has been with me through the highs and the
lows. She's had the tough conversations with me,''
he said. "She always has the right words to say when
you need to hear them. A lot of times she doesn't say
anything at all because she knows there's nothing
that she can say.''
In his heart, Maragos knew what he needed to do
and he agreed to take significantly less money so
that he could stay in Seattle. "It was a decision based
on the kind of team that we had,'' he said. "I wanted
to stay with this group of guys ― knowing what we
could accomplish.''
There was a debt of gratitude in that the Se-
ahawks had taken a chance on him after he had
been released by the San Francisco 49ers following
his rookie season in the league. Three years later, he
felt good about what was happening in Seattle and
what he was doing as a contributor.
Not that he knew the Seahawks were a sure bet
to wind up in MetLife Stadium the first weekend of
February ― when they approached him about tak-
ing less money ― not even the most optimistic soul
could have banked on it with so many variables fac-
toring into a Super Bowl run.
Then, again, maybe he had an inkling.
"WHY DO I PLAY THE GAME SO HARD?"
MARAGOS ASKED. "I WANT RESPECT.
ASK ANY PERSON, 'WHY IS IT THAT
YOU DO WHAT YOU DO?' EVERYTHING
REALLY COMES DOWN TO RESPECT.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST
THING WE SEARCH FOR.''
JEFF
LEWIS
/
ICON
SMI
