Though the attitude in New England isn't entirely positive, that's exactly the situation in the Oakland Raiders' locker room.
“Inside, outside, however you want it. He brings it on," defensive tackle Gerard Warren told the Contra Costa Times regarding Seymour. "[He’s an] excellent complement to the team and hopefully we can shore things up on the defensive side of the ball with him on the field."
The Raiders have ranked 22nd or worse in run defense every year since 2003. Linebacker Ricky Brown said he thinks Seymour will be a big part of changing that trend.
“He’s considered the best two-gap player in the league, and he’s played in a system where he’s played a gap to his left, a gap to his right," Brown said. "Now having him in a single gap, I think he’s going to be a dominant player for us."
Head coach Tom Cable seemed to agree.
“You get a quality player who has done a lot both as a run player and as a pass rusher," he said. "In the 3-4, when they reduce down, he’s played as a three technique, he’s been an inside rusher in nickel and all those things. So there’s a lot of variation to what he brings to the table for us.”
One of the most excited Raiders was defensive tackle Tommy Kelly.
“You can’t help but admire his game,” Kelly told the paper. “There’s a player that myself, I kind of want to be like. It gives me a chance to see him up close and personal, see how he practices, how he prepares. … He brings a lot of versatility to the defense.
"I mean, if we can’t stop the run now, with that big [expletive] on the edge … it definitely upgrades us.”
