FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) – Richard Seymour missed his second straight day of the New England Patriots’ mandatory minicamp Friday, but teammates didn’t seem overly concerned.

The three-time Pro Bowl defensive end has complained about the six-year contract he signed as a rookie in 2001, and coach Bill Belichick has called his absence “unexcused.”

Safety Rodney Harrison declined to pass judgment on a player who works very hard and is considered a team leader of the three-time Super Bowl champions.

“That would be something different if he wasn’t that type of guy,” Harrison said Friday, “but Rich is a guy that pays the price and he does everything he can to help his teammates be successful. So Rich is a good man on the field as well as off the field.

“I can’t judge (his absence). I don’t know the situation. I’m not in Richard’s shoes. Only he can express that.”

Quarterback Tom Brady had a similar reaction as Harrison when he said Thursday,

“Everybody makes their own decision.”

Roosevelt Barnes, Seymour’s agent, did not return a call seeking comment.

On Thursday, Belichick said he wouldn’t comment on player contract situations or disciplinary measures.

He had nothing to report Friday when asked if he had talked to Seymour in the past day.

“I think I pretty much had everything I could say about Richard yesterday,” Belichick said. “I don’t have anything to add.”

Seymour has two years remaining on a $14.3 million deal he signed in 2001 after being drafted in the first round out of Georgia.

AP-ES-06-10-05 2003EDT


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