Seymour is a no-show

FOXBOROUGH -- When asked last week if there was anything going on involving the renegotiation of his contract, Richard Seymour said, ''Ask Bill."

But Patriots coach Bill Belichick has a policy of not discussing contract negotiations.

So when Seymour didn't show up for the Patriots' mandatory minicamp yesterday, a number of questions went unanswered.

Belichick would not venture a guess as to whether Seymour's absence, which Belichick classified as ''unexcused," was because of his displeasure with a contract that has two years remaining.

''I don't know," Belichick said.

And Belichick wouldn't make predictions as to whether the All-Pro defensive end would report to training camp with veterans July 29 -- without a new contract. Seymour, who made $960,000 last season, is scheduled to make $2.87 million this season and $1.22 million in 2006. His current deal, which he signed as a rookie, is worth $14.3 million over six years.

''I don't have any comment on the contract situation; I don't have any comment on the discipline situation," Belichick said. ''He's under contract and he's not here. That's really all I have to say about it.

''Anything else you'd have to ask Richard about."

Seymour could not be reached, and his agents, Eugene Parker and Roosevelt Barnes of Maximum Sports Management, did not return messages.

Seymour, a captain last season, is almost certain to be fined by the team for not reporting. NFL rules allow a maximum fine of $1,000 per day for failing to appear at a minicamp.

Seymour, who was honored last month as South Carolina's male professional athlete of the year by the state's Athletic Hall of Fame, has been in the Boston area and attended the team's voluntary passing camp and offseason workouts.

''He's been here," Belichick said. ''This is our only mandatory minicamp, so all the players that are under contract are required to be here.

''So this is different from any other thing we've done."

The Patriots recently extended Tom Brady's contract, which had two years remaining, signing the quarterback to a six-year, $60 million deal in the first week of May.

New England has had few holdouts or sit-outs in Belichick's five-year tenure, and the team is noted for having veterans sign for less money to be a part of the organization. Brady's deal makes him one of the highest-paid players in the league, but the three-time Super Bowl quarterback could have demanded more, and he structured his deal with a spread signing bonus to be salary-cap friendly.

A little more than two weeks ago, receiver Troy Brown turned down a more lucrative offer from the Saints to return to the Patriots, who let his contract expire rather than give him a $2.5 million roster bonus in March.

''Everyone has to make his decision on whether to be here [for the minicamp]," Brady said. ''Richard's a great friend of mine, but I haven't talked to him, so I don't know why he's not here."

In April, Jacksonville signed defensive tackle Marcus Stroud, a teammate of Seymour's at Georgia, to a five-year, $31.5 million contract, with some $12.5 million coming in bonuses in the next year.

Seymour, taken sixth overall by the Patriots in the 2001 NFL Draft (Stroud was the 13th pick that year), has been voted to three straight Pro Bowls.

In yesterday's practice sessions, Jarvis Green filled in at Seymour's end spot.

Belichick said Seymour was the only player not participating because of an unexcused absence.

The team isn't required to provide detailed injury information during the offseason, but a few players were out because of injuries.

As expected, Tedy Bruschi didn't dress for the workouts. Bruschi, who suffered a stroke in February, has not announced if he intends to return to the team this season.

''I don't think it's my place or anybody else's place to comment or speak for [Bruschi], so I wouldn't attempt that," Belichick said.

''When he has something to add -- if he has something to add -- I'm sure he'll do it."