Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin has confessed that he is desperate to extend his stay with the club beyond when his contract expires at the end of the season.
The NFC West side declined to use the fifth-year option on the 27-year-old's contract for the 2016 season as Irvin has often struggled for consistency in his play.
Irvin was linked with a move to the Atlanta Falcons next year, which he and head coach Pete Carroll refuted, and is now focused on earning a new deal in Seattle.
"I have one year left. I would love to be in Seattle. That was the team that gave me a chance when nobody else did," Irvin told NFL Network.
"A lot of people told me I wasn't a first-round pick, but Pete and [general manager] John Schneider took a chance on me.
"So like I said I would love to be there, but I'm just going to go out here, I've been working my butt off, I'm going to go out here and have the biggest year of my career next year."
Irvin has recorded 93 tackles, 16.5 sacks and three interceptions in his three years in the NFL.
Simon Sinclair
