Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas explained his reasons for holding out Thursday, writing for The Players’ Tribune that he deserves to be paid accordingly as the only “Legion of Boom” mainstay still on the team.

He implied that he has taken a discount in the past to keep the Seahawks’ storied secondary together,nike nfl jerseys for cheap

Thomas has stated his “pay me or trade me” stance on social media, but Thursday’s comments are the first time he has explained why he feels that way.

“The last contract I signed with Seattle, I did it with the Legion of Boom in mind,” Thomas wrote. “I think our unit will be remembered as one of the greatest in history. And I wanted the team to be able to keep us together. But one by one, pretty much all of those guys have left — and a lot of the time, not on great terms.”

“When he asked the team to make a commitment, they treated him like he was being selfish. All he wanted was the opportunity to finish his career where he started it. After a decade of grind, he just wanted some security. How is that selfish? I don’t know, man. I just don’t,” Thomas wrote.

Thomas said he is working out on his own and has been “preparing my body all offseason to be at an NFL camp.”

“In the end, it’s like I said: If the Seahawks don’t intend on having me around for the long-term, then I understand. And if they want to start over and rebuild, then that’s their right — it’s part of the business. It’s not what I want … but I get it. All I ask, though, is that if that’s the case, and they don’t want me anymore — just please trade me to an organization that does.

“Please trade me to a team that wants me, so I can give my all to them for the rest of my career,” he wrote.cheap nike nfl jerseys wholesale

The Seahawks are not in negotiations with Thomas, and there has been nothing to indicate that they are interested in giving him an extension while his current deal has a season remaining. Thomas’ current deal carries an $8.5 million salary in 2018.