Seattle Seahawks

Pete Carroll explains why Seahawks didn't sign Colin Kaepernick: 'He's a starter'

Published Jun. 6, 2017 7:05 p.m. ET

Andre Vergara

Pete Carroll on Friday explained why the Seattle Seahawks didn't sign Colin Kaepernick despite being impressed by the free-agent quarterback during last week's visit.

"He's a starter in this league," the coach told reporters Friday. "We have a starter, but he is a starter in this league and I can't imagine somebody won't give him a chance to play."

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Carroll declined to comment on whether Kaepernick's contract demands were too much for the team but said he's "capable of being a championship guy" and despite his ups and downs, he's "shown enough ups that you know he can do that."

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Carroll also addressed reports that Seattle's locker room is split in the wake of a recent ESPN story.

"This locker room's in great shape. ... Whatever you guys think may be otherwise, it isn't," Carroll said. "We're in great shape right now and everything's going in great fashion."

"I think it was an old story that was revisited. I don't even know where all the stuff came from. ... It's not a big deal to us at all."

One reported source of tension among is the team is the perception that quarterback Russell Wilson gets special treatment that other players don't get — something Carroll also denied.

"I show favoritism to every one of these guys. Every one. I'm trying to figure each guy out and help them the best I can," Carroll said, and added "If you don't think it's working, too bad. I think it's working pretty darn well."