Engram skipped a second day of the team’s four-day voluntary minicamp Tuesday in protest of what he believes is an unfair contract based on his record-setting production last year.

But the Seahawks are adamant that Engram plays out the final season of his two-year, $3.4 million contract, after which they would be willing to negotiate with Engram as a free agent.

Engram wrote a letter to coach Mike Holmgren, dropping it off on his desk Tuesday morning.

Though Holmgren said he had not yet read the letter before he met with the media following Tuesday’s practice, he said he assumed the letter explained why Engram is skipping the team’s minicamp.

Engram likely wrote to Holmgren that his $1.7 million salary was nearly half of what injured flanker Deion Branch ($3.5 million) and Nate Burleson ($3.25 million) will make.

The team believes it rewarded Engram with his current two-year deal after Engram missed nine games during the 2006 with a thyroid condition, a year in which Engram caught 24 passes for 290 yards. Engram was paid $1.4 million for that season.

Engram also may have explained to Holmgren that the team does reward players for their contributions. It recently gave middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu a six-year, $42 million extension even though Tatupu had two years left on his rookie contract that would have paid him a total of $1.1 million. Engram caught a franchise-record 94 passes last season for 1,147 yards.

The Hawks counter that Tatupu is a 25-year-old three-time Pro Bowler with no history of injuries who they did not want to get on the open market and risk losing.

Engram also certainly is trying to leverage his situation. With Branch sidelined for training camp and at least part of the season, the Seahawks and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck are forced to rely upon Engram, Burleson and a group of young, unproven receivers.

But the Seahawks believe Branch, who had reconstructive knee surgery in January, will be back sooner than expected. They also believe that either Courtney Taylor, Ben Obomanu or Logan Payne is ready to be a productive receiver.

The Seahawks know Engram, 35, can hardly afford to lose this year’s salary and a season of not playing, perhaps the reason that Holmgren said he thinks Engram will be at training camp, which starts at the end of July.

“We need Bobby,” Holmgren said. “He is one of our best offensive players. This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. There are business decisions to be made. I hope they work it out.”

Holmgren said he had “an inkling” that Engram would not be at the team’s practice facility this week after speaking to Engram during the mandatory weekend mini-camp, which Engram attended but in which he did not fully take part.

Burleson, who considers Engram a mentor, said he was surprised that Engram is not at camp because he has not seemed unhappy and has not said anything regarding his contract status.

“In the past few weeks, Bobby has been out here smiling, coaching us up like he usually does,” Burleson said.

Burleson said he is almost positive that Engram will be in uniform when the Seahawks play their first game.

“When there are 60,000 people out there and the lights come on at Qwest Field, Bobby is going to be ready to play,” Burleson said. “... Once game time comes around, I am not concerned about the offseason.”

Sims out four to six weeks

Holmgren said he expects Rob Sims, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Tuesday, will be out for four to six weeks.

Sims will not be ready for the team’s June minicamps but should be ready for training camp, Holmgren said.

Around the NFL

NFL Network filed its complaint with the Federal Communications Commission against cable TV giant Comcast. NFL Network is accusing the nation’s largest cable operator of discriminatory and anticompetitive treatment in violation of the Cable Act of 1992. ... Former Bengals receiver Chris Henry will be released from court-ordered electronic monitoring and house arrest so he can try out for another team. ... Former Minnesota defensive lineman Darrion Scott was charged with assault and accused of holding a plastic dry cleaning bag over the head of his 2-year-old son. Scott, 26, is a free agent after spending the past four seasons with the Vikings. ... The Jets re-signed veteran cornerback Hank Poteat to a one-year deal. ... The Broncos have named Jim Goodman vice president of football operations/player personnel and hired former Falcons executive Brian Xanders as assistant general manager.

News Tribune news services contributed to this report.

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