Carroll: Chancellor, Avril will have 'hard time playing football again'

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll indicated Tuesday that safety Kam Chancellor and defensive end Cliff Avril, both suffering from neck injuries, could be forced to retire.

"Cliff and Kam are going to have a hard time playing football again," Carroll told reporters, according to The Seattle Times' Bob Condotta.

Chancellor and Avril have been staples of the Seahawks' ferocious defense over the last handful of seasons, and were major contributors on the Super Bowl XLVIII championship team.

Chancellor has been quiet about his future since being ruled out for the season in November. Avril, meanwhile, said in October he wasn't considering retirement.