Marshawn, Marshawn, Marshawn. What Are You Doing?

If you ask me, it’s too early for a fantasy football frenzy. Yet a frenzy is just what we got, according to NFL.com, when Seattle Seahawks Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell stated last week that the Seahawks aim to go with a “running back by committee” approach this season. While I can’t be worried about the fantasy impact, I do wonder what it means for real football.

Apparently, Marshawn Lynch read the articles. Or at least he read between the lines. Lynch, for reasons unexplained but widely speculated on, is staying away from Seahawks OTAs and the upcoming mandatory minicamp. Even though he is one of the highest compensated backs in the league and has multiple years remaining on his deal, the Beast wants his contract renegotiated.

A Lynchless Seattle?

While I have previously posited that 2014 will be Lynch’s final season in Seattle, Lynch seems intent on either making this supposition a lead pipe lock or, if he overplays his hand, he just might have made last season his final season in Seattle. Let’s face it, Lynch still has some luster and possible trade value right now. One more year later will only make him less appealing to any potential suitors. The Seahawks have to be seriously evaluating whether or not they should part ways with Lynch now in a trade or wait another year and get nothing.

Are the Seahawks prepared to go it without Lynch carrying the mail in 2014? Bevell is talking the talk —that is certain. Who knew that Beasts were so averse to running back committees? What will happen to Lynch, should he go to another team? If he gets traded, odds are he’ll be made a member of the new team’s committee, reversing his career trajectory and fantasy football prospects.

It’s a crucial time for Lynch, the Seahawks and fantasy football worriers.

The Seattle committee?

I don’t know about you, but my fantasy football draft won’t take place until late August, because, y’know, I’m sensible. I have no idea who I’m going to get at this point since I don’t know my draft order, haven’t seen any depth charts, nor any exhibition play. Let’s let it play out before we decide who should be targeted for fantasy football drafts. Any such proclamations this far in advance of training camp, and not even post- OTAs, is just too speculative to mean much of anything.

Of course, Bevell’s “committee” comment resonates because it — if true — represents a major shift in the way the Seahawks have approached their rushing offense since Lynch’s arrival in 2010. Bevell, apparently, is now walking back that statement. While Bevell’s comments really can’t impact fantasy football considerations much at this point, real Seahawks football is another story.

I can’t believe it’s not Skittles

Again, I have no frenzied feelings about the claim, but I believe Bevell, whether he intended to or not, was telling the truth — and offering a real glimpse into the Seahawks’ evolving offensive philosophy. That is the key: evolution, not revolution. The real reasons are twofold: Lynch will be gone after this season (if not sooner) and understudy Christine Michael looks ready to make a statement.

Doug Farrar of Sports Illustrated has taken the stance that the Seahawks’ offense may be radically changed in 2014. While there will almost certainly be a shift in how the rock is shared in the running game, assuming Lynch plays for one more season, I think it is a stretch to consider the rest of the offense to shift significantly in the upcoming campaign. On the whole, even if the Seahawks do lean more toward sharing carries among Lynch, Michael and Robert Turbin, the Seahawks’ identity is not likely to morph much beyond that. Fullbacks, the dying breed, will continue to get next-to-zero carries, like last season.

The Seahawks’ passing game, while almost certainly to be improved, will not suddenly become the team’s offensive identity. There are no newly imported or drafted transformative offensive talents on the new squad. To expect a seismic improvement in their 26^th pass ranking with the addition of only a couple of unproven rookies and the subtraction of the team’s 2013 leading receiver (Golden Tate) is likely to only occur among fans with Seahawks logos permanently tattooed on their cheeks.

I didn’t say which cheeks

The most likely scenario sees a more balanced offensive attack, if only marginally so. There is no scenario, short of all three running backs going down with injuries in a brief span of time that will take the Seahawks out of their run-to-set-up-the-pass mentality. While the passing game may get more attention (and hopefully, productivity) the running game will remain the Seahawks’ bread and butter, if only with a little wider variety of breads getting the butter.

The Seahawks’ first draft choice of the 2013 draft (second round), Michael has impressed thus far in OTAs. His size / speed combination and increased understanding of the offense portends a breakout year for the untested back, if coaches, media observers and more than a few casual observers are to be believed.

It looks to be Michael’s time, and right on time, he is. With Lynch’s contract soaring ever into the stratosphere, along with his age creeping uncomfortably close to the dreaded age of 30, Lynch is at or near the end in Seattle.

And guess what? Lynch knows it. By now, you’ve heard of Lynch’s gambit for a new contract. While it may seem an odd time for an aging, already-highly-paid running back with more tread worn off his tires (more carries over the past three seasons than any other NFL running back) to be staging a contract holdout, well, Lynch is doing exactly that. So why, then?

Lynch knows the Seahawks have just opened up the vault for Earl Thomas, Michael Bennett and Richard Sherman. He knows the Seahawks will have to open it even wider for Russell Wilson before next season. He also knows that his contributions to the Seahawks’ 2013 championship are equal to or greater than each of the previously mentioned players.

Not much money left to go around. Even less time to get it.

Additionally, he knows his window is closing, to put it mildly. The smart money is on Lynch seeking a contract extension that pays him extra scratch this season, but offers little guarantees beyond 2014. He’s taking a chance on one final payday. Neither side will say it, but 2015 ain’t gonna happen in Seattle for Lynch. The Seahawks’ possible dead money commitment to Lynch is far lower next season.

Seeking is different from getting, obviously. Lynch may want more money for his final Seattle season, but if the Seahawks really believe in Michael as much as they’re saying, they may just want to send Lynch away for trade value and take the cap hit now to better prepare for Wilson’s new mega deal in 2015.

Should I Beast or should I go?

It’s worth noting that Beast Mode wasn’t Beast Mode until Lynch came to Seattle. He wasn’t the dominating force in Buffalo that he became in Seattle. It was a match made in gray, drizzly, cacophonous heaven. Who will blink first in this contract showdown? Lynch has always danced to the beat of his own drum. Is he already willing to leave behind the greatest success he has ever known? Deserved or not, will Lynch’s holdout work? It’s getting serious—his camp has even floated the notion that he just might retire, rather than play another season in Seattle.

While the Seahawks may be lacking in Lynch, they won’t lack for drama.