Coming in to the 2014 NFL season, the Seattle Seahawks seemed primed and destined to make another run towards the Super Bowl. Most of their starters and key players on that Super Bowl team have remained, and for the first time in a long time, there seemed to be a dynasty brewing here in the rainy city. But when it rains, it pours. Now 5-3 and second in the NFC West division, what they’ve made up for on the field hasn’t translated well off the field; the unexpected trade of their most explosive offensive weapon, Percy Harvin, who only had a cup of coffee while here in Seattle, is now a member of the New York Jets. There have also been several reports of a locker room rift between quarterback Russell Wilson and other players, but the most important story is one that hasn’t garnered a ton of attention, but I’m sure will towards the end of the season and in off-season, and that is there is a huge possibility that Marshawn Lynch will not return to the Seattle Seahawks. All signs point toward this coming into fruition.
Has the shock worn off? Good, now hear me out…
Sign #1: Tensions rose during the summer between Mr. Beast Mode and the ‘Hawks’ front office when the two parties could not come to an agreement on a, in my opinion well deserved, contract extension, which led to Lynch holding out for the first week or two of training camp. He wasn’t awarded a larger sum, but Lynch and the ‘Hawks managed to come to a slight agreement, guaranteeing $1.5 million. At that point, both sides would’ve considered themselves as winners of that situation – the ‘Hawks didn’t have to come up with a new contract, and Lynch got some of his guaranteed money, which isn’t often in the unpredictable, contract heavy NFL.
Sign 2: The trading away of Percy Harvin obviously had a huge effect on Lynch, as it appeared the two had developed a friendship. “Damn, they got my *****” tweeted Lynch after the trade broke sports news. Simple, powerful, and in some ways, eloquently put; it describes the juxtaposition between the players and those who are in front office. Emotions and business mesh together, causing friction between the player and front office. For a guy whose salary was $64 million over 6 years, the production simply wasn’t there, but some could argue that the ‘Hawks had no idea what to do with him on offense besides returning kicks and punts. When the trade broke, as expected, it was met with uproar by a lot of casual ‘Hawk fans who’ve couldn’t realize that 6 years and $64 million for a guy who’s essentially glass and seems to injure himself on every play is not beneficial in the long run. The league’s getting faster and faster each year with these RB/WR flex players becoming a heavy trend, and though Harvin may be the best of them, if the ‘Hawks want to keep their TEAM together, getting rid of contracts like that is key. With all that money and Russell Wilson’s rookie contract coming up soon, the ‘Hawks may fall into another league trend…
Sign 3: (This should be mentioned, though I’m a born and raised Seattleite, the Seahawks actually aren’t my favorite NFL team of choice. I do, however, keep a keen eye on these guys as I do think they’re a really good team and fun to watch.)
I’ve noticed this trend in the NFL where teams become so enamored with the quarterback position, they spend the entire bank on them, leaving little room for the team to grow. Lynch’s numbers this year in just 8 games are pretty good, though his carries a game are down to 16 (as opposed to 18 last year), and his yards a game has dipped from 78 to 68; the Seahawks just aren’t using him as much – which, in turn, they can use as an excuse as to why they won’t break the bank for Lynch and instead, invest more in Russell Wilson, adding stability for 5-6 years for the quarterback position. If you’re Marshawn Lynch, casted away by Buffalo and landed on the (not literally) shores of Seattle in 2011 and made them relevant again with one huge run, you’d feel entitled to reap some of the benefits. Three Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl, we know what he can deliver, and it would behoove the ‘Hawks to give Lynch the ball more and have him carry them into the playoffs. He may be asked to take a pay cut or take an amount that he and his agent don’t feel is up to par, to pay Russell Wilson. If that’s the case, I can’t imagine Marshawn Lynch playing in a Seahawks jersey again.
Where will he go, you ask? Threatening to retire several times, it is clear that Lynch’ priorities span far more than scoring touchdowns and receiving the adulation (and Skittles) from the faithful 12th man, but rather taking care of his family and getting paid. He’s 28, but in running back years, that’s about 34, so who knows how long will see skittles being thrown into the endzone every time Lynch scores, it could end this year. I’m completely sold on the idea that he won’t be back next year in a Seahawk uniform and will dawn a new one.
It’s no secret that Lynch is from Oakland, California, and after high school, played at the University of California, so he’s been there essentially all of his life. It would make sense then for him to go to the Oakland Raiders, since they are last in the NFL in rushing yards and are desperately looking for a solid running back to help first year quarterback Derek Carr. In comes Marshawn Lynch, who’ll be 29 and will probably have about a year or two more in which he can produce steady stats, until he sets off into the Oakland sunset, away from the media and fans, back into obscurity and solitude; a comfortable life.
That of course would be a huge detriment to the Seahawks and fans who’ve embraced him as our own. There’s a certain giddiness that come about fans when are talking about Marshawn Lynch; his honesty and subtle rebelliousness against the NFL authorities adds a commonality to him that most people like to identify with. The shoes the next Seahawk running back will fill will be tough to do, as expectations will be to meet or even exceed the bar Lynch set. Who could do that?
Say, what’s the news on Adrian Peterson?
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