It appears Marshawn Lynch’s time with the Seattle Seahawks has come to an end.
Per Zach Whitman of Field Gulls, ESPN’s John Clayton definitively answered the question of “will Lynch be gone next year?”
https://twitter.com/zjwhitman/status/689105905984630784
This isn’t surprising.
Lynch, for all his accomplishments in Seattle, is about to hit the dreaded 30 mark. By the time the draft kicks off in Chicago in April, he will have eclipsed the dreaded threshold which dooms most NFL running backs.
More than that, he spent half the year sidelined with an abdominal injury and wasn’t a dominant force even when he was on the field.
Throw in his $9 million base salary next year and the fact that Thomas Rawls looks like the wave of the future, and it’s clear Lynch’s time in Seattle is over.
Even his teammates seem to understand this is the end of an era. Cornerback Richard Sherman spoke about “Beast Mode” in fond terms after his return to action this past weekend fell short of expectations.
“He’s a beast, he’s a workhorse,” Sherman said, via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. “He’s a guy who’s going to go out there, if he’s strapping up his pads, and give you everything he’s got. He’ll play his heart out and play until the last whistle. That’s what you can appreciate. He’s an outstanding teammate and an outstanding guy, on and off the field. I’ll remember him as a phenomenal person who will give you the shirt off his back.”
Sure sounds like he’s a goner.
We took a look at where Lynch could end up, assuming he is cut. Perhaps the Oakland Raiders could be a perfect destination for the accomplished running back next year.
Wherever he ends up, Lynch is going to likely have a huge chip on his shoulder and should be a boon to his new team, provided he can stay healthy.