It is becoming apparent that Marshawn Lynch is not long for the Seattle Seahawks. It appears from reports from NFL insiders that Seattle will have to shed the contract of the valuable runner who has been a key part of the offense since he arrived in the northwest. The Seahawks would love to keep the guy obviously, but there is that pesky salary cap to deal with. Oh, and Russell Wilson will be in need of some huge dollar bills when he is able to renegotiate his rookie contract after this year. Lynch has been important, but he can only run and catch. Wilson can run, throw, and orchestrate the entire offense. An NFL quarterback will never be ignored for the sake of a running back. Never. And Wilson is something special. Lynch can be replaced by a guy that will do it a bit cheaper for a while. That is cold I know. That is today’s NFL.
The only way Lynch would be able to stay with Seattle is if he were willing to redo his contract. That is a way for a team to keep a beloved player in some cases. But Lynch isn’t going to want to hear that. The guy wanted more money just this past training camp. I would not want to be the Seahawks executive who broached the matter of a smaller check to Lynch to make sure Wilson gets his multi millions. They better get the lowly assistant that tells players that “coach needs to see you in his office….bring your playbook,” to mention it to the beast. Then look for an assistant to replace the one who gets his face bitten off by Lynch for asking.
If I were a Hawks fan writing a farewell letter to Seattle beast back Marshawn Lynch, it would go like this: “We appreciate all you did for us Marshawn. We love the Super Bowl trophy and cool banner you helped get us. We wish you the best in 2015 in all you do. We enjoyed your performance on a weekly basis and we know you gave the team all you had and more. Farewell old friend, as we have to move on as a fan base. I can’t tell you how much we appreciat……..WHOOOO! TOUCHDOWN! Russell Wilson to ‘fill in the blank tail back’…WHAT A PLAY! Anyway….Thanks Marshawn. See ya around.”
The NFL is a cruel place for players, especially running backs. Marshawn Lynch will always have a place in the history books of the Seattle Seahawks. It is a sad fact of business that players just can’t stay with the same team forever. I would love to see guys like Lynch finish his career with the team that he helped carry to their first Super Bowl win. His teammates would love for it to happen as well. And of course the fans like to see that loyalty from the team owner. But business is business and the show must go on. Seattle didn’t set up the salary cap situation. They are only operating in the system that they are given to work with here.
Lynch still has something left to give once this year is over. He is not washed up by a damn site. There will be a few teams that feel like they are close to a title and just need a powerful running back to get over the hump. Those teams with cap room will welcome Marshawn Lynch in with open arms. Maybe he will get another ring with a different team. Who knows. What he did in Seattle will never be forgotten, despite my cynicism with the fan letter I amused myself with earlier. I will be rooting for this tough nosed runner to become unforgettable for another city in 2015. By the way, 2014 is not over yet. The Seattle history books could see one more postseason beast-mode entry yet.