Marshawn Lynch’s commitment to retirement has apparently been wavering recently. Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole reports Lynch told two ex-teammates he is considering coming back for the 2016 season. However, Cole also reports Lynch’s former team, the Seattle Seahawks, might not be interested in his services.
Both Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett have both gone on the record as tossing the idea of Lynch possibly coming out of retirement, and based on Cole’s report it seems there is a little fire behind that smoke. However, Lynch’s agent, Doug Hendrickson, has firmly maintained Lynch has no designs on coming back.
The Seahawks currently have Lynch on their reserved-retired list, which means Seattle can hang on to his rights until the end of his contract. Should he un-retire, the Seahawks would owe Lynch $9 million in 2016 — a significant figure for a running back who only played in seven games last season.
It makes sense then, that Seattle would look to get out of this deal if this situation unfolds. The team struck gold with Lynch’s replacement, rookie Thomas Rawls, last season, so they should be just fine in Lynch’s absence. Rawls averaged a league-leading 5.6 yards per carry when he was thrust into the starting role midseason. His 2015 ended abruptly when he suffered a nasty ankle injury in December, but he is expected to be at full strength come September. On top of all that, the former undrafted free agent is only owed $530,000 next season.
Rawls is the cheaper option of the two, and at this point he might also be the better player.
This is all speculative, and there is no definitive indication Lynch is actually coming back. Still, it is interesting situation. Lynch is one of the most beloved players in Seahawks history, and he is only two years removed from a 1,300-yard campaign. There is a chance Lynch just had bad injury luck in 2015 and is ready to contribute at a Pro Bowl level. Even if the Seahawks do not want him, Lynch will certainly have plenty of suitors to choose from should he decide to return.
