It looks like Beast Mode might be headed into hibernation.
During a radio interview with 710 ESPN Seattle on Friday, Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider said he thinks running back Marshawn Lynch is “leaning toward retirement.”
“I know that we’re going to treat him with as much respect as we possibly can here, and give him a little leeway to kind of find his way in terms of what he wants to do,” Schneider told 710 ESPN Seattle. “But I’m under the impression that he’s leaning toward retirement.”
Lynch, 29, battled injury in 2015 and ended up having the worst season of his time in Seattle and maybe of his entire career. The five-time Pro Bowler played in only seven games, carrying 111 times for 417 yards, an average of only 3.8 yards per carry. In his previous four seasons, all with the Seahawks, Lynch averaged 1339 yards and 12 touchdowns a season on 4.5 yards per carry.
Though it would seem Lynch, who turns 30 in April, has another couple good years left in him, only he knows his body, and it’s tough to blame a player, particularly a running back, for quitting football early to avoid getting too beat down.
If Lynch does call it quits, the Seahawks could either seek to acquire a high-profile replacement or roll with Thomas Rawls, an undrafted free agent in 2015 who rushed for 830 yards as a rookie.
From a fan’s perspective, we can only hope Marshawn sticks around a little longer to entertain us with bruising runs, funny commercials, nut-grabbing celebrations and even rude interactions with reporters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzTCPx_fsPs
But you know what? Until Marshawn announces his retirement himself, we’ll hold off the eulogies.
[ESPN]
