Marshawn Lynch camp holdout may not be about money

With training camp just about to start, Marshawn Lynch reportedly wants no part of it, telling former teammate Michael Robinson that he plans on holding out and skipping camp this year.

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Robinson spoke on the NFL Network Thursday night and said Lynch called him to deliver the news personally.

"“Marshawn Lynch just called me. We just talked,” Robinson said. “He said he will be holding out from training camp this year with the Seahawks.”"

There has long been discussion that Lynch is interested in renegotiating his contract with the Seahawks, but Seattle doesn’t plan on giving him any more money, according to multiple reports including NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport:

The 28-year-old Lynch is due $5 million in base salary this season and even though Sidney Rice’s retirement freed up $1.25 million, the Seahawks have not indicated that they want to use that money towards renegotiating Lynch’s contract.

He is entering the third year of a four-year deal that will pay him a total of $30 million.

Through all the speculation that this is about money, it could just as easily not be.

Robinson said in the same NFL Network interview that he isn’t so sure finances are Lynch’s main reason for the holdout.

"“I don’t know if there has been any talking back and forth but what I do know is Marshawn is a guy who is not all about money,” Robinson said. “If it was about money he could have done interviews after games and made a lot of money with Skittles if it was all about money.”"

I can’t really see Lynch being upset about anything but money, though he really shouldn’t be upset about that either.

He is living a running back’s dream, playing in a run-first offense as the anchor of the offensive scheme.

Lynch has carried the ball more than 1,000 times in his four years in Seattle, gaining more than 4,600 yards with 41 touchdowns.

The biggest thing I can see Lynch being upset at is that guys like Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Michael Bennett all got paid and Russell Wilson is expected to get a big pay raise next year while Lynch is still finishing his old contract.

That’s no reason to hold out, but it’s the only reason I can see Lynch being upset.

However, it’s important to give Lynch the benefit of the doubt. This may not be about money at all, even though it’s the only “reasonable” explanation for his decision.

With or without Lynch, the Seahawks will press forward and use training camp to prepare to defend their title.

They sure could use Lynch’s help though.